AN engineering employers' group is getting hot under the collar over the results of a survey into the Climate Change Levy.

The EEF (Engineering Employers' Federation) has published the first survey on the costs to engineering and manufacturing of the levy.

According to the EEF, which represents many engineering firms in Bury, the survey confirms that when the sector is already in recession, it is bearing a disproportionate burden of the levy.

Based on energy bills received by EEF member companies during the first three months of the levy, engineering is paying 17 per cent of revenue raised by the levy, well above its eight per cent share of the economy.

The survey also shows that the gross increase in costs to the engineering sector will be £174 million a year. However, says the EEF, the real total is likely to surpass £200 million, given that energy bills during the winter are significantly higher than in the period of the survey.

Across the North West, the average increase in energy bills due to the levy is 8.7 per cent with all respondents indicating they would not be able to pass on these increases to their customers.

Andrew Semple of EEF North West said: "The Climate Change Levy remains the most ill-conceived and badly-designed piece of legislation in recent times.

"Our latest survey of business showed the recession in manufacturing hitting the region hard.

"These figures prove our case. The Climate Change Levy is little more than a tax on manufacturing and engineering when it is help the sector needs."