Farron expresses concern over the pipeline closure, its impact on oil prices, and the potential for fuel shortages. He questions the Government's readiness to support vulnerable communities and asks about domestic energy generation, fuel duty cuts, the warm homes plan, and measures to secure heating oil prices. He also inquires about efforts to reopen the pipeline.

Morris echoes Farron's concerns, particularly regarding rural communities and the urgency of moving away from unstable foreign oil. He invites the Minister to visit a community energy project in Humshaugh Net Zero.

The ongoing events in the Middle East are impacting Britain's energy security, especially following the attack on the Saudi east-west pipeline, which could lead to a depletion of Saudi oil stocks and uncertainties in the Strait of Hormuz. The Member questions the Government's decision to put the Jackdaw gasfield approval on hold due to political concerns, suggesting that drilling in domestic fields could reduce reliance on overseas supplies.

Concerning the rising energy bills due to the Saudi pipeline attack, the Member asks about the Government's efforts to reduce reliance on international fossil fuels and seeks support for residents in his constituency to lower their bills.

The Member questions whether the pursuit of green energy is a zero-sum game, suggesting that oil drilling in the North sea is necessary for immediate self-reliance and to address the current crisis.

Given the risk to energy security, the Member asks if the Government should prioritise EN-6 sites, like Oldbury in her constituency, over private wire arrangements that do not support the grid.

The Member criticises the Labour and SNP Governments for talking down North sea oil and gas workers, asking the Government to approve Jackdaw and Rosebank as a matter of urgency.

Concerning the rising cost of domestic heating oil due to conflicts abroad, the Member asks what steps the Government will take to develop a price cap for heating oil.

The Member questions the principle that we are more secure if we exploit our own domestic oil and gas resources rather than relying on imports from the Middle East.

The Member urges the Government to utilise domestic oil and gas resources to reduce reliance on overseas fossil fuels, suggesting it would create jobs and growth.

The Minister seems confused about why the word socialism would be used in a negative context. It has something to do with the fact that every country that socialism touches it destroys, and we have a prime example here. Perhaps the Minister will take his head out of the sand and look at my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen South, who is sat on the Conservative Benches off the back of a stunning by-election win that was a referendum on the North sea oil and gas issue. That shows the complete lack of confidence the industry has in the SNP in Scotland and in Labour here. It is time to drill, baby, drill.

Residents in my constituency, such as my constituent Rhys, have contacted me worried about the impact of this situation on their bills. He shopped around, has a renewable-only tariff, insulated his home and bought an electric car. Although he welcomes the VAT cut to electricity, he says that the recently announced increase in the cap and the one he is now expecting in January will more than wipe it out. He says that throwing money at consumers does not deal with the huge profits or change supplier behaviour. Will the Minister accelerate plans to fully and quickly decouple electricity prices from the wholesale price of gas?

The Houthis are not going away and it is likely that the crisis will get worse rather than better. On 16 March, I asked the current middle east Minister, the hon. Member for Cardiff South and Penarth, what UK naval assets could be, or were being, deployed to the region, given that it was pretty predictable that at some point Tehran would put pressure on the Houthis to assist it in its reign of terror in the region. I ask again: what naval and other military assets are being put in the region so that we can safeguard British, partner, allied and NATO shipping and ensure that the crisis is minimised as much as possible? Finally, three of our Five Eyes partners have proscribed the Houthis as a terrorist organisation. I do not expect the Minister to declare a proscription on the Floor of the House, but are the Government at least keeping that under review?

Diolch, Madam Dirprwy Lefarydd. Rural communities in Wales are being hit hard at the pumps. While the average price of unleaded petrol across Wales is just over 162p per litre, the very cheapest in Caerfyrddin is 165.9p—166p per litre—with most forecourts charging more. Rural households do not have a choice but to drive, yet they are paying a premium simply because of where they live. The Government must surely step up and support those communities. Will the Minister extend the rural fuel duty relief scheme to Wales to support households in rural areas?

The Saudi closure of the east-west oil pipeline and the continuing disruption in the strait of Hormuz demonstrate how important it is that the UK Government issue new licences to drill in the North sea—in our own British oil and gas reserves—in order to provide national security and job security, and, most importantly, to reduce energy bills for hard-working families. Surely the Minister can understand that.

The National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, has said that Europe will experience real hardship this winter. We have repeatedly seen the UK exposed to energy shocks linked to volatile fossil fuel prices set on international markets: Russia and Ukraine, the strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandeb and now the Saudi east-west oil pipeline. Will the UK step up investment in clean, domestic renewable energy production, as well as in the grid to distribute it?

I thank the Minister for his answers. The recent hostile attack by the Iranian-backed Houthis on critical Saudi pipeline infrastructure represents a deeply concerning escalation that threatens not only regional stability but global energy policy—it is as serious as that. Will the Minister outline what specific steps the Government are taking with our international partners to bolster the maritime infrastructure of our allies in the Gulf, and say when countermeasures to destroy Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists and murderers will take place? The only thing that they understand is a strong response to stop state-sponsored aggression.