Press Releases for 2005

CUT STAMP DUTY - INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY

24th February 2005

Kent Green Party is supporting a parliamentary campaign to introduce a stamp duty rebate for house buyers who make their homes more energy efficient. This will increase the take-up of energy-saving products and help us meet our climate change targets. Kent Green Party recommends supporters of this idea write to John Healey MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, HM Treasury, 1 Horseguards Road, London SW1A 2 HQ in support of the STAMP DUTY (LOWER RATE FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES) BILL (1). Steve Dawe comments:

"Kent Green Party supports the above Bill which will receive its Second Reading on 8th April. This Bill will be good for the environment and good for the many thousands of first-time buyers for whom stamp duty has become a major obstacle to getting on the property ladder. This has particular application to Kent, given the rise in the price of homes in recent years. Given the pressure upon electricity supply being caused by rapid population increase in Kent, it would be prudent for the Government to support a variety of measures which increase energy efficiency and look forward to increased greenhouse gas reduction targets after the expiry of the Kyoto Agreement in 2012. The Government has admitted that meeting its energy efficiency targets "will require even greater levels of energy efficiency improvement". This measure will help."

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FURTHER INFORMATION: Steve Dawe on 01233 645167 or 07747 036192. Contact address as above.

Notes:

1. Full text of the Early Day Motion which is promoting support for the Bill: EDM No 492 - LOWER RATE OF STAMP DUTY FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES: That this House notes the Government's statement in its Review of the Climate Change Programme that the new statutory duty to take reasonable steps to achieve an increase of at least 20 per cent. In residential energy efficiency in England by 2010 from a 2000 baseline "will require even greater levels of energy efficiency improvement than our existing aim'; further notes that a stamp duty rebate for house buyers who install energy saving measures is recommended by the Energy Saving Trust, the Association for the Conservation of Energy and the Sustainable Energy Partnership as being the best way of achieving the installation of more energy efficiency products, particularly cavity wall and solid wall insulation; recalls that the Energy White Paper described energy efficiency as the "cheapest, cleanest and safest way' of achieving all energy policy objectives; notes that 75 per cent. of first-time buyers now pay stamp duty compared to only 18 per cent. 10 years ago; and believes that measures to make the necessary adjustments to stamp duty should be implemented. ENDS The Bill is being promoted by the Association for the Conservation of Energy.

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29th March 2005