Green taxes would need to be carefully designed so as not to hit poor tenants hardest, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has argued in a new report.

The report said any energy-saving taxes – which have been proposed by environmentalists as an alternative to taxes on income or spending – should be related to ability to pay; otherwise poorer people should be compensated through the benefit system.

The research by the Policy Studies Institute – published this week to coincide with energy efficiency week – concluded that the best energy tax for those on low incomes would be one that reduced council tax on homes if they were insulated.

Source

Housing Today

Postscript

Environment minister Elliot Morley on Monday announced an extra £3m for a winter campaign by government grant-maker Energy Saving Trust to promote energy efficiency in homes.

To read the report go to www. jrf.org.uk