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9 Jan 2003 : Column 359W—continued
Wind Farm Developments
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) public grants, (b) loans and (c) subsidies are available to support wind farm developments. [89401]
Mr. Pearson: The Department of Trade and Industry manage a #79 million UK-wide capital grant fund to assist the deployment of offshore wind farms. There are however, no grants, loans or subsidies available to support the further development of onshore wind farms in Northern Ireland.
TREASURY
Climate Change Levy
Dr. Whitehead: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of
9 Jan 2003 : Column 360W
his policy of exempting the biodegradable elements of waste feed from the climate change levy upon the economic size of incinerators. [88583]
John Healey: The exemption from climate change levy (CCL) for electricity generated from new forms of renewable sources covers a range of renewable sources, including biodegradable waste. No assessment has been made of the effect of the exemption on the economic size of incinerators. However, the scope and rates of all taxes, including CCL, are reviewed annually as part of the Budget process.
Government Procurement
Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress towards delivering savings in Government procurement through the office of Government Commerce. [89270]
Mr. Boateng [holding answer 7 January 2003]: The total value for money gains in Government procurement reported by central civil Government bodies for the years 2000–01 and 2001–02 is #815 million.
Landfill Levy
Dr. Whitehead: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of anticipated receipts from the landfill levy will be allocated to (a) continuing funding for environmental schemes and (b) funding to encourage sustainable waste management in (i) 2003–04, (ii) 2004–05 and (iii) 2005–06. [88584]
John Healey: No decision has yet been made on the precise figures that will apply. However, in 2003–04, landfill operators will be able to divert approximately 6 per cent. of their total tax liability to the funding of local environmental schemes. About a further 14 per cent. will be used to fund the uptake of more sustainable waste management practices. Estimates for future years will depend on the figures applied in 2003–04. The figures for 2005–06 will also depend on decisions the Government take on how the revenue from the proposed tax increase of #3 per tonne is recycled.
Public Services Productivity
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place the minutes of the Public Services Productivity Panel for calendar years 2000 to 2002 in the Library. [87211]
Mr. Boateng: It has been the practice of successive administrations not to release the minutes of meetings concerned with the development of policy. Exemption 2 (internal discussion and advice) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies.