§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reinvest environmental tax revenues. [103187]
§ Mr. TimmsThe Government will consider, on a case by case basis, the use to which the revenues from additional environmental taxes should be put.
The Pre Budget Report announced that, in future, the revenues from any further real terms increases in fuel duties will be spent on improving public transport and modernising the road network.
The revenues from the Climate Change Levy will be used to pay for 0.3 percentage point cut in employers' National Insurance and £150 million of support for energy efficiency measures in 2001–02.
The revenues from the Landfill Tax, introduced by the previous Government, were also used to reduce employers' National Insurance. The Government make 20 per cent. of the yield from the landfill tax available as credits to support environmental projects under the Environmental Bodies Credit Scheme.