Carmichael welcomes fuel duty freeze

Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael has welcomed news that ministers have shelved a planned increase in fuel duty that would have seen the price of petrol increase by 3p per litre in January 2012.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the duty freeze today, along with a range of other measures in the annual autumn statement to the House of Commons.

Mr Carmichael said: “People in the Northern Isles do not need to be told of the difficulties that high fuel prices are causing for families up and down the country.

“A freeze on fuel duty in January and the scrapping of plans for a further 2p per litre increase next autumn will make a real difference at the pumps.”