Environment: Green Growth

Debate between Baroness Worthington and Lord Sassoon

Wednesday 16th May 2012 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Worthington]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the recent Green Alliance report into the use of tax reliefs to promote sustainable, green growth.

[The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon)]

My Lords, the views of stakeholders, including the Green Alliance, are given serious consideration when formulating policy. The Government remain committed to increasing the proportion of revenue from environmental taxes. This needs to be balanced with ensuring predictability, stability and simplicity in the tax code. In Budget 2012 the Government further demonstrated their intention to meet their environmental commitments while reducing unnecessary administrative burdens.

[Baroness Worthington]

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his response. I imagine that, as a member of the “greenest Government ever”, the Minister will have warmly welcomed the Green Alliance’s recent report into using tax relief on savings products to bring about green growth. Will he comment specifically on the suggestion that those companies offering products that receive reduced tax relief should be required to adhere to the standards code, which is currently voluntary, and that there should be greater transparency in how they invest the money that is saved?

[Lord Sassoon]

I am grateful to the noble Baroness for confirming the green credentials of this Government. She raises an interesting point because, on the question of transparency, the Green Alliance report refers to all ISAs—so to a broader suite of savings products than merely green products. Any contribution to the debate about increasing transparency is to be welcomed. Other reports have been written recently about transparency around fees in particular, while this one is more about the transparency of the investments in the portfolio. I note that a number of green ISAs already on the market make a virtue out of the transparency that they offer. Generally this is an important debate but one in which the voluntary approach, backed up by the code that the noble Baroness refers to, is right.