§ 1. Mr. Home RobertsonIf she will make a statement on the availability and price of ultra-low-sulphur diesel at urban and rural retail sites. [35973]
§ The Minister for Science, Energy and Industry (Mr. John Battle)I expect the availability of ultra-low-sulphur diesel fuel to increase following the changes in the relative levels of excise duty between that fuel and conventional diesel that were announced in the Budget recently. The price at which the product is sold is a matter for the retailers.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonThe new incentive in the Budget for drivers to use ultra-low-sulphur diesel fuel should have been good news. Is my hon. Friend aware that there was less rejoicing in my constituency than there might have been because the fuel is not available for sale anywhere in East Lothian? I understand that virtually all of it is imported and that very little gets as far as Scotland. Will my hon. Friend take the oil companies firmly by the throat at the earliest opportunity and tell them to stop discriminating against consumers in rural areas in general, and Scotland in particular, and to ensure that this excellent product is available on forecourts throughout the country?
§ Mr. BattleI welcome my hon. Friend's question. Ultra-low-sulphur diesel is known as city diesel fuel and is available from supermarkets—the main retailers at the moment—in towns and cities. I accept what my hon. Friend says about rural areas. If the differential is not a sufficient incentive to produce a positive bias in favour of providing the fuel, I shall push the matter further. I know that the Scottish Office recently undertook a study of rural petrol stations, and the report is expected in May. Let us 1396 hope that that is another means of taking the measure forward in Scotland as well, since it will have a positive environmental impact.