To ask the President of the Board of Trade what response her Department has made to the proposals from the European Commission on energy taxation in relation to the United Kingdom aluminium industry. [9438]

I have received a letter and a position paper from the Aluminium Federation (ALFED) concerning the implications of energy taxation for the UK aluminium industry. I intend to reply to this correspondence shortly. My officials are aware of the aluminium industry's concerns and are keeping in close touch with them on developments at EU level through ALFED.