Oral Answers to Questions

Stephen Metcalfe Excerpts

Thursday 9th September 2021 Commons Chamber

[Katherine Fletcher (South Ribble) (Con)]

1. What steps he is taking to support the roll-out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

[Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock) (Con)]

4. What steps he is taking to support the roll-out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

[Felicity Buchan (Kensington) (Con)]

6. What steps he is taking to support the roll-out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

--- Later in debate ---

[Rachel Maclean]

I heartily commend my hon. Friend’s constituents for the transition to electric mobility. We are already supporting the roll-out of over 25,000 publicly available charging devices, including more than 4,700 rapid devices—one of the largest networks in Europe. I am delighted that South Ribble Borough Council is one of the 137 local authorities that has applied for the on-street charge point scheme, which has awarded funding for 16 chargers. I am happy to work with her to get further infrastructure rolled out.

[Stephen Metcalfe]

I am sure my hon. Friend will agree that it was brilliant to see earlier this week figures showing that ever more electric vehicles than petrol or diesel ones are being sold. She has talked about the on-street charging points. It is vitally important that we get those in place and that these vehicles are accessible not just to those who have driveways and private parking. Will also she talk to her friends in the Treasury about the distortion that vehicle excise duty can create, because electric vehicles tend to be more expensive than their petrol and diesel versions, sometimes pushing them into a higher excise duty bracket?

[Rachel Maclean]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right about the popularity of electric cars. In fact, one in seven cars sold so far this year has a plug. He will know that vehicle excise duties are obviously a matter for my friends in the Treasury, but he will be also be aware that we are continually supporting the up-front purchase of electric vehicles via a very generous programme of grants, and that is set to continue.