Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answers of 3 October 2019 to Questions 292302 and 292304, what the evidential basis is for the conclusion that VAT changes to materials used for solar installations will have a negligible environmental impact.

The changes to the VAT rules for energy-saving materials are expected to affect a relatively small number of installations. It is therefore anticipated that there will be a negligible impact on the environment.

Around 1,500 future installations of solar panels, energy-saving boilers and wind turbines are expected to be affected annually, plus some other smaller scale items. This represents less than 5% of the value of all installations currently eligible for the reduced rate. The changes are expected to have a negligible impact on the Exchequer.

A Tax Information and Impact Note was published by HMRC on GOV.UK on 10 July 2019.