§ 22. Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is460W his estimate of the reduction of household waste going to landfill as a result of the increase in landfill levy in the Budget. [47643]
§ Angela EagleThe recent review of the landfill tax indicated that it is already having some impact on behaviour but that the rate needs to be higher to ensure a significant increase in waste recycling, recovery, and minimisation. I therefore welcome the Chancellor's decision to increase the standard rate of the tax from £7 to £10 from 1 April 1999. I expect that the immediate impact on household waste will not be substantial, simply because some Local Authorities are tied into long-term disposal contracts, but that the longer-term impact will be significant.