Crawley MP Henry Smith welcomes further fuel duty freeze in Chancellor’s Budget
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Commenting after speaking in Parliament on March 21, Mr Smith said: “At this time where we’re feeling the effects of Putin’s war in Ukraine and the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, the Chancellor was right to ensure such a focus on support for people with the cost of living.
“One of the key commitments which will help many people in Crawley is the continued freeze to fuel duty.
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Hide Ad"This marks the 13th consecutive year which fuel duty has been frozen and will come as a welcome boost to people’s pockets.”
Mr Smith asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt: “What fiscal steps he is taking to provide financial support to people on lower incomes.”
Mr Hunt responded: “In addition to extending the Energy Price Guarantee, and to help people further, cost of living payments for vulnerable households will kick in next year.
"We are also uprating benefits and increasing the national living wage to £10.42 an hour.”
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Hide AdMr Smith continued: “What assessment has my right hon. Friend made of the saving a typical family will achieve as a result of his fuel duty measures announced in last week’s Budget?”
Mr Hunt responded: “I thank my hon. Friend for saying that.
"We think the average driver has saved about £200 in total since the 5p cut was introduced, but we are also introducing draught relief for beer drinkers in pubs and 30 hours of free childcare for young parents who are struggling with childcare costs.
"There are a lot of cost of living measures in the Budget.”
Some of the key announcements in Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget 2023 on March 15 included: freezing the Energy Price Guarantee; ending of premiums on pre-payment metres; freezing fuel duty; freezing duty on pints; support for leisure centres and swimming pools; increase in the potholes fund; 12 new UK investment zones; Pension Lifetime Allowance abolished; and childcare system reform.
