Draft Motor Fuel Price (Open Data) Regulations 2025

Claire Young Excerpts

Tuesday 4th November 2025 General Committees

[Claire Young (Thornbury and Yate) (LD)]

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Lewell. The Liberal Democrats support this statutory instrument. We have long called for measures, including the introduction of a fuel finder scheme, to allow drivers to directly compare fuel prices, to protect from rip-off prices and improve competition between petrol stations. Far from it being a burden in rural areas, we think those living in such areas, where there is a greater reliance on cars—like my Thornberry and Yate constituency—will welcome this change. It is disappointing it has taken so long to enact this scheme. Contrary to what the hon. Member for Mid Buckinghamshire (Greg Smith) has just said, I do not think things were moving in a particularly speedy manner under the Conservatives, but it is now nearly two years since that Government first launched their consultation on the design of a fuel finder, back in January 2024. Given the figures quoted by the Minister in his opening statement, it is clear that motorists will have lost a great deal of money in that time. We will, however, support this statutory instrument.