Alan secures meeting with Minister on port taxes
March 31st 2009
Alan has secured a meeting with Transport Minister Jim Fitzpatrick regarding the government's consultation on 'light dues'- the dues payed by ships entering the UK to help pay for the upkeep of our lighthouses.
Fall in shipping revenue due to the global nature of the economic downturn means there is now a deficit in the lighthouse fund, and the government is now consulting on how best to fill the gap. Alan is meeting with the minister responsible to highlight the importance of port trade to Southampton's economy when the changes are considered.
Alan said:
"I have considerable concerns about how these things will impact on shipping in Southampton. I want a wider root and branch review of how this works. I'm going to be meeting the minister, both to talk about what is in the consultation, and what the future for light dues is on a wider basis.
"Under the consultation, the raising of the tax and destination remains largely the same. i think it's a wider issue than that. Is it a tax conceived in the right way for what it covers?
"I don't think it's sound because of the effect it has on some port users. Will we just be here again in five or ten years time if we don't look at that wider issue?"
What do you think about this story? Email Alan