Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of rising fuel prices on people living and working in rural areas, including any distributional impacts.

The Government recognises that increases in fuel prices can put strain on household budgets, particularly for those living and working in rural areas who rely heavily on road transport and heating oil.

The Government has frozen fuel duty since taking office and extended the 5p cut to 31 December. Eligible sectors, including agriculture, continue to benefit from access to rebated red diesel, which the Government recently cut further from 10.18p to 6.48p per litre until 31 December. The Government has introduced Fuel Finder to improve price transparency and provided over £50 million of immediate support for vulnerable heating oil customers.