Duty advisers shamed • Advisers responsible for informing ministers on
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why fuel duty on diesel should be higher than that on petrol have been shown by a retired driver to be ignorant of the facts.
Rafter, who was also a lecturer in production engineering, says this is not true.
"Carbon and energy contents are the same for both fuels," he says. "There is nothing to justify the carbon tax and the Government should treat both fuels equally."
The EPG advises ministers on oil excise duties. Rafter initially asked EPG executive officer Heather Artis to explain road fuel taxation. Artis confirmed that one reason for the differential was that carbon and energy contents were not the same.
Rafter wrote back with his findings and received another reply from Artis, admitting her mistake and apologising.
Rafter says: "It is the chancellor who is being misled." He has written to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott but has received no reply.