When was Red Diesel first duty free for pleasure Boats

[stevebirch2002]

As per the title, having a discussion with my Dad who is adamant that he had to pay duty on Red Diesel in the 70s

I have always thought that Red Diesel was Duty Free to pleasure carft up until this latest EU kerfuffle..

Need to sort out the arguement...... Dinner will be a bit frosty otherwise!

Steve B

 

[nordic_ranger]

I sea to remember in the 70's a lot of people registering their boats as fishing vessels to avoid paying duty on diesel. I'm pretty sure your dad is right.

 

[stevebirch2002]

Damm, you are off my christmas list! Oh well, age and wisdom go together I suppose....... He is back off to Gambia on Tuesday. Back to his forest house and 26 year old girlie (he's 84!)

 

[Whitelighter]

Red Diesel has never been duty free for pleasure boats. The duty on Red is meerly set at a different (usually much lower) level than on DERV (road diesel).

Fishing boats (and sea-school boats etc) can claim the duty levied on the fuel back, so they effectively obtain fuel 'duty-free', though not at the pump.

In times of fuel shortages or economic requirements, the level of duty on Red (as with all fuels) is set by the Government and there is/was no set maximum amount.

In short, you dad is right, he did pay duty on Red, but then we still do today. There would be a point in registring your self as a fidhing vessel if the administration wacked the duty up, which they may well have done in the 70's

 

[DaveS]

[ QUOTE ]
Fishing boats (and sea-school boats etc) can claim the duty levied on the fuel back, so they effectively obtain fuel 'duty-free', though not at the pump.


[/ QUOTE ]

If this is how the system already works, then surely post 2008 it would be possible to retain red diesel for all marine use, but with the tax set at an EU complient, but lower than road fuel, rate? Those entitled to reclaim the duty would continue to do so, and everyone's happy (apart from a slight, one-off dent in the cash flow for the re-claimers). This seems such an obvious solution that I feel I must have missed something. Have I?

 

[Whitelighter]

Yes, that is the obvious way forward and the only thing you have missed is you are forgetting the govenrment really don't want to help, and have probably already mentally spent the extra revenue.

There was also the point that having to fork out the extra duty could drive some marginal fishermen and farmers out of business because of cash flow issues waiting for the reclaimed duty, but I don't really see that.

In short, there is a simple solution, that requires no legislation or infrastructiure change that could be implemented tomorrow but the truth is the goverment do not WANT to take that route.

Sorry, but the over whelming evidence is that we will all be paying over a £1.00 a litre next November and what is more frustrating that is what the government and that cu<span style="color:black">nt</span> Brown wanted all along.

 

[Cornishman]

The story begins in 1928 when Stanley Baldwin first introduced a hydrocarbons fuel duty. It was at different rates for light oils (petrol, paraffin etc) and heavy oils (diesel and gas oils).
It has been messed about with at different times ever since.

 

[Sneds]

Not a fan of Gordon Brown then? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Whitelighter]

Not really, no.

 

[Emjaytoo]

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry, but the over whelming evidence is that we will all be paying over a £1.00 a litre next November

[/ QUOTE ]

When we, in Holland, will be paying 1 Euro (70p) a litre. When I next visit the east coast I will make sure I have plenty of "cheap" Dutch diesel on board. Hope I don't get stopped by British Customs and fined for <span style="color:red"> not </span> having red diesel in my tanks!!