§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that on 1st July the hon. Member for West Ham, North, wrote to him about the effect which the United Kingdom's possible entry into the European Economic Community would have on the United Kingdom fuel oil duty and that by 26th July no reply had been received; why it is taking so long to give an answer; and whether he will ensure that all factual information on the economic effects of Great Britain's possible entry into the European Economic Community is more speedily made available to the public in general and to Members of Parliament in particular.
§ Mr. Terence HigginsThe hon. Member asked me on 25th May for detailed factual information about existing fuel oil taxes in the E.E.C. I sent him this on 7th June; and at his request it was published in the OFFICIAL REPORT of 22nd June. I wrote again on 29th June in reply to a further query. He then wrote to me on 1st July with a number of supplementary questions of a hypothetical nature. As these necessitated some consultation, I was not able to reply at once; and the hon. Member was informed on 21st July that there would be some delay. I subsequently gave him a substantive reply on 30th July.