§ Mr. WattsTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact the(a) aggregates tax and (b) climate change levy have had on the competitiveness of the British glass industry; and what support she is giving to the industry to assist with related increases in business costs. [12813]
§ Mr. WilsonSand and other minerals used in the manufacture of glass will be relieved from the Aggregates Levy under Section 30 of the Finance Act 2001. The Climate Change Levy was introduced only in April and it 661W is too early to assess its impact on businesses in the glass industry. The glass industry has a sectoral negotiated agreement with the Government under which eligible sites are working to deliver energy saving targets in return for an 80 per cent. levy discount.