Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 29 November 1973.
Mr Norman Tebbit
, Epping
12:00,
29 November 1973
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer what are the rates of duty imposed on aviation turbine fuel and aviation gasoline.
Mr Terence Higgins
, Worthing
Aviation turbine fuel is charged at lp per gallon and aviation gasoline at 22½p per gallon when used on internal flights in the United Kingdom. Both are free of duty when used on international flights.
Mr Norman Tebbit
, Epping
Is that fair to the operators of small aircraft and to the relatively lightly used services? Does my hon. Friend agree that the aircraft used for such services are inevitably pistonengined? Why should the operators pay 22 times as much duty for their fuel than the duty paid for the thirstier paraffinburning jet aircraft?
Mr Terence Higgins
, Worthing
I understand the point my hon. Friend is making. The matter cannot be considered in isolation. Relief from duty must be considered in relation to other claims for relief for light oil. Relief would have to be given to all users and would involve a significant loss of revenue. There are also real problems concerned with control regarding revenue matters.
The chancellor of the exchequer is the government's chief financial minister and as such is responsible for raising government revenue through taxation or borrowing and for controlling overall government spending.
The chancellor's plans for the economy are delivered to the House of Commons every year in the Budget speech.
The chancellor is the most senior figure at the Treasury, even though the prime minister holds an additional title of 'First Lord of the Treasury'. He normally resides at Number 11 Downing Street.
