HC Deb 21 April 1993 vol 223 cc105-6W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made as to the accuracy of past forecasts of aggregate demand.

Mr. Baldry

The long-term projections of demand are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that they are as accurate as possible. The accuracy of the projection used as a basis for the present MPG6 was assessed in 1989.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration has been given to the use of economic instruments to raise the price of primary aggregates and lower the price of secondaries in order to provide substitution between them.

Mr. Baldry

The Government have no plans at present to use economic instruments either to raise the price of primary aggregates or lower the price of secondaries.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost to his Department of all aggregates forecasts commissioned from ECOTEC in the last four years.

Mr. Baldry

The work undertaken by ECOTEC over the four-year period cost £38,125. Additional work by Cambridge Econometrics on long-term economic projections cost £9,100.