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Channel Tunnel
Sir Ivan Lawrence : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the criminal injuries compensation scheme will apply to the channel tunnel.
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Mr. Howard : The British part of the channel tunnel--that is to say, the land comprising the tunnel system as far as the frontier at the mid-point of the tunnel--is part of Great Britain by virtue of section 10 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987. Subject to certain exceptions explained in this answer, blameless victims of crimes of violence in that part of the tunnel system will accordingly be eligible to apply for compensation under the criminal injuries compensaton scheme in the normal way.
However, article 30(1) of schedule 2 to the Channel Tunnel (International Arrangements) Order 1993 provides that claims for compensation for injury caused by or to officers of the adjoining state in the exercise of their functions in the host state shall be subject to the law and jurisdiction of the adjoining state as if the circumstances giving rise to the claim had occurred in that state. This means that the scheme will cover injuries caused by or to United Kingdom officers anywhere in the tunnel system or control zones, but not injuries caused by or to foreign officers. Claims for injury caused to or by foreign officers must accordingly be made against the officer's country.
In order to ensure that the scheme reflects these provisions I am amending it by the insertion of new paragraphs 4A and 28A, which read as follows :
"4A. The Board will entertain applications under paragraph 4 arising from injury or death caused by or to officers of the United Kingdom--but not of any other state--in the exercise of their functions in the Channel Tunnel or control zones, within the meaning of the Channel Tunnel (International Arrangements) Order 1993."
"28A. Paragraph 4A will take effect from the date the Channel Tunnel (International Arrangements) Order 1993 comes into force." The order is expected to come into force on 2 August 1993.
Police Complaints Authority
Sir Ivan Lawrence : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new appointments have been made to the Police Complaints Authority.
Mr. Howard : Mr. Anthony Williams MBE and Mr. Linbert Spencer have accepted my predecessor's invitation to serve as members of the Police Complaints Authority. Mr. Williams has retired from the Army with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and Mr. Spencer is an employment consultant. Mr. Williams and Mr. Spencer will serve for three years, from 24 June 1993 and 26 July 1993 respectively.
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the number of complaints received by the Police Complaints Authority from and on behalf of children and young people aged under 18 years.
Mr. Charles Wardle : Responsibility for recording complaints against the police rests with the chief officer of the force concerned. Statistics collected centrally do not show the age of complainants but chief officers have been asked to supply this information from this year.
Returning Residents
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people, by nationality, have requested entry to the United Kingdom as returning residents, in each quarter since April 1992 ; and how many
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have been (a) readmitted as such, (b) readmitted for a limited period and (c) refused entry to the United Kingdom.Mr. Charles Wardle [holding answer 26 July 1993] : The available information is given in the tables. Information is not available on persons seeking admission as returning residents who were found not to satisfy the relevant requirements of the immigration rules but who were admitted for a limited period under another category.
Table 1 Persons<1> admitted as returning residents since April 1992<2>
Number of
admissions
Nationality |2nd quarter 1992|3rd quarter 1992|4th quarter 1992
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Europe |28,640 |39,550 |25,440
Austria |2,300 |3,050 |1,850
Bulgaria |110 |140 |110
Cyprus |1,370 |2,540 |1,100
Czechoslovakia |240 |290 |160
Finland |1,770 |2,450 |1,480
Hungary |350 |570 |310
Malta |1,850 |3,100 |1,490
Norway |3,150 |4,030 |2,620
Poland |1,960 |3,800 |1,920
Romania |130 |190 |100
Sweden |6,890 |7,180 |6,170
Switzerland |4,320 |4,970 |3,810
Turkey |2,460 |4,990 |2,520
Former USSR |430 |890 |570
Former
Yugoslavia |1,300 |1,380 |1,220
Americas |50,550 |60,380 |44,920
Argentina |370 |330 |310
Barbados |410 |570 |420
Brazil |780 |1,200 |650
Canada |8,670 |10,410 |7,040
Chile |460 |660 |330
Colombia |660 |850 |460
Cuba |10 |+ |+
Guyana |260 |380 |300
Jamaica |1,590 |2,100 |1,640
Mexico |370 |460 |300
Peru |230 |190 |140
Trinidad and
Tobago |830 |1,050 |620
USA |35,660 |41,900 |32,510
Uruguay |40 |90 |40
Venezuela |220 |200 |170
Africa |14,340 |20,580 |13,980
Algeria |540 |890 |420
Egypt |790 |1,070 |780
Ethiopia |100 |100 |70
Ghana |1,660 |2,250 |1,900
Kenya |1,180 |1,440 |960
Libya |150 |220 |200
Mauritius |1,020 |1,420 |770
Morocco |1,030 |2,870 |1,020
Nigeria |3,320 |4,410 |3,850
Sierra Leone |190 |310 |200
Somalia |30 |60 |40
South Africa |2,540 |2,720 |2,090
Sudan |200 |320 |120
Tanzania |360 |620 |400
Tunisia |300 |600 |270
Uganda |170 |230 |160
Zambia |240 |340 |210
Zimbabwe |500 |690 |530
Asia |46,600
35,040
Bangladesh |2,380 |3,000 |1,410
China |220 |220 |220
Hong Kong
BDTC/BN(O) |1,270 |1,400 |870
India |14,560 |15,300 |11,580
Indonesia |190 |250 |140
Iran |3,750 |4,910 |2,580
Iraq |560 |690 |460
Israel |1,820 |1,900 |1,390
Japan |5,680 |6,600 |4,840
Jordan |430 |570 |400
Kuwait |150 |150 |100
Lebanon |1,180 |1,410 |880
Malaysia |3,340 |3,340 |2,130
Pakistan |5,680 |4,650 |4,260
Philippines |1,640 |1,860 |1,030
Saudia Arabia |290 |390 |220
Singapore |720 |860 |630
Sri Lanka |1,490 |2,460 |1,060
Syria |260 |350 |130
Thailand |1,000 |980 |670
Australasia |19,260 |20,500 |15,010
Australia |12,090 |13,010 |9,660
New Zealand |7,160 |7,490 |5,350
Others |6,610 |8,630 |4,940
British Overseas
Citizens |1,240 |1,270 |790
Other countries
not elsewhere
specified |2,590 |3,340 |2,040
Stateless |2,790 |4,020 |2,060
All Nationalities 166,000 200,950 139,330
+5 or fewer.
<1>Excluding EC nationals to whom the immigration rules on returning residents do
not apply.
<2>Data for the first two quarters of 1993 are not yet available.
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Table 2
Persons seeking admission as returning residents who have been
refused and removed since April 1992<1>
Nationality<2> |2nd quarter 1992|3rd quarter 1992|4th quarter 1992
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Poland |- |- |1
Former Yugoslavia |1 |- |-
Brazil |- |1 |-
Jamaica |- |1 |1
Venezuela |- |1 |-
Nigeria |1 |- |-
Zambia |1 |- |-
Zimbabwe |- |1 |-
Bangladesh |6 |- |4
Hong Kong BDTC/BN(O) |1 |- |-
India |3 |3 |1
Iran |1 |- |-
Pakistan |2 |- |-
Other countries not
elsewhere specified |1 |- |-
|-- |-- |--
All nationalities |17 |7 |7
<1> Data for the first two quarters of 1993 are not yet available.
<2> Nationalities other than those given are zero.
Immigration
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals of (a) Jamaica, (b) Turkey, (c) Morocco, (d) the USA, (e) Australia, (f) Malaysia, (g) Hong Kong, (h) Guyana, (i) Trinidad, (j) Colombia and (k) Algeria were (i) granted and (ii) refused permission to enter the United Kingdom at ports of entry in each quarter since January 1992, and in total, to the latest available date.
Passenger admissions and persons refused leave to enter and removed, for selected nationalities in 1992.
1st quarter 1992 2nd quarter 1992 3rd quarter 1992 4th quarter 1992 Year 1992
Nationality |Admissions |Refused and removed|Admissions |Refused and removed|Admissions |Refused and removed|Admissions |Refused and removed|Admissions |Refused and removed
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jamaica |4,930 |100 |6,010 |98 |9,170 |104 |5,760 |107 |25,900 |409
Turkey |16,300 |57 |18,400 |55 |25,300 |52 |19,600 |64 |79,500 |228
Morocco |3,540 |21 |4,410 |28 |6,720 |27 |3,840 |23 |18,500 |99
USA |521,000 |228 |823,000 |251 |903,000 |247 |559,000 |207 |2,810,000 |933
Australia |77,100 |65 |133,000 |69 |156,000 |54 |98,600 |48 |465,000 |236
Malaysia |14,500 |70 |25,300 |111 |31,700 |81 |22,100 |84 |93,600 |346
Hong Kong
(BDTS and
BN(O)s) |17,700 |34 |21,000 |39 |39,500 |35 |13,600 |23 |91,800 |131
Guyana |1,000 |9 |1,580 |16 |2,200 |12 |1,240 |23 |6,030 |60
Trinidad and
Tobago |3,060 |13 |4,490 |13 |7,040 |18 |3,740 |17 |18,300 |61
Colombia |3,750 |102 |5,990 |93 |6,620 |80 |4,750 |122 |21,100 |397
Algeria |2,690 |60 |3,840 |45 |5,560 |58 |3,260 |70 |15,300 |233
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were detained under
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Immigration Act powers (a) overnight, (b) between one night and one month and (c) for a period of more than one month in (i) Harmondsworth detention centre, (ii) the Queen's building in Heathrow, (iii) terminal 4, Heathrow, (iv) the Beehive, Gatwick, (v) HM prison Haslar, (vi) HM prison Pentonville and (vii) any other establishments, by name, during (a) 1992 and (b) 1993 up to the latest convenient date ; and of these people, how many in each category were (1) women, (2) children aged under 18 years and (3) men.Mr. Charles Wardle [holding answer 26 July 1993] : The available information is given in the table. The other information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Persons detained overnight or longer at certain locations<1>
Location, length of |1992 |1993 January to June
stay, type of
detainee
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harmondsworth<2> |702 |<3>121
Queen's Building, Heathrow |1,644 |<3>359
Haslar |348 |<3>164
Stansted |<4>211 |<3>151
The Beehive, Gatwick:
Overnight |2,052 |1,060
More than one night,
less than one month |907 |458
One month or more |- |-
Terminal 4, Heathrow:
Overnight:
Men |792 |422
Women |526 |351
Children under 18 years |17 |13
|--- |---
|1,335 |786
|--- |---
More than one night,
less than one month:
Men |27 |3
Women |38 |11
Children under 18 years |4 |-
|--- |---
|69 |14
|--- |---
One month or more |- |-
<1>Unless otherwise stated, the data include persons initially detained elsewhere prior to
being detained at the location given.
<2>Data mainly exclude persons detained initially elsewhere, and exclude illegal entrants
and deportees detained.
<3>January to March 1993 only.
<4>August, when detention centre opened, to December 1992 only.
Electoral Registration
Mr. Harvey : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the arrangements for inspecting marked registers after elections so as to allow such inspection to take place in the electoral area in question rather than in London.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : This matter is currently being considered as part of our post-election review.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Sustainable Development
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make it his policy to introduce proposals for a Select Committee on Sustainable Development.
Mr. Newton : I have no plans to do so. However, the hon. Member will no doubt welcome the United Kingdom
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strategy for sustainable development consultation paper which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment launched last week, and may wish to contribute his views.House Committees
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Lord President of the Council what Committees of the House other than Standing Committees have members of the Government as members ; and if he will name the Committees and the hon. Members concerned.
Mr. Newton : The details requested are as follows :
_
Committees |Members
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accommodation and Works Committee: |Mr. David Lightbown
Administration Committee: |Mr. Sydney Chapman
Broadcasting Committee: |Mr. Greg Knight
|Mr. Tony Newton
Finance and Services Committee: |Mr. Greg Knight
|Mr. Tony Newton
Procedure Committee: |Mr. Andrew MacKay
Public Accounts Committee: |Mr. Stephen Dorrell
Boundaries
Mr. Cox : To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee if he will list the current boundaries of the precincts of the House ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ray Powell : A map of the parliamentary estate is contained in section 2 of the Members' handbook. Large-scale drawings delineating the precise boundaries of the precincts of the House are held by the Parliamentary Works Directorate.
Staff Manning Levels
Mr. Cox : To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what discussions are now taking place and with whom as to possible reductions of staff manning levels in any building in which Members of Parliament or their staff have offices ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Beith : Following the decision by the House of Commons Commission on 5 July to implement a revised complement for the office keeper and attendants' staff in the Serjeant at Arms' Department, members of the union branch committee of NUCPS and staff have been briefed on the changes. The staff inspector will review the operation of the new proposals after they have been in force for 12 months. Such a review will enable the Commission to be satisfied that the new grading levels are appropriate, that the wider use of information technology has been achieved without undue difficulty, and that the new staff complements provide a satisfactory level of service to Members and their staff.
The various staff changes will not be implemented until after the House returns in October. I understand that all
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the office keeper and attendant staff will be informed of their new locations of work before the House rises and that training is being arranged for any new duties to be undertaken.Parliamentary Buildings
Mr. Cox : To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what additional facilities have been requested by hon. Members in each of the parliamentary buildings where hon. Members and staff now have offices ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ray Powell : Details of facilities available to Members are contained in the leaflet "Accommodation and General Facilities for Members, their Private Secretaries and Research Assistants". That leaflet is reprinted in the Members' handbook and is available from the Serjeant at Arms office and the special leaflet racks. Requests for additional facilities are received regularly from Members, and those requests that cannot be provided on a routine basis are referred to the relevant domestic Select Committee for further consideration.
If my hon. Friend has any particular issue in mind, he should, in the first instant contact the Serjeant at Arms or relevant head of department.
Amar Appeal
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the Amar Appeal to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.
Mr. Michael J. Martin : I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 15 to 19 November.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
Contracting Out
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries that have received advice and assistance on privatisation, contracting out and next steps style reforms under the know-how fund and other aid sources, and the cost in each case.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Most of the assistance provided overseas on privatisation has been to countries in east and central Europe and the former Soviet Union. Figures for individual countries since the launch of the know-how funds, including outstanding commitments, are :
|£'000
--------------------------------
Poland |5,211
Romania |1,783
Hungary |4,424
Bulgaria |430
Former Czechoslovak
Federation |4,800
Czech. Republic. |200
Slovak Republic. |500
Estonia |371
Latvia |200
Lithuania |11
Russia |2,335
Ukraine |355
Consultancy, advisory and twinning assistance has also been provided to developing countries but on a much smaller scale. Recent examples include Tanzania, Zambia, Guyana and Jamaica. Detailed expenditure figures are not readily available.
Advice on contracting out and next steps style reforms is usually part of a broader agenda of civil service and local government reform. The know-how funds are providing or developing assistance to central Government reform in Poland, Hungary, Albania and Ukraine and to local government in Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Bulgaria and Romania. Among developing countries, civil service or local government reforms have been or are of particular importance in the Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Indonesia, Jamaica, Uganda and Zambia while reform of individual institutions forms a part of most significant aid programmes. It is not possible to identify the elements of these programmes which relate specifically to contracting out and next steps style reforms.
World Development Conference
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent world development report, "Investing in Health" and on the visit of the Minister for Overseas Development to the world development conference in Liverpool.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We welcome this comprehensive and stimulating report and agree with its central thesis that a major proportion of the global burden of ill health could be prevented or inexpensively treated through cost-effective health care interventions. We endorse its concern about the huge burden of disease suffered by Africa. At the Liverpool school of tropical medicine on 23 July, my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development delivered a speech entitled "The Challenge for Investors in Health : ODA's Perspective". She referred to two important challenges n the report : how can Governments and donors (i) provide more resources for health care and (ii) concentrate resources on cost-effective health care. She explained that ODA's health and population assistance is addressing these challenges by (i) helping to develop and refine health technologies, (ii) helping countries establish the systems needed to deliver health care technologies and (iii) encouraging reallocation of resources for health care, so that investments lead to real health improvements for the greatest number of people. We have placed a copy of her speech in the Libraries of the House.
Malawi
Mr. Gallie : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for restoring financial aid to Malawi.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Progress on political and economic reform since the referendum has been encouraging. We have told President Banda that we plan to resume balance
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of payments aid in September and that we will be reviewing other aspects of our aid programme to Malawi at about that time. We will continue to follow closely the course of political and economic events in Malawi and this will continue to influence our aid programme.Environmental Consultancies
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names of the environmental consultancies engaged by the Overseas Development Administration for the last five years and provide, in each case, the number of projects for which environmental impact assessments have been prepared and the total value of contracts awarded.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd [holding answer 13 July 1993] : A list of the 69 environmental consultancies engaged over the last five years at a total cost of about £9.4 million has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
In line with the environmental appraisal process set out in the ODA manual of environmental appraisal, full environmental impact assessments--EIAs-- are undertaken only on projects where earlier examination indicates this is required. EIA is a process rather than a single event. ODA's work in this area can often involve assessing the quality and comprehensiveness of EIAs completed by developing countries or other donors, and strengthening them by additional EIA inputs in line with the manual.
ODA's central financial records show that over the last five years we have contributed to 10 EIA assessments using outside environmental consultancies at a cost of about £2.8 million. These are included in the list referred to earlier in my answer.
ODA central financial records do not, however, cover those environmental assessment and monitoring activities undertaken by in-house advisers and which cover, at the appropriate stage, most of the projects under consideration by ODA.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Bank of England
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the sections of the Banking Act 1987 under which the Bank of England is specifically required to owe a duty of care to the bank depositors.
Mr. Nelson : The Banking Act 1987 does not impose such a duty upon the Bank of England.
VAT
Mr. Thomason : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to the oral statement by the Paymaster General in the Standing Committee on the Finance Bill on 8 June on the mitigation of VAT penalties, what are the other factors that must be taken into account for mitigation to be permissible on the basis of the excluded circumstances ; how he will ensure that Customs exercise their discretion in mitigating the VAT penalty ; whether guidelines will be published for the information of the taxpayer ; and what measures he will take to ensure that the policy is being applied consistently between tax offices.
Sir John Cope : From Royal Assent to the Finance Bill, restrictions on customs' existing power of mitigation in
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cases involving dishonesty will be removed and the discretion to mitigate extended to misdeclaration penalties. The essence of such a discretion is that each case is examined on its merits and customs cannot be prescriptive. All the circumstances leading to a penalty will be considered. The only constraints are the three factors excluded by law, if they are the sole criteria. These constraints are necessary in order to maintain the integrity of the penalty regime. Customs will issue guidelines in public notices now being prepared. The use of the mitigation will be subject to customs' normal management controls. The mitigation is also subject to review by the independent VAT tribunal.Mr. Burns : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to the payments on accounts scheme for VAT.
Sir John Cope : As announced at the time of the Budget in March, my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor now proposes that both the qualifying year for establishing inclusion in the scheme, and the reference year for establishing the level of payments, should be rolled forward to the most recent year for which details are available, 1992-93. This ensures that the scheme remains as fair as possible by using the most up-to-date information on the tax liability of businesses.
A statutory instrument--the VAT (Payments on Accounts) Order 1993--will shortly be laid before the House to give effect to this and other changes from 2September 1993. In the interest of equity, the order makes provision to bring new businesses and existing businesses immediately into the scheme, where such businesses have an annual VAT liability exceeding £2 million. It provides for increased payments where the VAT liability of a business increases to certain levels. It also allows a business to come out of the scheme where the latest year's liability is less than £1.6 million.
Eco-tax
Mr. Bennett : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce an eco-tax in order to discourage unnecessary packaging.
Sir John Cope : My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has no such plans.
Tax Returns
Mr. Mandelson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the 10 countries which are most frequently given as the place of ordinary residence by those completing Inland Revenue tax returns 12 FR for the most recent year available, stating in each case the approximate number of taxpayers giving each country as their place of residence.
Mr. Dorrell : No records of this information are available.
Mr. Mandelson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the tax districts which deal with completed 11K tax returns.
Mr. Dorrell : Most tax districts issue and deal with 11K tax returns, but especially those offices dealing with the PAYE of foreign workers assigned to the United Kingdom.
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Gross National Product
Dr. Marek : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the United Kingdom gross national product for each of the next five years.
Mr. Nelson : Projections of gross domestic product growth for the financial years up to and including 1997-98 were published in table 2.2 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report". A copy is available in the Library.
Single Person Households
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to ensure that there is effective co-ordination of the impact on single person households of national taxation, local government taxation, and the various systems used for charging for public utilities.
Mr. Portillo : The Government take all relevant factors into account in making decisions on the level and structure of national taxation and on the local authority settlement. Council tax bills are set by local authorities, but legislation provides for a discount of 25 per cent. for single person households and for the payment of council tax benefit to those in need. Systems of charging for utilities are of course a matter for the private companies which now run them, subject to regulation by the appropriate regulatory body.
Economy
Mr. Callaghan : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from the CBI over the state of the economy.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : I regularly receive representations from the CBI and other organisations representing the views of United Kingdom industrialists on the state of the economy.
Disabled People
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to meet representatives of (a) the Disabled Living Foundation, (b) the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation, (c) the Keep Able Foundation and (d) Dial UK concerning the removal of VAT exemption from products designed for disabled people.
Sir John Cope : I regret that it has not been possible to provide a substantive answer before the summer recess. I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library.
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the types of products designed for disabled people which have been removed from VAT exemptions since April 1992.
Public Bodies
Dr. Wright : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the public bodies for which he is responsible hold meetings in public ; and if he will list them.
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Mr. Portillo : Of the public bodies for which my right hon. and learned Friend is responsible, the Financial Services Tribunal may hold hearings in public if applicants so request. None of the other public bodies for which he is responsible holds meetings in public.
11 Downing Street
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 16 July, Official Report , column 700 , what was the final destination of the carpet that was replaced on the second floor of No. 11 Downing street.
Sir John Cope : The old carpet was relaid elsewhere in 11 Downing street in 1991.
Football
Mr. Callaghan : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue is received per year from football and football pools.
Sir John Cope : The amount raised from pool betting duty in 1992-93 was £318 million. It is estimated that VAT on gate receipts and season tickets raises about £30 million each year.
Personal Debt
Mr. Callaghan : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the current level of personal debt in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Nelson : The estimated financial liabilities of the personal sector at end-December 1992 were £488.2 billion. Details of the composition of this figure can be found in table 14.8 of the July 1993 edition of "Financial Statistics" or on the Central Statistical Office database ; both sources are available in the Library.
Unemployment
Ms Short : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to implement the G7 agreement to give priority to reducing unemployment.
Mr. Nelson : The economic declaration from the Tokyo summit affirmed the implementation of stable macroeconomic policies to promote non- inflationary sustainable growth and structural reforms to make markets-- especially the labour market--work better. Such policies are the surest way or reducing unemployment over the medium term and are the heart of this Government's economic policy.
Expenditure
Mr. Churchill : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage real-terms increase or decrease in expenditure between 1979- 80 outturn and 1993-94 estimated outturn in respect of (a) overall public expenditure, (b) defence, (c) social security, (d) health and (e) education.
Mr. Portillo : The percentage change in real terms between 1979-80 and 1992-93--the latest year for which detailed figures are available--is 23 per cent. for general Government expenditure, excluding privatisation proceeds, 5 per cent. for defence, 63 per cent. for social security, 53 per cent. for health and 27 per cent. for education.
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Commission Disclosure
Mr. Darling : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the submissions he has received in respect of the Office of Fair Trading report on commission disclosure in respect of independent financial advisers and direct sale forces in the insurance industry ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nelson : I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) on 22 July 1993 at columns 296-300.
The Treasury has received some 800 written responses from all sectors of the industry, almost all of which have included representations about commission disclosure.
Carbon Emissions
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the use of taxation policy to reduce carbon emissions to the levels recommended by the evaluation carried out by the Meteorological Office.
Sir John Cope : The Government's policy to ensure that the United Kingdom meets its commitments in the climate change convention, signed at Rio in June 1992, is set out in the answer that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment gave in reply to a written question from my hon. Friend the Member for Castle Point (Dr. Spink) on 26 July 1993, at columns 709-10. This refers to the taxation measures announced in the March budget to increase the price of energy in the domestic and transport sectors.
Inland Revenue
Mr. Terry Davis : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make it his policy to make a statement to Parliament where any bids from Inland Revenue staff are not considered in the market testing or privatisation of any work which is currently undertaken by the Inland Revenue ; and if he will make a statement on his policy with respect to Inland Revenue bids.
(2) whether he will ensure that no confidential information or tax returns are held in other countries under the arrangements for Inland Revenue work to be undertaken by private companies ;
(3) whether there are any restrictions as to the location in (a) the Republic of Ireland, (b) the United States of America or (c) elsewhere of companies allowed to bid under the arrangements for market testing or privatisation for work which is currently undertaken by the Inland Revenue.
Mr. Dorrell : I regret that it has not been possible to provide a substantive answer before the summer recess. I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library.
Tobacco
Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made of the revenue lost to excise evasion on (a) hand- rolling tobacco and (b) cigarettes since the abolition of European fiscal frontiers ; and how much of this revenue has been recovered so far.
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