To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research his Department has undertaken recently into the effect of incomes restraint on inflation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research his Department has undertaken recently into the effect of incomes restraint on inflation.

Fuel duty. Seventeenth opposition day debate (part 2). Main question negatived on division (340 to 175). Amendment agreed to on question.

Fuel duty. Seventeenth opposition day debate (part 2). Main question negatived on division (340 to 175). Amendment agreed to on question.

I have to say that that is complete nonsense. Fuel duty is often set to increase in the autumn, but on a number of occasions, the rise has been either postponed or put back. In 2004, for example, the deferral of the autumn increase was announced on 20 July. Similar...

I have to say that that is complete nonsense. Fuel duty is often set to increase in the autumn, but on a number of occasions, the rise has been either postponed or put back. In 2004, for example, the deferral of the autumn increase was announced on 20 July. Similar...

It is funny that the Opposition just forgot to vote when they had a chance to, when the proposal was put before the House. I have been given the report of proceedings in the Finance Bill Committee when this matter was discussed. When the Exchequer Secretary said that the hon....

It is funny that the Opposition just forgot to vote when they had a chance to, when the proposal was put before the House. I have been given the report of proceedings in the Finance Bill Committee when this matter was discussed. When the Exchequer Secretary said that the hon....

I notice that later in the debate, when talking about the suggestion that the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Stewart Hosie) had made to deal with the price rises, the hon. Lady said:"““I must say that it is not one that I agree with.””––[Official Report, Finance Public Bill Committee, 15...

I notice that later in the debate, when talking about the suggestion that the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Stewart Hosie) had made to deal with the price rises, the hon. Lady said:"““I must say that it is not one that I agree with.””––[Official Report, Finance Public Bill Committee, 15...

I have to choose between giving way to an hon. Member from the party that tabled the motion and giving way to one from the party that was really responsible for the original proposal. I give way first to the hon. Gentleman from the Scottish National party.

I have to choose between giving way to an hon. Member from the party that tabled the motion and giving way to one from the party that was really responsible for the original proposal. I give way first to the hon. Gentleman from the Scottish National party.

My hon. Friend is right. In the end, the point is that when setting fuel duty, it is right to look at what is happening in the markets—at oil prices and at the prices at the pump. That is why we have decided not to go ahead with the increase...

My hon. Friend is right. In the end, the point is that when setting fuel duty, it is right to look at what is happening in the markets—at oil prices and at the prices at the pump. That is why we have decided not to go ahead with the increase...

I will give way to the hon. Gentleman if he will tell us where that £3 billion would come from.

I will give way to the hon. Gentleman if he will tell us where that £3 billion would come from.

No; the hon. Gentleman is talking nonsense. We have always been clear that there will be increases in some taxes but reductions in revenue from others as a result of factors such as an oil price increase. For example, there will be increases in the amount that needs to be...

No; the hon. Gentleman is talking nonsense. We have always been clear that there will be increases in some taxes but reductions in revenue from others as a result of factors such as an oil price increase. For example, there will be increases in the amount that needs to be...

When prices rise, particularly the price of things such as fuel, there will be a series of different impacts. Some people may drive less or consume less fuel. Others will spend less on other things, because in the end their spending will be limited.

When prices rise, particularly the price of things such as fuel, there will be a series of different impacts. Some people may drive less or consume less fuel. Others will spend less on other things, because in the end their spending will be limited.

Let me tell the hon. Gentleman some of the factors that the National Institute of Economic and Social Research does not take into account in its analysis. It does not, for example, take into account factors such as production levels, capital and operating costs, or the strength of sterling, all...

Let me tell the hon. Gentleman some of the factors that the National Institute of Economic and Social Research does not take into account in its analysis. It does not, for example, take into account factors such as production levels, capital and operating costs, or the strength of sterling, all...

I will give way once more, but I have done so many times and I want to make final progress towards the end of my speech.

I will give way once more, but I have done so many times and I want to make final progress towards the end of my speech.

The right hon. and learned Gentleman is long enough in the tooth and has been long enough in the Treasury to know that, as always, we set out the forecast for the public finances at the time of the Budget and at the time of the pre-Budget report. Unusually, we...

The right hon. and learned Gentleman is long enough in the tooth and has been long enough in the Treasury to know that, as always, we set out the forecast for the public finances at the time of the Budget and at the time of the pre-Budget report. Unusually, we...

The hon. Lady is right that the announcement will reduce the amount of fuel duty revenue for this year. The precise figures will be set out in the pre-Budget report, as happened in 2004, 2005 and 2006. That is the normal practice that we have always followed.

The hon. Lady is right that the announcement will reduce the amount of fuel duty revenue for this year. The precise figures will be set out in the pre-Budget report, as happened in 2004, 2005 and 2006. That is the normal practice that we have always followed.

As I said, we have set out the information today in exactly the same way as we have done in previous years. I welcome the right hon. and learned Gentleman to the debate, as he was the author of the Conservatives' fuel duty escalator, which was introduced in 1993. I...

As I said, we have set out the information today in exactly the same way as we have done in previous years. I welcome the right hon. and learned Gentleman to the debate, as he was the author of the Conservatives' fuel duty escalator, which was introduced in 1993. I...

I shall make one more point and then give way. The figures show that fuel duty has risen just three times since 1999, when we abolished the fuel duty escalator introduced by the previous Government. Fuel duty has fallen in real terms by 17 per cent. since then. I am...

I shall make one more point and then give way. The figures show that fuel duty has risen just three times since 1999, when we abolished the fuel duty escalator introduced by the previous Government. Fuel duty has fallen in real terms by 17 per cent. since then. I am...

I beg to move, To leave out from ““House”” to the end of the Question, and to add instead thereof:"““recognises the pressure that the increase in fuel prices, caused by pressures from the international oil market, has put on business and families; welcomes the Chancellor's decision to defer the planned...

I beg to move, To leave out from ““House”” to the end of the Question, and to add instead thereof:"““recognises the pressure that the increase in fuel prices, caused by pressures from the international oil market, has put on business and families; welcomes the Chancellor's decision to defer the planned...

As I have said, we announced today that we are not going ahead with the 2p increase in fuel duty that was proposed for this autumn. I want to come on to the detail of the Opposition motion, as the Opposition have set out some details of their proposals.

As I have said, we announced today that we are not going ahead with the 2p increase in fuel duty that was proposed for this autumn. I want to come on to the detail of the Opposition motion, as the Opposition have set out some details of their proposals.

The hon. Gentleman is right to say that the figures that we set out at Budget time for increased revenue resulting from fuel duty will not now be as expected. However, the overall impact on the public finances of the increases in the world oil price, and other changes that...

The hon. Gentleman is right to say that the figures that we set out at Budget time for increased revenue resulting from fuel duty will not now be as expected. However, the overall impact on the public finances of the increases in the world oil price, and other changes that...

I will happily give way if the hon. Lady will point me to the sections of the Committee proceedings in which she discussed and strongly supported the proposals for such changes to fuel duty.

I will happily give way if the hon. Lady will point me to the sections of the Committee proceedings in which she discussed and strongly supported the proposals for such changes to fuel duty.