Does the hon. Gentleman not accept that such a policy would require the unanimous consent of the EU Council of Ministers? How long does he think it would take to get that agreement?

Does the hon. Gentleman not accept that such a policy would require the unanimous consent of the EU Council of Ministers? How long does he think it would take to get that agreement?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

I certainly agree with my hon. Friend. There has always been an environmental argument for higher fuel prices, in order to persuade people to use public transport rather than a car. That argument works fine in a city with plenty of bus and train services, but it falls down completely...

I certainly agree with my hon. Friend. There has always been an environmental argument for higher fuel prices, in order to persuade people to use public transport rather than a car. That argument works fine in a city with plenty of bus and train services, but it falls down completely...

I am sorry; I have used both my interventions. To go back to the point made by the hon. Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Mr MacNeil), I was delighted when the Government announced their intention to pursue a pilot scheme whereby there will be a 5p a litre fuel...

I am sorry; I have used both my interventions. To go back to the point made by the hon. Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Mr MacNeil), I was delighted when the Government announced their intention to pursue a pilot scheme whereby there will be a 5p a litre fuel...

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Robert Halfon) on his campaign to secure today's debate. I represent a sparsely populated constituency where long drives for essential business are common, so I am well aware of the impact of high fuel prices on individuals and businesses. For example,...

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Robert Halfon) on his campaign to secure today's debate. I represent a sparsely populated constituency where long drives for essential business are common, so I am well aware of the impact of high fuel prices on individuals and businesses. For example,...

I agree with the hon. Gentleman, and I hope that he will give credit to the Government for what they are doing on fuel duty on islands. The high price of fuel obviously has a great impact on people's living standards, and makes it difficult for anyone trying to run...

I agree with the hon. Gentleman, and I hope that he will give credit to the Government for what they are doing on fuel duty on islands. The high price of fuel obviously has a great impact on people's living standards, and makes it difficult for anyone trying to run...

We are straying into another debate here. I think we will stick to fuel duty, which is probably a lot less contentious. Operating a rural filling station is clearly not a profitable business these days, and we heard from the hon. Member for Central Ayrshire about how many have closed....

We are straying into another debate here. I think we will stick to fuel duty, which is probably a lot less contentious. Operating a rural filling station is clearly not a profitable business these days, and we heard from the hon. Member for Central Ayrshire about how many have closed....

I agree with the hon. Gentleman. From the perspective of a Scottish island, the mainland is the mainland of Great Britain, but I accept that there is another part of the United Kingdom. I am not sure whether calling it the mainland is the correct way to refer to it...

I agree with the hon. Gentleman. From the perspective of a Scottish island, the mainland is the mainland of Great Britain, but I accept that there is another part of the United Kingdom. I am not sure whether calling it the mainland is the correct way to refer to it...

The Chairman asked for limited interventions and I have already given way to the hon. Gentleman. I have accepted the Government's view that we must have an islands pilot first, but after that I would certainly press for it to be extended to remote areas of the mainland.

The Chairman asked for limited interventions and I have already given way to the hon. Gentleman. I have accepted the Government's view that we must have an islands pilot first, but after that I would certainly press for it to be extended to remote areas of the mainland.

I wholeheartedly agree with my hon. Friend. As she said, other EU countries are operating a similar scheme, so I am sure that it can be successful here.

I wholeheartedly agree with my hon. Friend. As she said, other EU countries are operating a similar scheme, so I am sure that it can be successful here.

As well as knocking 1p off, the Government did not go ahead with the increase that the previous Chancellor's fuel price escalator would have caused.

As well as knocking 1p off, the Government did not go ahead with the increase that the previous Chancellor's fuel price escalator would have caused.

The hon. Lady has referred to the original consultation proposals, which the Government quickly changed because of feedback from retailers and the cash-flow problem that would have occurred. That feature is no longer in the revised proposals, so the issue has been solved.

The hon. Lady has referred to the original consultation proposals, which the Government quickly changed because of feedback from retailers and the cash-flow problem that would have occurred. That feature is no longer in the revised proposals, so the issue has been solved.

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his intervention. He is correct that there is no profiteering at the local filling station, although the distribution network, as he has indicated, might be another issue. The high price obviously has a great impact on people's living standards and on anyone...

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his intervention. He is correct that there is no profiteering at the local filling station, although the distribution network, as he has indicated, might be another issue. The high price obviously has a great impact on people's living standards and on anyone...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Hancock. I congratulate the hon. Member for Central Ayrshire (Mr Donohoe) on securing this debate and on bringing this important issue before the House. I represent a sparsely populated constituency, so I am well aware of the impact of high...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Hancock. I congratulate the hon. Member for Central Ayrshire (Mr Donohoe) on securing this debate and on bringing this important issue before the House. I represent a sparsely populated constituency, so I am well aware of the impact of high...

The hon. Lady will recall that when she was a Treasury Minister, she received a delegation of highlands and islands Members of Parliament, including the Chief Secretary, and that we asked for a fuel duty derogation for remote rural areas. We had tea and sympathy, but no action. The Chief...

The hon. Lady will recall that when she was a Treasury Minister, she received a delegation of highlands and islands Members of Parliament, including the Chief Secretary, and that we asked for a fuel duty derogation for remote rural areas. We had tea and sympathy, but no action. The Chief...

None.

None.

Like the hon. Lady, I represent a rural constituency and, like her, I agree that we need action on fuel prices now. However, we need action in the Budget next week, not in the six years it would take for this Labour motion to be implemented.

Like the hon. Lady, I represent a rural constituency and, like her, I agree that we need action on fuel prices now. However, we need action in the Budget next week, not in the six years it would take for this Labour motion to be implemented.