The Chancellor will slap another 25p of duty on a litre of biofuel for boaters next year
The Government will raise the duty on a litre of biofuel used by UK boaters by 25p next year, MBM has learned.
The current rate of duty on a litre of biofuel for “off-road” use, which includes boating, is set at 3.13p. But the Chancellor plans to “harmonise” this with the standard rate for road biodiesel, which stands at 28.35p a litre.
This means filling up with biodiesel in the UK next year will be more expensive than filling up with mineral diesel is many European countries.
Caroline Lucas, an MEP for the Green Party, told MBM: “”The tax raise is outrageous and completely incompatible with the Government’s stated intention of promoting alternatives to fossil fuels. Once again we see the yawning gulf between the Government’s rhetoric on environmental issues and the reality of its actions.”
For more on this exclusive story, see March’s MBM, out 15 February.
Also in the issue is a comprehensive rundown of how you can save money next year if the thought of paying over £1 for a litre of diesel is enough to send shivers down your spine. MBM’s experts consider the options, from switching to petrol, to moving your boating abroad. Don’t miss it.
