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VAT and Excise Office, Hammersmith
Mr. Soley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many customers have attended in person to pay VAT and related taxes on the last date for payment in each of the last 12 months at Griffin house VAT and excise office, Hammersmith. [23659]
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: One hundred and twenty-eight customers have attended in person to pay taxes on the last date for payment during the year to February 1996. The number of customers attending in each month are:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 31 March 1995 | 23 |
| 28 April 1995 | 8 |
| 31 May 1995 | 4 |
| 30 June 1995 | 4 |
| 31 July 1995 | 15 |
| 31 August 1995 | 18 |
| 29 September 1995 | 14 |
| 31 October 1995 | 3 |
| 30 November 1995 | 3 |
| 29 December 1995 | 10 |
| 31 January 1996 | 9 |
| 29 February 1996 | 17 |
| 128 |
In addition, 571 envelopes were deposited for onward transmission to the Department's accounting centre in Southend, and it is fair to assume that a significant proportion of these would have included payments.
Computers
Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the problem of non-recognition by computers of the year 2000 with regard to his Department's computers and those for which it is responsible. [24398]
3 Apr 1996 : Column: 259
Mrs. Angela Knight: The Treasury is aware of the problem and has already taken action. It will take into account forthcoming guidance to be issued by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency in April and, in parallel, it is investigating the scale and complexity of the problem as it affects its own information technology systems. We will proceed on the basis of the results of this exercise.
Waste Minimisation
Ms Ruddock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress in establishing an office waste minimisation strategy for his Department, indicating the targets set. [24509]
Mrs. Angela Knight: The Treasury supports fully the Government statement in the White Paper, "Making Waste Work, A strategy for sustainable waste management in England and Wales". We aim to set targets by the end of 1996.
Manufactured Goods
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on trends in the balance of trade in manufactures since 1992. [24827]
Mrs. Angela Knight: There has been no obvious trend in the balance of trade in manufacturers since 1992, although the volume of exports has increased faster than the volume of imports.
Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Matthew Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made towards agreeing private finance initiative projects in 1995-96; what steps he is taking to increase the number of private finance initiative contracts; and if he will make a statement. [25127]
Mr. Jack: The private finance initiative is now making a serious contribution to the delivery of services to the public. Within 12 months, the Government have agreed projects with a capital value of £4.8 billion. In addition, projects with a capital value of around £300 million are at preferred bidder stage. A further £330 million worth is expected to be agreed shortly. These are listed in the tables.
These figures tell only part of the story. The total value of a PFI deal to the private sector can typically be three times the capital value because the Government contract to buy services associated with an asset for years to come.
Through PFI, the Government have achieved more than many people ever thought possible, though agreeing this number of deals has not been without problems. I have published new procurement guidelines today which will be circulated throughout the public sector. They are a practical response to comments made by people active in PFI and are designed to help smooth out processes, reduce bidding costs and speed up the flow of good deals. I have placed a copy in the Library.
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| Home Office | |
| Bridgend prison | 50 |
| Fazakerley prison | 50 |
| Immigration Nationality Department | 20 |
| Other Home Office projects | 20 |
| Transport | |
| Channel tunnel rail link | 3,000 |
| Northern Line trains | 400 |
| Ist tranche design, build, finance and operate | 380 |
| Social Security | |
| National insurance recording computer system | 150 |
| Health | |
| South Bucks district general hospital | 40 |
| St. James', Leeds | 50 |
| Royal Berks and Battle | 20 |
| Norwich and Norfolk district general hospital | 170 |
| Swindon and Marlborough | 90 |
| Smaller deals | 70 |
| Defence | |
| RAF vehicle fleet in Germany | 50 |
| Other defence projects | 55 |
| Scotland | |
| Dundee district council: waste to energy | 40 |
| Hairmyres and Stonehouse NHS trust | 60 |
| Other Scottish health projects | 20 |
| Wales | |
| University Hospital Wales | 10 |
| Environment | |
| Waltham Forest housing action trust | 15 |
| Total value of agreed announced projects | 4,760 |
| Other hospital projects with identified preferred bidder but which have yet to be announced | 300 |
| Projects | £ million |
|---|---|
| Docklands Light Railway extension | 120 |
| Longbenton DSS: Newcastle site redevelopment | 80 |
| Benefit payments automation through Post Office | 120 |
| British museum support building | 10 |
| Total | 330 |
DEFENCE
Defence Estimates
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to publish the 1996 statement on the defence estimates; and if he will ensure that the 1996 edition of "Defence Statistics" will be published concurrently. [23442]
3 Apr 1996 : Column: 261
Mr. Soames: On current plans, the statement on the defence estimates 1996 should be published and laid in the House on 1 May 1996. As last year, we expect to publish the 1996 edition of "Defence Statistics" in mid-July, the earliest feasible date, allowing for compilation and validation of information relating to the end of the financial year.
EDS Ltd.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what out-sourcing contracts his agencies have with the EDS software computer system; what is the current cost; when the contract ends; what are the penalties involved should he seek early termination of the contract; and if he will make a statement. [23739]
Mr. Arbuthnot: This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, the Hydrographic Office and the Meteorological Office under their framework documents. I have asked the chief executives to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 3 April 1996:
Letter from J. P. Clarke to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 3 April 1996:
You asked the Secretary of State for Defence for details about out-sourcing contracts his agencies have with the EDS software computer system. I am replying on behalf of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).
I have assumed that the question refers only to computer software systems and I have based my answer on this. DERA does not have any such contracts with EDS.
I hope this is helpful.
Letter from J. C. R. Hunt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 3 April 1996:
1. You recently asked the Secretary of State for Defence two Parliamentary Questions relating to out-sourcing contracts with EDS software computer systems. As your questions relate, in part to the Hydrographic Office and such issues fall within my responsibility as Chief Executive of the Hydrographic Office, I have been asked to reply to you.
2. I have assumed you would not object if I were to answer both of your questions in this letter and on that basis I can advise you that the Hydrographic Office has no out-sourcing contract with EDS. Furthermore the Hydrographic Office has never had any out-sourcing arrangement with EDS and, as a consequence, no savings can be reported.
3, I hope this information has been helpful.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the savings to date to his Department and his Department's agencies from out-sourcing arrangements made with the EDS software computer system; what assessment he has made of the equivalent costs for carrying out this work in-house; and if he will make a statement. [24360]
As Chief Executive of the Meterological Office I am replying to your recent questions to the Defence Secretary concerning out-sourcing contracts with EDS.
We currently have no such contracts.
Mr. Arbuthnot: This information is not held centrally for my Department and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
3 Apr 1996 : Column: 262
The matters fall also, however, to the chief executives of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, the Hydrographic Office and the Meteorological Office under their framework documents. I have asked the chief executives of those agencies to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 3 April 1996:
Letter from J. C. R. Hunt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 3 April 1996:
You asked the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the savings to-date to his Department and his Department's agencies from out-sourcing arrangements made with the EDS software computer system compared with the use of in-house services. I am replying on behalf of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).
I have assumed that the question refers only to computer software systems and I have based my answer on this. DERA does not have any such contracts with EDS.
I hope this is helpful.
Letter from J. P. Clarke to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 3 April 1996:
As Chief Executive of the Meteorological Office I am replying to your recent questions to the Defence Secretary concerning out-sourcing contracts with EDS.
We currently have no such contracts.
1. You recently asked the Secretary of State for Defence two Parliamentary Questions relating to out-sourcing contracts with EDS software computer systems. As your questions relate, in part to the Hydrographic Office and such issues fall within my responsibility as Chief Executive of the Hydrographic Office, I have been asked to reply to you.
2. I have assumed you would not object if I were to answer both of your questions in this letter and on that basis I can advise you that the Hydrographic Office has no out-sourcing contract with EDS. Furthermore the Hydrographic Office has never had any out-sourcing arrangement with EDS and, as a consequence, no savings can be reported.
I hope this information has been helpful.
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