Government to ask for 5% cut in fuel duty for rural mainland areas Rural parts of Scotland could be given a cut in fuel duty. It has asked the European Commission if it can reduce the cost of fuel by 5p-per-litre for seven places in Scotland. Discounts have never been permitted on the mainland before, although they are already in place for in the Northern and Western Isles. The cut has been proposed for Acharacle, in Lochaber, Achnasheen, in Ross & Cromarty, Appin, in Argyll and Bute, Carrbridge and Dalwhinnie, in Badenoch and Strathspey, and Gairloch and Strathpeffer, in Ross & Cromarty. Three other places in the UK have also been included in the proposal - Hawes, in North Yorkshire, Kirkby-in-Furness, in Cumbria and Lynton, in Devon. The areas selected have consistently higher pump prices than are available in locations that already receive a discount. They are also more than 100 miles by road from the nearest refinery, and have a population density lower than 135 people per square kilometre. Chief Treasury Secretary Danny Alexander said it would not be easy to secure the extension to the scheme. The Governmet has to apply to Brussels for permission because, under the Energy Tax Directive of the European Union - countries must have a standardised rate within their borders. Mr Alexander, whose own Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey constituency would benefit from the scheme, said: "As a Highlander, I know all too well that fuel prices tend to be highest in areas where a car is needed the most. We've already delivered a tax cut for remote islands and now want to extend that to mainland rural areas that suffer from similarly high prices to the islands. We have put together the strongest possible evidence base to try and maximise the places that get it. As I've said before, it won't be easy to get this agreed with the Commission, but I will do everything I can to make this happen. The commission is expected to announce its decision on the proposal - which could increase the number of Britons who benefit from the discounts to 120,000 - next year.