Oral Answers to Questions

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Tuesday 7th January 2020 Commons Chamber

[Rishi Sunak]

I was in the Tees valley earlier this week, and what I heard there from manufacturers was incredible support for this Government’s agenda of spreading opportunity, driving investment in regional infrastructure and sensible taxation of manufacturing companies, all of which will lead to higher growth, more jobs and better investment for their community.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

8. If he will make it his policy to reduce the level of vehicle excise duty for motorhomes.

[The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Mr Simon Clarke)]

The Government introduced a graduated system of vehicle excise duty to encourage the uptake of vehicles with lower carbon dioxide emissions and to help to meet our legally binding climate change targets. I have held productive talks with representatives of the industry and my hon. Friend the Member for Southend West (Sir David Amess) to discuss this matter, and I am sensitive to their concerns. As with all taxes, we keep VED under review, and any announcements are for future fiscal events.

[Sir Desmond Swayne]

When we escape the clutches of EU regulation 2018/1832, will the Minister restore the status quo ante as at September last year?

[Mr Clarke]

My right hon. Friend stands up with a positively lengthy question. As he knows, I share his enthusiasm for escaping certain EU regulations when we leave the EU on 31 January. We are, however, convinced of the need to incentivise the reductions in our transport emissions that I have referred to, which represent a third of the UK’s total CO₂ output.