Coal and Oil Combustion (Tax)

HC Deb 24 July 1989 vol 157 cc568-9W

28. Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals exist for international negotiations on the taxation of coal and oil combustion in advanced western countries.

Mr. Michael Spicer

I am aware of no formal proposals for such international negotiations, although several ideas have been floated for a carbon tax or levy as a way to discourage CO₂ emissions. The proper forum for consideration of such ideas is the intergovernmental panel on climate change, which is examining strategies for responding to the greenhouse effect.