Stuart McMillan is excited about new plans to help drivers compare fuel prices easily and save money at the pump
Inverclyde: MSP Stuart McMillan has been on a mission for fair fuel prices for over ten years. He’s always pointed out how locals pay more at the pump than they should.
Recently, he got some good news from the UK Government. They’re planning to roll out recommendations from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to tackle this issue. McMillan has been vocal about needing quicker action in the Scottish Parliament.
He brought this up during First Minister’s Questions last December after the CMA shared that competition in the fuel market was still weak, which was driving prices up.
McMillan expressed his relief, saying the UK Government confirmed a new open data scheme called Fuel Finder. This will help drivers compare prices and make smarter choices about where to fill up.
He believes this will push petrol stations to compete better, either by lowering prices or improving their services. It’s about time, right?
He also mentioned that this plan depends on a new bill in Parliament, which will set the stage for the scheme. Plus, starting January 1, 2025, the CMA will have new powers to gather information and keep an eye on fuel prices.
With these changes, the CMA can really dig into how the fuel market is doing and make sure it’s fair for everyone. McMillan thinks this is fantastic news for local drivers and businesses who have been paying too much for too long.
He’s hopeful that this extra oversight will encourage retailers to offer fair prices instead of just cashing in on higher profits.
