'Rural households must not be penalised for 'choosing' to own a car' says MP

3.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 4th May 2006

Gordon MP, Malcolm Bruce has called on the Government to take account of those living in rural areas before proceeding with new flat charges in vehicle excise duty, regardless of location.

Speaking in the House of Commons in support of Liberal Democrat amendments to the Finance Bill, which puts into legislation all the provisions outlined by March's Budget Statement, Mr Bruce highlighted the disadvantages people in rural areas, such as Aberdeenshire, face if they are to be taxed on the same basis as those in urban areas, which are better served by public transport and have lower transport costs.

Mr Bruce said:

"Car ownership in rural areas, and certainly remote and sparsely populated rural areas, is not a luxury but a necessity, and the costs imposed are a real burden. In reality, poor people in rural areas simply cannot function without owning a car, yet under a previous definition people owning a car were not allowed to call themselves poor. That is the sort of absurdity that one gets into when the definitions do not take into account the reality on the ground.

"Through necessity, transport costs are much higher for those living in the North-East, the North of Scotland, the Borders and other rural areas of Scotland.

"Liberal Democrats recognise that environmental taxes have a social consequence and need to be refined. They cannot be applied as a blunt instrument."

ENDS