Beith speaks up for mercy mission farmers at Westminster

3.00.00pm GMT Mon 18th Jan 2010

Berwick's Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith has challenged the Government to support farmers, not threaten them with prosecution for using red diesel to clear snow-blocked roads and spread grit.

Sir Alan was alerted to the problem after local farmers were sent briefings from the National Farmers Union which set out when red diesel could be used and when it was not permitted during snow clearance and gritting work.

Sir Alan raised the issue with Harriet Harman in the House of Commons on 14 January. He called on the Government to ensure the Solicitor-General or a Treasury minister could give farmers an assurance on the issue.

Speaking after the exchange, Sir Alan said:

"They really are on another planet. Ministers have no idea about the problems in rural areas and the way people get together to tackle them. Farmers should be helped not threatened when they are keeping the roads open.

"Rural areas seem to be as remote to Ministers in London as the western Sahara."

In an NFU Briefing issued on 8 January 2010 the following guidance was given on snow clearance:

HQ has provided some notes on what you can and can't do in terms of snow clearance, etc, in relation to red diesel. Please let us know if you have had any problems with VOSA or the police if you have been carrying out these operations. Many farmers have contracts with councils to clear snow and keep rural roads open. With praise coming even from the Secretary of State on the superb efforts of the farming community in assisting with driving conditions in the current cold snap, it's important to ensure you remain on the right side of the law.

· Snow clearance - Using rebated fuel (red diesel) in agricultural machinery to clear snow for access is permitted by HMRC. This may be on your own farm tracks or on the public highway to clear the route for such things as feed deliveries or milk collections. Bear in mind that operations such as clearing snow on private roads and car parks for reward would not be a legitimate use of red diesel as it does not relate to the agricultural operation.

· Gritting - It is not permitted to use red diesel when applying grit using a tractor and spreader, whether trailed or mounted. Only machines purely designed for gritting are allowed to use rebated fuel, all other gritting machinery should be run on white diesel.

· Insurance and other issues - NFU Mutual has stated that under its tractor and commercial vehicle insurance, farmers are insured to use vehicles to clear snow. It is always worth checking your policy to ensure you are covered before any operation is carried out. Also ensure that the rest of your machinery is road legal before venturing out on the highway, especially your lighting during these periods of poor visibility.