§ Mr. John Mackayasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the retail price of derv and four star petrol for December 1981, and the preceding nine years both exclusive and inclusive of tax and duty, giving the price in both cash terms and at constant December 1981 prices.
§ Mr. GrayThe pump price data since 1977 attached are the results of a survey of the major oil marketing companies on or about the 15th of each month. Prior to 1977 reliable pump price statistics held by my Department relate to January, April, July and October in each Year. Thus data for December of each year are not readily available and the price for January of each year has been used. Current prices have been converted to constant December 1981 prices using the general index of retail prices—all items.
Following are the data:
the Norwegian national administration. National currencies have been converted at exchange rates current on 18 January 1982.
In making international price comparisons it must be borne in mind that difficulties can arise in times of changing prices and exchange rate fluctuations. There can moreover be a wide range of prices within countries and differences in the methods of collecting the data may not always provide comparable figures.
Following are the estimates
25W
Retail price, pence per gallon Premium Petrol Derv Excluding Including Excluding Including Tax Tax Tax Tax Germany 75 146 74 139 France 84 179 75 131 Italy 82 188 75 *90 Ireland 96 185 85 181 Belgium 84 178 83 137 Denmark 84 178 84 118 Norway 100 186 89 †107 United Kingdom 77 161 83 158 * A further tax of £130/annum is levied on all diesel engine road vehicles not exceeding 16 Horsepower plus £7.88 per horse power in excess of 16.
† A further tax of 0.727 pence/Kilometre is levied on all Diesel engine road vehicles.