First Minister’s Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament am ar 5 Rhagfyr 2024.
Stuart McMillan
Scottish National Party
The First Minister will be aware of my long-standing campaign to lower petrol pump prices in my Constituency. He will also know that, in 2022, the Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation into road fuel prices and concluded that action was need to “improve competition” and, ultimately, to stop fuel retailers from ripping off drivers. An update from the CMA last week indicates that
“While fuel prices have fallen since July”,
drivers are still paying over the odds for fuel, and that has a knock-on effect on other living costs such as food. Will the First Minister therefore join me today in urging the new United Kingdom Labour Government to speed up progress on the CMA’s recommendations, so that weak competition can be addressed and fuel retailers held to account?
John Swinney
Scottish National Party
I am very much aware of the tenacious campaign that Stuart McMillan has led on the issue on behalf of his constituents. Fuel costs can make a significant contribution to the pressure that households and businesses wrestle with on an on-going basis. I welcome the UK Government’s plan to implement the CMA’s recommendations on the fuel price market, and I urge it is to speed up progress where possible. Given the CMA’s comments on current fuel prices, we urge the United Kingdom Government to use the CMA’s new fuel price monitoring function, which will commence in January next year, to scrutinise the market and take action where necessary to keep the prices that drivers pay at the lowest rate possible.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
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In a general election, each Constituency chooses an MP to represent them. MPs have a responsibility to represnt the views of the Constituency in the House of Commons. There are 650 Constituencies, and thus 650 MPs. A citizen of a Constituency is known as a Constituent
