§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made on the definition of a green quarry for the purposes of an aggregates tax. [37470]
§ Mr. Boateng[holding answer 26 February 2002]: As announced in the pre-Budget report, the Government have decided not to pursue a differential rate scheme for so-called "green quarries" at the present time, because of difficulties in assessing environmental performance accurately and the prospect of setting up perverse incentives.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the timetable for the introduction of an aggregates tax; and if he will postpone its introduction. [37472]
§ Mr. Boateng[holding answer 26 February 2002]: As announced in Budget 2000, the aggregates levy will be introduced on 1 April 2002. The General Regulations will be made and laid this week. The draft Finance Bill clauses will be published very shortly.
The following technical amendments that the Government propose to make in this year"s Finance Bill to facilitate the smooth functioning of the aggregates levy, and which were announced in the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stevenage (Barbara Follett) on 12 March 2002, will be effective immediately from the introduction of the levy:
327WTo amend the definition of aggregate to include rock that has not been subject to an industrial crushing processTo clarify the definition of dimension stoneTo extend the exemption for processing waste arising from the extraction of coal to the processing waste of all industrial mineralsTo clarify that for all mineral extraction, any aggregate contained in the overburden is taxableTo extend the exemption for aggregate won from forest or farm land and used in adjacent land, to its use in land occupied with that forest or farmTo extend the exemption for drill cuttings to include onshore drill cuttingsTo introduce a number of minor technical amendments which clarify policy intention, close a potential loophole or bring the legislation into line with other taxes. These were detailed in Customs and Excise Business Brief number 17/2001 issued on 28 November 2001.The proposed relief for aggregates used in processed products in Northern Ireland, will be backdated to 1 April 2002, on approval under European Community state aid rules, to ensure that no levy is paid on aggregate used to make these products in 2002–03.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to introduce a deminimis level for those affected by the aggregates tax. [37471]
§ Mr. Boateng[holding answer 26 February 2002]: The Government have no such plans.
Lead partner Title Central Government Cabinet Office Embedding cross sector partnership working Cabinet Office Electronic free school means administration DCMS Science Museum Making the modern world online DCMS English Tourist Council RESTOUR (creation of an online tourism community to aid recovery of English tourism) DEFRA Online UK fishing vessel registration system DEFRA DEFRA fisheries—fishing portal DEFRA National grain sampling and analysis system DEFRA Severe weather and flooding warnings—informing the public DEFRA Electronic data delivery for the plant breeding and seed industry DFES Construction and engineering industry training board online levy returns DFES Early detection of dyslexia DFES Social Bank (savings gateway pilots) DFES Support for enterprising communities DFES Prisoners Learning and Skills Unit National technical IT skills linked to a prisoner resettlement programme DFES/LA GM Connexions Partnership E-Pal (Electronic or virtual personal adviser) DTI Redundancy payments service—e-business project DTLR Transmit fire database electronically DTLR Electronic systems for highways (central notification of works project) DTLR Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Electronic links between DVLA and local authorities DTLR Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Electronic reporting of fitness to drive DTLR Health and Safety Executive Electronic health and safety tools for the business support network DTLR Health and Safety Executive Electronic risk assessment system for farmers DTLR Northumberland County Council Fire Authority Citizens' fire, safety and health academy DWP Performance framework for administering housing benefit and council tax benefit DWP Performance improvement action teams administering housing benefit and council tax benefit DWP Flexible employment service delivery—prisons pilot DWP Encouraging ex-NHS workers back to the NHS DWP Training older jobseekers as IT technicians in secondary schools DWP Assisting in processing claims and backlogs of work Forestry Commission IT/administration systems to deliver forestry grants and licences Home Office Police Creation of a national centre for applied learning technology in the police Home Office Police Abandoned vehicles and citizen information database Home Office Volunteering and training (joint project between the Prison Service and West Yorkshire Police Home Office Showcase hospitals (security/safety) Home Office Showcase schools (security/safety) Home Office Missing persons database and strategy Home Office Parenting involvement study Home Office Community merit awards Home Office Passport Office Direct electronic passports project Home Office Passport Office Key passport information access for staff in the UK and abroad Home Office ACU Online application and database of funding opportunities for voluntary and community sector bodies Inland Revenue Tax helpline for charities Land Registry Electronic conveyancing LCD Legal Service Commission Live and interactive expert system in west midlands UK Hydrographic Office Integrated coastal hydrography scheme Health and local authorities Health Birmingham HA Housing web for people with learning disabilities with forensic needs Health North Cumbria HA Online delivery of BSc (Hons) nurse practitioner course Health North Notts HA Re-engineering youth services in Bassetlaw Basildon District Council In your place (access to housing benefit claims) Bradford "ADL Smartcare" (re-engineering the provision of aids to daily living to elderly people) Brighton and Hove City Council Database for online accessing of direct payments for care and support Cumbria County Council Single information and ICT platform Gateshead Council E-power for Gateshead's third sector Kent County Council Kent Connects (comprehensive ICT-based infrastructure) Kirklees Metropolitan Council Development of E-procurement system