HC Deb 17 May 1966 vol 728 c1101
12. Mr. Robert Cooke

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will remit the fuel tax on petrol used for internal air services to bring it to the same level as that levied on jet turbine fuels.

Mr. Diamond

No, Sir.

Mr. Cooke

Is the Chief Secretary aware that many of the smaller internal airlines face going out of business because of the disadvantages with which they find themselves faced compared with the larger companies which pay a different type of tax, and will he look at the whole matter again?

Mr. Diamond

Under my right hon. Friend's proposal the tax in question is refunded to internal airlines.

Later—

Mr. Diamond

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I have your permission to correct a statement I made when answering Question No. 12? I apologise to the hon. Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Robert Cooke), but as we do not read out the Question we are sometimes not absolutely sure what the words in a Question actually are. The Question refers to fuel tax and I replied to a point in connection with employment tax.

Mr. Cooke

Perhaps I may reinforce my request to the right hon. Gentleman to look at this matter again because these people are in dire straits.

Mr. Diamond

It was with the intention of giving the hon. Member that opportunity—I hope he accepts my apology—that I sought your leave, Mr. Speaker, to correct my answer immediately. I am afraid, however, that my right hon. Friend is not prepared to look at the question again this year.