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TREASURY
Local Government Finance, Nottinghamshire
Mr. Tipping: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received about the financial settlement for Nottinghamshire county council in 1996-97; if he will summarise these representations; and if he will list the individuals and organisations that have sent them. [2755]
Mr. Waldegrave: The Treasury has received representations from a number of individuals and organisations concerning the financial settlement for Nottinghamshire county council for 1996-97.
Private Finance Panel
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the members of the private finance panel, their remit and the interests they have been required to declare. [3087]
Mr. Jack: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 November to the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett), Official Report, columns 260-61.
Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much private capital has been invested in public investment projects since the 1992 autumn statement. [84]
Mr. Jack: Over £16 billion by the end of 1995-96, including over £1 billion under the private finance initiative.
28 Nov 1995 : Column: 534
Mr. Austin Mitchell:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what actions have been taken in the last 12 months to combat fraud and maladministration within the European communities. [170]
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory:
At the Essen European Council on 9 and 10 December 1994, the Prime Minister made a number of proposals to help tackle fraud, waste and mismanagement. These included a requirement that each member state should report on what it is doing to combat fraud against the community Budget on its own territory. Member states have now submitted their reports and the Commission has produced a framework for further work which will be considered by the Madrid European Council on 15 and 16 December.
Separately, the new Commission has centralised anti-fraud work within its services, in particular reinforcing its anti-fraud unit and extending its remit.
Full details of developments in this area will be published in the next "Annual Statement on European Finances". The Commission also publishes an annual report on the fight against fraud.
Mr. Hain:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the cost to business of converting equipment and systems in the event of the United Kingdom joining a single European currency; and if he will make a statement. [1572]
Mrs. Angela Knight:
If the UK participates in stage 3 of economic and monetary union, there will be transitional costs to business associated with the changeover to the single currency. The Government do not have an assessment of the potential size of these costs, because no decision has been taken as to whether the UK will join the single currency, and costs would depend on decisions taken individual businesses.
Mr. McAvoy:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the gross national product per head of population in each of the member states of the European Union for the last year for which comparable figures are available. [1811]
Mrs. Angela Knight:
The information for these countries is available in the OECD publication "National Accounts", available in the House of Commons Library.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many estates in each county in England inheritance tax was paid in each year since its introduction. [2244]
Mr. Jack:
The information is not available at county level.
Mr. Prentice:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many estates in each county in England were allowed conditional exemption from inheritance tax in each year its introduction. [2247]
28 Nov 1995 : Column: 535
Mr. Jack:
The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Legg:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the position of the United Kingdom as an enterprise centre of Europe. [1348]
Mr. Jack
[holding answer 23 November 1995]: The Government will continue to create the economic conditions where business can flourish by further encouraging enterprise and competitiveness, through the development and growth of small and large businesses alike and promoting further deregulation. Our firm financial policies directed towards low inflation on a permanent basis and sound public finances, together with our intention to reduce the share of national income taken by public spending will help us to achieve this.
28 Nov 1995 : Column: 536
Ms Bridget Prentice:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the level of unemployment amongst ethnic minority (a) men and (b) women in each of the London boroughs; and how many are in (i) full-time employment and (ii) part-time employment. [2732]
Mrs. Angela Knight:
The most recent available information is from the 1991 census of population, and can be obtained from the NOMIS data base in the Library.
Mr. Peter Bottomley:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the retail prices and the tax elements of the ranges of petrol, liquified petroleum gas and diesel fuels, including the reduced pollution varieties, for motor vehicles. [2144]
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory:
Average retail selling prices and the respective tax elements are as follows:
28 Nov 1995 : Column: 535
| Total | Excise | VAT | Excise | VAT | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSP pence per litre | Tax as percentage of RSP | Duty as percentage of RSP | As percentage of RSP | Duty in per pence litre | In pence per litre | |
| Leaded | 57.79 | 77.43 | 62.54 | 14.89 | 36.14 | 8.61 |
| Super unleaded(2) | 58.52 | 68.41 | 53.52 | 14.89 | 31.32 | 8.72 |
| Unleaded | 51.56 | 75.64 | 60.74 | 14.89 | 31.32 | 7.68 |
| Diesel | 52.01 | 75.11 | 60.22 | 14.89 | 31.32 | 7.75 |
| City diesel(3) | 51.4 | 75.83 | 60.93 | 14.89 | 31.32 | 7.66 |
| LPG auto(4) | 42.0 | 54.35 | 39.45 | 14.89 | 16.57 | 6.26 |
(2) The most recent RSP available for super unleaded is for September 1995.
(3) The small market in this product is dominated by one supermarket chain which retails it at 2 pence per litre more than its own price for normal diesel. This latter price is considerably lower than the average price for diesel shown in the table.
(4) This RSP is very much a 'best estimate' by the LPG Association. All other figures are correct for 20 November 1995.
28 Nov 1995 : Column: 535
28 Nov 1995 : Column: 535
Value Added Tax
Mr. Pendry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the cost of the VAT exemption for cultural activities. [2504]
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: It would be premature to do so. The outcome of the recent consultation exercise on the scope of an exemption for certain cultural services is still under consideration.
Mr. Pendry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has as to the cost of the VAT exemption to voluntary sports clubs, including the interest paid on overcharged VAT. [2506]
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: The total amounts refunded to non-profit-making organisations supplying sporting services are estimated at £140 million plus £30 million interest.
Mr. Pendry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost of the VAT exemption for sports centres with charitable status. [2505]
28 Nov 1995 : Column: 536
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: No separate figures are available.
Deregulation
Sir Michael Grylls: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the deregulation measures agreed by his Department during 1995. [285]
Mr. Jack [holding answer 22 November 1995]: The Chancellor's Departments have introduced a large number of deregulatory measures during 1995. Among the most significant are the orders which the Treasury has laid before Parliament, under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994, to provide new flexibility in the operation of building societies, credit unions and friendly societies respectively. The Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise, together with the Contributions Agency, have developed closer working relations. This has resulted in, for example, trials of a new shared telephone helpline, together with a joint notification form and leaflet for businesses starting up. Initiatives undertaken by the Central Statistical Office, which are being co-ordinated under a new compliance planning system, include reductions in duplication between surveys, and simplification of the forms sent to business.
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