The Member of Parliament for Gillingham and Rainham, Rehman Chishti MP, today (11 September 2012) raised the issue of petrol prices and the cost of living in Parliament.
There have been reports that fuel companies are not reducing the price of petrol and diesel at the pump quickly when the oil prices fall, meaning that motorists end up paying more, which is of concern for residents in Medway.
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury said that the Office of Fair Trade has announced a call for information and asks everyone to pass any information they have on this issue to them so that it can be investigated.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Rehman asked:
“There are concerns that fuel companies delay the reduction in petrol prices when the cost of crude oil falls. What action are the Government taking to ensure that companies pass on savings to motorists?”
In response Danny Alexander MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury said:
“The hon. Gentleman raises an important point, and I sympathise greatly with families up and down the country who face the problem that he describes. That is why we have made decisions on fuel duty that mean that the price of petrol is roughly 10p a litre less than it would have been had we followed through the Labour party’s plans. The Office of Fair Trading has recently announced a call for information on the problem, and I urge him and Members in all parts of the House to pass on any information that they have.”