Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions her Department has had with EU counterparts on EU regulations preventing the use of red diesel to power private leisure boats in the context of the maritime tourism industry.

Officials in my department regularly speak to EU counterparts on a range of issues.

Private Pleasure Craft (PPC)) across the UK incur the full duty rate on fuel used for propulsion (52.95 pence per litre (ppl)) and the rebated rate (10.18 ppl) for non-propulsion use.

PPC that refuel in Great Britain can use red diesel provided they pay a top up to reflect the difference in duty between the red diesel rate and the full duty rate to cover their propulsion use. PPC in Northern Ireland are not permitted to refuel with red diesel, but a relief scheme is in place to cover diesel used for non-propulsion purposes (e.g. heating and lighting the boat).