Petrol Prices Debate

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Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown

Main Page: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Petrol Prices

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown Excerpts
Wednesday 15th May 2013

(11 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Ed Davey Portrait Mr Davey
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My hon. Friend makes a good point. UK authorities are working extremely closely with European competition authorities. Indeed, they accompanied them on their raids of various companies’ offices. They are active in this investigation, and I hope he takes reassurance from that.

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown Portrait Dr William McCrea (South Antrim) (DUP)
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The Minister constantly congratulates his Government on keeping the price of petrol down. Why then, when I travel to America, do I find that consumers there pay half the price for their fuel than we pay in the United Kingdom? Why is the price of fuel in the Irish Republic 10p less than it is over the border in Northern Ireland?

Ed Davey Portrait Mr Davey
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The difference in the tax levied in the United States on petrol and diesel might be one of the main explanations. I have not made a study on the difference in price between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland either, but that might also have something to do with duty differentials.