POLLUTERS WILL SHOULDER THE BURDEN OF NEW CAR TAX SYSTEM

3.08.25pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 4th Sep 2006

The European Parliament is set to back a report that calls for cars to be taxed according to the amount they pollute rather than by registration.

Commenting, Sharon Bowles MEP, Liberal Democrat Economic Affairs Spokesperson, said:

"This is welcome backing for the use of green taxes in a way that changes our behaviour without raising overall taxation.

"Liberal Democrats in the UK have long supported green taxes and are well down the track of providing costed proposals.

"The Parliament is right to back a change in car taxes to influence the cars we buy. This is about using taxes in a new way to change behaviour, not to raise money for Member States or the European Union.

"Green taxes have worked in the Nordic countries, and they should be a model for the rest of Europe."

ENDS