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February | March 2001 |
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'Metric martyr' awaits his day of judgement
COMMENTARY:
The climate change levy
Caution over Equal Treatment Directive
Self-employed have rights too, you know
Survey signals growth in employee share ownership
FSB signs up to racially aware leadership project
National Business Day is a success
The Climate Change Levy
| COMMENTARY |
| Ian L Handford National Chairman of the FSB |
| 'The Climate Change Levy is another tax that discriminates against small business' |
A new tax on energy supplied to business consumers is to be introduced on 1 April.
Like the change to metrication and the introduction of self-assessment later, this major new energy tax - adding up to 15 per cent to energy bills - is getting little promotion and business owners are either ignoring it, or know little or nothing about it.
We believe that the new tax will be discriminatory as it imposes a greater burden on small businesses, which will find it difficult to finance any changes they may wish to make in order to meet the savings asked for by the new energy audit standards body. The Government believes an in-house 'champion' ought to be appointed in every business who will be responsible for carrying out energy checks, performance benchmarking, planning with employees, and generally listing ways of making energy savings at the workplace.
It is estimated that a typical business might save between 10 to 20 per cent of its energy costs if changes are made. The theory is marvellous but as always someone has to invest in, or pay for, the time to do the work, and then find the money to fund any equipment or new system recommended.
For the full News, see pages 4-5, 7-8, 27 of the February/March 2001 issue of First Voice
Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation of this magazine, errors and omissions are not the responsibility of the publishers or of the editorial staff. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers or editorial staff. All rights reserved. Unless specifically stated, goods or services mentioned are not formally endorsed by the FSB which does not guarantee or endorse or accept any liability for any goods and/or services featured in this publication.
Copyright NFSE (Sales) Ltd 2001