Finance Bill — Remote rural fuel discount scheme — rejected — 2 Jul 2008 at 18:30

The majority of MPs voted against establishing a "remote rural fuel discount scheme" in this years' annual Finance Bill, which establishes the tax regime across the country.

The clause, which was rejected, said:^[1]

• The Treasury shall by regulations provide for the introduction, by no later than 1 April 2009, of a remote rural fuel discount scheme whose purpose is to provide a rebate on road fuel duty at qualifying retail outlets in qualifying areas to reduce the premium paid for fuel in such areas over the national average.
• These regulations may:
• specify the amount of the fuel duty rebate;
• define "remote rural areas";
• define qualifying retail outlets, including any restriction;
• specify how the rebate is to be applied, including, authorising HMRC to define procedures and conduct audits, and how any administrative costs are to be defrayed;
• provide for it to be an offence for a person fraudulently to supply or sell rebated fuel other than as proscribed by these regulations;
• provide for a system of registration of eligible retail outlets;
• provide for the scheme to be administered in Scotland by the Scottish Executive and in Wales by the Welsh Ministers.

No Conservative MPs voted for or against this law.

• [1] John Thurso MP, House of Commons, 2 July 2008

Debate in Parliament | Source |