HC Deb 16 April 1930 vol 237 cc2919-20W
Mr. DAY

asked the President of the Board of Trade the present retail price of first-grade petrol per imperial gallon in London, Paris, Madrid, Brussels, and Berlin; and has he any statistics that will show the amount of taxation or various surtaxes in each case?

Mr. TURNER

The retail price of first grade petrol in London is 1s. 6½. per imperial gallon, in Paris the average price is about 1s. 8½., in Madrid 1s 6¾d., and in Brussels 1s. 7½. In Berlin imported petrol is not first grade and its price is 1s. 4d., but motorists generally use a benzol-petrol mixture at a price of about 1s. 6½d. The above prices include taxation charges of 4d. per gallon in London, about 8½.-9d. in Paris, l½d. in Madrid, 5¾d. in Brussels, and 3d. in Berlin. In comparing the prices of petrol in foreign countries at different periods it should be borne in mind that when reduced to a common currency the prices may indicate changes which may be due to variations in the rates of Exchange.