§ Mr. JackTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the economic impact on the UK of the harmonisation, in the EU, of taxes on diesel fuel at current fuel prices and taxation levels. [73825]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThe European Commission has recently published a proposal to introduce a single harmonised diesel duty rate for commercial users of 350 euros per thousand litres of diesel in 2010. The proposal also sets out transitional regimes in the interim period. If this proposed duty rate were applied now, it would cost at least £2 billion a year in revenue. The Government will make it clear that we see no reason for a harmonised diesel duty rate.