I know that everyone will be well aware of the confidence vote in the Prime Minister on Monday night and I’ve received reasonable questions about how I voted. As a member of the Privileges Committee, which has been tasked with determining whether the Prime Minister knowingly mislead Parliament, I am circumscribed in what I can say. All the members of the Committee (which is cross-party) have undertaken not to comment after our previous Chair, Chris Bryant MP, had to recuse himself because of views he expressed on social media. I hope that my constituents will therefore understand why I shall refrain from doing the same to respect the integrity of the Parliamentary process. The new Chair is Harriet Harman MP and we commence our inquiry next week.
I wanted to provide a further update on the work I have been doing to alleviate cost of living pressures in West Berkshire. You may recall in my last article I had been speaking to the Chancellor about two specific areas: energy and childcare. As I hope you are aware, on 25 May the Chancellor announced a £21 billion package of energy support. Here is how it breaks down: all households will receive a £400 grant for energy bills; a £650 one-off payment will be provided to those on means tested benefits such as Universal Credit and legacy benefits, pensioners in receipt of the Winter Fuel allowance will receive a £300 payment; and those receiving disability benefits will also receive a £150 payment.
I have also been pressing Business Ministers on petrol prices. For reasons which are unclear, West Berkshire has significantly higher prices than some neighbouring counties, and it is apparent that petrol companies have largely failed to pass on the 5p per litre Fuel Duty Cut to consumers in any visible or meaningful way. The Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has written to the Competition and Markets Authority to ask them to use their enforcement powers against any petrol station who is failing to pass on the cut, and I will continue to raise this issue in the House.
I am also continuing to press for steps to help families manage childcare costs. Recent data suggests that rising costs are pushing young women out of work to care for their children and I have written previously about the disproportionate impact this has on single mothers and child poverty. I have spoken to the policy team at Downing Street and in the Treasury and am hopeful that further support will be forthcoming in the short term.
I will continue to do all I can to assist West Berkshire households manage their day-to-day living costs and, as ever, if you feel that there is an area which I or the Government should be giving further attention please get in touch.