LETTER PUBLISHED IN THE INDENDENT, 2008-03-14

Sir: We have had high road fuel taxes for years but traffic continues to grow. Now Alistair Darling's timid tinkering with taxes on cars and air travel confirms that green taxes do not work. Politicians will never have the political courage to raise green taxes as high as they need to be.

A much better alternative is a system of Personal Carbon Allowances, controlled by an independent body in much the same way that interest rates are controlled by the Bank of England. This frees politicians from the temptation to meddle.

Another advantage of PCAs is that, if the right number of allowances is issued, there will be at least as many winners as losers. With green taxes, we are all losers.

Dr Gerry Wolff

Menai Bridge, Anglesey