The price of fuel is hugely important here in the Highlands – with longer distances, fewer public transport alternatives, and often higher prices a car is a necessity, not a luxury, for most families. Even with the oil price falling in recent weeks, the pump price is still very high. That’s why I was pleased to play my part in taking the decision, announced last week, not to go ahead with the inflation increase in fuel duty planned for August.

As a Government, we have always been clear that helping families and businesses who are being hit by high fuel prices is a genuine priority.

When we came into office, Labour had baked into the nation’s finances plans for an above inflation increase every year until 2015. The coalition government has in fact kept fuel duty frozen for the last 2 years. As a result of our different approach to fuel costs, the tax on fuel is 10p a litre less than if the plan left by our predecessors had been implemented. Particularly here in the Highlands that makes a big difference, and shows the importance of having local voices in government.

This announcement is one of many decisions that we have taken to ensure that we are putting money back into the pockets of hard-working families and businesses. This year we have also made another big step in our programme of income tax cuts for low and middle income families. Inspired by the Liberal Democrat election manifesto goal that no one should pay tax on the first £10000 they earn, income tax for basic rate tax payers has already been reduced by over £300 a year – with the largest cut in the pipeline for next April. Together with action on fuel, those steps should make a difference for hard-pressed Highland families.

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Two weeks ago, 120 soldiers from 20th Armoured Brigade including 3 Scots (Blackwatch) were welcomed home following a tour of service in Afghanistan. Marching through New Palace Yard in the House of Commons to celebrate their return, I was extremely privileged and proud to watch them as they arrived.

The Brigade returned in April from a seven month tour where sadly, they lost 23 of their comrades.

On behalf of myself and the Highlands, I would like to thank and welcome home the members of Blackwatch, who have worked tirelessly to help defend our country and train their Afghanistan colleagues over the last seven months.

 

In recent months, we have all been made aware of the devastating impact unregulated arms sales can have on the lives of innocent civilians and families across the globe.

I was fortunate enough this week to meet with several local arms control campaigners for Amnesty International and their colleague David Grimason, in Inverness.

Mr Grimason’s story is not for the faint of heart.

In 2003, his toddler son, Alistair, was accidently shot while he, his mother and grandmother lunched in a local cafe in Foca, Turkey. While I can only imagine the trauma of a tragedy such as this has on a family, it is imperative that we remember that hundreds of thousands of families each year face similar heartbreak.

That’s why the UK has some of the strictest regulations on arms sales in the world and we are working to ensure that the rest of the international community recognise their obligation by agreeing a comprehensive arms trade treaty over the next few weeks at the United Nations. I hope the work Amnesty and David Grimason have been doing, with the strong backing of the UK government, to properly regulate international arms sales, will be a success.