UK DIESEL COST IS HIGHEST IN EUROPE – YET SECOND LOWEST BEFORE TAX.

UK DIESEL COST IS HIGHEST IN EUROPE – YET SECOND LOWEST BEFORE TAX.

LABOUR’S FUEL TAX HINDERS RECOVERY

The SNP have today highlighted figures showing that the costs of diesel with tax in the UK makes it the most expensive in Europe and warned that the UK Labour government must take account of how its road fuel taxes are affecting the transport industry and the costs of goods in terms of economic recovery

The latest figures from the European Commission’s Directorate General Energy and Transport – published this week - show that diesel in the UK diesel is the most expensive in Europe at 1.23 Euros a litre. This compares with an EU average on 1.06 Euros a litre.

However when tax is excluded the price of diesel in the UK drops dramatically and is the second lowest in Europe at 0.44 Euros a litre. Only Bulgaria is lower at 0.42 Euros a litre

SNP Westminster Transport spokesperson and Western Isles MP – where diesel on the costs are some of the highest in Scotland - Angus MacNeil, said:

“The Treasury’s tax take on diesel is modern day highway robbery. It is a national scandal that, in an oil rich country like Scotland, we are paying more than 30p a litre more than motorists in Romania and Bulgaria.

“Key sectors like the haulage industry are reeling from forecourt costs, and Alistair Darling must use his Pre-Budget report next month to bring down the cost of fuel. Another factor that cannot be ignored is how these costs impact on the costs of goods in the stores for ordinary households?

“A strong haulage industry is a vital part of our economy. The fact is that soaring fuel prices are actually hindering economic recovery from recession.”