§ Mr. LoughtonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) on what basis he has increased his estimates for carbon emissions savings due to increases in fuel duties between 1996 and 2010, as set out in the pre-Budget Report; [99185]
(2) if his revised figure for carbon emission savings due to fuel duty increases between 1996 and 2010, set out in the pre-Budget report, takes into account ending the automatic fuel escalator; and from what year. [99186]
§ Mr. Timms[holding answer 22 November 1999]: The Chancellor made clear in the pre-Budget Report that the appropriate level of fuel duties will now be decided on a Budget by Budget basis. Given this, the estimates of carbon savings in the PBR do not assume real terms rises in fuel duties from Budget 2000 onwards.
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what expenditure he plans to make from revenues hypothecated from increases in fuel duty in each of the next three years. [99317]
§ Mr. TimmsIn his Pre-Budget Report, the Chancellor announced that in future he would decide the appropriate level of road fuel duties on a Budget by Budget basis, taking account of the Government's economic and social objectives as well as the UK's environmental commitments.
The Chancellor also announced that the revenues from any future real terms increases in road fuel duties would go straight to a ring-fenced fund for improving public transport and modernising the road network.
The amounts involved will be announced in each year's budget in the normal way.