Oral Answers to Questions

Christine Jardine Excerpts

Tuesday 8th September 2026 Commons Chamber

[Emma Reynolds]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question, but I disagree with his assessment. As I said to my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Alex McIntyre), there are opportunities for areas that do not opt to have a mayor, but set up as foundation strategic authorities to gain the benefit of retaining more business rates and of greater powers over skills, transport and housing.

[Christine Jardine (Edinburgh West) (LD)]

6. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of reducing fuel duty on the cost of living for working families.

[Greg Smith (Mid Buckinghamshire) (Con)]

22. What estimate he has made of the average annual cost to motorists of discontinuing the 5p fuel duty reduction from December 2026.

[The Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General (James Murray)]

As part of the £600 million package the Government announced in May, there will be no rise in fuel duty this year. This means that the temporary 5p cut will be extended till the end of the year, providing certainty to motorists. In total, the decisions taken since the 2024 general election to freeze fuel duty save motorists 11p per litre, or £120 per year for the average car, compared with the plans inherited from the previous Government.

[Christine Jardine]

I appreciate what the Minister has said about the fuel duty freeze, but the Liberal Democrats have called for an emergency cut of 10p per litre, which would make a difference of 12 per litre at the pump for ordinary families. For my hard-pressed constituents in Edinburgh West this winter, that could make a big difference not only to their travel costs, but to the cost of food and other services. Will the Government consider that emergency cut in the forthcoming Budget?

[James Murray]

I agree with the hon. Lady about the importance of providing breathing space for families, which is a priority for us as a Government, and she mentioned her plans. I have set out what we have done since the general election to reduce fuel prices by 11p per litre compared with what they would have been otherwise. As I set out in my earlier remarks, the 5p cut has been extended to the end of the year, and as she would expect, any future decisions will be taken at the Budget by the Chancellor.