Parliamentary Questions - Written Replies

CARBON TAX: The proposed EC tax on carbon dioxide and energy could reduce energy demand by 5 per cent and cut CO2 emissions by 7 per cent in 2000, according to preliminary DTI analysis. Tim Eggar, Minister for Energy, said that the coal market would bear a substantial share of any reduction in CO2 emissions.

SMOKING: If cigarette consumption was reduced by 40 per cent by 2000, the annual loss to the Treasury in excise duty would be around pounds 2.4bn, Sir John Cope, the Paymaster General, said.