Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Motorists: Fuel Costs

Thursday 13 October 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial discussions on fuel prices with Cabinet colleagues are ongoing, focusing on support for motorists in rural areas.
  • Jerome Mayhew highlighted the need for a price comparison tool similar to Northern Ireland's to address high fuel costs in rural constituencies.
  • Jim Shannon inquired about the possibility of VAT reductions for small and medium-sized businesses struggling with mileage allowance costs.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jerome Mayhew Con Broadland and Fakenham
Energy Business & Trade
Context

The question follows ongoing concerns about high fuel prices affecting rural constituencies where public transport is limited. The MP references the effectiveness of Northern Ireland's price-comparison requirement.

Question

What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on taking steps to support motorists with fuel costs, considering that rural areas have limited choice in forecourts and could benefit from a policy like Northern Ireland's price comparison tool?

Answer from Anne-Marie Trevelyan

I regularly discuss fuel prices with Cabinet colleagues, particularly those in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Our Departments are working with the Competition and Markets Authority, which is currently looking at fuel prices. We will continue to work together and with representatives of the fuel industry on this issue to ensure that motorists are paying a fair price at the pump. I agree with my hon. Friend that we need to focus on the challenges in rural areas, including my own constituency, which is why we asked the Competition and Markets Authority to conduct a thorough review.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about implementing Northern Ireland's fuel price checker policy was not directly addressed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Jerome Mayhew Con Broadland and Fakenham
Transport Energy Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The question follows ongoing concerns about high fuel prices affecting rural constituencies where public transport is limited. The MP references the effectiveness of Northern Ireland's price-comparison requirement.

Question

Rural constituencies such as mine in Broadland, where public transport is limited, are disproportionately affected by high fuel costs. It is sometimes overlooked that people also have limited choice as to which forecourt to fill up at. I am struck by the effectiveness of the price-comparison requirement in Northern Ireland, which is used to get consistently lower forecourt prices; are we considering that policy in England?

Answer from Anne-Marie Trevelyan

I agree with my hon. Friend that we need to focus on the challenges in rural areas, including my own constituency, which is why we asked the Competition and Markets Authority to conduct a thorough review. He is also right that although the price of fuel in Northern Ireland has historically been lower than the rest of the UK for several reasons, we absolutely consider the fuel price checker provided by the Consumer Council in Northern Ireland—along with cross-border competition with petrol stations in Ireland and lower overheads—to be part of the reason for those lower costs, and we are considering that possibility to help us to assess our own.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about implementing Northern Ireland's fuel price checker policy was not directly addressed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Taxation Business & Trade
Context

The question follows concerns about VAT reductions for small and medium-sized enterprises struggling with fuel costs due to mileage allowances paid to staff.

Question

Is there any intention to work with the Treasury to formulate VAT reductions for small and medium-sized businesses that pay a mileage allowance to staff and are struggling to meet those costs?

Answer from Anne-Marie Trevelyan

The hon. Member is indeed Northern Ireland this morning, as he sits alone on his Bench, and we are always pleased to hear him raise such important issues. Questions of finance are, of course, for the Treasury, but I will make sure that point is raised with Treasury colleagues.

Not addressed: The specific ask about VAT reductions was not addressed.

How: The Hon. Member Is Indeed Northern Ireland This Morning, As He Sits Alone On His Bench

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)