§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what matters in regard to the prospects for a carbon tax were raised by the Minister for Energy during his recent visit to Abu Dhabi.
§ Mr. EggarDuring my recent visit to the Gulf, considerable concern was expressed in Abu Dhabi and488W elsewhere about the European Commission's proposals for a carbon/energy tax. I explained that the United Kingdom was not convinced that a Community-wide tax along the lines proposed by the Commission was either a necessary or appropriate response to the problem of global warming. I also took the opportunity to explain the outcome of the joint session of the Energy and Environment Councils on 23 April outlined in my reply to my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Norfolk, North-West (Mr. Bellingham), Official Report, columns 109–10, on 5 May 1993.