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Finance Bill

As usual, the hon. Gentleman disguises Liberal inactivity with some weird justification for not doing anything. The new clause is a real attempt to do something for our rural communities. I represent a largely rural constituency and the hon. Member for Broxbourne (Mr. Walker) made the twin point about green issues and saving rural communities. The crux of the matter is that those issues must be balanced. The problem with using fuel price for green reasons is that it is a blunt instrument—a one-size-fits-all policy that does not cover rural areas in the way that it can perhaps cover urban areas. Our rural communities and businesses are suffering now—they cannot wait for 10 or 15 years until we work out the environmental consequences. We must do something now.