Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Stewart Hosie Excerpts
Tuesday 22nd March 2011

(13 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Justine Greening Portrait The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Justine Greening)
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The hon. Gentleman will have to wait until tomorrow’s Budget, but he will recognise that in the emergency Budget last year we left beer duty frozen.

Stewart Hosie Portrait Stewart Hosie (Dundee East) (SNP)
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The Chancellor knows that the long-term solution to the spikes in fuel prices is a stabiliser or a regulator, and hopefully we will hear about that tomorrow. However, is he aware that the price rises in fuel over the past four of five weeks equate to an additional £1,000 a year for running every truck in the country? Does he not agree that that is hugely inflationary and utterly unsustainable?

George Osborne Portrait Mr Osborne
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Of course, the very sharp rise in the world oil price has posed a challenge to lots of economies—all but the oil-exporting economies. That is one of the headwinds currently facing the global economy. Specifically on fuel duty and other issues, the hon. Gentleman will have to wait for the Budget.