This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6992299.stm

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Tory group backs new flight tax Tory group backs new flight tax
(about 4 hours later)
A new tax on UK short-haul flights and "gas guzzling" cars are among recommendations from the Conservatives' final policy review group. Taxes on UK short-haul flights and "gas-guzzling" cars are needed to combat climate change, a Conservative policy review group has claimed.
The Quality of Life Group report said it was "unfair and illogical" cars and trains were taxed more than flights. The Quality of Life Group said it was "illogical" cars and trains were taxed more than flights, adding the UK should be a "world leader on green growth".
It also called for a moratorium on airport expansion which it said was "incompatible with a commitment to fighting climate change". It wants to suspend airport expansion, claiming this is "incompatible with a commitment to fighting climate change".
The findings, which will be published later, are not binding on the party.The findings, which will be published later, are not binding on the party.
The report, from a group headed by former Environment Secretary John Gummer and the environmentalist Zac Goldsmith, was the last of a series of "policy reviews" by the Conservative Party. They come from a group headed by former Environment Secretary John Gummer and the environmentalist Zac Goldsmith, and form the last of a series of "policy reviews" by the Conservatives.
Rail investmentRail investment
It has come up with suggestions to make Britain a "world leader on green growth" - including reducing stamp duty and council tax on energy efficient homes and lower business rates for green offices. The report calls for VAT to be introduced on domestic flights to end the "unfair and illogical bias that taxes cars and trains more than flights".
On transport, it suggested removing the "unfair and illogical bias that taxes cars and trains more than flights" and instead investing in rail. If you want to pollute you pay more, and if you are prepared to do something about the environment, you pay less John GummerFormer environment secretary class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6992041.stm">'Too few green incentives'
There are about 100,000 flights a year from Heathrow to places you can get to in the same time by train Zac Goldsmith class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6992041.stm">'Too few green incentives' Under its plans, £29 would be added to a return flight from London to Manchester, for example.
VAT would be introduced on domestic flights - adding an extra £29 on a return flight from London to Manchester for example - air passenger duty would be paid per flight, rather than per passenger, while the railway network would be upgraded. "There are 30 or more flights a day from London to Manchester and other cities like that," Mr Gummer told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Mr Goldsmith told the BBC: "There are about 100,000 flights a year from Heathrow to places you can get to in the same time by train." "That's a terribly bad [way] of pouring emissions into the atmosphere. What we need is a better train service."
He said the key was to improve alternatives, like the railway network. The group also suggests putting airport expansion on hold and a reconsideration of plans for a third runway at Heathrow.
'Showroom tax' "We think there is no need for a new runway at Stansted or at Gatwick," Mr Gummer explained.
The group also calls for a moratorium on airport expansion - with no new runways at Gatwick or Stansted and a reconsideration of plans for a third runway at Heathrow. "We want to have a moratorium on the discussions as far as Heathrow is concerned while we look at whether it's true - which is what the airport says - that if you did some change there, you could actually reduce emissions."
Other suggestions include a "showroom tax" with larger, less fuel efficient cars would pay more and cleaner, small cars would get VAT relief. ENVIRONMENTAL PROPOSALS No further airport expansions for nowRethink Heathrow's proposed runwayNo new runways at Gatwick or StanstedVAT on UK domestic flights and short-haul trips to EuropeUpgrade railway networkEncourage people to take trains, not flights, within the UK Variable "showroom tax" on new vehiclesRebates on stamp duty and council tax on "greener" homesNo stamp duty for "zero-carbon" homesCap on energy use by domestic appliances Source: Quality of Life Group report for the Conservatives
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said it would be up to party leader David Cameron to prove that asking people to pay more to fly or buy a new car could be sold to the electorate. However, the chief executive of budget airline EasyJet, Andrew Harrison, said domestic air travel was "already very highly taxed".
Mr Goldsmith said the proposals were a "balance of carrots and sticks". "If you widen the debate out to the regions - to Northern Ireland, to Scotland, to the north-east - rail is simply a slow, expensive, and often non-existent alternative."
But Chief Secretary to the Treasury Andy Burnham said the Conservatives had been saying green taxes would fund their policies but added: "By our reckoning there is a rather large hole in their financial plans." And former Labour energy minister Brian Wilson, who chairs travel industry organisation Flying Matters, said such taxes would penalise "families who save and work hard to fly once a year".
The full findings of the report will be published on Thursday. "Those who are well-off - the David Beckhams of this world, the businessmen - will continue to fly," he added.
Other proposals from the group include a "showroom tax", where larger, less fuel-efficient cars would pay more, and cleaner, small cars would receive VAT relief.
The report also recommends reducing stamp duty and council tax on energy-efficient homes and lowering business rates for greener offices.
Financial 'hole'
"People are increasingly concerned that the government knows about climate change and is doing nothing about it," Mr Gummer added.
He said the report took the approach that "if you want to pollute you pay more, and if you are prepared to do something about the environment, you pay less".
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Andy Burnham said the Conservatives had been claiming that green taxes would fund their policies, but added: "By our reckoning there is a rather large hole in their financial plans."
He went on: "The Tories' problem is that they are proposing unfunded tax cuts, billions of pounds of extra spending promises and cuts to borrowing, all at the same time."