§ Mr. Skeetasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total duty payable on road fund licences for the last year for which figures are available; and what is the equivalent tax on gasoline that would have to be imposed to replace receipts from the grants of road fund licences.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonIt is estimated that in 1978–79 the revenue from vehicle 505W excise duty will be £1,075 million, £840 million coming from petrol-driven vehicles. If vehicle excise duty was abolished and the revenue recouped by an increase in tax on road fuel the price of a gallon of petrol would rise by 20p. If vehicle excise duty were abolished for petrol-driven vehicles alone the increase would he 19p per gallon.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates in percentage terms to be the amount of vehicle excise duty lost per annum due to evasion by motorists and arising from other causes.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonI would refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport gave on 3rd May to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Jessel).
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost of collecting vehicle excise duty and the cost to the revenue of collecting tax on road fuels.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonFor 1976–77—the latest figures available—the estimated cost of collecting vehicle excise duty was £30 million and the estimated cost of collecting all hydrocarbon oil duties was £4.2 million. This figure does not include the cost to Customs and Excise of preventive and fraud work.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he anticipates the Exchequer would secure a greater revenue by abolishing the road fund tax and replacing it with additional tax on vehicle fuels.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonI would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18th July to my hon. Friend the Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Lewis).