Allan wants inquiry into island fuel monopoly 20/9/11
SNP MSP Alasdair Allan, has asked the Scottish Parliament’s Energy Committee if it will consider enquiring into the apparent monopoly on the supply of fuel to the Western Isles.
Dr Allan’s move follows sharp rises in the wholesale cost of petrol and diesel in the islands in recent days.
Alasdair Allan commented: “I have already indicated to Scottish Fuels that many people in the islands struggle to see the justification for raising fuel prices by as much as 5 pence a litre at exactly the moment the UK Government have confirmed their intention to reduce duty in island areas by the same amount.
“I have therefore written to Gavin Brown MSP, the Convenor of the Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, to ask whether his committee will consider investigating this issue.
“People in the islands wonder just how high fuel prices are going to get, with a differential now of anything up to 20 pence a litre between the islands and cities.”
He added: “I know the Office of Fair Trading have taken an interest in the past on the lack of competition when it comes to the supply of fuel to the islands and the effect which that seems to have on wholesale prices. I believe that this would make an interesting enquiry for the committee.
“It is obviously up to the committee itself to choose its agenda, but I will certainly make a case to them for looking at an issue which is causing real anger at the Western Isles.”