In news that is likely to interest car insurance customers in Scotland, finance secretary John Swinney has written to the UK chancellor demanding action to tackle rising fuel prices.
Mr Swinney has also called on the chancellor to relieve mounting pressure on Scotland's motorists .
He urged the UK government to establish a fuel duty regulator to ensure that high oil prices result in cuts in duty.
This will, he insisted, ensure overall fuel prices are kept in check.
"It is simply unacceptable that in energy-rich Scotland, motorists and businesses are facing pump prices that have reached over £1.40 a litre in some areas," Mr Swinney observed.
"Coupled with the UK government's recent VAT rise, these record fuel costs are putting a huge and unnecessary amount of pressure on our communities and on vital sectors of the Scottish economy, and risk choking the recovery we are building in Scotland."




