Written Question · S1W-04136 · Session 1
Whether it has received the report Economic Impacts of Road Fuel Prices in the Highlands and Islands of January 2000 by EKOS Ltd, commissio…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received the report Economic Impacts of Road Fuel Prices in the Highlands and Islands of January 2000 by EKOS Ltd, commissioned by Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and, if so, whether it accepts the findings of the Report and in particular the comparisons between (a) the average weekly expenditure per household in the Highlands and Islands on motoring costs including purchase, maintenance, insurance and tax and motor fuel and elsewhere in Scotland and the UK; (b) the average cost of motor fuel in the Highlands and Islands and the Scottish and UK averages; (c) the average age of private vehicles in the Highlands and Islands and elsewhere in the UK; (d) income levels in the Highlands and Islands and elsewhere in the UK, and (e) the real purchasing power of residents of the Highlands and Islands and that of the Scottish and UK population.
The answer
We have a copy of the EKOS report Economic Impacts of Road Fuel Prices in the Highlands and Islands and have no reason to doubt the figures presented. We recognise that higher fuel costs remains a matter of considerable concern for those living and working in rural areas and are committed to building on the current initiatives, including the £90 million Public Transport Fund and the £14 million Rural Transport Fund. The latter fund has supported over 300 new or improved bus services, over 70 community transport projects, and assistance for petrol station tank and pump replacement.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S1W-04136 by reference.