HC Deb 04 December 2001 vol 376 c163W
Mr. Peter Duncan

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment she has made of the impact the Scottish economy of the implementation of the aggregates tax. [20698]

Mrs. Liddell

All revenues from the aggregates levy will be recycled back to business via a cut in employers national insurance contributions and a new sustainability fund. Scotland stands to benefit from some £3 million raised by the aggregates levy, and it will be for the Scottish Executive to decide how to use this money.

Mr. Peter Duncan

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many jobs in Scotland are dependent on the industries which will be subject to the imposition of the aggregates tax. [20697]

Mrs. Liddell

In 1999 there were 2,667 people employed in mineral extraction in Scotland. This information is taken from the National Statistics publication, Mineral Extraction in Great Britain (Business Monitor PA1007).