Found: The Government removed the red diesel discount, but in no way provided any timeline for when those

Found: perverse subsidies, such as coupled support for livestock and the continued absence of taxation on red diesel

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the tax treatment of red diesel on small farming businesses.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

In 2020, the previous Government announced that the red diesel entitlement would be withdrawn from most sectors from April 2022. However, farmers retained the entitlement to use red diesel for agricultural machinery.

At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government extended the temporary 5p fuel duty cut and cancelled the planned inflation increase for 2025-26, maintaining the red diesel rate at the levels set in March 2022 at 10.18p per litre.

Found: We are also making reductions in carbon across our fleet, replacing red diesel with Hydrotreated Vegetable

Question

What action is the Welsh Government taking to support businesses in the construction sector that can no longer use red diesel?

Answered by Minister for Economy

The duty charged on fuel is not a devolved matter within the Welsh Government competencies. Charges for fuel duty remain a matter for the UK Government.

However, our Business Wales service offers a wide range of advice and support on green policies and practices across Wales. Dedicated Resource Efficiency Advisors are available to support businesses working towards creating a resource efficient and resilient business, who can provide a range of advice such as using fewer raw materials to help reduce the risk of material scarcity, driving innovation and resilience, and helping businesses reach new markets.  The Business Wales Green Growth Pledge is part of the specialist sustainability support available through Business Wales and is open to all Welsh SMEs regardless of their industry sector. The Welsh SMART programmes provide specialist advice and funding for businesses to develop new products and processes that result in decarbonisation.

A member of the Business Wales helpline, who will be able to discuss the range of options that may be available, can be contacted directly on 03000 6 03000 between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).  Further information and guidance can be found on our website at https://businesswales.gov.wales/.

Question

Will the Minister provide a breakdown of the carbon footprint of each model of train currently in use by Transport for Wales, including the number of units of each model?

Answered by Deputy Minister for Climate Change

The total carbon footprint from TfW rolling stock for 20/21 was 63,738 tCO2e.

This was calculated based on the total gas oil consumption for the TfW fleet. (Using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, multiplying the activity data (traction fuel consumption) by the emissions factor for red diesel). TfW do not keep data at an  individual train model level.

Found: Red Diesel fuel prices increased by about 14pence per litre between 2008 and 2012, reflecting the rise