§ Sir Patrick Wallasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the price per gallon of fuel for the horticultural industry in Holland as compared to the cost for Dutch industry and the equivalent costs in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Gray:The main fuel used by the United Kingdom horticulture industry is heavy fuel oil, whereas in the Netherlands gas is the predominant fuel. Figures are therefore not directly comparable.
I have no specific information on the price paid for heavy fuel oil by United Kingdom horticulturists, but based on the latest EEC Commission weekly Oil Bulletin for small industrial consumers of 5 October, the price to United Kingdom horticulturists after allowance for the rebate on heavy fuel oil duty and the current adoption aid of 5 pence per gallon would be around 46 pence per gallon, equivalent to 26 pence per therm.
At 5 October exchange rates, I understand Dutch horticulturists are paying 16.4 pence per therm for gas, compared to 28.4 pence per therm for small Dutch industrial consumers.