HC Deb 22 November 2001 vol 375 cc469-70W
David Taylor

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the time scale needed by the mining and quarrying industry, after the aggregates levy legislation is enacted, to put in place the necessary financial and information systems to operate the levy; [16302]

(2) if he will postpone implementation of the aggregates tax to take account of significant problems caused to (a) the quarry industry and (b) the rural economy. [16303]

Mr. Boateng

The aggregates levy was pre-announced by two years in order to give business time to adjust. The primary legislation was enacted in the Finance Act 2000. A full Regulatory Impact Assessment has been published by HM Customs and Excise and is available from their website.

The aggregates levy will come into effect on 1 April 2002.

David Taylor

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what areas of the aggregates levy legislation remain to be prepared; and when the process will be completed. [16301]

Mr. Boateng

Secondary legislation is still to be laid but will be implemented ahead of the introduction of the aggregates levy.