Fuel Prices Debate

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Thursday 13th September 2012

(12 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Heather Wheeler Portrait Heather Wheeler (South Derbyshire) (Con)
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Will my hon. Friend give way?

John Baron Portrait Mr John Baron (Basildon and Billericay) (Con)
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Will my hon. Friend give way?

Robert Halfon Portrait Robert Halfon
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Ladies first.

Robert Halfon Portrait Robert Halfon
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My hon. Friend is a great campaigner against high petrol and diesel prices. Her constituents are very lucky indeed. She will hear me make exactly the same observations later.

John Baron Portrait Mr Baron
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I congratulate my hon. Friend, and support his motion. He mentioned the freezing of fuel tax. May I suggest that the Government should think more about extending the freeze for the foreseeable future and, if necessary, taking funds from areas in which money is being spent unwisely? I am thinking of, for example, aid for India, a country that has its own aid programme. That would help many hard-pressed families and businesses up and down the country.

Robert Halfon Portrait Robert Halfon
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While I strongly believe that we should cut fuel duty as much as possible, I have to say that I am a passionate believer in overseas aid, and I am very proud that we have the overseas aid policies that we have.