HC Deb 28 October 2002 vol 391 cc609-10W
Mrs. Browning

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the rates of duty in each EU member state in respect of red diesel. [77542]

John Healey

"Red diesel" is gas oil which has been marked with a red dye and a tracer chemical making it eligible for a rebated rate of excise duty. The effective duty rate in the UK is currently 3.13 pence per litre. This rebate is specific to the UK. While many other EU member states operate rebate schemes that are similar to the UK's, they are applied in very different ways so no direct comparison is possible.