§ 10. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has obtained, in the course of the negotiations with the European Economic Community, as to how the rate of fuel oil tax in this country compares with that of France, Italy and the German Federal Republic.
§ Mr. BarberI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Willesden, East (Mr. Skeet) on 30th January.
§ Mr. DigbyIf we are to compete with these countries, either inside or outside the Common Market, is it not important that these figures should be more comparable?
§ Mr. BarberThere are considerable difficulties in making accurate comparisons, I would point out to my hon Friend that all the countries of the Common Market tax heavy oil and, in some cases, at a higher rate than the United Kingdom. For example, the figures for heavy fuel oil show that the duty burden in the United Kingdom is lower than in Germany. As to light fuel oils, the duty on a number of specifications of light fuel oil is higher in Germany, Italy and Belgium than in the United Kingdom.