§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, since the meeting of the Energy Council of the European Economic Community on 13 May 1980, at which all member States endorsed the need for economic 212W energy pricing, there has been any adjustment of excise tax by any member country to reduce the excessive differential suffered by United Kingdom manufacturers.
§ Mr. Peter Rees[pursuant to his reply, 2 December 1980]: As far as I am aware, there have, since May 1980, been changes in the duties on oil products in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, and on electricity and gas in Denmark. As I explain in my reply to other questions by the right hon. Member, rates of excise duty vary considerably throughout the Community, and the United Kingdom rates of duty on oil products are by no means uniformly higher than those in other member States.