To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate his Department has made of the impact the abolition of the gas levy will have on carbon dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [8651]

The abolition of the gas levy will have a minimal effect on carbon dioxide emissions. My Department has estimated that it will result in an annual increase in emissions of about 0.04 million tonnes of carbon in 2000, equivalent to 0.02 per cent. of emissions. We estimate a negligible effect by 2010 because the real value of the gas levy and the quantity of gas covered by it both decline over time.