BAA accuses Government of arrogance

"THE British Aggregates Association has condemned the Government’s ‘breathtaking arrogance’ after Paul Boateng, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, reiterated the Government’s intention to press ahead with implementation of the aggregates tax from the beginning of April."

"By now the situation may have moved on a stage, but as this issue of Quarry Management went to press the Government was facing a four-day hearing in the High Court at the end of March in which it was required to justify the proposed tax. The case was brought by the BAA which believes the aggregates tax is illegal as it contravenes EC competition law and the European Convention on Human Rights."

"Speaking ahead of the hearing, BAA director Robert Durward said: ‘The news that the Government still plans to press ahead flies in the face of the High Court hearing next week in which the legal basis of the tax is to be tested.’"

The BAA had hoped the Government would defer implementation of the tax after the judge at the preliminary hearing on 13 March indicated that he would not reach a decision before the tax is due to start on 1 April.

"‘The Government seems determined to destroy the quarrying industry,’ said Mr Durward. ‘If the tax itself were not bad enough, the Government is needlessly causing additional damage to the industry by rushing ahead when so much confusion still surrounds the tax."

"‘In view of these uncertainties, the Government is extremely arrogant not to delay the tax. The whole situation is a mess, it is causing absolute chaos and adding significant unnecessary costs which some quarries may not be able to meet. Common sense has not been in the least evident,’ he said."