David Duguid the Conservative MP for Banff and Buchan held a meeting with Treasury Minister, Helen Whately to seek clarity on agriculture's exemption rights regarding red diesel after April 1st.

Farmers currently entitled to use red diesel for snow clearing, as well as cutting verges and trimming hedges but agricutural shows and ploughing matches were coming under threat.

Following the meeting, the MP was given verbal assurance that agricultural shows in his constituency such as Turriff and New Deer wouldn’t be affected by the change and was also assured that exemptions for red diesel used in ploughing matches and by farmers who help clear snow and cut hedges would not be changed.

Mr Duguid told the Buchan Observer: “Verbal assurance has now been given to me from the minister that operations within the confines of agricultural shows and ploughing matches will remain eligible to use red diesel as before.

“Red diesel will also continue to be allowed for use by farmers for the likes of clearing snow and cutting hedges and verges.

“This is welcome news for my constituents who were concerned about future costs associated with eligibility changes."