Carbon Dioxide Emissions

HC Deb 20 February 1995 vol 255 cc9-10W

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for taxing carbon dioxide emissions; and what discussions he has had with his

Year	PAYE amount in £ thousands	As a percentage of total PAYE collected	Amount expressed in 1993 prices	Classes 1 and 1A NIC amount in £ thousands	As a percentage of total NIC classes 1 and 1A collected	Amount expressed in 1993 prices
1979	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
1980	9,914	0.05	26,975	1,056	0.01	2,873
1981	11,432	0.08	28,345	1,158	0.01	2,871
1982	15,281	0.06	34,603	1,261	0.01	2,855
1983	22,622	0.08	47,227	1,555	0.01	3,246
1984	33,312	0.11	64,863	1,971	0.01	3,838
1985	46,695	0.14	82,879	2,213	0.01	3,928

colleagues in relation to improvements to the environment.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

I have no plans to tax carbon dioxide emissions as such. However, the commitment to increase road fuel duties by on average at least 5 per cent. a year in real terms, and the introduction of VAT on domestic fuel and power, now held to 8 per cent., both play an important part in achieving the United Kingdom's commitment to return CO₂, emissions to 1990 levels in the year 2000.

I have regular discussions with my colleagues about improvements to the environment.