Examination of Witnesses (Questions 140-145)
MALCOLM WEBB,
MALCOLM WATSON,
STEVEN BROWN
AND STEPHEN
THOMASON
10 SEPTEMBER 2003
Q140 Alan Simpson: Have you costed
the damage which the industry does in environmental terms, as
an offset cost which someone else has to cover?
Mr Webb: That is a very interesting
question and I think we could get into the whole question of sustainable
development and a very wide range of topics on that. I do not
accept the view that my industry is despoiling the planet and
destroying life in this country. I think we are doing a great
deal for this country and we are a huge plus in the economic life
of this country. So I think there is a fine balance there. I would
be pleased to discuss that issue with you in a broader context
but maybe outside the context of this meeting.
Q141 Mr Jack: Have you had any direct
discussions with either Treasury ministers or Treasury officials
on the subject matter about which we are questioning you this
afternoon?
Mr Webb: No. Certainly I have
had no direct discussions with them. It is a possibility, I suppose,
as this matter progresses, that those discussions could take place.
We are looking forward to the consultation exercise which is going
to take place on the introduction of the Biofuels Directive and
the achievement of the Biofuels Directive objectives, so I suppose
it is quite possible that those will take place.
Q142 Mr Jack: Given that in the last
two Budgets this has been a subject of discussion, and likewise
in the last two Finance Bills, also you have made no representations
of a written nature to the Treasury at all on this?
Mr Webb: We have made representations
to the Government on our views on energy policy in general and
the use of biomass in the energy mix, as I said at the beginning.
Our view on that, and it has been a very consistent one, is that
the taxpayers' money would best be spent on subsidising, if we
are going to subsidise anything, the production of primary energy
through biomass, that gets you more CO2 reduction at less cost.
Q143 Mr Jack: Are there some economic
numbers which you put behind that?
Mr Webb: Yes.
Q144 Mr Jack: I would be very interested
in seeing that information, ahead of the discussion that we are
planning to have next week with Government ministers, if that
would not put you to an enormous amount of trouble?
Mr Webb: Yes. We mentioned the
studies in our submission to you and we will be very happy to
give you further references to those in comparable studies.
Mr Jack: Thank you very much.
Q145 Chairman: Gentlemen, thank you
very much for coming. Is there anything you want to say before
you get your dismissal, as it were?
Mr Webb: Thank you very much indeed
for listening to us. It has been good to be able to put our side
of the case before you. We thank you for that. If there is anything
else that you think you would like from us, please let us know
and I will make sure you have that.
Chairman: Meanwhile, if there is anything
you think of in that respect then no doubt you will let us have
it, because our inquiry is not yet concluded. Thank you very much
indeed for coming before us this afternoon.
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