‘Yorkshire must gain’ from fuel discounts

Thirsk and Malton MP Anne McIntosh is set to be joined by colleagues from other rural constituencies warning that the Government must not restrict any scheme simply to islands and far- flung parts of Scotland.

Miss McIntosh, chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee, is also likely to urge the Government to speed up its work to bring in a fuel duty stabiliser – to ease the pain for motorists by cutting tax when oil prices are high – during a debate in Westminster today.

Ministers have held up the two schemes to give hope to motorists hit by soaring prices at the pumps in recent months, while they are also under pressure to use next month’s Budget to postpone the next duty increase, which is due to come into force in April.

The Government is trying to persuade the European Commission to allow them to cut 5p from a litre of fuel in remote areas, but is only proposing to pilot it on several Scottish islands and the Isles of Scilly.

But MPs say assistance must be extended to isolated areas like parts of North Yorkshire as well where people are more reliant on private transport and costs of fuel are often higher.

Miss McIntosh said: “It is a good opportunity to discuss these issues which are keenly felt in remote rural areas such as North Yorkshire, where large distances for everyday journeys are coupled with limited public transport alternatives.

“The timing of this debate is important as the last Government’s duty increase, the eighth duty increase since November 2008, will be coming into effect soon. I welcomed the Prime Minister’s statement that the Government are looking at whether it is possible to introduce a Fair Fuel Stabiliser.”

Ministers have insisted that they have not yet decided how widely the discount could be applied if a pilot is successful.