§ Mr. BlizzardTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much capital gains tax relating to the sale of exploration licences was paid by the offshore oil and gas industry in each of the last three years; and what is the forecast figure for the current financial year. [86858]
§ Mrs. RocheThe corporation tax liability of oil and gas companies arising from their capital gains on the sale of exploration and production licences averaged £25 million a year in the period 1995–96 to 1997–98 and is expected to be about £15 million for the current year.