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Alan Reid
Alan Reid was first elected to serve Argyll & Bute as Member of Parliament in 2001.
In 2005 Helensburgh & Lomond became part of the constituency. On 5 May 2005 Alan Reid was re-elected with more than treble his previous majority, enabling his new constituents to get the same first class representation that the rest of Argyll & Bute enjoyed.
Alan Reid Criticises Brussels Bureaucrats over Pleasure Boat Fuel Tax
Alan Reid has slammed the European Commission for refusing the Government's request to extend Britain's derogation from the Directive that allows the Treasury to set a lower rate of fuel-tax on the red diesel used by private pleasure crafts.
This means that where private pleasure craft owners currently pay 7.69 pence per litre for their fuel, they will now have to pay the same duty as road users (48.35 pence per litre). This represents a massive increase of more than 600% The change is likely to come into effect sometime next year.
Commenting after the announcement, Alan Reid said:
"This is seriously bad news for the marine and tourism industries in western Scotland - the very industries on which the local economy depends.
"Many jobs in Argyll & Bute will be put at risk as a direct result of this decision taken by the EU bureaucrats in Brussels.
"Refuelling sites will have to install separate diesel pumps if they want to sell fuel to both commercial and private vessels. There is a risk that refuelling sites will decide this is not worth the cost and so will sell fuel to commercial customers only, leaving private craft owners with nowhere to fill their tanks."
Commenting further Alan Reid said:
"On the west coast, refuelling sites are already few and far between and if any of them chose not to sell diesel to private craft, there is a risk that these craft could end up stranded out of fuel.
"What makes this decision even more irresponsible is the likelihood that the Treasury will actually lose revenue as a result of this decision due to the implementation costs and the fall in sales due to price inflation."
- The proposed increase would only apply to private pleasure craft owners, not to commercial craft or fishing vessels.
- The actual percentage increase in fuel duty for private pleasure boat owners is 628.74%
- To see the Government's Regulatory Impact Assessment Details on the impact to the Firth of Clyde and the west coast of Scotland, see page 189 http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk./media/1E6/1B/bud06_rias_896.pdf
FOUR WAYS TO CONTACT ALAN REID
Liberal Democrat MP for Argyll & Bute
Write to: 95 Alexandra Parade, Dunoon, Argyll, PA23 8AL
Phone: 01369-704840
Fax: 01369-701212
Email: alan.reid@lib-dems.argyll-and-bute.co.uk
Alan Reid holds regular surgeries throughout Argyll & Bute.
These are advertised in the local press.
TV DIGITAL SWITCHOVER
The analogue TV signal is due to be switched off in Argyll & Bute sometime in 2010. After then, the only way to receive a television signal will be via digital television. The Government's target is that 98.5% of home should be able to receive digital through an aerial by the time they switch the analogue signal off. We know from past experience that the percentage who can't receive a signal will be far higher in a rural area like Argyll & Bute. Alan Reid has written to the Government pointing out that we pay the same TV licence fee as the rest of the country and called on them to make the target 100%.
Identity and Passport Service announce new Interview Office for Oban
Commenting on the announcement by the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) that a new Passport Interview Office is to be located at the Glenshellach Business Park in Oban, Alan Reid MP said:
"I'm pleased that Oban will get a Passport Interview Office - it is something I have long campaigned for.
"However, I am still calling on the IPS to use the Council-owned video links to ensure that islanders on Tiree, Coll, Jura and Colonsay do not have to travel all the way to Oban to attend their Passport Interview."
The New Passport Office will be located in Suite 2, 2 Glengallon Road, Glenshellach Business Park, Oban, PH34 4HH.
The Identity & Passport Service are introducing Passport Application Interviews. First time applicants aged over 16 applying for their first adult passport will have to attend an interview starting late in Spring 2007.
All applicants, including renewals, will have to attend interview from 2009 onwards.
There will be webcam links to allow applicants to be interviewed in Cowal, Rothesay, Campbeltown, Tobermory and Bowmore. People will have the choice of which office to attend for their interview.