James BryceDRIVERS in Spain are benefitting from one of the lowest fuel tax burdens in Europe, according to official figures.
The percentage of fuel price taken in duty and tax from Spanish drivers was 48 per cent for unleaded and 41 per cent for diesel, in Mid-January.
This was in sharp contrast to the UK where drivers endure the highest rates in Europe, handing over 60 per cent (unleaded) and 58 per cent (diesel) in levies.
Spain was the fourth lowest nation for both types of fuel, with unleaded costing 113.1 pence per litre for unleaded (132.9 UK) and 112.6 pence per litre for diesel (141.3 UK).
Only Luxembourg and Cyprus took less tax for both types of fuel, with Bulgaria also lower for unleaded and Lithuania taking a lower cut for diesel.
I live nine miles north of Glasgow and the price of unleaded in our village is 141.9 per litre for unleaded and 146.9 for diesel and yet seven miles away within the city boundary unleaded is 134.9. If the retailer in the village was allowed to compete with the stations in surrounding areas people would be more able to support him. By contrast my brother who works in the oil industry and is currently offshore Brunei emailed to tell me that unleaded there is 15p per litre and diesel an extortionate 25p per litre. It is high time the British Government wakened up and realised it is they who are cripling the country’s residents.
Its also important to remember when I came to Spain 5 years ago it was approximately 90c a litre now Im paying 1.25c, a 39% increase!!!
1 year further on and you are paying another 15 cents a litre, if you are in Valencia region.