Slim pickings for the waste and resource management industry in the Autumn Statement 2013
Responding to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement earlier today, the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has expressed disappointment.
“We are becoming accustomed to finding very little good news in the Chancellor’s statements and today is no exception,” says CIWM chief executive Steve Lee. “Coupled with the recent ministerial letter signaling a scaling back in Defra’s work on waste and a disappointing National Infrastructure Plan 2013 yesterday, it is clear that our industry can expect little support from the Government to deliver its significant green growth and jobs potential.”
CIWM has a number of specific concerns with regard to the Chancellor’s statement. While no clarification was expected at this point regarding issues around the lower rate of Landfill Tax, the industry has repeatedly called for greater medium term certainty on the higher rate to help investors, local authorities and the private sector to support, plan and deliver the necessary services and infrastructure in the future. And with the deficit now expected to last until 2018/19, it will be even longer before the Green Investment Bank can function like a real bank and provide the de-risking support that the waste and resource management sector needs.
In addition, more budget cuts for key ‘green growth’ departments including Defra, DECC and BIS could mean that policy support in important areas such as resource security, industrial strategy and local economic development, and the circular economy will be further weakened.
“Lack of money doesn’t have to mean lack of ambition and leadership, but once again the green growth agenda has been largely left out in the cold by the Chancellor,” adds Mr Lee. “While we didn’t expect any substantive announcements, this Statement underlines the government’s hands-off approach to the future of this industry and a lack of regard for the role it can play in delivering a more sustainable and low carbon future.”
The full text of the Autumn Statement can be found here
