'No 3p' plea

ALISTAIR Darling has been urged not to implement a 3p increase in fuel duty, thought to be under consideration for this week's Budget.

The SNP has warned against the rise, claiming it will disproportionately affect Scotland because of its large expanses of rural areas.

Yesterday, Finance Secretary John Swinney said: "An oil-rich nation like Scotland should be reaping the benefits from our offshore resources, not paying fuel duty that's among the highest in Europe."

SNP leader Alex Salmond said it was "entirely reasonable" that Scotland was not penalised in this way.

But Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the duty rise should not be put off, saying: "You need to make sure that the fuel we put in our tank reflects the kind of environmental damage of people driving around – but you have to do it sensitively."