MILIBAND NEEDS GREEN SWITCH NOT BLUE SKY THINKING - HUHNE

7.09.52pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 19th Jul 2006

Ahead of the speech later today by the Environment Secretary David Miliband, in which he is expected to discuss the idea of household carbon allowances, the Liberal Democrats have revealed figures, which demonstrate the need for immediate polices to tackle pollution.

Green taxes - taxes on fuel, vehicles, energy and landfill - fell last year to just 2.9 per cent of national income compared with a peak of 3.6 per cent in 1999. The last time the green tax burden was this low was in 1989, when Margaret Thatcher still lived in Downing Street.

There has been a rise in Carbon Dioxide emissions over the same period, as green taxes have fallen.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Chris Huhne MP, said:

"The Liberal Democrats welcome any discussion about household carbon allowances. In fact, unlike Labour, it is official party policy to explore the option.

"What David Miliband must realise however is that proposals such as these are years away from being practically possible.

"Rather than using blue sky thinking to give the impression of doing something, green action is needed now.

"Green taxes have fallen to their lowest level since Mrs Thatcher was Prime Minister. This is a shocking indictment of a government that claims to care about the environment.

"The Liberal Democrats want fairer and greener, but not higher taxes to change our behaviour and safeguard our planet for our children."