The Scottish Plant Owners Association (SPOA) has appealed for rapid intervention from the UK Government as diesel costs hit a reported record £2 a litre. President David Jarvie said the surge is compounding strains from the 2022 removal of the red diesel rebate and changes to Business Property Relief (BPR) and Agricultural Property Relief (APR).

Speaking about the challenges facing plant owners, he said: "The SPOA represents businesses owning or hiring plant in Scotland. On the back of the challenges presented by the removal of the rebate on red diesel in 2022 and the changes to Business Property Relief (BPR) and Agricultural Property Relief (APR), the soaring rise in the cost of diesel is yet another hammer blow to the plant industry.

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"Whilst the SPOA is fully supportive of decarbonisation and a transition to net zero, the fact is that there is still a long way to go. Significant progress is being made in alternative fuels such as hydrogen, HVO and electric, but we are not there yet. If businesses need to absorb increased costs of diesel, then the headroom for the required investment in using new technologies is going to be significantly curtailed.

"The SPOA is calling on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to introduce measures to lessen the impact of the rising cost of diesel such as a targeted cut on commercial diesel. We are also calling on the Prime Minister to step up diplomatic efforts to tackle the supply challenges of diesel from the Middle East and the threat from the USA to cease its exports of diesel, both of which will only drive up the price of diesel to unsustainable levels."