£1 billion Carbon Stealth Tax; ‘Big Society’ May Affect Public Transport Fleets
Following the chancellor’s announcement of spending cuts, a row has broken out over what businesses have called a carbon stealth tax. The small print of the government announcement reveals that £1 billion a year raised from companies under the carbon reduction commitment scheme will go straight to the government instead of being fed back to businesses with good environmental performances – apparently without consultation. Considering that the many businesses paid £15,000 just to join the scheme – and significantly more in factory upgrades to compete for the funding – this likely to receive a hostile reception from those predominantly manufacturing business affected.