Arguments over the landfill tax get down to the nitty-gritty

The debate over the landfill tax, which comes into effect in October, is moving into important arguments over detail as the Finance Bill begins its passage through Parliament. Already, less than two months after insisting there would be no exemptions from the tax, the Government has made its first concession by promising to exempt dredgings, and is also examining ways of helping some waste producers to avoid tax for "temporary" disposals. But Ministers are coming under strong pressure from numerous sectors of industry to make further concessions.