§ 24. Sir J. POWERasked the Secretary for Mines approximately the present retail prices of petrol per gallon in this country and the leading European countries, and the amount of taxation in each case?
§ Commodore KINGThe retail price of first grade petrol in London is 1s. 7d. per imperial gallon, in Paris, Madrid and Brussels, 1s. 8d., and in Berlin, 1s. 6d. With regard to taxation the only information available respecting petrol relates to the duty on petrol imported direct as such into certain countries. This duty in Germany is about 2½d. per gallon. In France it is about 4d. per gallon plus various surtaxes, including 969 an ad valorem duty of 2 per cent. of the imported price. In Spain it is understood that no duty is paid by the Government monopoly although an Import Duty of 5d. per gallon still remains in the tariff.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that in France the Government have control of certain refineries, and will he inquire as to whether this accounts for the low price in France?
§ Commodore KINGThe hon. and gallant Gentleman has not listened to my answer. I have stated that the price in Paris is 1s. 8d. as against 1s. 7d. in this country.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYPerhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman will also say that the tax is higher in France and the Import Duty is higher?
§ Mr. SHINWELLExcluding the Import Duty and the additional taxation, are not the prices generally higher in this country than in foreign countries?
§ Major-General Sir ROBERT HUTCHISONCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman give any answer as to the quality or the grade of the petrol in the various countries that he quotes?
§ Commodore KINGNo, Sir. I based the reply on the first grade petrol as being the same grade in each country.
§ 46. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether, when investigating the reasons for the rise in price of petrol, he intends to inquire into the reasons for the simultaneous advance in the price of benzol?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)As I indicated in my reply of the 7th March, the Government's request for information was confined to oil products. The price of other kinds of motor fuel must obviously be related to the price of petrol, especially when as in the case of benzol it is ordinarily sold in admixtures of which petrol is the main constituent. In these circumstances, the Government, as at present advised, do not propose to extend the field of inquiry.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDoes that mean that the price of benzol will not be inquired into?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt means exactly what I have said.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIn spite of the fact that benzol is not taxed and that it moved up in price with petrol when the latter was taxed, and also in connection with the recent rise?
§ Sir B. PETOWill the inquiry cover the retail price charged for paraffin?. Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to the fact that retailers are, in many instances, charging cottagers 2d. per gallon more for paraffin?
§ Mr. CRAWFURDDoes the right hon. Gentleman propose to publish any statement as to the result of these inquiries?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI cannot at this period say.
§ Mr. CRAWFURDIf the right hon. Gentleman does publish a statement, will it include some statement as to the effect of this rise in price on the motor industry?
§ Sir B. PETOMay I ask for a reply to my question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Baronet's supplementary question does not arise from the original question or from the Prime Minister's answer.