§ 11. Mr. CanavanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will arrange to meet representatives of the foundry industry to discuss prospects for the industry. [18698]
§ Mr. PageThe President has no plans to meet representatives of the foundry industry. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Energy met representatives from the foundry industry on 16 November 1995.
§ Mr. CanavanBearing it in mind that the British foundry industry employs 52,000 people, is the Minister aware of the concern about a crippling burden on the industry if the higher rate of landfill tax is imposed? In view of the recycling nature of the industry and the fact that most of its waste consists of inert sand and slag, may 975 we have an absolute assurance that the industry will be charged the lower rather than the higher rate of landfill tax?
§ Mr. PageAll that I can say to the hon. Gentleman at this stage is that the matter is out for consultation. It is with Customs and Excise at present and I know that the foundry industry is heavily involved in those discussions.
I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising the whole question of the foundry industry. I pay tribute to the DTI's Foundry 2000 initiative. For the first time in three decades the decline in the number of tonnes produced has been halted and production is on the way up again. It is forecast that by the year 2000 production will be 1.45 million tonnes, which is a considerable improvement in the right direction.