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Closed Remove VAT on Energy Efficiency Measures To Help Meet 2050 Emissions Target

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Taxing people who voluntarily choose to upgrade the energy efficiency of their home goes against the government’s 2050 zero carbon target. Particularly as people building new homes that will ultimately add carbon emissions pay no VAT at all.

Government signed the 2050 Net Zero emissions commitment into law in 2019 and that legislation has since been cited in the decision to prevent a third runway at Heathrow. While VAT on measures such as insulation and heat pumps has been reduced to 5%, it remains at 20% for items like LED lighting and Heat Recovery Ventilation, both of which are essential for a low carbon home. Zero-rating energy saving technologies would stimulate growth in the low carbon economy at a critical time for the UK.

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  • Related activity

    Government respond to report on prioritising the climate and nature in post-covid recovery

    The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) published the Government's response to their report, "Growing back better: putting nature and net zero at the heart of the economic recovery."

    In its report the EAC put forward a number of recommendations stressing the need for the economic recovery from covid-19 to be addressed in tandem with prioritising environmental priorities on climate change and nature recovery.

    In a response to the report, the Government confirmed that the National Infrastructure Bank—set up to finance infrastructure projects across the UK—will be a public institution on a permanent basis. They have committed to reviewing the case for broadening the Bank’s mandate to include improving the UK’s natural capital, before bringing forward legislation to put the Bank on a statutory footing.

    The Government response includes responses to the Committee’s recommendations on:

    • Transport infrastructure and nature recovery 
    • Homes and energy efficiency
    • Industry, particularly carbon border adjustments
    • Investment in nature
    • VAT reductions
    • Green finance

    Read a summary of the Government response:
    https://committees.parliament.uk/work/306/greening-the-postcovid-recovery/news/156038/government-accepts-eac-recommendation-for-national-infrastructure-bank-to-be-permanent-with-possible-future-focus-on-nature-recovery/

    Read the full Government response:
    https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5802/cmselect/cmenvaud/327/32702.htm

    Read the Committee's report:
    https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5801/cmselect/cmenvaud/347/34702.htm

    What is the Environmental Audit Committee?

    The Environmental Audit Committee is a cross-party group of MPs who look into how Government policies and departments contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development. The Committee is independent of the Government.

    Follow the Committee on Twitter for updates on its work:
    https://twitter.com/CommonsEAC

    The Environmental Audit Committee is a select committee. Find out how Select Committees work:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c

  • Related activity

    Have you tried to access the Green Homes Grant? MPs want to hear from you. 

    Have you tried to get money from the Government’s new Green Homes Grant to make your home more energy efficient? 

    A group of MPs called the Environmental Audit Committee would like to hear about your experiences of the application process. 

    You can share your experiences here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=nt3mHDeziEC-Xo277ASzSsdf6aRbb_hHi61kcnJ3-KJURFhDR01KQlkxVlQ4Wk5BN1UyTUJKTzA1Ui4u 

    They’d like to hear from you by 16 November. Your answers will help them to understand the issues people are facing and what questions MPs need to ask the Government.  

    They might publish some or all of your responses, or read them out when they’re asking questions in a public Committee meeting or in the House of Commons. So please don’t share any personal information that you don’t want to be public. 

    You can get updates on their work by following the Committee on Twitter @CommonsEAC or on their website: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/62/environmental-audit-committee 

    What is the Environmental Audit Committee? 

    The Environmental Audit Committee looks at and questions how government departments and public bodies: 

    · contribute to environmental protection 

    · contribute to sustainable development 

    The Committee scrutinises their performance against sustainable development and environmental protection targets. 

    It's a cross-party committee and is independent of the Government. 

    This is a ‘select committee’. Find out how Select Committees work: 
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c 

  • Petition closed

  • Petition published

    This petition can now be signed.

    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 11 September 2020.