MP gets rural fuel duty pledge into government's mid-term review

Local MP Tim Farron has urged the government to make good on the possibility mooted in its mid-term review of extending its successful rural fuel discount scheme to mainland rural communities like those in Cumbria.

The Rural Fuel Duty Rebate gives motorists on remote Scottish isles, and the Scilly Isles, a 5p per litre discount on their fuel. The mid-term review moots the possibility of extending the scheme to other remote rural communities. Tim has been a long term campaigner for a fuel derogation scheme for Cumbria.

Last year he wrote to Chancellor George Osborne, asking him to announce a similar scheme for Cumbria. Tim's lobbying has meant that the proposal to extend fuel derogation pilots is now in the government's mid-term review, announced yesterday.

On pages 16 and 17 of the Coalition Government's mid-term review document it states: 'We will consider the case for extending the rural fuel discount scheme to remote mainland communities.'

Tim said: "In rural areas like ours, a car is not a luxury; it is a necessity of life. Fuel costs are a major issue for local families and I am pushing hard to try and make the government act. The government have made some welcome moves on this issue, I urged the Chancellor to axe the previous government's planned rises last year - something which he did.

"However, there is still more they need to do to help hard-pressed businesses and families in Cumbria. I want to see the rural fuel derogation pilot brought to Cumbria. This would slash 5p off the cost of petrol at forecourts throughout the county."