HC Deb 04 March 2002 vol 381 cc9-10W
Mr. Lidington

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is the Government's policy that the landfill tax should continue to be revenue-neutral. [38569]

Dawn Primarolo

The Government have introduced the landfill tax escalator, which increases the rate by £1 per tonne each year until 2004. Despite the escalator, receipts from the landfill tax are lower than the value of the 0.2 percentage point cut in employers' national insurance contributions that accompanied the landfill tax.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to begin formal consultation on a replacement for the landfill credit scheme. [38568]

Dawn Primarolo

The Government will launch a consultation paper shortly on the future of the landfill tax credit scheme, including potential transition arrangements.