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Finance Bill

High oil prices are clearly causing a serious problem in rural areas, especially in the islands where the price of petrol at the pumps is horrendous. Unfortunately, however, I do not think that the new clause will tackle the problem. When the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Stewart Hosie) proposed it, he admitted that it was less than perfect. I think that was SNP speak for ““It won’t actually work””—[Interruption.] The hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) asks what is our alternative? It would be that we need to move away from taxes on fuel to a system of road pricing, with higher charges for urban motorways and very small charges for rural roads, especially in the islands, but I suspect, Madam Deputy Speaker, that if I started to explain our future transport policy, you would quickly rule me out of order and ask me to concentrate on the new clause.