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Mr. Dorrell : Available information is given in the table. Estimates of income are based on information reported to tax offices and collected through the annual survey of personal incomes. It is therefore not possible to provide estimates for all individuals and so the table relates to taxpayers only. Figures for 1992-93 and 1993-94 are
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based on projections of the 1991-92 survey and are therefore provisional. For 1990-91, the figures are calculated using the taxpayers' marginal rate and are therefore not directly comparable with receipts data which reflect the application of the composite rate on bank and building society interest. There is no general exemption from tax of the investment income of old people but the third row of the table shows the estimated cost to the Exchequer in terms of liabilities if investment income paid to people aged 65 or over were exempt from income tax.
£ billion
|1990-91|1991-92|1992-93|1993-94
--------------------------------------------------------------
Total investment
income of
taxpayers |41.9 |38.7 |35.0 |29.0
Tax liability on
investment income |11.0 |10.7 |9.6 |7.9
Cost of exempting the
investment income
of the aged |3.6 |3.2 |2.8 |2.3
Premium Bonds
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what examinations have been made to check that that first issue premium bonds have been winning in ways consistent with the laws of probability ; and what has been the result of such examination.
Mr. Nelson : Each month the bond numbers generated by ERNIE, and the results of the prize draw, are subjected to a series of statistical tests by the Government Actuary, who is wholly independent of national savings. These tests have never given any reason to doubt ERNIE's randomness, or that each eligible bond number has an equal chance of being drawn for a prize, regardless of when it was issued.
Older bond numbers, including those of the earliest issue, do not appear as often as newer numbers in the prize lists simply because there are relatively fewer of them as over the years many of these bonds have been cashed in.
Mr. Denham : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list (a) the number of valid premium bonds held by members of the public and (b) the total number of prizes available for premium bonds in each of the years since the establishment of the premium bond scheme.
Mr. Nelson : The number of eligible bonds and prizes issued in each year since the start of the premium bond scheme are shown below.
|Number of Eligible|Number of Prizes
|Bond Units as at 1|issued in year
|December
|(millions) |(thousands)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1957 |70.0 |62.5
1958 |152.9 |149.0
1959 |214.7 |210.2
1960 |272.2 |257.1
1961 |319.6 |372.9
1962 |359.6 |424.3
1963 |403.0 |476.2
1964 |453.4 |532.7
1965 |500.1 |595.3
1966 |551.6 |657.8
1967 |598.3 |710.3
1968 |646.7 |769.6
1969 |721.7 |863.9
1970 |765.7 |932.1
1971 |845.1 |971.9
1972 |924.0 |1,033.6
1973 |987.4 |1,117.4
1974 |1,016.7 |1,158.5
1975 |1,070.7 |1,203.5
1976 |1,145.0 |1,276.9
1977 |1,210.6 |1,309.7
1978 |1,294.4 |1,405.3
1979 |1,374.4 |<1>1,125.8
1980 |1,404.6 |<2>890.5
1981 |1,455.7 |1,142.2
1982 |1,497.7 |1,221.2
1983 |1,595.8 |1,229.4
1984 |1,683.6 |1,337.7
1985 |1,756.0 |1,884.3
1986 |1,839.1 |1,962.2
1987 |1,935.8 |2,059.4
1988 |2,133.9 |2,232.5
1989 |2,269.2 |2,418.7
1990 |2,271.5 |2,483.5
1991 |2,313.2 |2,491.1
1992 |2,454.0 |2,599.1
1993 |<3>2,714.0 |<4>1,847.2
<1> A temporary truncated prize structure was introduced for the September
to December 1979 prize draws, to allow speedier recovery from industrial
action.
<2> A new prize structure was introduced from 1 January 1980 when the
minimum prize was increased from £25 to £50.
<3> As at 1 October.
<4> Up to 1 October.
Sir David Mitchell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be the cost to the Exchequer of making the first £50,000 or the first £100,000 of retained profits of small companies free of corporation tax with suitable safeguards to prevent the concession applying to associated companies.
Mr. Dorrell : The Exchequer cost of making the first £50,000, or £100,000, of taxable profits free of corporation tax for companies normally liable at the small company rate would be about £ billion, or £1 billion, respectively per annum. It is assumed that companies' liability to account for advance corporation tax and the rules for setting it against corporation tax are unaffected.
European Community
Sir Ralph Howell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the net payment made to the European Community by the United Kingdom for each year since 1979 ; and in each case what was the net payment to European Economic Community institutions as a percentage of gross domestic product.
Mr. Nelson : Details of the United Kingdom's net contribution to European Community institutions both in absolute terms and as a percentage of gross domestic product are given in the following table :
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|Net contribution to|Net contribution as
|EC institutions |a percentage of GDP
Year |£ million |Per cent.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |839 |0.40
1980-81 |168 |0.07
1981-82 |117 |0.04
1982-83 |589 |0.21
1983-84 |834 |0.27
1984-85 |977 |0.29
1985-86 |819 |0.22
1986-87 |1,074 |0.27
1987-88 |1,661 |0.38
1988-89 |1,006 |0.21
1989-90 |2,316 |0.44
1990-91 |2,027 |0.37
1991-92 |705 |0.12
<1>1992-93 |1,769 |0.29
<1>Estimated outturn.
Sources:
Figures for net contribution to EC institutions are as in the Government's
expenditure plans, and therefore exclude contributions to the EC budget which
are attributed to the aid programme. Figures for 1987-88 to 1992-93 are taken
from the departmental report to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's departments (
Cm 2217); for earlier years, figures are taken from relevant public expenditure
plans or departmental reports.
GDP: CSO Economic Trends.
Personal Equity Plans
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the latest estimate of the number of PEPs ; and what is the associated cost to the Exchequer ;
(2) how many PEPs were taken out during each of the last five years ; and what has been the cost to the Exchequer of the consequential tax relief ;
(3) how many tax exempt special savings accounts have been opened since the scheme was introduced ; and what has been the cost to the Exchequer of the consequential tax reliefs.
Mr. Dorrell : The available information is as follows : Since PEPs began in 1987, 2,880,000 general plans have been taken out, and since 1 January 1992, 250,000 single company plans have been taken out.
Personal Equity Plans
Number of plans Estimated total cost
taken out of income tax
(thousands) relief (£ million)
|General |Single company
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988 |120 |- |15
1989 and first
quarter of 1990 |580 |- |20
1990-91 |500 |- |45
1991-92 |640 |110 |90
1992-93<1> |770 |140 |120
<1> Provisional.
TESSAs
There were about 3.75 million live TESSA accounts as at 30 June 1993. The
estimated cost of tax relief for TESSAs for 1992-93 was £250 million.
Column 14
Income Tax Threshold
Sir Ralph Howell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer of raising the income tax threshold to £100 per week for each person liable to pay income tax.
Mr. Dorrell : Compared with statutory indexation of allowances and thresholds by 1.8 per cent, the estimated full year cost of raising the personal allowance to £5,200 at 1994-95 income levels would be about £10 billion.
Sir Ralph Howell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people had incomes of less than £100 per week at the latest date for which figures are available ; how many of these paid income tax ; and what proportion of the national average wage is represented by £100 per week.
Mr. Dorrell : The latest estimates for 1993-94 are that about 23.2 million people aged over 16 have incomes below £100 per week, of whom about 2.5 million are taxpayers. The sum of £100 is about 28 per cent. of average earnings for full-time adult males.
Unemployment Costs
Mr. Straw : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has as to the effect of a reduction in unemployment of 1 million people on local expenditure on (a) free school meals, (b) temporary accommodation for homeless families, (c) the element of benefits payments in respect of rents and council tax borne by local authorities and (d) the element of mandatory education awards borne by local authorities.
Mr. Portillo : I have no such estimate, and to produce one would require so many assumptions as to render the result almost meaningless.
Ministerial Salary Payments
Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what financial arrangements for further salary payments ensue when a Minister resigns or is sacked.
Mr. Dorrell : When a Minister leaves office for whatever reason, he is entitled to a severance payment, the terms of which are governed by the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.
Long-term Care Insurance
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to regulate the development of long-term care insurance and of schemes which use the value of the owner's home to fund long-term care.
Mr. Nelson : I am not aware of any such cases. If the hon. Gentleman is aware of particular difficulties with such insurances and schemes, he should bring them to my attention.
VAT
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what items of manufactured or non-manufactured foodstuff VAT is currently chargeable in the United Kingdom ; how much was received in tax for each grouping of such items for the financial year 1992-93 ; and what is his estimate of income for the year 1993-94.
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Sir John Cope : Most items of food are relieved from VAT. The exceptions liable to tax at the standard rate include : ice cream and similar frozen products ; confectionery ; manufactured beverages including alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, fruit juices and bottled waters ; potato crisps and similar snack foods. In 1992-93 VAT on these items is estimated to have raised around £1.6 billion and in 1993-94 it is expected to raise around £1.7 billion.
ECOFIN
Mr. Burns : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of European Finance Ministers.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : European Community Finance Ministers and central bank governors held an informal meeting in Genval, Belgium on 8 to 10 October.
There was a general discussion of the economic situation in the Community and the White Book on a medium-term strategy for growth, competitiveness and employment that the Copenhagen European Council invited the Commission to prepare in time for its meeting in December. Against this background, there as a preliminary discussion of the broad guidelines for economic policy which will be established under article 103 of the Maastricht treaty. I agreed with a number of other member states that we should avoid an excessively prescriptive approach. The next step will be for the Commission to prepare a draft recommendation which will be discussed by Finance Ministers before being put to the European Council in December.
Ministers discussed a package of draft Commission proposals designed to ensure that certain treaty provisions relating to stage II of EMU are consistently applied. Discussion will now continue in official working groups before returning to the Council later in the year.
There was also some discussion of the Community's programme of macro- economic assistance for the former Soviet Union and central and eastern Europe. There was general agreement on the importance of linking EC support to a full IMF International Monetary Fund stand-by arrangement and of stimulating private finance.
Finally, Finance Ministers endorsed the political agreement reached in the Foreign Affairs Council the previous week on a new inter-institutional agreement on budget discipline. The European Parliament is still considering whether it can accept the agreement. Informal meetings cannot take formal decisions or votes.
TRANSPORT
British Rail, London
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the level of investment in British Rail local services in London for each year from 1990-91 to 1993-94 ; what is the planned figure for 1994-95 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : Figures for BR investment in Network SouthEast are set out in the table. The figures do not include prepayments.
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Investment in Network SouthEast (£ million) Year |Number ---------------------- 1990-91 |340 1991-92 |396 1992-93 |524 1993-94 |426
The figure for 1993-94 is subject to revision and should be regarded as indicative only. A figure for 1994-95 has yet to be announced.
Roads (Greenwich Mean Time)
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the net change in road casualties that is associated with the present winter arrangements of using Greenwich mean time.
Mr. Key : Based on casualty statistics for 1991, the Transport Research Laboratory estimated that putting the clocks back for 22 weeks in the winter resulted in an increase in road casualties of some 100 fatalities, 400 serious casualties and 1,000 slight casualties.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to issue a warning to the public about road risks following the change of the clocks to Greenwich mean time.
Mr. Key : There are no plans to issue a specific warning to the public about road risks following the change of the clocks to Greenwich mean time. The Department does however distribute leaflets on safe winter driving and on pedestrian and cyclist/motor cyclist conspicuity.
Driving Licences
Ms Mowlam : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many ordinary driving licences are revoked each year on the basis that the holder's mental ill health is, or may become, likely to cause that person to be a source of danger to the public if he or she drives, pursuant to section 93(1) and section 93(2) of the Road Traffic Road Act 1988 ; and how many individuals each year are granted ordinary driving licences for a limited period of time on the basis that the applicant's mental ill health is, or may become, likely to cause that person to be a source of danger to the public if he or she drives, pursuant to section 99(1) (b) of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
Mr. Key : Each year around 600 ordinary driving licences are revoked and about the same number refused on the basis that the mental health of the holders or applicants was or might become likely to cause that person to be a source of danger to the public. Statistics on the number of restricted period licences issued are not broken down into the type of medical condition/disability that the driver suffers from.
Fishing (Submarines)
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what response he made to the proposals delivered to him by the Clyde Fishermen's Association concerning communication of submarine movements to the fishing fleet in inshore waters off Scotland.
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Mr. Norris : Arrangements for the broadcasting of information about submarine movements--Subfacts--are still under discussion with the fishing industry and others.
Farm Vehicles
Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the requirement for road tax discs, number plates, lights, and directional indicators to be available and in working order will be applied to all farm vehicles ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key : The only mechanically propelled farm vehicles which are exempt from vehicle excise duty are those not used on the public road, or used for distances not exceeding 6 miles in any calendar week when the journey is for travelling between land in the occupation of the registered keeper.
When used on the road, agricultural machines and trailers are required by the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 1971--SI 1971/450--to display a registration mark. All agricultural vehicles used on the road must be fitted with front and rear position lamps and rear reflectors. Tractors manufactured since 1 April 1986 must also have dipped headlamps, direction indicators and a hazard warning signal device. Any vehicle with a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph, including tractors, must also display an amber warning beacon when travelling along an unrestricted dual carriageway. We strongly recommend their use on other roads as well. All lamps and reflectors must be kept clean and in good working order. We have no plans to require additional lighting equipment to be fitted on older vehicles.
Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to limit the width of farm vehicles using public roads in the same manner as commercial road transport ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key : The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 and the Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order 1979 regulate the dimensions of agricultural vehicles used on public roads. These regulations require notification to be given to the police of the date, time and route of the journey before vehicles over 2.9 m width are used on the road and in the case of vehicles over 3.5 m width an attendant is required to give warning to other road users. Vehicles over 4.3 m width can be used only under individual authorisation and the need for the journey must be justified. I see no need for additional regulation of these vehicles.
Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the number of accidents caused as a result of farm vehicles leaving dirt on the road in each of the last five years ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key : This information is not collected by central Government.
Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he has taken to ensure the enforcement of laws relating to dirt on the road without prejudice ; how many farmers have been prosecuted in each of the last five years for leaving dirt on roads ; and if he will make a statement.
Column 18
Mr. Key : My Department's highway responsibilities are confined to England. In England, it is for individual highway authorities to take action under the Highways Act 1980, at common law, or under specific local byelaws, to deal with dirt on roads which they consider to be a hazard or obstruction.
Information on the numbers of such prosecutions could be provided only at disproportionate expense.
Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to extend the duties of his Department's roadside inspection of commercial vehicles to farm vehicles ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key : The Vehicle Inspectorate's examiners have and use the power to make roadside inspections of farm vehicles and to prohibit their use if they are unroadworthy. We have no plans, however, to make farm vehicles a specific priority for roadside inspection. Farm vehicles are also subject to spot checks by the Health and Safety Executive, which has powers to prohibit the use of vehicles if they are in an unsafe or improperly maintained condition.
M25
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the proposed widening of the M25 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key : We have received numerous comments and suggestions in connection with the widening of the M25. These have all been carefully considered and taken into account in reaching our conclusions about the future strategic needs for this motorway. We will of course continue to listen to any further views that are expressed.
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what cost -benefit analysis or studies have been made in respect of the M25 duplication or widening schemes (a) already authorised, (b) under active study and (c) currently contemplated ; and where such studies are available to the public.
Mr. Key : The following cost-benefit analyses or studies have, are being, or will be undertaken in connection with increasing the capacity of the M25 :
Junctions 30(A13)--3 (M20) : no information yet. The future requirements are under review following the opening of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.
Junctions 3--5(M26)--rapid widening : no information yet. It is anticipated that consultants will be appointed to prepare detailed proposals later this year or early next.
Junctions 5--7(M23)--rapid widening : no information yet. Proposals are being prepared for widening to dual four lanes and information from the cost-benefit analysis, together with studies into air quality, noise, ecology etc will be made available when the environmental statement is published next spring.
Junctions 7--8 (Reigate)--rapid widening : details of the proposal to widen this section to dual four lanes, including the information on the results of the cost-benefit analysis as well as other information from other studies were included in the environmental statements made available at public exhibitions earlier this year.
Junctions 8-10(A3)--rapid widening : no information published yet. Proposals are being prepared for widening this section to dual four lanes. Information from the cost-benefit analysis and other studies will be made available when the environmental statement is published in the near future.
Junctions 10-11(Chertsey)--rapid widening : details of the proposal to widen this section to dual four lanes, including the
Column 19
information on results of the cost-benefit analysis and other studies was included in the environmental statements made available at public exhibitions earlier this year.Junctions 10-12(M3)--widening beyond four lanes : no information has been published yet. Consultants have been appointed to investigate the options for increasing capacity beyond four lanes. If it is decided to go ahead the results of the cost-benefit analysis and other studies will be made available at public consultation stage. Junctions 12-15(M4)--widening beyond four lanes : information from the cost-benefit analysis and other studies undertaken was available to the public during the public consultation exhibitions held in July 1992. A copy of the technical appraisal report for the scheme, which included information on the cost- benefit analysis was placed in the House of Commons Library last autumn. Further information will be made available in the environmental statement when draft orders are published, probably later this year.
Junctions 15-16(M40)--rapid widening : details of the proposal to widen this section to dual four lanes, including information on the results of the cost-benefit analysis and other studies were included in the environmental statement made available at public exhibitions in 1991.
Junctions 15-16--widening beyond four lanes : a public consultation assessment report containing the results of the cost-benefit analysis and other studies, was available at the public exhibitions held in July and September this year.
Junctions 16-19(Watford)--rapid widening : no information yet. Proposals are being prepared for widening to dual four lanes and information from the cost-benefit analysis and other studies will be made available when the environmental statement is published towards the end of the year.
Junctions 19-23(A1)--rapid widening : no information yet. Proposals are being prepared for widening to dual four lanes within the existing highway boundary and information from the cost-benefit analysis and other studies will be made available when the environmental statement is published in 1995.
Junctions 16-21(M1)--widening beyond four lanes : no information yet. It is anticipated that consultations will be appointed later this year or early next.
Junctions 23-26(A121)--rapid widening : no information yet. Proposals are being prepared for widening to dual four lanes and information from the cost-benefit analysis and other studies will be made available when the evironmental statement is published towards the end of the year.
Junctions 26-28(A12)--rapid widening : no information yet. Proposals are being prepared for widening to dual four lanes within the existing highway boundary and information from the cost-benefit analysis and other studies will be made available when the environmental statement is published in 1995.
Junctions 28-30(A13)--widening : no information yet. Consultants will be appointed at some future date.
Traffic, London
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information heccupants since 3 July ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : None, but if the City corporation wishes to make permanent its experimental traffic measures it will need to obtain the approval of the Traffic Director for London and to consult adjacent boroughs and other interests. In doing so, the corporation would need to explain the effects of the experimental measures.
Barking to Gospel Oak Line
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reports he has received on the future investment programme of the Barking to Gospel Oak line : and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : It is for British Rail to decide which projects to take forward and what priority it should be
Column 20
given until our plans for the privatisation of rail services can be implemented. However, I understand that Network SouthEast is looking at ways of improving the service on the north London lines, including that between Gospel Oak and Barking.British Transport Police
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who serves on the police committee of the British Transport police ; and how often it has met over the past five years.
Mr. Freeman : The members of the British Transport police committee as at 30 September 1993 are :
Chairman :
D. Rayner Esq.
Members :
D. Tunnicliffe Esq.
C. J. D. Driver Esq.
A. P. Watkinson Esq.
Sir Lawrence Byford CBE, OBE, MC, DL
Major-General Lennox Napier CB, OBE, MC, DL
J. G. Nelson Esq.
Mrs. Diana Lamplugh OBE
The committee meets on a quarterly basis.
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