Oral Answers to Questions

Mark Williams Excerpts

Wednesday 16th March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. There are far too many private conversations taking place in the Chamber and they are very noisy. It is most discourteous. Let us have a bit of order.

[Mr Mark Williams (Ceredigion) (LD)]

8. What assessment she has made of the effect on the Welsh economy of recent trends in the cost of fuel.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr David Jones)]

Over the last few months I have made an assessment of the impact of the recession on rural areas, including the effects of rising fuel prices on businesses and families in Wales. We recognise that businesses, individuals and families are struggling with the rising cost of fuel, and we are looking at how we can help.

[Mr Williams]

Following on from the Minister’s assessment, what representations has he made on extending the Government’s fuel duty rebate for the islands of Scotland and Cornwall to large tracts of rural Wales, where sparsity, economic dependence and inadequate public transport make this a pressing issue?

[Mr Jones]

I agree that it is a pressing issue in large parts of rural Wales, such as my hon. Friend’s constituency. I can tell the House that I have written to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to press for the extension of the pilot to rural areas in Wales.