Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the total amounts collected in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years in respect of: (a) road tax and (b) tax on petrol and diesel fuel; and what was the total expenditure on roads in Northern Ireland in the same periods.
§ Mr. ConcannonVehicle excise duty is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. However, I understand the duty raised in Northern Ireland in the last three years was:
£ million 1973–74 8.58 1974–75 11.43 1975–76 16.83 The collection of duty on petrol and diesel fuel is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I understand, however, that the amount 420W of hydrocarbon oil duty falling on expenditure by residents of Northern Ireland was about £40 million in each of the last three years. The revenue raised from duty on road fuels was of the order of 90 per cent. of this figure.
Value added tax has been payable on petrol sold for private use since 1st April 1974, but I understand that it would not be possible without disproportionate effort to calculate the revenue raised in Northern Ireland from this source.
The total expenditure on roads in Northern Ireland in the last three years was:
£ million 1973.74 31.17 1974–75 36.42 1975–76 (provisional) 49.70 Total 117.29