To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what environmental impact assessment was carried out on the £100 winter payment announced in the Budget. [78887]

Table 5.1 of the 1999 Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report and Financial Statement and Budget Report contains an appraisal of those Budget measures which have a significant impact on the environment or whose aim is primarily environmental. The increase in the winter payment was not primarily an environmental measure, nor do we expect it to have a significant impact on the environment.