Fuel Price Escalator

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The Fuel Price Escalator (later Fuel Duty Stabiliser), a fuel duty policy in the United Kingdom ahead of inflation, was introduced in March 1993 as a measure to stem the increase in pollution from road transport and cut the need for new road building at a time of major road protests, at Twyford Down and other locations. Set initially at 3% above inflation it was increased in two stages to 6% before being suspended and then, in 2011, replaced by a 'fuel duty stabiliser' (also known as the 'fuel price stabiliser' and 'fair fuel stabiliser') following further increases in the price of oil.

Hydrocarbon Oil Duty

Hydrocarbon Oil Duty is a fuel tax levied on some fuels used by most road motor vehicles in the United Kingdom; with exceptions for local bus services, some farm and construction vehicles and aviation, which pay reduced or no fuel duty.

United Kingdom Country in Europe

The United Kingdom (UK), officially the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, informally as Britain, is a sovereign country lying off the north-western coast of the European mainland. The United Kingdom includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom that shares a land border with another sovereign state, the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border, the United Kingdom is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the North Sea to the east, the English Channel to the south and the Celtic Sea to the south-west, giving it the 12th-longest coastline in the world. The Irish Sea lies between Great Britain and Ireland. With an area of 242,500 square kilometres (93,600 sq mi), the United Kingdom is the 78th-largest sovereign state in the world. It is also the 22nd-most populous country, with an estimated 66.0 million inhabitants in 2017.

Twyford Down mountain in United Kingdom

Twyford Down is an area of chalk downland lying directly to the southeast of Winchester, Hampshire, England next to St. Catherine's Hill and close to the South Downs National Park. It has been settled since pre-Roman times, and has housed a fort and a chapel, as well as being a 17th and 18th century coaching route.

Contents

History

Fuel Price Escalator

At a time of rapidly rising concerns about the effect of road transport on the environment, and in particular from the program of road building which had resulted in major road protests, at Twyford Down and other locations, the Conservative's under John Major introduced a 'Fuel Price Escalator' in March 1993 set initially at 3% ahead of inflation per year, increased to 5% later in the same year, and then increased again to 6% in 1997 by the Blair ministry after Labour won power. [1]

Second Major ministry Government of the United Kingdom

John Major formed the second Major ministry following the 1992 general election after being invited by Queen Elizabeth II to begin a new government. His government fell into minority status on 13 December 1996.

Blair ministry List of UK governments under Tony Blair

Tony Blair originally formed the Blair ministry in May 1997 after being invited by Queen Elizabeth II to form a new government following the resignation of the previous Prime Minister, John Major of the Conservative Party, as a result of the Labour Party's landslide victory at the 1997 general election. He would serve as the Prime Minister for three successive ministries and parliamentary terms until his resignation on 27 June 2007. His Cabinet was reshuffled for each new parliament along with a few minor changes during each term.

The last rise due to the escalator took place following the budget on 9 March 1999 at a time of rapidly increasing oil prices. [1] In 2000 at a time of rising protests at the cost of fuel Gordon Brown announced that the prices would only be increased by inflation due to the high price of oil. [1]

Fuel protests in the United Kingdom

The fuel protests in the United Kingdom were a series of campaigns held because of the cost of rising petrol and diesel fuel prices for road vehicle use. There have been three notable campaigns amongst many other protests in the 21st century. The first major protest in 2000 was primarily led by independent lorry owner-operators. One group of lorry owner-operators from the South East of England formed a protest group called "TransAction" that protested at oil refineries and fuel depots in Essex. Protests and blockades of oil facilities caused widespread disruption to the supply of petroleum products. The aim of the protests was to secure a reduction in the fuel duty rate on petrol and diesel, which the government refused to enact. After the protest ended, the government did announce a freeze on fuel duties, and promised changes would be made to the way that goods vehicles were taxed, which would include the taxing of foreign vehicles operating on British roads.

Price of oil generally refers to the spot price of a barrel of benchmark crude oil—a reference price for buyers and sellers of crude oil

The price of oil, or the oil price, (generally) refers to the spot price of a barrel of benchmark crude oil—a reference price for buyers and sellers of crude oil such as West Texas Intermediate (WTI), Brent ICE, Dubai Crude, OPEC Reference Basket, Tapis Crude, Bonny Light, Urals oil, Isthmus and Western Canadian Select (WCS). There is a differential in the price of a barrel of oil based on its grade—determined by factors such as its specific gravity or API and its sulphur content—and its location—for example, its proximity to tidewater and/or refineries. Heavier, sour crude oils lacking in tidewater access—such as Western Canadian Select—are less expensive than lighter, sweeter oil—such as WTI.

Fuel Duty Stabiliser

Increases were deferred for a number of budgets and then in 2011, at a time of rapidly increasing oil prices, George Osborne cut 1p from the tax, increased the Petroleum Revenue Tax to raise at additional £2bn from North Sea oil firms, and announced that the escalator would be replaced with a 'fuel price stabiliser'. [2] but would rise if oil prices fell below $75 per barrel. [3] [4]

George Osborne British politician (b. 1971)

George Gideon Oliver Osborne is a British Conservative Party politician, who was Member of Parliament (MP) for Tatton from June 2001 until he stood down on 3 May 2017. He served as Chancellor of the Exchequer under Prime Minister David Cameron from 2010 to 2016. He has been editor of the London Evening Standard since May 2017 and chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP) since September 2016.

Petroleum Revenue Tax (PRT) is a direct tax collected in the United Kingdom. It was introduced under the Oil Taxation Act 1975, soon after Harold Wilson's Labour government returned to power and in the immediate aftermath of the 1973 energy crisis, and was intended to ensure "fairer share of profits for the nation" from the exploitation of the UK's continental shelf, while ensuring a "suitable return" on the capital investment by oil companies.

In the 2011 budget the Chancellor had also announced a rise of 1p in January 2012 and then 5p in August 2013, but later cancelled the 1p rise and reduced the 5p August rise to 3p in November 2012. [5] In the budget of 2012 Osborne confirmed the 3p August rise, before first postponing it and then cancelling it in December 2012. [6] A further proposed inflation-based increase in fuel duty was cancelled by the chancellor in March 2013. [7]

In March 2016, with oil prices at about $40 a barrel, [8] and following widespread speculation that the duty would be increased at a time of record low oil prices, [9] the chancellor froze fuel duty for the sixth year running, [10] and reduced the tax on North Sea oil firms. [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Motoring taxation in the United Kingdom

Motoring taxation in the United Kingdom consists primarily of vehicle excise duty, which is levied on vehicles registered in the UK and hydrocarbon oil duty which is levied on the fuel used by motor vehicles. VED and fuel tax raised approximately GB£32 billion in 2009, a further £4 billion was raised from the value added tax on fuel purchases. Motoring-related taxes for fiscal year 2011/12, including fuel duties and VED, are estimated that will amount to more than GB£38 billion, representing almost 7% of total UK taxation.

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The starting rate of income tax, often known as the 10p rate, was a special rate of personal income taxation in the United Kingdom that existed from 1999 to 2008.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Taxation of road fuels: the road fuel escalator (1993-2000)" (PDF). House of Commons Library. 2011-01-21.
  2. "Budget 2011 at a glance: George Osborne's key points". BBC News. 2011-03-24.
  3. "Duty cut as Chancellor unveils fair fuel stabiliser". The Telegraph. 2011-03-11.
  4. "Fuel duty may still rise despite fall in oil prices, says minister". The Telegraph. 2015-01-29.
  5. "AS2011: Fuel duty rise cancelled". Accountancy Age. 2011-11-29.
  6. "George Osborne freezes fuel duty in autumn statement". The Guardian. 2012-12-05.
  7. "Budget 2013: Fuel duty rise cancelled by chancellor". BBC News. 2013-03-20.
  8. "Oil price rally 'has run its course for now'". The Week. 2016-03-24.
  9. "Budget 2016: how Osborne could increase fuel duty". The Telegraph. 2016-03-15.
  10. "Chancellor freezes fuel duty and continues to consult on company car tax". Fleet News. 2016-03-16.
  11. "Budget 2016: Chancellor George Osborne cuts North Sea taxes". BBC News.

Further reading