'Tax aviation fuel to cut the national debt'
£9 Billion a year to be saved
West London Friends of the Earth has called on the Conservatives and Labour to tax aviation fuel instead of cutting public services.
Nic Ferriday, spokesperson for West London Friends of the Earth, said: “At the Conservative’s conference we heard that there is a national debt of £175 billion. Meanwhile there were claims from Labour that the Conservatives’ proposals for cuts would only bring in £7 billion. We have a better answer. If aviation fuel were taxed at the same rate as petrol, it would bring in over £9 billion every year. This would save cuts in public services now and the debt could be steadily paid off. There would also be massive environmental benefits, especially in the fight against climate change. Unfortunately, both Conservatives and Labour seem more interested in preserving cheap flights for affluent people travelling down to their second homes in Spain than in protecting public services on which poorer and vulnerable people depend.”
Friends of the Earth also responds to BAA's 'phoney' aircraft noise consultation.
Nic Ferriday said “The consultation is phoney because it is being carried out by BAA, who only represent the airport’s and airlines’ interests. BAA has no incentive to take any notice of comments made by residents or by groups such as Friends of the Earth. There is no-one representing those affected by aircraft noise, which means the process is biased and undemocratic. A fair process would ensure that responses were received by the government, who could then ensure that appropriate changes were made to the Action Plan.”
Notwithstanding its phoney nature, Friends of the Earth has responded to the consultation. Nic Ferriday commented: “The key point about the plan is that it does not address the serious noise problem which already exists and seek to reduce it. Instead, it is a plan to manage noise and allow it to increase.”
October 8, 2009
