§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of Stae for the Environment what assessment he has made of the 1993 OECD report on environmental policies and competitiveness. [1154]
§ Mr. ClappisonI have noted the OECD report with interest. It is a balanced report which examines a number of important issues. We remain committed to promoting the use of economic instruments to achieve our environmental goals, where this is appropriate. In the case of the landfill tax we have used the revenues raised by an environmental tax to reduce other distortionary taxes on employment. However, in considering the scope for new environmental taxes it is important to judge each case on its merits.