§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the causes of the change in aggregate sales since April; [77346]
(2) how much revenue Customs and Excise in Northern Ireland has raised directly as a result of the aggregates levy since the aggregates levy was introduced in April and how much revenue Customs and Excise in Northern Ireland forecast would be raised before the introduction of the aggregates levy; [77342]
(3) what action is being taken by Customs and Excise in Northern Ireland to combat non-payment of the aggregates levy on aggregate brought across the land border from the Republic of Ireland; [77344]
(4) if he will estimate the change in tonnes in aggregate sales in Northern Ireland since the introduction of the aggregates levy; [77345]
(5) if he will estimate the total weight of aggregate brought across the border from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland without payment of aggregates levy since April. [77343]
§ John HealeyIt is too early to assess the impact of the levy.
No estimate has been made of the total weight of aggregate brought across the border from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland without payment of aggregates levy since April. Aggregates levy is due at the point of first commercial exploitation in the UK and not at the point of import. Where it cannot be demonstrated that aggregate is from a levy-paid source, Customs will use their powers to recover the revenue due and impose penalties, where appropriate. The resources allocated to administering the levy in Northern Ireland take account of issues associated with the land boundary, and this resourcing will be subject to regular review.
The revenue forecast for the aggregates levy is made for the UK as a whole, and is not available by devolved region; therefore, data on the aggregates levy revenue raised in Northern Ireland are not available. In total, the levy is forecast to raise £0.2 billion during 2002–03.