How green was the Budget? inquiry

The Environmental Audit Committee holds a one-off session to scrutinise the green credentials of the Government’s proposals for tax changes and spending commitments outlined in the 2018 Budget, as well as asking what the Government missed out in light of the Clean Growth Strategy. The Budget has been criticised for being light on environmental commitments. In particular, the absence of a latte levy, a 25p charge on disposable cups, has been a surprise to the Committee. MPs inquired into the matter last year, and their recommendations for a disposable cups charge followed the successful introduction of a charge on plastic bags, which saw significant reductions in their usage. Government plans to consult on a single-use plastics tax, as well as frozen fuel duty are also likely to be considered during the evidence session.