Clause 6 - Borrowing and banking of landfill allowances
Waste and Emissions Trading Bill [Lords]
4:45 pm
Ms Sue Doughty (Guildford, Liberal Democrat)
This short debate has been interesting, but I do not think that we are entirely convinced. As I think the Minister accepted, we have a real worry about local government borrowing against the future without the certainty that what they hope will happen will come about, especially given the possibility of a change of Administration or strategic direction. People may borrow at one stage, saying, ''We know where we are,'' but there may be a couple of elections further down the line and everything may change completely, so we are hostages to fortune.
The Minister described the penalties and great threats that may be imposed. I hope that he would make it clear to local authorities that those threats were serious and not negotiable; that might offset some of our fears. We shall put our trust in the Minister to ensure that those penalties are well known and understood, and to make it clear what will happen to local government if the rules are
transgressed. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Clause 6 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Further consideration adjourned.—[Mr. Ainger.]
Adjourned accordingly at fourteen minutes to Five o'clock till Tuesday 8 April at five minutes to Nine o'clock.