CHILD`S PLAY?

As long ago as October, 2010, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, announced the Government’s intention to introduce a pilot scheme for a maximum of 5 pence per litre duty discount on petrol and diesel in the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles, and the Isles of Scilly. The Government was taking  this action because of the high costs of transporting and distributing fuel to remote Scottish Islands and the Scilly Isles, the long distances involved and the lack of any alternative transport options in those areas.

       

Now the Budget of a year ago, in June 2010, included this statement:-

“Reflecting the Coalition commitment to investigate measures to help with fuel costs in remote rural areas, the Government is considering the case for introducing a fuel duty discount in remote rural areas. This includes possible pilot schemes in Scotland.”

So, in October, the Government said that it would....

-Consider a design that is consistent with EU rules on State aid;             

-Undertake informal discussions with the European Commission prior to submitting a formal application to the Commission for a fuel duty rebate;
            
-Gain unanimous Member State approval; and

  -Implement in UK legislation.

A year on from the Budget announcement, not a lot appears to have happened apart from fuel prices rising even more sharply thus making life even more difficult not just for us mainlanders but especially for our remote islanders.

But just consider the process involved in getting even this relatively small scale pilot scheme going.   And it`s all bound up with EU buraucracy - a design for the pilot scheme - informal discussions - formal application - get unanimous approval - get UK legislation on the statute book....and then and only then can a pilot scheme be implemented.  Don`t think I`ll see it in my lifetime.

It`s one of those classic scenarios that you couldn`t possibly make up, one which could only happen in the stifling absurdity of the EU and one which again makes me feel that I live in a fantasy world rather than a real one.   In any reasonable sovereign state,  you would be forgiven for believing that a simple, sensible plan to look urgently at a serious issue affecting the lives of remote communities, would be child`s play.  Sadly, the game of EU bureaucracy seems as endless as it is pointless.