Tax hike on coast light fees criticised
Campaigner expresses 'utter dismay' at tax on fees paid by shipping lines
A tax on fees paid by shipping lines for navigational lights has been
criticised in a letter by the chief campaigner against the move.
Mark Bookham, chairman of the Independent Light Dues Forum, has sent the
government a letter expressing his ‘utter dismay’ at the handling of the issue,
according to
telegraph.co.uk
In the letter, addressed to the shipping minister, Paul Clark, Bookham said
some of the world’s largest shipping lines are ‘aghast at the understanding your
department has shown for the economic plight the industry currently faces.’
Clark recently indicated light dues would rise from 35p to 39p per net
registered tonne from 1 July, with a further increase to 43p scheduled from next
April.
Bookham said spreading the proposals across two years ‘is not good enough.’
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