§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the estimated fuel costs, showing the tax element separately, of the horticulture industries in the individual EEC countries.
§ Mr. PeartNo precise estimates can be made because of the large number of variables. These include the type of fuel used—gas, solid fuel and the different types of heating oils—and the quantity needed, which will vary with the climate, the product and the cropping pattern. There is a wide range of prices even for comparable fuels because of differing conditions of sale and all prices are at present tending to increase. The table below shows the rates of VAT and excise duty for light, medium and heavy fuel oils. In most countries the excise duty is rebated to horticulturists, either in full —as in the United Kingdom—or in part.
between the guide prices operating in the Irish Republic and in Northern Ireland. These arrangements are intended to maintain unchanged the relative competitive position of beef production and processing in the two countries and also to help to prevent an increase in the retail price of beef in Northern Ireland.
This scheme forms part of the overall United Kingdom support arrangements, but to enable the scheme to operate immediately I have arranged with the member of the Northern Ireland Executive responsible for agriculture that, as a special arrangement, the scheme will be 327W operated under Northern Ireland legislation with the cost falling to the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland. It is accepted that Northern Ireland will require additional assistance from Her Majesty's Government to meet this cost.