Category Archives: MP

Angus B MacNeil MP has written to the UK Government about a Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS) briefing which insisted that 500 litres was the minimum delivery of heating oil from road tankers.

The issue arose after constituents worried that they would be unable to afford the minimum delivery of 500 litres contacted Mr MacNeil. Now the islands’ MP says the responsible minister has clarified the situation and said that the FPS is wrong.

Mr MacNeil said: “I wrote to the UK Government regarding the FPS briefing note which states that 500 litres is the minimum volume of oil “that can legally be delivered by road tanker”. With the average price of heating oil in the region of 71p per litre, people are being asked to spend over £300. This is a huge expense especially for pensioners and those on low incomes.
“Among my concerns is that with the minimum delivery policy of 500 litres, pensioners will be put off from buying heating oil and find themselves in a situation where they have to choose between heating or eating”.”

He said David Willetts, the UK minister for Universities and Science, states very clearly in his response that the FPS briefing note as a general statement is incorrect.

“The minister highlights that there are no specific legal requirements for the minimum delivery of a road tanker to be 500 litres. In fact, he points out that the Measuring Instruments (Liquid Fuel delivered from Road Tankers) Regulations 2006 permits the delivery of quantities down to 100 litres.”

He said it was good news for all islanders – especially for pensioners and those on low incomes.

He said: “I have received assurances from the Minister that officials from his department will be contacting the FPS to inform them of the inaccuracy of their briefing note. I will contact FPS and the oil companies delivering to Na h-Eileanan an Iar in order to ask them to look again at their minimum delivery policy. With the winter approaching, they should be more understanding to the financial pressures on households and particularly our pensioners.”

Angus Macneil MP has phoned up Sam Chambers of Scottish Fuels regarding the fuel shortages in Uist and Barra.

He said: “I have spoken to Scottish Fuels who have confirmed that this fuel shortage is a result of issues with the holding tanks and travel difficulties.

“Scottish Fuels confirmed that they are actively trying to resolve this problem and that they are using road tankers from Stornoway to assist with this in the short-term.  They have also confirmed that the holding tanks at Lochcarnan will be fixed by 27 September.

“Scottish Fuels have assured me that they can cope with supply as long as people buy their normal amounts of fuel.”