Monday 4 August 2008

Retro car tax

What do I think about the retrospective road tax? Contemptible is one word that springs to mind. For years, I (and no doubt others) have been calling for government to subsidise alternative fuel research, and, partly through taxation, to steer future buying habits towards greener choices (not just for cars, but buses, taxis, trucks, the lot). OK, sections of the public have been slow to wise up, but the government has been so remiss in taking action that the retrospective tax seems a wheeze to make up for lost time. It will punish the less well-off, who won’t be able to afford a new, greener car, and won’t be able to sell their old one ... OK, the Environmental Audit Committee is addressing some of these concerns. They say a car scrappage scheme should be considered to offer drivers of high emissions cars a payment to trade in their vehicles for more efficient models. But will the government listen? Maybe, if enough of us shout, "We're not going to take it anymore!" Meanwhile, it continues to support a multi-billion traffic control system that causes congestion and accidents, and costs the earth to install and run.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I don't think the taxation is retrospective. The report highlighted that it would be retrospective if the government asked for additional funds from 2001 through to 2008.

However, I'm no fan of the Government. I think they're being too scared on the issue. If they issued a massive increase in tax, it would prompt society to change their ways.