How the Faroese do it...
The ridiculous suggestion by our MP of "petrol tourism" to the Faroe Islands by hard-pressed locals, actually serves only to undermine the argument that he is trying to make.
The reason that petrol is so cheap in the Faroe Islands is very simple, and it is not that they control their own taxation affairs as he blurted out in the House of Commons.
The reasons are that the Faroe Islands are not part of the EU, and they receive a huge subsidy from the Danish Crown.
Part of that subsidy is that the islands are classed as a duty-free area (like the Canaries). In the Western Isles, that would reduce prices to about 60p per litre compared to the errrr 94p in the Faroe Islands that Mr MacNeil praises.
I assume that Mr MacNeil is not meaning to argue that dependency status and a continuing and permanent subsidy from the Crown is the answer, but his logic does seem quite muddled.
He does, perhaps unwittingly, fully endorse my view that we should be arguing for a duty-free area in the islands as the way forward, as he highlights the impact of that status, compared to 5p from a duty regulator.
Simpler, easier to implement and control, and has a massive impact. So why the reticence?
The reason that petrol is so cheap in the Faroe Islands is very simple, and it is not that they control their own taxation affairs as he blurted out in the House of Commons.
The reasons are that the Faroe Islands are not part of the EU, and they receive a huge subsidy from the Danish Crown.
Part of that subsidy is that the islands are classed as a duty-free area (like the Canaries). In the Western Isles, that would reduce prices to about 60p per litre compared to the errrr 94p in the Faroe Islands that Mr MacNeil praises.
I assume that Mr MacNeil is not meaning to argue that dependency status and a continuing and permanent subsidy from the Crown is the answer, but his logic does seem quite muddled.
He does, perhaps unwittingly, fully endorse my view that we should be arguing for a duty-free area in the islands as the way forward, as he highlights the impact of that status, compared to 5p from a duty regulator.
Simpler, easier to implement and control, and has a massive impact. So why the reticence?
11 comments:
Only with Independence can we be that innovative Angus. The UK just wouldn't wear it.
Simpler, easier ... means smaller Government, means less stature, means job cuts, means strikes means change. This is civil service after all, even now the UK budget defect is skyrocketing ... front loading before the cuts bring it back to above where it was.
There is no point in doing anything in Government unless it means more administration, more accountants (sorry) and more lawyers. I imagine the corporate representatives of the latter are influencing the former more than we might expect.
Aye right and as likely as pigs flying whether in the UK or an independent Scotland.
I suppose the Faroes are the New Norway now that petrol and diesel in Norway are dearer (due to tax) than they are even in Barra!
Salaries are rather more in Norway......
Norwegian oil revenues have paid for (and will continue to pay for) large infrastructure projects in Norway. Scottish oil revenues have paid for large infrastructure projects such as the M25 and the next project funded by Scottish oil revenues will be a fast rail track from London all the way to ..... Birmingham
Anon 8:08
It doesn't take long for the anti-English wing of the SNP to show themselves.
Scotland, the only country to have oil discovered on its doorstep and got poorer. Where has it all gone? You're right...
Anon 8.08 It never takes long for the anti Scottish elements of the LabConDems to become vocal. And it is more anti UK to demand that Scottish oil revenues be spent in Scotland
Dear Anon 8:08 - oh dear.
Chips on both shoulders to balance out your insecurities?
Is it your pathetic argument that the London-Birmingham rail line is exclusively funded by North Sea Oil, whilst the Edinburgh tram system is paid for exclusively out of Scottish tax-payers pockets?
Perhaps you should consider your logic that "Scottish" oil funds the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Doesn't that make you proud to be a SNP supporter?
I see the SNP supporting, demented letter writing, lunar inspired hob goblin is burning the midnight oil drafting daft letters to Heb News. Gonny leave him alane an stoap windin him up everyboady?
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