Contact/Cyswllt:  Sian Cliff
02920 898342 / sian.cliff@wales.gov.uk

Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for the Environment, Mick Bates AM, describes the Chancellor’s Budget statement as a missed opportunity and more like a Tory Blue Budget than a so called ‘Green Budget’.

In his annual Budget announcement the chancellor Alistair Darling announced that the Government would impose charges on the use of plastic carrier bags unless supermarkets make "sufficient" progress on a voluntary basis.

Commenting Mick Bates AM: “The Labour Government in Westminster has fallen behind the voluntary sector and supermarkets such as Marks & Spencer, who are now being forced to lead the way in introducing a levy on plastic bags. The Welsh Liberal Democrats recently called for a levy to be introduced throughout Wales but the Labour-Plaid Assembly Government was too afraid to be bold and take the initiative. Now it will be up to the voluntary sector to do their best without guidance from a national level.”

The chancellor also announced a plan to roll out smart meters to medium and large companies over the next five years. In the Assembly last month the Welsh Liberal Democrats called for smart meters to be rolled out to all homes in Wales.

Commenting on the chancellor’s remarks Mick Bates says: “This announcement is a missed opportunity for smart meters – these meters have huge potential in terms of encouraging energy efficiency, reducing fuel poverty and supporting microgeneration. They should be rolled out to all homes and businesses across the country as soon as possible if we are to see a real reduction in existing household carbon emissions.”

Darling also announced plans for a zero rate of car tax in the first year for new, low emission cars but a higher first year rate on the most polluting cars.

“I am pleased that those who can afford to buy new cars will be given this incentive to purchase a low emission car, as it will be subject to a zero rate car tax. However this is a token effort only – most people, particularly in rural areas, are on low incomes and cannot afford new cars. Furthermore, the zero rate applies for the first year only and it does not reward those people who are using sustainable fuels in their cars now and drastically reducing the emissions produced by their vehicles” adds Mick Bates.

The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation currently stands at 15p per litre, whereas the biofuel duty differential stands at 20p per litre. Noting the chancellor’s announcement that the biofuel duty differential would be replaced by the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation Mick Bates says:

“Replacing the biofuel duty differential with the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation is not supporting sustainable biofuels. It is in effect penalising biofuel producers by 5p per litre and will simply benefit big oil companies who will reap the rewards. We need to see real support for sustainable fuels, which people can use in their vehicles now, not just incentives for those who can afford new cars.

“Nothing in this announcement today will spur a real change in peoples’ behaviour on the scale that is needed to tackle climate change. This so called ‘Green Budget’ is all words and no action – it is more blue than green and a true reflection of the Labour Government that has devised it.”



End / Diwedd