Oil Exploration Expenditure Supplement (Hansard, 8 September 2004)

§ Mr. Salmond
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will raise the oil exploration expenditure supplement; [187513]
(2) what action he plans to take in response to increasing oil prices. [187511]

§ John Healey
The Government's focus since 3 June has been on OPEC and oil producers and their responsibilities to meet their own targets on sustainable oil prices. With the next meeting of OPEC Ministers now moved from July to September, and in light of the continuing uncertainty in the oil market, the Government announced on 20 July that it had decided to review the planned increase in fuel duty at the Pre-Budget Report.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer will report back on this issue at the time of the Pre-Budget report. Other taxes, including the oil exploration expenditure supplement, will be kept under review by the Chancellor as part of the normal Budget cycle.

§ Mr. Salmond
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes in revenues the Treasury expects as a result of rising oil prices. [187512]
1299W

§ John Healey
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Waveney on 21 June (Official Report, 1205W).