asked the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism the effective price increase which the consumer will have to pay on foot of the recently introduced 5 per cent VAT rate on prepackaged coal, bottled gas, turf briquettes and petroleum products; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Fuel Prices.
568.
I propose to circulate in the Official Report a tabular statement giving the information requested by the Deputy.
Following is the tabular statement:
|
Product |
Maximum Retail Price from 1 May 1983 |
VAT Increase from 1 May 1983 |
|
Pre-Packaged Coal |
||
|
(i) 12½ kg. |
£1.56 to £1.60 |
7½p |
|
(ii) 25 kg. |
£3.07 to £3.16 |
14½p to 15p |
|
(iii) 50 kg. |
£5.34 to £6.29 |
25p to 30p |
|
Bottled Gas |
||
|
(i) 5 kg. Cylinder, Butane |
£3.62 |
17p |
|
(ii) 10.88 kg. Cylinder, Propane |
£6.75 |
32p |
|
(iii) 11 kg. Cylinder, Propane |
£6.74 |
32p |
|
(iv) 11.343 kg. Cylinder, Butane |
£6.86 |
33p |
|
(v) 11.8 kg. Cylinder, Butane |
£6.75 |
32p |
|
(vi) 34 kg. Cylinder, Propane |
£20.61 |
98p |
|
Turf Briquettes |
||
|
Per Bale |
83p to 85p |
4p |
|
Petroleum Products |
||
|
(i) Gas Oils per litre |
24.88 to 26.18p |
1.22p |
|
(ii) Paraffin per litre |
33p |
1.00p |
|
(iii) Standard Kerosenes per litre |
26.49p to 27.81p |
1.29p |
|
(iv) Heavy Fuel Oils per litre |
19.44p to 20.22p |
0.95p |
569.
asked the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism the current price of all popular brands of petrol being retailed in this country; the price variations that have taken place in these costs over the past five years; and the breakdown of the current pricing structure as against production and taxation.
The current maximum prices of the major brands of petrol which are subject to price control are set out in the Maximum Prices (Petroleum Products) (No. 5) Order, 1983, S.I. No. 112 of 1983, which came into effect on 1 May, 1983.
A copy of the order is available in the Dáil Library.
As regards the second and third parts of the question, I would refer the Deputy to my reply of 19 April 1983 to Dáil Question No. 834 (Columns 1078 to 1081, Volume 341, No. 6, of the Official Report).
570.
asked the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism the arrangements he is making to carry out a full investigation into the price structure of petrol and petroleum products; if he will give the details of any applications before him for price increases and the justification for these applications; the price variations as to the cost of petrol and petroleum products as against the average prices in Great Britain and in other European countries; and if he will make a statement on these products and their costings.
In reply to Dáil Question No. 7 on 10 May 1983 I informed the House that the National Prices Commission at my request are reviewing price control arrangements for these products to ensure that they continue to serve current needs adequately. The commission have carried out such reviews on a number of occasions in the past and it has access to specialist advice to assist it in its work.
As regards the second part of the Deputy's question, since information in regard to price increase applications must be treated as confidential, it is not possible for me to give the information sought by the Deputy.
As regards the third part of the question, I would refer the Deputy to my reply on 19 April 1983 to Dáil Question 834 (Volume 341, No. 6 of the Official Report, columns 1078 to 1081).