Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment his Department has made of price disparities between petrol stations in a) rural areas and b) West Dorset.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Fuel Finder is now live, with all petrol filling stations in the UK required to report their latest prices. Increasing price transparency will increase pressure on fuel retailers to compete strongly to attract consumers by lowering their prices, including in areas where competition has historically been weaker, such as rural areas.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have the power to take enforcement action for non-compliance, including imposing financial penalties.
The CMA recent annual report found that competition has not strengthened since 2023, which was consistent with significant price variations within and between local areas. The CMA has statutory information gathering powers to monitor the road fuels market and will use Fuel Finder data to further assess regional pricing.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to address regional variations in petrol prices.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Fuel Finder is now live, with all petrol filling stations in the UK required to report their latest prices. Increasing price transparency will increase pressure on fuel retailers to compete strongly to attract consumers by lowering their prices, including in areas where competition has historically been weaker, such as rural areas.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have the power to take enforcement action for non-compliance, including imposing financial penalties.
The CMA recent annual report found that competition has not strengthened since 2023, which was consistent with significant price variations within and between local areas. The CMA has statutory information gathering powers to monitor the road fuels market and will use Fuel Finder data to further assess regional pricing.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent steps his Department is taking to prevent price gouging by fuel retailers a) rural areas and b) West Dorset following the conflict in Iran.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Fuel markets are governed by competition and consumer protection law, overseen by the Competition Market Authority (CMA). The Government and the CMA are closely monitoring petrol and diesel prices in light of instability in the Middle East, and the Chancellor and Secretary of State recently met with fuel retailers to set out a clear message: unfair practices will not be tolerated.
We are also engaging regularly with refiners, importers and distributors to ensure any emerging risks are identified and managed promptly. The government has also introduced the statutory Fuel Finder, which will increase transparency for UK road fuel prices and the CMA have the power to take enforcement action for non-compliance.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what regulatory measures his Department is considering to improve transparency in fuel pricing in West Dorset following the conflict in Iran.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Fuel markets are governed by competition and consumer protection law, overseen by the Competition Market Authority (CMA). The Government and the CMA are closely monitoring petrol and diesel prices in light of instability in the Middle East, and the Chancellor and Secretary of State recently met with fuel retailers to set out a clear message: unfair practices will not be tolerated.
We are also engaging regularly with refiners, importers and distributors to ensure any emerging risks are identified and managed promptly. The government has also introduced the statutory Fuel Finder, which will increase transparency for UK road fuel prices and the CMA have the power to take enforcement action for non-compliance.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what regulatory measures his Department is considering to improve consistency in fuel pricing in West Dorset.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has implemented the statutory open data scheme Fuel Finder, with all UK forecourts now required to report their latest fuel prices, helping to improve transparency and increase competitive pressure on fuel retailers. The Motor Fuel Price (Open Data) Regulations 2025, which provide the legal framework for the scheme, came into force in early 2026. These measures apply nationally, including in West Dorset.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have the power to take enforcement action for non-compliance, including imposing financial penalties.
The CMA also has statutory information gathering powers to monitor the road fuel market and advise the Government if further intervention is required.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support consumers in West Dorset with a) rising petrol and b) rising diesel costs.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has implemented the statutory open data scheme Fuel Finder, with all UK petrol filling stations now required to report their prices for petrol and diesel within 30 minutes of a change. Increasing price transparency will increase pressure on fuel retailers to compete strongly to attract consumers by lowering their prices.
Fuel Finder data is made available to data services such as mapping software and price comparison apps to enable consumers to compare petrol and diesel prices more easily and to shop around for the cheapest fuel.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of a) rising diesel and b) rising petrol costs on consumers in West Dorset since the start of the conflict in the Middle East.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Fuel markets are governed by competition and consumer protection law, overseen by the Competition Market Authority (CMA). The Government and the CMA are closely monitoring petrol and diesel prices in light of instability in the Middle East, and the Chancellor and Secretary of State recently met with fuel retailers to set out a clear message: unfair practices will not be tolerated.
We are also engaging regularly with refiners, importers and distributors to ensure any emerging risks are identified and managed promptly. The government has also introduced the statutory Fuel Finder, which will increase transparency for UK road fuel prices and the CMA have the power to take enforcement action for non-compliance.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of fertiliser price increases on food prices.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We are aware that increased input costs from fertiliser and energy have the potential to increase food prices in the medium to long term. Given this concern, we are closely monitoring the impacts of the conflict on food businesses and working with stakeholders to understand the implications for consumer prices.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the accessibility of Child Trust Funds and Junior ISAs for young people who lack mental capacity.
Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
Where a young adult lacks mental capacity, the law requires parents or guardians to have legal authority to make decisions on their behalf about their financial assets or property. This longstanding safeguard helps protect vulnerable people from potential financial abuse, and applies to funds held in a Child Trust Fund or Junior ISA.
On 9 June 2023, the Ministry of Justice published the “Making Financial Decisions For Young People: Parent and Carer Toolkit”. This explains how parents and guardians of disabled children who lack capacity can obtain legal authority where none is in place, including applying to the Court of Protection to access funds in a Child Trust Fund or Junior ISA. The toolkit is available on GOV.UK, along with guidance on completing the necessary court forms: How to apply to make property and finance decisions on someone’s behalf (including Child Trust Funds) - GOV.UK
We understand that concerns remain. The Ministry of Justice continues to engage with key stakeholders to better understand the challenges and identify potential improvements in a way that balances access with safeguards.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure long-term resilience in fertiliser supply chains.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK Government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive have launched a joint consultation and call for evidence on proposals to modernise UK fertilisers legislation. The consultation and call for evidence set out plans to help support innovation in the fertiliser sector, diversify supply, and strengthen the UK’s resilience to global market shocks. Current fertiliser regulations are widely seen as outdated and could do more to support fertiliser supply resilience and protect the environment, as well as being more agile to enable new products to enter the market.