§ 1. Mr. Rostasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the current rate of duty on diesel fuel is at a level which raises the retail price above that of petrol; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Minister of State, Treasury (Mr. Denzil Davies)In his last Budget, my right hon. Friend proposed to increase the duties on both petrol and diesel fuel by 5p a gallon to 35p a gallon. In response to views expressed in all parts of the House, he removed the increase on petrol in August. The House accepted the higher duty on diesel fuel.
§ Mr. RostHas not the Treasury noticed that nearly every other EEC country applies a lower duty on diesel fuel than on petrol in order to encourage the use of diesel fuel in the interests of energy conservation? How can the Government's energy conservation programme be taken seriously when there is so little co-ordination between Departments, and what will the Government do about it?
§ Mr. DaviesI do not know what the position is in the EEC countries, and it 1720 may well be that the hon. Gentleman is right, but I must point out again that the Government proposed the same level of duty for both fuels and the House of Commons, in its wisdom, decided otherwise.
§ Mr. PavittIn an effort to protect the consumer with regard to the cost of both diesel fuel and petrol, will the Government look into costs of advertising and promotion, since it needs only the same commodity for a car to move and we could probably save a lot of money by having a pool system, as we did in war time?
§ Mr. DaviesMy hon. Friend will recognise that that is primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.
§ Mr. RostIn view of the totally unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I shall seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.