It covers statistics on energy production and consumption, in total and by fuel, and provides an analysis of year-on-year changes, and now also includes a section on renewable.

Indigenous production of fuels in the UK fell by 10.1% in the second quarter of 2012 compared with a year earlier. Oil production fell by 12.2% and natural gas production fell by 13.9%; these falls were due to maintenance activity and slowdowns on a number of fields.

Domestic consumption up 32.8% but, Energy Trends, explains domestic consumption in the second quarter of 2011 was particularly low due to the warmer weather in 2011.

Renewables’ share of electricity generation increased to 9.6% from the 9.0% share in the second quarter of 2011. Hydro generation decreased by 31.3% on the second quarter of 2011 as a result of low rainfall.

Over the same period, offshore wind generation increased by 46.7%, whilst onshore wind generation fell by 11.4%. Overall renewable generation was up 6.5% compared to the same quarter in 2011.

Photo: Centre for Sustainable Energy

More information: www.decc.gov.uk

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He made the claim after giving a speech outlining new Government plans to crack down on aggressive tax avoidance schemes.

He warned that hard-pressed families and pensioners who pay workers such as cleaners or gardeners in cash could be taking money out of the UK economy.

“Getting a discount with your plumber by paying cash in hand is something that is a big cost to the Revenue and means others have to pay more in tax. I think it is morally wrong.

“It is illegal for the plumber but it is pretty implicit in those circumstances that there is a reason why there is a discount for cash. That is a large part of the hidden economy.”

Of course, this also relates to the amount of VAT imposed on energy efficient home improvements, which the FMB’s Cut the VAT Committee  has been battling to have reduced, especially for historic buildings.

In the interview, Gauke didn’t mention the Green Deal initiative, which passed its second phase in the House of Lords recently and is now all set for an October launch?

At a special meeting in May between the VAT committee and David Gauke, Andrew Leech of the NHIC raised the subject of lower taxes and the homeowner/householders’ commitment to the Green Deal initiative.

It was felt that if householders and homeowners were not offered a reduction in VAT, to say 5% on Green Deal projects, this special government initiative may be a disasterous non-starter!

More information: www.cutthevat.co.uk

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Brian Berry, FMB director of external affairs, said: “We are pleased HMRC is becoming more vocal about the damaging effect cash in hand payments have on individual businesses and the economy at large. Businesses that avoid paying VAT have a 20% head start, but all too often this cheap deal comes without a proper written contract or any kind of paperwork meaning the enforcement of consumer rights is almost impossible if something goes wrong.

“The Government can reduce the competitive advantage of these rogue traders and help protect consumers by cutting VAT to 5% for all home repair, maintenance and improvement work. This simple, single action would help reduce the size of the ‘informal economy’ in the home improvement market, which is now estimated to be worth an astonishing £9.3 billion per year.”

According to research by the analysts at Experian, last year’s rise in the standard rate of VAT to 20% resulted in nearly 4,000 job losses in the home improvement market in 2011 alone.

The National Home Improvement Council is a founder of the ‘Cut the VAT’ committee and is active in aiming to achieve a reduction to 5% or, better still, nil! A reduction in VAT will substantially help consumer take-up of the Green Deal – if and when it gets off the ground?

The post FMB says government should cut VAT on home improvements! appeared first on The NHIC.

By 2020, it is estimated there could be more than 100,000 extra UK jobs if VAT is reduced to 5% for all domestic repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) works. This is according to figures from the Federation of Master Builders.

FMB director of external affairs, Brian Berry, says: “At a time when unemployment, especially among young people, is rising by cutting VAT on RMI works would help create more than 60,000 jobs over the next 12 months.”

A VAT cut for home improvements would increase demand in the sector and help create more apprenticeship opportunities for young people. It would also benefit millions of UK homeowners by reducing bills for those who find it difficult to afford vital energy efficiency improvements to their homes. And amongst other things it would be a great help to protect consumers from inexperienced and illegal workers!

Berry says: “One of the biggest benefits to come from cutting VAT would be the big boost it would give to the Government’s own Green Deal flagship!”

More information: www.fmb.org.uk

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