asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list separately for July 1978 and November 1979 the petrol duty payable on a gallon of 3-star petrol and the value added tax payable on a gallon of 3-star petrol.

The excise duty on a gallon of petrol was 30p in July 1978 and 36·8p in November 1979. In July 1978 the VAT charged at 12½ per cent. on a gallon of three-star petrol sold at the pump for 75p was 8·3p; in November 1979 the VAT charged at 15 per cent. on a gallon sold for £1·15 was 15p. Businesses registered for VAT are entitled to recover the VAT element.