Council reminds rural petrol stations of proposed extension to rural fuel rebate scheme

20th August 2013

The Highland Council has written to rural petrol filling station operators throughout the Highlands who do not currently receive rural fuel rebate, to remind them that they have until 4 September 2013 to respond to the HM Treasury Call for information on the “Proposed extension of the rural fuel rebate scheme”.

Councillor Drew Millar, Highland Council’s Campaign Lead on Fuel Prices said: “The Highland Council’s programme is committed to working with partners to secure fair fuel prices across the area. This consultation opens up the possibility of an extension of the islands’ fuel rebate to remote mainland areas. It is important to highlight this opportunity to rural petrol retailers who need to provide evidence of recent prices to the Treasury.”

Gordon Robb, Highland Council’s Trading Standards Manager explains in the letter: “Currently there is in existence a rural fuel rebate pilot scheme in operation which offers a five pence per litre discount on pump prices to certain island communities including the Scottish islands.

“In the 2012 Autumn Statement the UK Government announced that it was considering whether to seek EU approval for an extension of the scheme to other remote parts of the UK that are likely to display similar cost characteristics to the islands."

He added: “As part of this work, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander MP has recently announced the start of a Call for Information on which their decision would be based.”

The Council has written to operators of retail petrol filling stations in The Highland Council area that do not currently receive the rebate, to ensure that they are aware of this Call for Information; what is being asked for and how to respond.

Details on how to make a response are on the UK Government website at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rural-fuel-rebate-pilot-scheme-extension-call-for-information.

Any queries about the Call for Information, the current Rebate Scheme and responses should be made direct to the UK government at rhmtruralfuelrebate[AT]hmtreasury.gsi.gov.uk

All submissions need to be made by 4 September 2013.