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Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Vincent Cable (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Thursday, 8 December 2005 on behalf of the Treasury.


Inflation

Question
In his statement on Monday, the Chancellor argued that because the main cause of recent inflation was high oil prices, petrol duties would be frozen and taxes increased on the North sea. If oil prices fall to the level before the recent shock, is it therefore Government policy that petrol duties will be increased and the increase in taxation on the North sea reversed?
Answer

The policy on fuel prices is as I have set out previously. As for the North sea, I want to give stability to oil companies during this Parliament. Opposition Members clearly do not want the revenue of £2 billion a year from the increase in North sea oil taxes, so they had better tell us which services they will cut to make possible the loss of that revenue.


Secondary information

Type
Oral question
Reference
440 c981-2 
Session
2005-06
Oral question type
Supplementary
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Economic situation Inflation Oil Prices North Sea
Link
View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk