Tories to Tax Flying?

A 'Quality of Life' report from the Conservatives is expected to call for taxes on short-haul domestic flights as part of a package of green initiatives.

Opposition leader David Cameron's party is reported to have dropped plans for taxes on air passengers exceeding a fixed number of air miles per year.

But the Conservatives will go ahead with plans for fuel duty increases and incentives for airlines to improve fuel efficiency.

The proposals are due this week from a policy review group led by millionaire ecologist Zac Goldsmith, The Guardian reported.

He was quoted as saying: "You cannot be serious about climate change or quality of life issues unless you address the very, very difficult issues in relation to short-haul flights."

Consultation by the Conservatives found the recently doubled Air Passenger Duty – which caused travel industry uproar – is not directly liked to carbon emissions and provided no incentives for airlines to be more fuel efficient.

The imposition of VAT on fuel duty on flights within the UK as a means of encouraging passengers to switch to trains is part of the consultation.

The packages of taxes and incentives will see a net rise in green taxes partly to fund the party's plans for incentives to married couples and to reduce inheritance tax, according to The Guardian.
 

12 September 2007