Whilst there is no doubt that the factors quoted in the mainstream press such as speculation on oil future markets and dollar weakness have an influence on the price of oil, the elephant in the room which no one seems willing to acknowledge is oil depletion.
We had a fine example of this on the BBC in this past week. In "Truth, Lies, Oil and Scotland" we were treated to a gushing hour on the state of the Scottish oil industry. You would have to conclude the North Sea is in rude health if you formed your opinions based on this program alone. Did I blink and miss the part where the journalist mentioned the fact that oil production in the UK sector peaked in 1999 and has halved since then?
Back on dry land, we wince as the price at the pumps ticks higher and our MP heads to Downing Street to discuss our plight with the Chancellor. Unfortunately, Alistair Darling has no control over oil prices.
Even if he cut fuel duty to zero and removed VAT completely, eventually the skyrocketing price of crude would undo his changes. Whilst it is admirable that Angus Macneil wishes to see some relief for his constituents at the pumps I hope that he and the cross party panel of MPs will be thinking about the wider issues governing high fuel prices.
Our politicians need to face up to the fact that all our biggest and best fields are in terminal decline, that the UK is now a net importer of oil and it is questionable whether we can rely on OPEC countries to meet future demand, countries that refuse to have their fields externally audited to verify their claimed reserves.
Plans should be made in light of these factors and our leaders should be looking at massive expansion of research into alternative energy sources for transport and legislating for energy efficiency in transportation as a matter of urgency.

ALASDAIR FINLAYSON
8 Anderson Road,
Stornoway