Industry News

摘要

AS widely expected, last month's Budget confirmed a 35p (22%) increase in the rate of the aggregates levy from ￡ 1.60 to ￡ 1.95 per tonne from I April 2008, with a further rise to ￡2.00 per tonne from I April 2009. The Quarry Products Association branded the decision to index link the levy in 2009 as environmentally perverse, pointing out that next year's 5p rise will amount to a 25% increase in just two years. Simon van der Byl, director general of the QPA, said: The Government claims that the aggregates levy is being increased 'to maintain its environmental impact', but as it has yet to produce any evidence of the green benefits of the tax, there is no justification for the increases. These claims are nothing more than greenwash.'