HC Deb 14 February 2002 vol 380 cc578-9W
Mr. Carmichael

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the aggregates tax on existing PFI/PPP contracts. [35045]

Mr. Boateng

An increase in the price of aggregates will provide an incentive to use aggregates efficiently and encourage wider use of recycled aggregates, regardless of whether they are being used in public or private sector projects.

Mr. Carmichael

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the changes to Scottish local authority spending as a result of the introduction of the aggregates tax. [35046]

Mr. Boateng

As confirmed in the pre-Budget report (Cm 5318) published in November 2001, the Government are introducing the aggregates levy in April 2002. Scottish local authority spending is a devolved matter for the Scottish Executive.

Mr. Carmichael

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to reduce the administrative and technical difficulties in allowing quarries to act as aggregates tax collectors. [35043]

Mr. Boateng

Customs and Excise has consulted extensively with the quarrying industry to ensure that accounting for aggregates levy will be as straightforward as possible.

Mr. Carmichael

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on the Scottish economy of the introduction of the aggregates tax; [35048]

(2) what assessment he has made of the impact on quarries of the implementation of the aggregates tax. [35047]

Mr. Boateng

A regulatory impact assessment for the aggregates levy was published at the time of Budget 2000. It is available from the Customs and Excise website.

Mr. Carmichael

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage increase the proposed aggregates tax will add to the average price of a tonne of aggregate in(a) Scotland and (b) England. [35042]

Mr. Boateng

The levy's impact on the cost of aggregate will be dependent upon the commercial decisions of those in the supply chain.

Mr. Carmichael

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to extend the aggregates tax to include imported aggregate and concrete-based products. [35044]

Mr. Boateng

Imported aggregate will be subject to levy.

The Government have no proposals to extend the levy to include imports of concrete-based products.