Tuesday 29th April 2008

WEIR CALLS FAIR PLAY ON VED FOR WORKING 4X4’S

SNP PROPOSE AMENDMENT TO FINANCE BILL

Angus MP Mike Weir is supporting moves to for fair play on Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for working 4X4 vehicles.

The SNP have introduced an amendment to the Finance Bills in the House of Commons. Under an SNP amendment the rate of VED for working vehicles, such as those used by farmers, gamekeepers and mountain rescue volunteers, would be pegged to the lowest rate. 

Commenting on the move Mr Weir said

“The Treasury’s increase in vehicle excise duty on 4x4s directly and unduly hits rural areas where workers use four-wheel-drives out of necessity. This is yet another example of their one size fits all policy on environmental issues which totally fails to take into account the particular needs of rural areas such as Angus.

“Farmers, gamekeepers, and even mountain rescue volunteers, use four-wheel drives because they are practical for rough terrain and towing, not because of how they look when they do the school run.

“Unless we are prepared to seriously look at how such measures effect different areas we run the risk of alienating people from the whole climate change agenda. That would be a disaster.

“This amendment is about common sense for VED on working vehicles.”