Red Diesel (Hansard, 30 January 2001)

§ Mr. Davidson
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that red diesel is not 143W misused; how many prosecutions there have been for misuse in each of the last five years; how many prosecutions were successful; what penalties were levied in each case; and if he will make a statement. [146739]

§ Mr. Timms
Customs have a network of road fuel testing teams located regionally throughout the UK to ensure that rebated heavy oils, including red diesel, are not misused as fuel by road vehicles. These teams run testing vehicles in the UK which operate as mobile laboratories able to test for the chemical markers present in rebated oil.
Since 1996–97, Customs, excluding Northern Ireland, have prosecuted 20 cases of road fuel offences, involving red diesel, and have been successful in all cases. As a result of these prosecutions a total of £10,850 in penalties and 12 custodial sentences have been imposed. The figures for Northern Ireland are not currently available.

§ Mr. Chaytor
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the extent to which the reduced duty on red diesel affects the uptake of liquid petroleum gas and compressed natural gas. [147980]

§ Mr. Timms
No such assessment has been made.

§ Mr. Chaytor
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last reviewed the criteria for determining(a) who is eligible to use red diesel and (b) the purposes for which red diesel may be used. [147981]

§ Mr. Timms
The Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979 defines the circumstances in which rebated heavy oil can be used. This legislation is regularly reviewed to ensure its application remains relevant.

§ Mr. Chaytor
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will calculate the average annual financial value of using red diesel to users of(a) standard diesel and (b) ultra low sulphur diesel, broken down by economic sector. [147990]

§ Mr. Timms
The use of rebated gas oil (red diesel) is restricted by Schedule 1 to the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979 which defines categories of vehicles allowed to use this fuel. Users of standard diesel and ultra low sulphur diesel do not have the option to use red diesel.