The 2006 Budget

The Committee's report examines key measures contained in the 2006 Budget (HCP 968, session 2005-06; ISBN 0102937311), as well as the discussing the general state of the UK economy and specific public finance issues. Amongst the Committee's conclusions: rising gas and oil prices are key features of the overall economic outlook and the Committee recommends the Government should make a report to Parliament on progress to secure independent investigation of European gas markets; and it questions the Government's use of taxation instruments as a mechanism to achieve its environmental objectives, for example its decision to freeze the rate of air passenger duty (APD) for a fifth year running.