§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the present levels of heavy fuel oil duty in each of the countries of the European Economic Community; and what steps are being taken to harmonise the duty throughout the Community.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweThe current duty rates in member States of the Community, charged per metric tonne*, are as follows:
Sterling National currency Belgium Nil Nil Denmark †29.81 DKR 410 France 4.25 FF 46.84 Germany 3.85 DM 15.00 Greece 3.55 DR 405 Ireland 8.67 £I 10.14 Italy 0.44 L 1000 Luxembourg 1.31 LF 100 Netherlands 2.58 NFL 11.11 United Kingdom ‡8.01 Notes *Based on exchange rates on 20 December 1982. One metric tonne=tonne = 1,040 litres of heavy fuel oil. †Duty is refunded to registered VAT traders. ‡The legal rate is £0.0077 per litre. The EC Commission has made no proposals for harmonisation of the duties on hydrocarbon oils since 1973.