 The Chancellor has delivered ‘pale green’ Budget
12 March 2008: Lisa Macpherson, National Director of Tax at accountants PKF says the Chancellor’s Budget was ‘pale green’ and did not go far enough on measures to tackle climate change.
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 | Lisa commented, “Considering this was trailed as a green Budget, the measures he spoke about were a massive anti-climax. The reality is that we’re falling further behind in the battle against climate change and the Chancellor fiddled while the environment overheated. |
“There was some tinkering around the edges with the proposed hike in vehicle excise duty on high polluting vehicles and the inevitable charge on plastic bags, but neither of these measures are particularly significant - plus they were both deferred until 2009. Other green measures were merely ‘under consultation’ or deferred for even longer periods.
“If the Chancellor had wanted to make a real difference he could have introduced new tax incentives for investing in green energy generation and linked energy efficiency to stamp duty land tax for all residential property. Energy ratings in Home Information Packs (HIPs) now make this possible and people need to see an incentive for investing in their home’s energy efficiency.
“The tough measures needed are controversial and the Chancellor has decided to simply play it safe.”
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Jason Gowar, PR Manager, 020 7065 0573, jason.gowar@uk.pkf.com
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Notes to Editors:
- PKF is a leading firm of accountants and business advisers with more than 1,800 partners and staff operating in 23 offices in the UK mainland firm, a wholly-owned financial planning company and associated offshore practices. The firm specialises in advising growing and entrepreneurial/owner-managed businesses, AIM and fully listed companies, and also has extensive experience in the public and not-for-profit sectors. Principal services include assurance and advisory; taxation; consultancy; corporate recovery and insolvency; corporate finance and forensic. The firm has particular expertise in advising sectors such as hotels and leisure; mining and resource; public sector; real estate and construction; professional practices; not-for-profit; and medical. The firm’s web site is www.pkf.co.uk.
- PKF (UK) LLP also offers financial services through its FSA authorised company, PKF Financial Planning Limited. PKF (Isle of Man) LLC is a limited liability company registered in the Isle of Man. PKF (Guernsey) Limited is incorporated in Guernsey.
- PKF (UK) LLP is a member of PKF International which is an association of legally independent firms with more than 14,650 people operating in 119 countries around the world.
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