Business of the House
Lewis Cocking Excerpts(2 days, 6 hours ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Sir Alan Campbell
My hon. Friend is right to raise that important matter, which I recall was also raised by the hon. Member for Wells and Mendip Hills (Tessa Munt) last week. I committed then to facilitate a meeting with the relevant Minister, so I extend the same courtesy and offer to my hon. Friend.
Lewis Cocking (Broxbourne) (Con)
Last week, Liberal Democrat-run Hertfordshire county council moved to become a county of sanctuary, essentially making it the council’s policy to welcome illegal asylum seekers. This is an out-of-touch policy that was not in the Liberal Democrat manifesto, and there has been no consultation with Hertfordshire residents. Will the Leader of the House offer some guidance on whether the Government think that such initiatives are an appropriate use of council resources?
Sir Alan Campbell
I will get an update for the hon. Gentleman on where we are with counties of sanctuary from the relevant Department. However, I think he is being a bit harsh, given the success story that counties of sanctuary—and, in my area, schools of sanctuary—can be. He is right to raise concerns if he is worried, but we need to treat the subject in a responsible way.
Business of the House
Lewis Cocking Excerpts(1 week, 2 days ago)
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Sir Alan Campbell
The only way to bring energy bills down for good is by taking control through renewables to deliver energy security, with clean, home-grown power. We have already secured £100 billion of private investment in clean power since the election, and secured enough clean energy projects to power 23 million homes. We are supporting workers through the transition to clean energy, including by doubling the number of clean energy jobs across the UK by the end of the decade. I am sure that the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will want to keep the House updated on what is a very important matter.
Lewis Cocking (Broxbourne) (Con)
Fuel prices in my constituency are consistently higher than in neighbouring areas. A litre of petrol costs £1.82 in Hoddesdon, in the north of my constituency, compared with £1.64 in Enfield —from the same company. Can we have a statement on what the Government are doing to stop my constituents in Broxbourne getting ripped off when they fill up their cars and vans at the petrol pumps?
Sir Alan Campbell
The hon. Gentleman raises an important matter, which affects a number of constituencies. The recent introduction of the fuel finder creates greater price transparency and increases pressure on retailers to price their fuel fairly, but the Competition and Markets Authority is also using that data to monitor how fuel prices vary between different areas, to ensure that competition in the fuel market is working properly. I know that what is happening in rural areas is of particular concern to the Government.