To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the fuel escalator's impact on social exclusion. [82257]

The Government recognise that transport issues are significant in considering the causes of social exclusion, and my Department has been giving priority to gathering information in this area. The Department is currently undertaking research to gain a better understanding of how transport affects social exclusion. Once this research has been completed, we will be in a better position to estimate the impact of different transport measures. In the meantime, we will continue to keep the impacts of the fuel duty escalator on social exclusion under review.