Fuel price folly

I refer to the article by Angus Howarth (13 March). Having been in the Highlands last weekend, I was taken aback by prices for unleaded petrol, in places up to 120.9p per litre, within 15 miles of Inverness. Even filling up at a well-known supermarket in the Highland capital cost 114.9p per litre, making it close to the most expensive tank of petrol to date as far as I was concerned.

Within 20 miles of Aberdeen, the hub for North Sea Oil, one petrol station I passed today was advertising petrol at 119.9p per litre.

I realise we are being encouraged to reduce our carbon emissions, and that the government's tax regime is set up to continue to charge motorists even more in the next few weeks. However, no consideration seems to have been given to reflecting the significantly changed circumstances we all face.

Raising the cost of fuel affects the supply of all products, wherever we purchase them, and in turn, must affect the rate of inflation at a time when its control is a key aspect of stabilising the economy. It also means that consumers' confidence is more difficult to recover, as they have to spend more, simply to purchase staple items, before even considering the cost of building and industrial materials.

You reported that both the AA and RAC are encouraging the Chancellor to postpone the planned fuel duty rise in April and this would assist.

Whenever there is a suggestion that fuel prices need to go up for commercial reasons, the price at the pump seems to rise immediately, but they do not appear to reduce when possible, as quickly. Why, for example, have there been increases in the price over the last month?

NM BRUCE

Watson Street

Banchory