Government out of touch with reality of life in rural areas
December 7, 2006 12:00 AM
Local MP John Thurso, in a question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer following the statement on the Pre-Budget Report yesterday, (6th December), again highlighted the high cost of fuel for motorists in the Far North.
He stated:
"The Chancellor announced an increase in fuel duty, with which I concur, as it must be right to redress the balance between public transport and motoring, but may I ask him again to address the punitive premiums paid in remote rural areas where there is no alternative to the car, as they cause real hardship and social exclusion?"
The Chancellor replied:
"The hon Gentleman will know that we introduced a varied licence fee, which is of benefit to people making choices in rural areas. This is one of the ways we have approached the issue. We have also put considerably more money into public transport, as a result of the decisions that we have made to allocate more resource in that area. For elderly people of course a national bus scheme will be introduced very soon. So we continue to look at what we can do to help rural areas. We continue to look at the variable elements of the vehicle excise duty system, and we continue to do more to provide for public transport in constituencies such as his."
Commenting afterwards, John Thurso said:
"It is clear that the government simply does not understand the scale of the problem. In his response to me the Chancellor spoke of bus subsidies when for many in the North there is no bus service to subsidise. He spoke of different VED when for many the choice of a small car is impractical as one vehicle doubles as family transport and croft workhorse."
"I have no argument with increasing the burden on urban motorists who have alternatives, but to impose the same burden in rural areas where there is no alternative to the car hits the less well off most. It causes hardship and social exclusion and is plainly unjust."
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats