SIR – It’s with some alarm that I’ve read of the latest European Union proposal to introduce a 20 per cent tax on new build housing.

This apparently comes as part of a general review of VAT across the EU. The European Commission is looking at areas where the tax can be made more uniform across member states.

Although exemptions are allegedly built in to this proposal, suffice to say if implemented it would flatten a UK construction industry already on its knees.

I would sincerely hope that our Parliament would reject such a proposal out of hand.

This matter is alarming not just for the stupidity of the concept, but also for the fact that the EU Commission can put such lunatic proposals to our legislature in the first place.

James Goad

UKIP Worcester and District