HL Deb 27 July 1979 vol 401 c2167WA
Lord HYLTON

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, bearing in mind that gas flaring consents for most United Kingdom oilfields expire on 30th September 1979 and the need to conserve all sources of energy, they will consider reorganising hydrocarbon taxes so that liquid petroleum gas bears a low or nil rate, auto-diesel fuel a medium rate and petrol the highest rate.

The MINISTER of STATE, TREASURY (Lord Cockfield)

I am grateful to the noble Lord for his suggestion. The Government are very conscious of the need to conserve energy. The measures they have recently taken to increase the duty and tax on hydrocarbon oil will make a contribution to energy saving. The relative taxation of hydrocarbon oils and gas for road fuel use is kept under constant review and the point he makes will be borne carefully in mind.