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Value Added Tax

Mr. David Nicholson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) court judgments and (b) administrative decisions have extended the coverage of VAT without the specific authority of primary legislation since 1990; how much revenue was received in the most recent full year for which figures are available as a result of each decision; and which goods or services were covered by each extension. [2634]

Mr. Oppenheim: Records of court judgments and administrative decisions affecting the interpretation or application of VAT legislation are not maintained in a way that could provide this information.

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases are pending in the United Kingdom courts against HM Customs and Excise concerning the repayment of VAT; how many of these are for recovery of debt in respect of VAT reclaims for the years 1993 or earlier; and if he will make a statement. [2649]

Mr. Oppenheim: There are 125 cases before the VAT and duties tribunals concerning Customs' decision to defer repayments over three years old. Four cases have already been heard, with the tribunal chairman deciding that he had no power to order Customs and Excise to repay the deferred amounts. In addition, four applicants have been given leave for a judicial review in respect of Customs' policy of deferment.

Audit Visits

Mr. Pearson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 29 October, Official Report, column 60, how many audit visits for (a) large employers and (b) other employers have been conducted since 6 April; and what percentage of these visits are made up by (i) joint visits and (ii) single visits covering pay-as-you-earn and national insurance contributions. [3196]

Mr. Jack: Between 6 April and 30 September 1996, the Inland Revenue conducted 291 visits to large employers. Of these, 31--10.7 per cent.--were joint visits and 260--89.3 per cent.--single visits covering both PAYE and NICs; 20,933 visits were made to other employers. Of these, 17,823--85.1 per cent.--were single visits covering both PAYE and NICs. The remaining 3,110--14.9 per cent.--related to instances where a visit by the Contributions Agency revealed evidence of PAYE irregularities requiring further investigation by the Inland Revenue.

Joint visits for these employers are not seen as appropriate.

Drugs Deaths

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his most recent calculation of the number of people who have died in each of the past five years as a result of using (a) methadone, (b) temazepam, (c) diazepam and (d) heroin. [1551]

Mrs. Angela Knight [holding answer 5 November 1996]: The information falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

11 Nov 1996 : Column: 24

Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 11 November 1996:

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on the numbers of people who have died in each of the last five years as a result of using methadone, temazepam, diazepam and heroin.


Information Technology Projects

Ms Church: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many information technology projects have been undertaken since 1992 and are planned for the coming year, in cost bands of £1,000,000. [1898]

Mrs. Angela Knight [holding answer 7 November 1996]: The total number of information technology projects undertaken by the Treasury, within the costs bands and years stated, are shown in the table:

Projects undertaken in year

Project value1992-931993-941994-951995-961996-971997-98(2)
£10,000-£1 million13171223257
£1 million-£2 million001000
£2 million-£3 million000100
£3 million-£4 million000100

(2) Planned.

There were no IT projects with a value greater than £4 million from 1992 to 1996 and there are none planned for 1997-98.

Qualifications

Mr. Byers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for (a) the United Kingdom, (b) each English region, (c) England, (d) Wales, (e) Scotland and (f) Northern Ireland the percentage of those unemployed who have (i) a degree or equivalent qualification, (ii) A-level or equivalent, (iii) an apprenticeship, (iv) a GCSE or equivalent and (v) no qualifications. [2981]

Mrs. Angela Knight [holding answer 7 November 1996]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Stephen Byers, dated 11 November 1996:

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question asking for a breakdown of the unemployed according to level of qualification by region.


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Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative

Mr. Bill Michie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the recently agreed highly indebted poor countries initiative; and if he will make a statement. [1329]

Mrs. Angela Knight: I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, North-East (Mr. Timms) on 14 October, Official Report, columns 705-06.

DEFENCE

Nuclear Weapons

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the report of the Canberra commission on the elimination of nuclear weapons. [2931]

Mr. Soames: We have noted the conclusions of the Canberra commission. We remain committed to the pursuit of negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to nuclear disarmament, as set out in article VI of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. But nuclear disarmament cannot realistically be pursued independently of the broader security context. We and NATO continue to judge that nuclear deterrence plays an essential role in maintaining peace and stability in Europe.

Unidentified Flying Objects

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the two occasions referred to in his answer of 24 July, Official Report, column 424, when RAF aircraft were scrambled or diverted from task to investigate uncorrelated radar targets; if the objects were identified;

11 Nov 1996 : Column: 26

if it was judged that breaches of United Kingdom airspace had occurred; and if he will list all similar incidents which have occurred since 1979. [2932]

Mr. Soames: The targets were identified as Russian maritime patrol aircraft and were in the northern portion of the UK air defence region. They did not penetrate UK airspace. Information covering the period from 1979 is not held in a readily available form and could be provided only at disproportionate cost and effort.

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when United Kingdom military personnel were briefed about the scrambling of Belgian F-16 aircraft on 30 and 31 March 1990; when the unidentified flying object concerned was detected on United Kingdom radar systems; and if RAF aircraft were scrambled. [3185]

Mr. Soames: The Belgian authorities did not notify adjacent countries because no threat was perceived. There is no evidence of radar contacts within the UK air defence system.

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