SNP back fuel price regulator to limit tax rip-off
The SNP believes a fuel price regulator would protect hauliers, motorists and road users from the impact at the pumps of high fuel taxes and higher international oil prices.
The SNP group at Westminster have tabled an amendment to the Finance Bill urging the PM to introduce a regulator.
Fuel duties currently make up over 65 per cent of the price of petrol and diesel and the regulator would result in an automatic freeze on fuel duty increases and a reduction in duty to match any increases in VAT.
A fuel price regulator would see the introduction of a mechanism so that higher oil prices trigger lower fuel duties, which make up 65% of the price of petrol and diesel.
The Regulator would result in an automatic freeze on fuel duty increases and a reduction in duty to match any increases in VAT revenues from higher pump prices.
We support the Road Haulage Association's campaign to introduce a fuel price regulator which would create a system where higher oil prices trigger lower fuel duties.
A fuel price regulator will help keep the costs down, with the benefit felt by motorists and road hauliers across Scotland.
Both motorists and businesses across Scotland need urgent government action to protect them from the worst effects of a soaring world oil price.
Despite being one of the world’s largest oil producers, Scotland has soaring fuel taxes, and the UK Treasury simply rakes in extra cash from increased VAT on the rising price at the pumps.
A fuel price regulator would see a double protection for motorists and the road haulage industry.
SNP Treasury Spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP says:
"It's more than ironic that Scotland, as one of world's largest oil producers, is hit hardest as our haulage industry is most vulnerable to high pump prices and motorists in rural areas face longer journeys."With the average price of petrol now in excess of £1 per litre, the case for a fuel price regulator is overwhelming, and the Chancellor must take urgent action to protect hard-pressed motorist and hauliers."
Do you think you pay too much tax on fuel and diesel? Tell us your thoughts on our policy for a fuel price regulator below.
fuel price regulator
It is no accident that the United States grew to be the biggest economy the World to date. Their industrialists and politicians recognised that a cheap reliable energy source was the key to growth and stability. The introduction of high taxes on an energy source would have the impact of pushing up prices, and cause inflationary pressure on the economy. This is one of the main reasons for the demise of European economies where higher taxes on fuel has had the effect of giving us a sort of double whammy prices have risen, and jobs have been lost due to our being uncompetetive. under Labour the UK has seen the loss of over a million manufacturing jobs, and Scotland has suffered accordingly. Without a strong private sector then the cost of the public sector becomes unsustainable. We already have 1 in 5 of the working population in Scotland employed in the public sector that can't continue with a diminishing private sector. Therefore one way of redressing the situation is to cut taxes on fuel for the consumer but raise them from the producer. Perhaps in the short term we should allow hauliers higher tax relief or allow them to use agricultural diesel. Whatever way you go you have to do it quickly.
Fuel Prices
Dear Sir, Madam,
I have to say, that I have never understood why the population of Scotland have never woken up to the theft of our oil by Westminster.
This so called labour government (who are supposed to support the working man and woman) have taxed our fuel to the hilt, and are still in financial chaos.
With independence, we could use our oil revenue to build a better Scotland, and kick start a positive future for our nation, and put us on the European map. Detacted from a bickering Westminster, where unfortunately the only concern of Gordon Brown was to become prime minister, and wear the badge of office.
Myself and my wife are both nurses, and we obviously have an axe to grind with Brown and his rogues, for Gods sake bus drivers earn more than a newly qualified nurse.
My wife in particular is effected by fuel prices and car tax , as she is a CPN and the car is essential for her to visit her patients. We are one of the biggest oil producing countries in the world, yet its revenue is collected by another country? Scotland the time has come for us to set our own goals and look after our own interests. Lets look to the future of a blossoming nation, and a positive future.
Fuel Prices
The present very high prices of fuel - particularly diesel - is making it extremely difficult for community nurses to maintain a decent standard of living. The cost at some pumps is as much as £1.30/litre and nurses are out of pocket until the following month when the reimbursement is included in their salary - and taxed yet again.
The rates for reinbursement are negotiated UK nationally, but they do not take into account the rural areas with a need for fuel that is much greater than cities and towns due to the rurality.
What are the chances of our government in Edinburgh making a special case for community nurses?
Fuel Rip Off
I see the UK goverment are quick to raise fuel duty but not to lower it when they are getting millions in extra revenue from the inflated price of oil at present. Personally I see a crash of oil prices sooner rather than later. Unfortunately it is our reliance on fossil fuels that is our achilles heal, even if we had total control of North Sea oil.
How they can justify such a high duty on fuel is beyond me. More like they have been getting away with it for so long that the people just accept it.
I also wonder why oil is so expensive considering we now have access to Iraq's oil? Iraq has the third largest reserves in the world yet oil was cheaper when we had embargo's in place to stop them selling their oil except to raise revenue to buy food. Remember that folks, the 'Oil for Food' program?
Besides independance and getting access to all the North Sea oil revenue we need to look at alternative fuel sources for vehicles. Electricity is the most viable. Hydrogen powered cars are a red herring put forth by the petro-chemical company's with collusion by the car manufacturers and politicians.
Did you know that in Brazil 80% of cars run on fuel derived from cane sugar? They run on ethanol. It's less than half the price we pay for petrol. Who makes these cars? Ford, GM, Fiat, Renault, Peugot,Toyota, Volkswagon. The process, due to it being a growing plant also takes 2.5 tonnes of carbon monoxide out of the atmosphere for every tonne produced by cars. This model is not applicable for Scotland but I'm simply pointing out what is achievable. Then there is bio-diesel, another much greener source.
Hydrogren technology is still in the stoneage and it will be at least as expensive as oil. Purely electric cars work and the technology is here. GM in America made a very successful electric car- too good it seems as they took them all back from the customers they leased them to and destroyed them. They refused to let the customers buy them- not for any amount of money. I recommend watching a film called 'Who Killed the Electric Car?'. Google it. The powers that be are engineering a slow changeover to hydrogen in the next three decades and guess who will control it? Shell, BP etc.
The arguement that electric cars just create a ''longer tailpipe'' due to electricity having to be generated from coal burning power stations is another lie. We have wind/ tide generators now and even coal burning power stations can be made much greener with carbon scrubbing technology. And, even though I hate to say it, we have nuclear power.
The pro's and con's of nuclear power stations are obvious but what is less so is that in this future we live in we will need it. If oil and coal ran out tomorrow we could not build enough wind turbines and tidal generators to power Scotland unless we covered the whole country and shores with them. The main con of nuclear power is the risk of a radio-active leak or melt down and how to deal with nuclear waste. Both of these can be overcome, and to a great degree they already have been. I often think that a simple solution would be to put the waste in a rocket and propel it into the sun. Expensive but effective. However it too raises a problem. What if the rocket failed at or after lift off? Rockets have much better success rates than they did and in the not too distant future perhaps they will be almost failsafe. Not good enough to be 'almost failsafe' I hear you say. Add to that the way the waste is stored on board so as to survive intact even if the rocket failed. I know I'm talking pure science fiction but so was landing on the moon once.
In a new Independant Scotland we will have the opportunity to re-write the rule book. Not overnight but we will need bright and innovative thinkers for this bright future. More than that we will need leaders to match. I hope and believe that the SNP are those leaders.
Justin