Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)

- Hansard -

I have a petition from my constituent Erica MacDonald of the Isle of Lewis, who has raised her concerns about the effects of disproportionate petrol and diesel costs under successive Governments.

The petition states:

To the House of Commons, the petition of Erica MacDonald on behalf of the consumers of fuel in the Outer Hebrides,

Declares that the people of the Outer Hebrides are economically disadvantaged by the universal road fuel taxation programme and that taxing families and businesses in the rural economy of Na-h-Eileanan an Iar at the same rate as businesses and families in the urban economies of Edinburgh or London is economically unsound and damaging to the economy.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to introduce a fuel duty regulator—

a rural fuel duty derogation—

in the Emergency Budget with a view to reducing the tax burden on a fragile rural economy.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

[P000837]