Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb, the Green Party voice in the Lords
The Chancellor has frozen fuel duty for the seventh year running, the Green Baroness, Jenny Jones, has attacked the policy as 'bad for climate change, air pollution, and bus services'. The chancellor used his autumn statement to cancel the 2p fuel duty rise that would come from fuel duty keeping pace with inflation. It means an estimated drop of £850m in treasury revenue.
The Green Party's voice in the House of Lords, Baroness Jones said:
“The government are once again showing that they care nothing about climate change, air pollution and public health. The freeze on fuel duty, combined with a road building programme and the decline of bus services has led to an increase in car use. More cars means more pollution, which is bad for the planet and bad for people's health. The government could bring us healthier air and less congestion by raising fuel duty and using the money to reverse the devastating cuts in bus services. We need to give people the choice of travelling by public transport, walking and cycling, but that can only happen if we make the polluter pay and use the money raised to invest in the things that are good for our health and good for our environment."