Think of a number and that's the tax
9th June 1984, Page 24
9th June 1984
Page 24
Page 24, 9th June 1984
— Think of a number and that's the tax
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HOW can one price something that cannot be quantified? Nicholas Ridley did not provide the formula but his Treasury background shone through when he tried to justify the £160m a year excess on track costs that lorry owners are now being compelled to pay.
"The tax paid now reflects the environmental effects of lorries — the noise, vibration, pollution and other environmental costs which lorries cause and yet cannot be measured," he said.
Think of a number, double it, repeat it self-righteously and you have a typical justification by the Treasury for any top-ofthe-head calculation, no matter how patently spurious it may be. You'll have to do better than that, Secretary of State.