§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the proportion of petrol sales accounted by persons claiming the cost as an expenditure for tax purposes; and by how much revenue would be increased if the value added tax on petrol were to be replaced by an equivalent increase in the excise duty.
§ Mr. Peter ReesThe information is not available to answer the first part of this question. Replacing VAT on petrol by an equivalent increase in the excise duty would raise about £325 million in a full year.