The cost of Arran’s fuel

Katy Clark MP attended a fuel summit meeting earlier this month, where the price of fuel on islands was discussed with interested parties including the Scotland Office, Treasury Officials, the Office of Fair Trading, MPs and fuel retailers and distributors. The meeting was arranged in response to concerns raised in Parliament by Ms. Clark and other MPs for Scottish islands about the continuing differences in the price of fuel between the mainland and island locations.

Ms Clark said she remains ‘very concerned about the high price of fuel for motorists on Arran’ and pointed out that prices of unleaded petrol on Arran were 16 to 18 pence per litre higher than those in the Three Towns. She said, ‘It is simply not fair for those who live on islands such as Arran to continue being penalised in this way.’ While acknowledging that the 5p per litre discount introduced in March 2012 was a welcome step forward, Ms Clark said it fell ‘well short of what is required.’ She has requested in the House of Commons that the discount be increased and also raised this at the Fuel Summit, where it was not ruled out, but will need to be justified to the European Union when the current pilot comes to an end.

There was some discussion about whether the Office of Fair Trading should be involved. Ms Clark said, ‘I would also be very interested in talking to petrol retailers on Arran to discuss what they think could be done.’

‘Dangerously low’ staffing levels at new coastguard station

Katy Clark has revealed that the Coastguard Station in Belfast now responsible for maritime safety in the West of Scotland is often staffed at an alarmingly low level. In response to her Parliamentary question, the Government was forced to admit that Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre Belfast (MRCC Belfast), which now supervises the Clyde area, was staffed at below risk-assessed levels on 40 shifts in December 2012 and on 43 shifts in January this year.

Fears were raised before the closure of MRCC Clyde that maritime safety in Western Scottish waters might be compromised by the change to Belfast. Warnings were given at the time that the loss of local knowledge would result in an inadequate service – and it seems now that the concerns were well justified. Katy Clark said, ‘These alarming figures underline the extent to which the closure of MRCC Clyde has compromised maritime safety along the West Coast of Scotland. The Government has repeatedly failed to provide satisfactory answers to genuine safety concerns regarding the closure of the Greenock station.’ She continued, ‘The revelation that MRCC Belfast is now being staffed at dangerously low levels will do nothing to allay people’s fears …I believe it is likely that lives are being put at risk by the closure of MRCC Clyde.’

Ms Clark insists that the Government must act quickly ‘to ensure that safety is not jeopardised further by its reckless and poorly thought out closure programme.’ She was scheduled to question the Secretary of State for Transport on the subject during Transport Questions on Thursday of last week. The answer will be of vital importance to everyone in the Clyde marine area, including Arran.

For more information please contact the office of Katy Clark MP on 0207 219 8667.