Government House, "Piraphan" confirms the news of the decree protesting the Cabinet regarding measures to help with people's living expenses. False distortion of market mechanisms Asking the Transport Association to understand. Diesel fixed at 33 baht per liter because there is little money Emphasize preparation for amending energy laws Pull out the gas tax ceiling and see for yourself. Mr. Peeraphan Saleerathaviphak, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Mentioning the case where there was a report from the Cabinet (Cabinet) meeting which stated that the Office of the Council of State gave opinions on 3 measures to reduce the cost burden for the people. both fixing the price of diesel fuel Fixing the retail price of LPG and giving discounts on electricity bills previously had a risk of impacting market mechanisms and wasteful people, insisting that this was not true. Where does the media get the news from? 'I sat in a cabinet meeting. There was no warning that continuing to subsidize the measure wo uld be a distortion. And saw that helping the people in this area was not good. As for concerns from the decree, I don't see it being a problem to ask the central budget to help with such measures. At the same time, the fuel fund is currently in negative territory. Taking care of oil prices according to the original regulations in 1973, the Fuel Fund was set up and there was no law to support it. The status of the Oil Fund was legalized in 2019. Before 2019, Prime Minister's Order No. 4/2004 had always been used," the Energy Minister said. Mr. Peeraphan said that this order gives the Fund authority. Maintaining or maintaining the price of oil can be done in two ways. One leg is using money from the fund, while the other leg gives the power to set tax ceilings. which the Oil Fund has the power to set tax ceilings But there is no power to collect taxes, so these two legs can be used to fix prices or help take care of the people. Besides just spending money You can also use the tax ceiling as a control. When th e Ministry of Energy sets the tax ceiling The collector is the Ministry of Finance. But when the law was passed in 2019, it eliminated the power to set tax ceilings for the Fund, leaving only financial matters. 'The numbers of the fund who have a lot of debt or have been negative since 2019 because setting tax ceilings, which used to be the power of the fund, is no longer there. This time, we tried to ask the Ministry of Finance to consider reducing the excise tax ceiling. But I don't agree. This was previously the power of the Fund. that can define the ceiling Therefore, it is something that must be fixed further. The power to collect tax ceilings must be transferred to the Ministry of Energy. when it is a product of the Ministry of Energy,' said the Minister of Energy. As for the case where the Freight Forwarding Association is concerned that the diesel price ceiling will be adjusted. At 33 baht per liter, it will bear the burden of the increased transportation costs. Mr. Peeraphan said that in the past h e had always tried to help the transportation sector. Because complaints have also been received. But when the price of oil is reduced The transportation sector does not reduce prices for the public. The government has tried to fix the price of diesel fuel as low as possible. Previously, it was operating at a price of 30 baht per liter. Now this price cannot be fixed. Because in the past more than 50 years, the method of fixing prices with money was used. So it depends on the money in your pocket. 'More money can fix a lot. Less money means less money. At this time there is little money, so the price must be low. But if you can save more money again can fix the price again But this system and this method It is something that I have always said that I don't agree with because spending money on fixing is not a cheap way. Need to adjust the system. which is currently being done By having to write new laws which is currently in progress And it won't take long. Because he has already completed his writing to a ce rtain extent.' Minister of Energy Said. Source: Thai News Agency
