§ Mr. CawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what provision will be made to protect SMEs which are unable to pay the aggregates levy; [16088]
(2) what assessment she has made of the ability of SMEs to fund the aggregates levy; [16087]
(3) what assessment she has made of the effect of the aggregates levy on small and medium-sized companies. [16086]
§ Mr. Boateng[holding answer 15 November 2001]: I have been asked to reply.
A Regulatory Impact Assessment for the levy was published as part of Budget 2000. The aggregates levy will be payable only by those who commercially exploit aggregate.