Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Guy Opperman and Navendu Mishra

Thursday 14th December 2023 Commons Chamber

[Navendu Mishra (Stockport) (Lab)]

15. What assessment he has made of the impact of trends in the level of motoring costs on drivers.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Guy Opperman)]

Nationally, we have substantially reduced fuel duty. Locally, I hope that the hon. Member will welcome the £33 million investment with his local council into the A34, which will help his local residents.

[Navendu Mishra]

Labour has revealed that the Government’s delay to the phase-out date for the sale of petrol and diesel cars to 2035 is set to cost drivers £13 billion in higher fuel costs. On top of that, petrol prices have already soared and car insurance costs have gone up by an eye-watering 50% in just a year. Where is the Government’s plan to tackle the rip-off prices facing drivers?

[Guy Opperman]

I suggest that the hon. Member reads at speed the plan for drivers, and goes back into history and remembers Gordon Brown’s fuel duty escalator. Perhaps his constituents do not remember the 6% increase that was introduced by the Labour Government, but my constituents definitely do.