Harpreet Uppal
Main Page: Harpreet Uppal (Labour - Huddersfield)Department Debates - View all Harpreet Uppal's debates with the HM Treasury
(1 day, 7 hours ago)
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Rachel Reeves
Fuel duty was never lower in the 14 years when the right hon. Gentleman was a Conservative Member of Parliament than it is now. As I have said on numerous occasions, we are keeping fuel duty under review. The best way to reduce costs for people who are reliant on their cars is to de-escalate this conflict, which is the exact opposite of Reform UK’s policy. It wanted to join in this conflict and said when the conflict started that we should stand with America. I do not agree that we should be standing with America; we should be standing up for our own country and families and businesses in our country.
Harpreet Uppal (Huddersfield) (Lab)
It is important that we look at long-term measures such as decoupling gas and electricity prices, because we know that previous temporary measures have not stopped our exposure to these shocks, leading to further insecurity for residents and businesses. Can the Chancellor say how quickly households and businesses such as textile manufacturers in Huddersfield will benefit from this new pricing model? Can she say a little more about accelerating vital grid infrastructure?
Rachel Reeves
I thank my hon. Friend for raising the concerns of people in Huddersfield. From this month, we are helping 10,000 manufacturing businesses in the industrial strategy sectors with the cost of electricity, reducing it by up to 25%. Today, we have announced that we are increasing the electricity generator levy, which will bring in more money to the Exchequer. We can use that money to help people with the costs of this war which we did not start, but of which people in Huddersfield, Leeds and around the country are feeling the consequences.