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Key Budget measures include
Maintaining a stable economy
High quality public services

Productivity and enterprise in a flexible economy
Employment opportunity for all
Building a fairer society
Protecting the environment

Household income
Where taxpayers' money is spent
Further information
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The Government believes that economic growth and social progress must be achieved while protecting the environment to ensure a better quality of life for current and future generations. To protect and improve the environment, Budget 2004 announces:

• from 1 September 2004, duty rates on sulphur-free fuels will rise in line with inflation. The duty rate for ultra-low sulphur fuels will be set at 0.5 pence per litre above this level from the same date, to promote the use of the cleaner sulphur-free fuel. Vehicle excise duty rates are frozen;


• measures to promote household energy efficiency, including reduced rates of VAT for energy-efficient products and incentives for landlords to invest in the energy efficiency of rented housing; and


• reforms to climate change agreements which will increase the number of businesses which take part, and a freeze in the rate of the climate change levy.

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