asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the expected increase in the retail price index arising from the increase in the cost of petrol following his decision to abolish vehicle excise duty.

The effect of the net saving to private motorists and the small increase in business costs will be broadly neutral.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he

	1975–76	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79
	£/head	£/head	£/head	£/head
Cheltenham	2·7	3·7	—	3·0
Cotswolds	1·3	0·9	0·1	2·0
Forest of Dean	2·4	3·1	3·6	4·2
Gloucester	3·5	3·7	3·7	3·3
Stroud	4·4	3·5	2·2	2·3
Tewkesbury	3·1	2·4	2·8	2·8

The figures are derived from the financial and rating statistics published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy."South Gloucestershire"is taken to mean the Forest of Dean.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had from members of the public concerning his decision to abolish vehicle excise duty.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Members for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley) and Bromsgrove and Red-ditch (Mr. Miller) on Wednesday 29th November 1978.—[Vol. 959, c. 409–410.]