Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to introduce electric charging points for cars at petrol stations.

The Government has had a number of discussions with petrol service station operators about the provision of electric vehicle charge points. We want to encourage and leverage private sector investment to build and operate a self-sustaining public network supported by the right policy framework. In many cases, the market is better-placed than government to identify the right locations for chargepoints and it is essential that viable commercial models are in place to ensure continued maintenance and improvements to the network. Already, the vast majority of chargepoints now being installed are funded with private money and we want to see this trend continue. The Automated and Electric Vehicles Act gives the Government new powers to mandate provision of chargepoints at Motorway Service Areas and large fuel retailers. The Government will continue to monitor the market and will bring forward regulation using these powers if the market fails to deliver the infrastructure required.