Big increases in duty on alcohol and high-polluting cars have been announced by Chancellor Alistair Darling…

…Mr Darling risked the anger of environmental groups by delaying a planned increase in fuel duty for six months - but motorists will face an April 2009 fuel duty rise of 1.84p a litre. Plans to increase first year road tax for the most polluting vehicles - and a general reform of Vehicle Excise Duty aimed at encouraging the production of greener cars - are also expected to bring in an extra £730m annually by 2010. Mr Darling said he was setting aside new funding to develop road pricing schemes.
On the environment, he ordered stores to ban single-use carrier bags by next year or face legislation - and announced a review of carbon targets with aim of reducing emissions by 80% by 2050, up from 60%.

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