HC Deb 06 November 2002 vol 392 cc290-1W
Mr. Flight

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what recent meetings his Department has had with the Department of Trade and Industry regarding a merger of British Energy with BNFL; and if he will place the minutes in the Library; [79014]

(2) what recent meetings his Department has had with the Department of Trade and Industry regarding British Energy; and if he will place the minutes in the Library; [79013]

(3) what recent meetings his Department has had with (a) the Finance Director and (b) the former Chief Executive of British Energy; and if he will place the minutes in the Library. [79015]

John Healey

I refer to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 11 February 2002,Official Report, c.114–15. In line with previous Administrations, it is not this Government's practice to provide details of the meetings they routinely have with a wide range of organisations.

Mr. Flight

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations his Department has received from British Energy requesting exclusion from the Climate Change Levy; and if he will place in the Library the minutes of meetings with British Energy on this subject. [79019]

John Healey

Treasury Ministers have received numerous representations on the climate change levy. As the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in his answer of 11 February 2002,Official Report, c. 114–15, in line with previous Administrations, it is not this Government's practice to provide details of the meetings they routinely have with a wide range of organisations.

With regard to nuclear power, the Government made it clear when the detail of the levy was announced in the November 1999 P BR that electricity from nuclear power would be subject to the levy. The Government have restated since then that there are no plans to exempt nuclear energy from the levy, which is designed to encourage energy efficiency across the business and public sectors and to increase the use of sustainable forms of energy.