Middle East: Economic Update

Julie Minns Excerpts

Tuesday 21st April 2026 Commons Chamber

[Rachel Reeves]

I understand the concerns that people have about filling up their car with petrol and diesel right now. We have introduced the cheaper fuel finder tool, so that people can compare prices and get the best deal when they fill up their car, and we have had all the petrol retailers into No. 11 Downing Street to ensure that we do not have any price gouging. There are still four and a half months until September. We are preparing for every eventuality. I have extended the fuel duty freeze and the 5p cut twice already, which means that the average motorist is saving £90 more than they would have done under the plans that I inherited from the Conservative party.

[Ms Julie Minns (Carlisle) (Lab)]

The conflict in the middle east has again highlighted just how vulnerable our off-grid rural households are to fossil fuel-driven energy shocks. Does the Chancellor agree with me that the warm homes plan is a major opportunity to upgrade rural housing and cut bills? Will she confirm what further steps the Government are taking to encourage the take-up of low carbon technology?

[Rachel Reeves]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising the challenges felt in many rural communities. Those challenges are why I put in place additional money to help people with the cost of heating oil. We recognised that the £150 off energy bills introduced in April does not apply to heating oil, and we wanted to ensure that people had support with that. We are also extending and increasing the generosity of the warm homes plan, in particular by including boiler upgrades. That will help people in all communities, including rural communities, where the cost of heating homes is often higher.