§ 13. Mr. Woodnuttasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to give the same revenue duty concession on hydro-carbon oils to operators of hovercraft as that enjoyed by operators of hydrofoils, in order to remove the competitive advantage enjoyed by operators of foreign-built hydrofoils over operators of British-built hovercraft.
§ Mr. TaverneThe hon. Member will not expect me to anticipate my right hon. Friend's current review of taxation.
§ Mr. WoodnuttWhen the hon. and learned Gentleman is advising his right hon. Friend on the contents of his Budget will he remind him that because of this lack of a concession for hovercraft it costs 8s. 4d. an hour more to operate a hovercraft than an equivalent-sized hydrofoil? Will he tell the Chancellor that it is penalising British manufacturers? Is he aware that I know of a case where an operator has bought a hydrofoil instead of a hovercraft because of the lower operating costs?
§ Mr. TaverneI am sure that my right hon. Friend has listened most attentively to every word the hon. Gentleman has uttered.