§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Energy what he intends to do to protect the low-paid in rural areas from the excessive increases in the price of petrol.
§ Mr. GrayI recognise that petrol prices have for long varied in different parts of the country. All petrol prices have risen recently mainly due to continuing increases in the cost of crude oil. I have no present intention to intervene in the setting of prices which are a matter for the oil companies and the petrol suppliers, but I am continuing to monitor the prices very closely.