17th October 2008 - Linda calls for tax cuts on “green” goods

Euro-MP Linda McAvan hopes to save local households money by launching a new campaign in Brussels calling for rates of VAT to be reduced on energy efficient household products, such as lightbulbs and kitchen appliances.

Ms McAvan, Vice President of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, and who has responsibility for coordinating climate change policy, hopes that such a move would help homes to become more energy efficient and bring down rising electricity bills.

In a Written Declaration, she notes that “the market prices of the most energy-efficient household products are in certain cases much higher than those of the average product” and lower prices would help consumers to choose more sustainable products.

Last week the European Parliament adopted major new legislation to help to force down carbon emissions from industry.

Linda McAvan says;

“We’ve all noticed how energy bills have been rising, and of course the surest way to save money in the long run is to use products that need less electricity. But in the short term consumers face a tough choice – is spending a bit more on “green” goods now going to pay off? Governments can make that choice easier by cutting the cost of efficient goods, and that would also be good news for the environment.”