Fuel shortages at petrol stations have dominated the national conversation over the past few days, but what is the situation in Scotland?

Long queues and pump closures have wreaked havoc across the UK, but the problems aren't actually related to a fuel shortage "at the source".  

Here's what you need to know...

Why are there fuel shortages at petrol stations?

There are numerous reasons for the fuel shortages at petrol stations, but the good news is that there is no fuel shortage "at the source" in the UK. 

Instead, it was a lack of HVG drivers that initially meant fuel could not reach a small number of petrol stations around the UK. 

BP told the UK Government last week that due to a lack of lorry drivers available to deliver fuel, it would prioritise motorway services and limit fuel delivery to keep the supply chain running. 

As a result, fuel was not delivered to some stations, causing the closure of some pumps.

This led to long queues and then panic buying, with supermarket Sainsbury's reporting a surge in demand for fuel over the weekend as people rushed to fill up there cars. 

According to president of the AA (Automobile Association) Edmund King, the shortages could pass in a few days if people only filled their cars when they needed and avoided panic purchasing. 

"The good news is you can only really fill up once – you’ve got to use the fuel, so this should be a short-term thing," he said.

"It’s not like the fuel crises in the past when the supplier was hit by strikes, etc.

"So, once people have filled up, they won’t travel more than they normally travel, so this strain on the system should ease up in the next few days."

He added that there "is plenty of fuel at source", a statement which has been reiterated by UK Transport Minister Grant Shapps and Scotland's deputy first minister John Swinney. 

Speaking on Sunday, Shapps said there "is no shortage of fuel", while Swinney said there is an "adequate supply of fuel to meet normal demand" in Scotland. 

What is the government doing to deal with the fuel shortages?

According to reports, the UK Government is considering easing restrictions on immigration to allow more foreign lorry drivers to come and work in the UK on a temporary basis. 

A shortage of HVG drivers has been causing problems in different sectors over the past few months, with supermarkets also hit. 

The reported plans have been met with mixed reaction. 

Tony Danker, the director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) described the expected change in rules on visas as a "huge relief" but said it was a "shame the government needed queues at pumps to move". 

However, critics of the plan suggest the government can't expect workers who were forced to leave to rush back on a temporary basis. 

Andy Prendergast, national officer of the GMB union, told the PA news agency: "Five years ago this country basically told European truck drivers to get on their bike.

"Now we’re in a crisis and we are desperate to welcome them back with open arms. It’s no surprise they aren’t queuing up to come back to the country that slung them out.

"Changing immigration rules or relaxing drivers’ tests is not the way to solve the HGV shortage. Paying drivers what they know they are worth, and improving appalling conditions in the industry, is."