MP holds debate on Coal Tax Exemption Proposal to tackle opencast restoration
A proposal to extend tax breaks to opencast sites awaiting restoration was debated in the UK Parliament last week when Ayr, Carrick & Cumnock MP Sandra Osborne secured a parliamentary debate. Mrs Osborne asked the UK Government to consider Hargreaves’ proposal for extending an existing exemption from Carbon Price Support (CPS) to cover coal associated with the restoration of opencast sites abandoned after the collapse of previous operators.
The opencast operator had presented a proposal to the Scottish Government’s Coal Taskforce last month arguing the case to extend the CPS Exemption from coal slurry to include coals derived from schemes which are supporting opencast coal restoration projects and which deal specifically with legacy restoration
Mrs Osborne said:
“I was really pleased to get this debate in Westminster at the very beginning of The New Year to explore with the Government the feasibility of this proposal and get a reaction from the Minister down on the record. I took the opportunity last week in the debate to invite the minister to come to East Ayrshire to see the situation at first hand for himself. In replying he said that he recognised the important work of the Task Force. He agreed to initiate a meeting with concerned local MPs, other UK Government departments and the Scottish Government minister and gave a commitment to explore both the Hargreaves proposal and any other possible options. I stressed in my speech that the local community has been let down in the past and that our priority to bring jobs to the local area has been manipulated and planning extensions applied for in the full knowledge that planning conditions would not be met. I bow to no one in the anger I feel about this and I will continue to seek justice for the community regarding those who were guilty of this. However Hargreaves is the only show in town and if there is even a chance that this could provide a solution I am willing to grab it with both hands."
The debate was also attended by Kilmarnock and Loudoun MP, Cathy Jamieson who said
“ I am pleased that Sandra Osborne MP was able to secure this debate, and that the Minister has agreed to arrange a further meeting involving Treasury Ministers. He also confirmed that he will look at all options to find a way forward, which is welcome. My constituents want to see these sites properly restored, with jobs created as part of that process, and expect the UK and Scottish Governments to work together on a solution. With time pressing on our communities need urgent action.
In her speech Sandra Osborne also said
"According to the Hargreaves proposal we could see the legacy sites across the country all restored to effectively their original quality within a five year period. Providing an incentive for an industry led solution would make the difference in East Ayrshire in particular to the value of around £161 million against a value of less than £ 20 million at best from bond monies recovered which would provide a totally unacceptable level of restoration not worthy of the name. For that five years there would be guaranteed employment of a local workforce - Hargreaves say 1000 plus indirect employees but any and and all employment opportunities are most welcome and badly needed."
Ends
A proposal to extend tax breaks to opencast sites awaiting restoration was debated in the UK Parliament last week when Ayr, Carrick & Cumnock MP Sandra Osborne secured a parliamentary debate. Mrs Osborne asked the UK Government to consider Hargreaves’ proposal for extending an existing exemption from Carbon Price Support (CPS) to cover coal associated with the restoration of opencast sites abandoned after the collapse of previous operators.
The opencast operator had presented a proposal to the Scottish Government’s Coal Taskforce last month arguing the case to extend the CPS Exemption from coal slurry to include coals derived from schemes which are supporting opencast coal restoration projects and which deal specifically with legacy restoration
Mrs Osborne said:
“I was really pleased to get this debate in Westminster at the very beginning of The New Year to explore with the Government the feasibility of this proposal and get a reaction from the Minister down on the record. I took the opportunity last week in the debate to invite the minister to come to East Ayrshire to see the situation at first hand for himself. In replying he said that he recognised the important work of the Task Force. He agreed to initiate a meeting with concerned local MPs, other UK Government departments and the Scottish Government minister and gave a commitment to explore both the Hargreaves proposal and any other possible options. I stressed in my speech that the local community has been let down in the past and that our priority to bring jobs to the local area has been manipulated and planning extensions applied for in the full knowledge that planning conditions would not be met. I bow to no one in the anger I feel about this and I will continue to seek justice for the community regarding those who were guilty of this. However Hargreaves is the only show in town and if there is even a chance that this could provide a solution I am willing to grab it with both hands."
The debate was also attended by Kilmarnock and Loudoun MP, Cathy Jamieson who said
“ I am pleased that Sandra Osborne MP was able to secure this debate, and that the Minister has agreed to arrange a further meeting involving Treasury Ministers. He also confirmed that he will look at all options to find a way forward, which is welcome. My constituents want to see these sites properly restored, with jobs created as part of that process, and expect the UK and Scottish Governments to work together on a solution. With time pressing on our communities need urgent action.
In her speech Sandra Osborne also said
"According to the Hargreaves proposal we could see the legacy sites across the country all restored to effectively their original quality within a five year period. Providing an incentive for an industry led solution would make the difference in East Ayrshire in particular to the value of around £161 million against a value of less than £ 20 million at best from bond monies recovered which would provide a totally unacceptable level of restoration not worthy of the name. For that five years there would be guaranteed employment of a local workforce - Hargreaves say 1000 plus indirect employees but any and and all employment opportunities are most welcome and badly needed."
Ends