Views
A call for information on fuel pricing - for the Inverness Courier
A golden performance for local paralympians
The 2012 Paralympics have been incredible, with outstanding performances from Team GB and our local athletes.
I was enormously honoured to witness Highland paralympian David Smith, from Aviemore, win gold in the thrilling rowing's mixed coxed four final. Fellow Highlander Karen Darke, from Inverness, also won silver in the H1-2 time trial in cycling; and sportingly sacrificed a second medal to finish hand in hand with her teammate Rachel Morris. Last but not least, fellow Badenoch & Strathspey athlete Craig Maclean, from Grantown, also won gold as pilot to Anthony Kappes in cycling's individual sprint.
I am sure everyone will join with me in congratulating them for their exceptional performances and thanking them for the part they have played in inspiring the next generation of local athletes.
The Olympic tradition has always been about stretching the limits of human physical and mental capability and the Paralympics are no different. For that reason, they belong firmly at the heart of the international Olympic movement. This year’s Paralympics have been truly inspirational and have surpassed all expectations. Congratulations go to the organisers and all the athletes who took part.
A call for information on fuel pricing
People living in the Highlands already experience some of the highest prices in the UK - and the rising price of fuel is a major concern. With fuel and energy prices rising almost daily, a lot of local people and organisations have had to give up on non-essential travel and for many in the Highlands, who depend on long distance transport; the costs are eating into their budget.
Last week, the Office of Fair Trading announced a call for information – seeking any evidence to confirm or refute claims that the reduction in the price of crude oil is not reflected by the price at the pump. The appeal has come amid concerns that a lack of completion in the market; pricing structures which delay passing on savings; and practices which make it more difficult for independent retailers to compete, contribute to the lack of savings for consumers.
We have all watched the price at our local petrol station steadily increase over recent years, while drops in price are very rare. That is why the coalition government is doing everything possible to reduce fuel prices - particularly in rural areas. This year, we rolled back the 3p tax increase due to come into effect last month and we have been working to reduce fuel prices for harder to reach places – including a 5p duty cut for our island communities. However, fuel retailers also have an obligation to ensure that those savings and reductions in the price of crude oil are passed on to people at the pump.
I would encourage local people and organisations to provide the OFT with any evidence they have regarding fuel prices or the practise of local fuel suppliers. Alternatively, please contact my office as I am more than happy to pass information on to them.
A boost for housing
Wherever I go in the country, one of the most commonly raised issues is housing. Whether it is lack of affordable housing, difficulty getting onto the property ladder or developers who find problems with red tape and funding stalling potential new builds.
I was therefore delighted with last week’s announcement that we as a Government are putting real measures in place to tackle these issues.
Following last week’s announcement, developers who can show that they’re sitting on unprofitable sites will be able to negotiate with councils to reduce the obligation on them. This is a time-limited offer that applies to schemes that are shovel-ready but being held up, providing a real boost for the housing sector up and down the country.
However, Liberal Democrats in Government have ensured that there will be more public affordable, as well as private, homes built. We are ensuring that government guarantees - that I awarded in July for infrastructure projects – are allocated to housing associations. This will substantially reduce costs for housing associations and help them to fund new house building – together with £300m of other funding this will help over 15,000 new affordable houses to be built and also ensure 8,000 empty properties are brought back in to use.
While housing policy is devolved to the Scottish Government, I want to ensure that the benefit of government guarantees will be available in Scotland too. I want to see that this benefit of the credibility we have built up is felt across the whole of the UK.
In addition, there will be a large cash injection of £280m for the First Buy scheme, which allows first-time buyers to step onto the property ladder. Since its introduction, it has been extremely successful with 10,000 people taking it up so far. We have therefore extended the scheme to a further 16,500 first-time buyers to help them buy houses by March 2014.
These measures are on top of the £570 million Get Britain Building fund which aims to unblock stalled sites with the capacity for up to 16,000 homes, and the £770 million invested in infrastructure for housing and growth through the Growing Places Fund.
Overall, Liberal Democrats in Government are ensuring that we do all we can to support and engage the Scottish Government, which can make an important contribution to getting our economy moving.
ENDS
Posted on: 14/09/2012
