GREEN TAXES WOULD NOT HIT POOREST - HUHNE

4.47.37pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 7th Aug 2006

Transport taxes would not hit the less well off.

Responding to the Government's assertion that green taxes would hit the poorest hardest, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Chris Huhne MP said:

"Ministers are talking nonsense about green taxes. Transport taxes such as a flight emissions tax or high Vehicle Excise Duty on new cars would not hit the less well off, because they do not drive gas guzzling cars or take regular flights.

"Yet the poorest in the world will be particularly hard hit by crop failures, drought and flooding if global warming continues."