Preselli and Pembrokeshire MP, Stephen Crabb, is aiming to help relieve the burden of high fuel prices in Pembrokeshire by including our County in the Government’s rural fuel scheme, which aims to significantly reduce pump prices for our County’s drivers.
The pilot scheme currently applies to the Scottish Islands and Isles of Scilly and offers five pence per litre discount on retail prices. In their Autumn statement of 2012, the Coalition Government announced that it was considering whether to seek European Union approval for an extension to the scheme, which would apply to other remote parts of the UK. The Government recognise that fuel prices in remote areas are higher than the UK average, due to the cost of transportation and distribution. Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander MP, announced the start of a ‘Call for Information’ in order to help the Government identify fuel costs in these more remote rural areas. He has invited fuel retailers in the areas the Treasury have listed, and whose prices are at, or above, the certain levels given, to fill out a detailed spreadsheet that will be used in order for the Government to assess whether or not they meet the scheme’s criteria.
Stephen Crabb has called upon the Chief Secretary to consider Pembrokeshire in any final expansion of the scheme. Mr Crabb commented, saying,
“Fuel prices, particularly in rural areas like Pembrokeshire, are a heavy burden for families and businesses. I have always pressed the need for action to be taken to help with the increasing cost of fuel and it has been beneficial that the UK Government has frozen fuel duty for three and a half years. Whilst prices are still high, they would be thirteen pence per litre more expensive if this action had not been taken. Many residents live in small villages dispersed around the County and rely on cars to access employment opportunities, as well as many goods and services. There is no doubt that rural communities in Pembrokeshire would benefit greatly from being able to access cheaper fuel.”
He finished by stating,
“This is why I asked business owners to help by providing the evidence that the Government needs to make a decision on which rural areas will be supported. I want to make as strong a case as possible for our county to benefit by this scheme.”
