Another response

[Wiggo]

So I faxed my MP, John Redwood. He replies:

"I have just received the attached from the Treasury Minister, John Healey, which I know you will find disappointing. As we suspected, there is no guarantee that the government intends to continue favourable tax treatment for red diesel past 2006. It is also very worrying that the have already started putting up the tax on this fuel.

I am very sorry I could not send you a more positive reply, but I will continue to monitor the situation.

Yours sincereley

John Redwood"



John Healey, MP writes:

"Dear John,

Thank you for your letter of 23 March to Gordon Brown etc etc. I am replying as Minister responsible.

Mr Wignall asks about the European Commission's plans to disallow the current use of duty free diesel in Britain's narrow boats in the near future. [Note the Minister's masterful grasp of the situation and the question here]

I should explain that private pleasure craft with diesel engines are entitled to use rebated gas oil or red diesel, which is specially marked to distinguish it from diesel used as road fuel. This is diesel which bears a reduced (or rebated) rate if excise duty of 4.22 pence per litre compared with the current 47.10 pence per litre for diesel used on the roads. From 1 September the rebated rate of excise duty will rise to 6.24 pence per ltre compared with 48.52 pence per litre for diesel used on the roads. As well as commercial and privately owned boats, rebated gas oil can also be used in certain off road vehicles such as most agricultural vehicles and machinery, vehicles employed in motorway construction, forestry, mining and quarrying, and diesel locomotives. [Thank you, Minister, I never knew any of that. Perhaps I shall sell the boat and build a motorway instead.]

Under the relevant European agreements (currently the Energy Products Directive, which came into effect on 1 January), fuel used by private pleasure craft on inland waterways is normally taxable at the same rate as the equivalent road fuel. However, the UK enjoys a derogation from this provision that allows private pleasure craft to use red diesel. This derogation is due to expireon 31 December 2006, subject to prior review by the European Council of Ministers, but we will have the opportunity to apply for an extension. I can assure Mr Wignall that Ministers will be considering the position on the UK's derogations in th erun up to 2006.

I hope this helps you respond to Mr Wignall.

John Healey, MP"


I am intrigued by his reference in the last para to inland waterways - is he implying that none of this applies to craft used at sea, only to inland use? Othe rthan that, another whitewash, IMHO. I will be writing to him presently...

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/graham.wignall/boats/eulimene600x800.jpg>The old and the new</A>

 

[Gludy]

I really find it amazing that not one of the replies from any official source deals directly with the point and all contain factual errors.

I think that the government ministers do not have a clue about the significance of the issue.

Its plain incompetence.


<hr width=100% size=1>Paul

 

[Guest]

Since when has Govt / MP been Competent ?

It is bred into average MP - evade, evade and evade the question again and again and again .......


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/

 

[LeytonC]

I think we are starting to get some notice, cos i just had exactly the same letter from Juile Kirkbride MP for Bromsgrove (With my name instead of Wiggo!)

But she thought I was asking about narrowboats? I think i am going to fax her again 2day explaining some things...



<hr width=100% size=1>Thanks

Leyton
(EXTAR Solutions - Software that works for you)

 

[Planty]

I just got exactly the same letter from John Healey too!! Kindly forwarded to me by my MP Andrew Mitchell. It is truly Word for word with a bit added about VAT, which frankly makes no sense at all to what I wrote about. Not sure really whether he intimates that they are likely to apply for an extension to derogation or not??

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Gludy]

I think everyone who gets an illogical reply (100% sofar) should respond pointing out the lack of understanding and requestiong a proper answer to their questions .... we cannot let them off the hook!

<hr width=100% size=1>Paul

 

[lyc]

I have exactly the same "chain" letter from John Healey too. Forwarded to me by my MP Tony Wright.

Has anyone replied yet? Perhaps we should send a "chain" letter back.

<hr width=100% size=1>
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BroadsandEastcoastBoating/>Broads & East Coast Boating</A>

 

[Wiggo]

I have written back to John Redwood, with a number of specific questions for him to ask John Healey. We'll see what response that gets.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/graham.wignall/boats/eulimene600x800.jpg>The old and the new</A>

 

[Wiggo]

Just received another letter from my MP, John Redwood. He writes:

"... I will take up your further points with the Minister as you request. Your letter arrived in the same post as the attached from the Shadow Chancellor, Oliver Letwin, which sets out the Conservative Party's views on the future cost of red diesel. Oliver and his team will continue to work hard to achieve a fairer solution for the leisure boat industry..."

Oliver Letwin, MP writes:

"Please assure Mr Wignall that we are concerned by measures to increase the cost of red diesel and the Chancellor's decision to increase duty by 2.42 pence per litre, a 57 percent increase.

The Conservative Party recognises and welcomes the important contribution the leisure boat industry makes to the economy. As I understand the situation, the concerns of the RYA relate to a European Directive that restructures the taxation of energy products in order to reduce teh perceived distortions between Member States.

My colleagues in the Shadow Treasury Team are working to ensure that a fair outcome is achieved for all those involved in the leisure boat industry, and I have no doubt that the scope for altering duty rates on red diesel will be under consideration as the Conservative Pary develops the policies that we will take into the next General Election."

So it looks like I may not be voting Monster Raving Loony Party at the next election, after all...



<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/graham.wignall/boats/eulimene600x800.jpg>The old and the new</A>

 

[Gludy]

I find the Oliver Letwin letter a bit too general.

What is needed is a simple commitment:-

That the leisure boat industry continue to be allowed the use of red diesel after 31st December 2006. - Its as simple as that

This would mean that we would be on a par with the commercial boats and pay what they pay. If they put the duty up on red diesel fair enough - they simply could not get away with too much rise.

So the simple issue we are fighting for is just to continue using red diesel. That is all we need.

We need to establish what the policies of the different parties are on that question -I am still not certain what the Conservative's policy is. Are you?




<hr width=100% size=1>Paul

 

[robind]

I recieved a copy of the very same Treasury reply from my MP I guess its a standard "go away" letter
Regards

Rob

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Michael Mates wrote back a couple of days ago enclosing a copy of a letter sent to him from John Healey at the Treasury.

The letter from Michael Mates stated

"You will be pleased to see that there is a possibility of the derogation permitting the use of red diesel ... continue into and beyond 2007".

The letter from the Treasury merely says that "Ministers will be considering the position on the UK's derogation in the run up to 2006".

I think we need to vote carefully in the next General Election, hint, don't put your X anywhere near the Labour or Lib Dem candidate

A big "No" to the EU constitution would help too.

<hr width=100% size=1>Two beers please, my friend is paying.