The petition of residents of the constituency of Dunfermline and Dollar,
Declares that residents in Dunfermline are being unfairly charged higher fuel prices compared to nearby areas; states that fuel is an essential commodity required by the majority of people within Dunfermline for their daily lives and essential for the local and regional economy; understands unfair petrol pricing puts a significant strain on family incomes, particularly for younger people, those on low incomes and small businesses; and notes that over 600 people have signed an online petition relating to this issue.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to instruct the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate higher petrol prices in Dunfermline compared to the immediate area and take immediate action to address this that will ensure petrol prices are fair and competitive in Scotland’s historic capital and newest city.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Graeme Downie, Official Report, 6 May 2025; Vol. 766, c. 653.]
[P003066]
Observations from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Miatta Fahnbulleh):
The Government acknowledge the concerns raised by the petitioners in Dunfermline. When petrol and diesel prices are high, the impacts are felt by everyone. That is why this Government are committed to delivering for drivers and ensuring they get value for money at the pump.
The Competition and Markets Authority has played a crucial role in reviewing and addressing the rise in fuel prices in the UK. The CMA’s road fuel market study, published in July 2023, found that competition in the road fuels retail market had weakened at a national and local level, ultimately failing consumers. To address this, the CMA recommended that the Government should introduce a road fuels monitoring function and a statutory open data scheme for road fuel prices.
The Government are committed to implementing these recommendations to help drive down pump prices. The CMA received statutory information gathering powers through the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 so it can continue to monitor and scrutinise fuel prices. In addition, the Government announced that we would introduce an open data scheme called “fuel finder”, which will increase price transparency, so drivers can compare prices to find the best deal. We expect this could result in fuel cost savings of 1p to 6p per litre at the pump. Subject to parliamentary passage, we aim to launch “fuel finder” by the end of 2025.
Our goal is to ensure that petrol prices in areas like Dunfermline are aligned with those in the immediate area, providing fair and competitive pricing for all drivers.
Radford Semele Solar Farm
The petition of residents of the constituency of Warwick and Leamington,
Declares that that the proposed construction and associated planning application of a 49.99 MW solar farm and battery storage facility by Staffordshire Solar 1 Ltd, on Land to the west of Fosse Way and to the south-east of Radford Semele (W/24/1404), should not be approved; notes that the measures laid out by GB Energy, to ensure that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in its business or supply chains, should be the same conditions applied to this application to prevent the use, supply and involvement of forced labour in UK infrastructure projects; acknowledges that the scheme is only 0.01 MW below the acceptable tolerance stipulated by the Government’s 50 MW threshold, which would qualify the project as a nationally significant infrastructure project requiring greater scrutiny; further declares that the proposed site is located close to a substantial village and would impact on the recreational amenity of the residents; further declares that the proposed site comprises grades 2 and 3a “best” and “most versatile” agricultural land, which should be protected from such industrial developments in accordance with planning regulations; and notes that Government data suggests that three additional solar farms are either operational or being developed within 2 miles of the site.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to review and refuse the application for a solar farm near Leamington, to consider an alternative location within the nearby area or an onshore wind farm within a few miles, and to ensure that the local community is properly included in the proposal and planning of such energy schemes going forwards.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Matt Western, Official Report, 19 May 2025; Vol. 767, c. 856.]
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[P003071]
Observations from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Michael Shanks):
On 20 May 2025, the planning committee of Warwick district council refused an application for planning permission relating to this proposal. It would not be appropriate for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to comment on this decision or the merits of the proposed development. Likewise, it is not for the UK Government to intervene in decisions about the precise location of specific projects—these are left to private developers.