Green group’s gloomy Budget predictions

Green charity Greenpeace is predicting a “hammer” blow for the environment in tomorrow’s Budget. The gloomy forecast from the campaign group warns planning reforms could “drop important provisions protecting local […]

Green charity Greenpeace is predicting a “hammer” blow for the environment in tomorrow’s Budget.

The gloomy forecast from the campaign group warns planning reforms could “drop important provisions protecting local green space” and wants these reforms to be scrapped.

John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace said: “The Chancellor appears determined to wield an ideological hammer against the protection of our valuable countryside and the UK’s globally admired push to slash its carbon emissions.”

Despite last year’s surprise Budget ‘raid’ on the North Sea which hit some fields with tax at 80%, Greenpeace also critises “expected tax breaks” for the oil industry which it says will continue a “long trend of major reduction in taxes since 1983”.

Media reports have been hinting at financial help from the Treasury for the North Sea, in particular for decommissioning oil fields and to support so-called ‘marginal’ fields where the profit margins are relatively small.

The charity is further concerned “key” policy areas will be missed out in the Budget, as it says the Chancellor is not expected to mention the Green Investment Bank, Green Deal funding or fuel poverty.

The Treasury would not comment on the Budget before it is announced.

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