Fuel Duty

Brian H. Donohoe Excerpts

Monday 12th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Cathy Jamieson]

My hon. Friend makes a good point. It is regrettable that some hon. Members who only a few weeks ago called for the very thing that our motion calls for now seem to have cold feet. Given that the economic recovery is fragile, the Government should back the motion.

[Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire) (Lab)]

What is the total taxation on a litre of petrol, how does it affect the general public, and should that be advertised in every forecourt in the land?

--- Later in debate ---

[Sajid Javid]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to point out that the Opposition are all over the place.

If we had found a way to halt all the rises that Labour had planned, we would have done so, but if we had gone ahead with its plans, fuel duty would have continued to rise. Fuel would be 10p per litre more expensive by now, costing the average Ford Focus driver £159 extra by April 2013. Let us put to bed once and for all the idea that Labour is the party fighting to support people on the cost of living.

[Mr Donohoe]

As the Minister was in his place earlier he will have heard me ask what is the amount of tax on a litre of petrol. Does he agree that, for the first time, a Government should allow that figure to be displayed on the forecourts of all our petrol stations?

[Sajid Javid]

I can tell the hon. Gentleman that because of the policies of the Government he supported, there were 12 rises in fuel duty, so it is a lot higher today than it would have been otherwise.

This Government are taking action. Since the coalition came together, our economic plans have won international credibility. We have cut the deficit by a quarter. Because of this, we have secured record low interest rates and opened up Britain for business once again.