Counting the Cost of Food Waste: EU Food Waste Prevention - HL 154

Book excerpt: The Levy Control Framework (LCF) limit is due to increase significantly from £3.184 billion in 2013-14 to £7.6 billion by 2020-21. The funds raised and spent via the LCF will soon surpass DECC's departmental budget. There must be transparent arrangements which ensure that Parliament has adequate oversight of how these funds are raised and spent, particularly in the light of public concern over the cost of energy bills. This report has been produced ahead of Parliament's consideration of the Supplementary Estimates 2013-14 in order to draw to the House's attention the annual derogation obtained by DECC from HM Treasury to remove LCF-related expenditure and revenues from its Supplementary Estimates. The current situation has led to an absence of LCF-related reporting in the Department's end year Accounts. The Committee would like to debate in the House: the implications of DECC's levy-funded schemes along with other government initiatives which affect energy bills but which fall outside of the LCF; and the current inadequate reporting arrangements relating to LCF spending and revenues; and the developing plans for improving these arrangements and enhancing Parliamentary oversight in the future