HC Deb 30 January 2001 vol 362 cc143-4W
Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the factors affecting the price charged by oil companies for(a) ultra low sulphur diesel and (b) unleaded petrol. [147830]

Mr. Timms

The price charged by oil companies reflects the influence of a number of variable commercial and economic factors, including production and distribution costs, supply and demand on world oil markets, conversion rates against the US dollar, and taxation. The Government do not intervene in commercial price-setting.

Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he has put in place to ensure that fuel duty reductions on ultra low sulphur petrol, announced in the pre-Budget Statement, will be passed on to motorists. [147832]

Mr. Timms

The Government do not intervene in commercial price-setting. The United Kingdom Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA) has stated that it anticipates that the 2 pence per litre duty cut will be passed on to the consumer.