Oral Answers to Questions

Karl McCartney Excerpts

Thursday 24th March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr David Burrowes (Enfield, Southgate) (Con)]

4. What recent representations he has received on the effect on consumers of high oil prices.

[Karl MᶜCartney (Lincoln) (Con)]

18. What recent representations he has received on the effect on consumers of high oil prices.

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

19. What recent representations he has received on the effect on consumers of high oil prices.

--- Later in debate ---

[Charles Hendry]

My hon. Friend has raised an extremely important point. One of the purposes of our world-leading renewable heat incentive is to encourage businesses and, subsequently, homes to install renewable energy equipment. That is an important way of helping people who currently rely on off-grid mechanisms such as oil and gas.

[Karl MᶜCartney]

I hope that my hon. Friend was as pleased as I was when the Chancellor announced in his Budget statement the scrapping of the fuel duty escalator and the introduction of a fuel duty stabiliser. Does he agree that that will go at least some way towards helping my hard-pressed constituents and fellow drivers in Lincoln and throughout the country, who before the general election were faced with an escalator that involved seven fuel duty increases?

[Charles Hendry]

I am delighted to join my hon. Friend in his pleasure at yesterday’s announcement, and the relief that it will bring his constituents and many others throughout the country. Scrapping the escalator imposed by the previous Administration was a significant change of policy, and all our constituents will be grateful for the steps the Chancellor has taken.