§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the possible implications for local authorities responsible for street lighting of the introduction of the climate change levy. [90714]
§ Mr. MealeThe impact of the climate change levy on local authorities will depend on the rates of the climate change levy. The final rates of climate change levy will not be set until Finance Bill 2000. It is therefore not possible to give definitive figures about the impact of the climate change levy on local authorities.
It is proposed that the revenue from the climate change levy will be recycled principally through a 0.5 per cent. cut in employers' National Insurance Contributions. Like other employers, local authorities will benefit from this reduction.