§ Mr. Goodladasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total revenue derived from excise duty on petrol in each of the last five years; and how much related to (a) private vehicles in private use, (b) private vehicles being used partly for commercial purposes and (c) commercial vehicles.
§ Mr. Horam:I have been asked to reply.
The United Kingdom total excise duty on petrol was £1,117 million, £1,101 million, £1,102 million, £1,517 million and £1,666 million in the financial years 1973–74 to 1977–78 respectively. In 1977 some 80 per cent. of petrol was sold for use in cars available for private use by households, 15 per cent. for commercial vehicles and 5 per cent. for other users—including motorcycles. It is estimated from the national travel survey that 35 per cent. of the petrol sold was used in household cars which were used for more than 500 miles a year on business.