NFU Scotland Requests Fuel Duty Cancellation
20/08/07

NFU Scotland, in conjunction with NFU England and Wales and the Ulster Farmers’ Union, has written to Alistair Darling MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, requesting a cancellation or postponement of the two pence per litre red diesel fuel duty increase due to take place in October.

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Jim McLaren, NFU Scotland President, said:

“This year’s exceptional weather has had a significant impact on farm businesses. Some will have lost crops and the bringing in of the harvest for the rest will result in much higher fuel bills. Greater drying of crops is required this year to secure the harvest and with the ongoing volatility in world oil prices, the amount spent by farmers on red diesel will be high.

“We have formally asked the Chancellor to cancel or, at very least, postpone the planned October red diesel fuel duty increase of 2 pence per litre. In the past, increases in fuel duty have been postponed in recognition of volatile world oil prices. With the substantial rise in oil prices this year and the added cost burden faced by the agriculture industry because of this year’s exceptional weather we hope that Mr Darling will consider the cancellation or the postponement of the October fuel duty increase.”

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