To do this it naturally important investments

The new outbreak of the oil prices worried about it

The increase in the price of a barrel is linked to the tension between supply and demand. The growing demand for consumer countries is about satisfied by the current offer of the producing countries. But between the two, the margins of manoeuvre are too low. As soon as an external factor is, as currently the Iranian uncertainties, speculation is in place, for fear that the application is more covered by the available supply.

Are you going to make proposals at the G7 in Washington at the weekend

I plead for the creation of a safety margin most important between the supply and demand, to reduce the speculative effect of external shocks. I propose to strengthen the capacity of storage and refining, and to help the production quickly respond to speculative phenomena. To do this, it naturally important investments.

And in France, consider new measures

In September, I had met the oil companies to correct the aberrations detected on prices at the pump. Commitments have been entered into. They have been held and the increases could be smoothed. With the current escalation of the course, I presented a weekly record of the price system in place. If artificial increases were observed, which is not the case for the moment, I don't exclude to organize a new round table.

In the immediate future, it is therefore the status quo...

There are areas in which we can move forward: I think the information of consumers. In many countries, can be found on the Internet a map of gas stations and prices charged by each of them. I have thought about what could be an initiative of this type. I am also convinced of the need for oil companies to invest a significant portion of their results in production, research and refining capacity and development in alternative energies.

With 72 dollars a barrel, how are tax revenues

As always when the price of gasoline rising, consumption decreases. Therefore, the TIPP, calculated on the volumes, sees its product decline. The product of the VAT, increases, but not enough to offset the decline in the TIPP. Currently, the increase in the price of a barrel has a slightly negative effect on the accounts of the State.

Some members of the majority are concerned about public finance. What is the situation of debt

We are a movement of braking: after having increased by EUR 93 billion in 2003, the debt grew to 75 billion in 2004 and then to 69 billion in 2005. This year it expected to increase to 37 billion. After the release of the Pébereau report, December 18, the Government did not wait a month to convene a Conference of public finances and prepare a five-year debt reduction plan.

However, as a percentage of GDP, debt has increased by two points last year, according to the Insee...

Debt to be reimbursed, it is debt in absolute value. You can then look at more complex indicators which take into account several factors. Last year, the GDP grew less quickly than the debt, because of a slowdown in growth. Furthermore, cash offset prevented us to assign, in accounting, some 13 billion euros to the debt. Where debt announced 66.8 of GDP. It will be reduced to 66.5 this year.

What is the impact of the increase in the rate of interest on the debt in 2006. The Agency France treasure already estimated it at 450 million

Contrary to what was Senator Jean Arthuis in your column yesterday, this evolution has perfectly anticipated in the Finance Act, beyond rate increases since the beginning of the year. There is nothing new about it.

The budget deficit has been reduced to 3 of the GDP last year, through non-renewable. That will be in 2006

It is wrong to speak of non-renewable decisions about corporate tax measures. The new mode of payment of the last payment of corporation tax was voted by the Parliament, it is perennial.It is also false to indicate that the fine imposed on operators of mobile telephony has helped to reduce the public deficit below 3 in 2005. It is not always recorded to date because the companies concerned have appealed. As affected by the State shareholder dividends, they were the same as for any shareholder, which is the sign that our economy and our companies are better.

How the replacement of the first contract device hiring will be funded

No additional euro will be spent. The Department of social cohesion manages an envelope of EUR 13 billion, in which he will conduct a redeployment.