Orkney and Shetland Liberal Democrat candidate Alistair Carmichael has condemned Ministers over their failure to tackle high fuel prices in the Northern Isles after new data revealed that petrol prices in the Northern Isles are amongst the highest in the UK.

The latest survey from the RAC shows that motorists in Orkney are now paying around £1.30 per litre for their fuel. This represents a staggering increase of 40 pence on the average price in 2005. The RAC figures show the prices in Shetland as £1.34 per litre; although in many areas it is even higher.

Mr Carmichael is calling on the Government to reverse the recent increase in fuel duty and introduce a derogation scheme that would see drivers in the Northern Isles pay less for their petrol.

Information obtained by the Liberal Democrats has also revealed that the most recent action taken by the Scottish Government on the issue of rural fuel duty was in November 2008.

Commenting, Mr Carmichael said:

‘For people in the Northern Isles, transport by private car is a necessity not a luxury. The latest increases in fuel prices have added to household expenditure at a time when many are already struggling to make ends meet. It is absurd and wholly unfair that people in Orkney and Shetland should have to pay over 10 pence more than the UK average price for every litre of petrol they put into their cars.

‘In other parts of Europe, drivers in remote and rural areas have been able to benefit from fuel duty derogation schemes that have slashed the amount of tax they pay on their petrol. The UK Government’s insistence that such a scheme would not work here simply does not bear close scrutiny. Ministers need to stop ignoring these problems and provide rural drivers with the assistance that is so urgently required.

‘This is a critical issue for people across the Northern Isles and in many other areas of Scotland. It beggars belief that the SNP have done nothing to lighten the burden on drivers in more remote areas since 2008.’