§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to publish a Green Book alongside the Red Book in the March 1999 Budget. [63271]
§ Ms Hewitt[holding answer 14 December 1998]: The Government consider that information on environmental impacts should be presented alongside, and not separate from, information on economic and financial impacts. The Financial Statement and Budget Report released in March 1998 included, for the first time, an assessment of the environmental impact of those Budget measures which are expected to have a significant effect on the environment. An updated version of that assessment was given in the recent Pre-Budget Report. The Government are looking to build upon that approach in the future. Including an assessment of the environmental impact of Budget measures within Budget documentation reflects the Government's commitment to put the environment at the heart of the policy making.