To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the retention of landfill tax receipts by local authorities; and if he will make a statement. (274930)

The Treasury has regular discussions with Defra about a wide range of issues. The costs of landfill tax from the Budget 2007 announcement were taken into account when agreeing the local government settlement in the 2007 comprehensive spending review. Decisions on future funding of local authorities are a matter for the next spending review.