SHADOW Treasury spokesman John Bercow has added his weight to a national energy tax campaign which started in Bolton.

Mr Bercow addressed representatives of major Bolton companies in the boardroom at the famous Warburtons bakery.

The campaign started when Mr Jeff Wealands, a director of Manchester-based Utility Auditing, spotted a flaw in the Renewables Obligation legislation currently going through Parliament with a view to introduction in January, 2002.

He alerted Bolton and Bury Chamber and now the national British Chambers of Commerce organisation is lobbying the Government.

Mr Wealands has pointed out that the Renewables Obligation -- a proposed tax on energy suppliers to encourage them to generate electricity from renewable sources -- allows suppliers to pass the levy on to customers. He thinks the extra cost will equate to a real increase of between two and 3.5 per cent to large users in the current marketplace.

His worry is that, added to the extra burden of the Climate Change Levy, some energy intensive companies could see an overall increase in their electricity costs of 20 per cent in less than 12 months.

These concerns were aired at the Bolton meeting called by the Chamber and local Conservative councillors.

Mr Bercow advised those present to write to Margaret Beckett, the Environment Secretary, or Patricia Hewitt, the Trade and Industry Secretary.

He pointed out that it was no good having an incredible "environmentally friendly" policy if it drove out businesses in the process.

Mr Wealands said after the meeting that business representatives present had expressed "considerable concern" about the prospect of increased costs.

"It will put inflation up," he went on. "Those companies which cannot put the increases on the price will have to absorb them and be less competitive in a global market."

Cllr John Walsh said Mr Bercow had listened to the concerns expressed and was talking to colleagues in his Treasury team to see what Parliamentary action could be taken to have the issue reviewed.

"It is not a question of saying the environment does not matter but is this the right way to tackle it?" he asked. Cllr Walsh said he had tabled a notice of motion for the next Bolton Council meeting calling on the council to support the chamber's campaign.

Further information on this issue from the chamber's energy team at Utility Auditing Ltd on 0161-848-9100.