LETTER: System that makes it cheaper to pollute than to conserve
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.From Mr Andrew Warren
Sir: I fear that only deaf ears will greet Hamish McRae's clarion call to our government to alter the taxation system to penalise the profligate use of resources. Certainly that has been the present Chancellor's response to the complaint of the energy-efficiency industry that our product is taxed at more than twice the rate of the fuel it is intended to save.
VAT is levied on energy saving at 17.5 per cent. That on fuel is at 8 per cent. This is, as the former chancellor Norman Lamont said in his 1993 Budget speech, an "anomaly which makes a nonsense of any attempt to use the taxation system to improve the environment". Even still, the distortion remains.
If the Treasury refuses to make even this minor adjustment, what likelihood is there of any substantial changes taking place?
Yours faithfully,
Andrew Warren
Director
Association for the Conservation of Energy
London, N1
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments