§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals Her Majesty's Government received from the European Commission for a tax on energy consumption to finance the European Community's 1984–1987 programme for the energy sector; what is the expected yield of the tax; on what parts of the economy the tax is expected to fall; whether it is intended that the tax will be in addition to excise and value added tax borne by road users; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the proposed tax.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithI have been asked to reply. The European Commission has made no formal proposal for a tax on energy consumption.