§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many organisations and companies have elected to pay the climate change levy in euros. [38582]
§ Mr. BoatengNo organisation or company has elected to pay the climate change levy to HM Customs and Excise in euros.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) for what reasons companies registered under Part B of the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations are ineligible to participate in a climate change agreement; [38592]
(2) what the reasons are for his decision to impose an Integrated Pollution, Prevention and Control Directive criteria for membership of a climate change levy energy efficiency agreement; [38611]
(3) what plans he has to amend the descriptions of energy-intensive installations included in Schedule 6 to the Finance Act 2000; [38578]
(4) for what reasons companies whose business is slaking lime for the purpose of making calcium hydroxide and calcium magnesium hydroxide are ineligible to participate in a climate change agreement. [38591]
§ Mr. BoatengEnergy intensive installations that are eligible to enter into climate change agreements are those covered by parts A1 and A2 of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (IPPC) (as set out in Schedule 6 to the Finance Act 2000). IPPC covers all the main energy intensive sectors of industry which are subject to international competition. IPPC sites also have to operate in an energy efficient manner; other sites are not subject to this requirement. The decision to use IPPC to define the eligible energy intensive sectors was confirmed following extensive consultation with industry on possible alternatives. The Government are still prepared to consider suggestions for alternative eligibility criteria, but they would have to meet the same conditions as IPPC, which provides a clear rationale, legal certainty, administrative simplicity, and compatibility with EU state aid rules.