Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
A new Boiler Scrappage Scheme can stimulate the local economy and generate higher tax receipts, according to the CEO of leading trade body the Energy and Utilities Alliance, who has written to the Chancellor, following the Bank of England’s latest forecast, that Covid19 will result in a 14 per cent fall in national income this year.
The paper, published yesterday (12th May), calls for the re-introduction of the scheme, which was used previously to help grow the economy following the impact of the 2008 financial crisis.
EUA’s CEO, Mike Foster, said: “The Chancellor will be looking for ways to help the economy recover from the Covid-induced collapse. We are reminding him of a tried and tested scheme, offering great value for money – bringing in more than it costs, that could be up and running in a few months.”
“Our paper suggests that a Boiler Scrappage Scheme, limited to 200,000 units, will have an initial outlay of £80 million, with a payback within the same financial year of £92 million and a regular increase in VAT each year after that.”
“The scheme supports UK manufacturers who produce the boilers, the retail and distribution sector which sells them, the installers that fit them and the consumer that saves on their energy bills. In addition, our paper shows that air quality improvements of over 80 per cent can be made and over 150,000 tonnes of carbon reductions will take place when replacing old G-rated boilers with new A-rated products”
“We and our members stand ready to help the Government steer its way to sunnier economic times. This paper offers a simple, common-sense approach to help. Should the Treasury want any more information, we are available.”
The Boiler Scrappage Scheme proposal will seek to remove 200,000 G-rated boilers by offering a £400 Government funded voucher to incentivise the homeowner to swap to an A-rated boiler. The improved product efficiency, under 70 per cent to over 90 per cent, will deliver household bill savings of £205 a year for the average semi-detached property.
