Rural communities across Scotland and particularly on the Islands are being forced to pay substantially more for vehicle fuel than urban areas. This means deep unfairness for households already facing budget pressures.

Local residents of the Kintyre and Islands ward rely on their cars to get to and from work as well as visiting family and friends, due to limited public transport links. Pump prices are being inflated in rural areas, as prices are reduced in cities because of competition.

On top of getting hammered at the petrol pump 35% of those living in rural parts of Scotland are likely to be in fuel poverty, compared to 30% in urban areas. Energy prices tend to be higher and incomes tend to be lower in rural areas. Many households rely on fuels like heating oil, electricity, LPG and solid fuel. These markets can be limited, restricting consumer choice and increasing costs.

Around 31.5% of rural households rely on heating oil. Heating oil prices can be volatile, and collective purchasing clubs, which can reduce costs, are uncommon in many parts of rural Scotland. Also around 22% of households rely on electric heating. They tend to have the lowest incomes and are also likely to pay a poverty premium, as electric heating is by far the most expensive type of heating.

High pump prices and disproportionate levels of fuel poverty are yet more examples of how we in rural Scotland are getting a raw deal. I would implore central governments of all political stripes to rectify this imbalance. I will continue to work with my Scottish Conservative colleagues to help give a voice to the often ignored everyday rural residents.

Cllr Alastair Redman