§ Mr. Geraint DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to make regulations implementing the report of the 2nd Wood Committee. [104067]
§ Ms ArmstrongIn September we broadly accepted the recommendations of the 2nd Wood Committee on the rating of plant and machinery in the prescribed industries. I have today published draft regulations which will implement that decision. The Government would welcome views on the draft regulations by Friday 28 January 2000.
We are considering whether the Committee's recommendation of a tools of the trade exemption for the power industry should be extended to generating plant and machinery in combined heat and power installations. We will make decisions on this shortly.