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UK Economy (Growth Prospects)

Mr. Dykes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the prospects for growth in the United Kingdom economy for the first six months period of the present calendar year, with particular reference to (a) consumer spending, (b) spending on net new domestic capital formation from all sources and (c) the estimated impact of major public sector infrastructure schemes; and if he will make a statement. [14310]

Mrs. Angela Knight: The prospects for growth are excellent. The UK economy is now well into its fifth year of sustained expansion, and all forecasters share the Government's view that 1997 will see another year of healthy growth. Growth is expected to continue to be broadly based, with faster growth in consumers' expenditure, accelerating investment and rising exports. Lower public sector capital expenditure during 1997-98 will be offset by rising capital expenditure under the private finance initiative.

European Single Currency

Mr. Gunnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of how adherence to the criteria for joining the European single currency would affect the United Kingdom economy. [14175]

Mr. Kenneth Clarke: The Maastricht convergence criteria of low inflation and sound public finances make sound economic sense in their own right, with or without EMU. They will continue to form the basis of the Government's policies to ensure future growth, job creation and rising living standards.

13 Feb 1997 : Column: 315

Factor 8 (VAT)

Mr. Steen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the total revenue raised from the imposition of value added tax on recombinant factor 8 used in the treatment of haemophiliacs. [15386]

Mr. Oppenheim [holding answer 12 February 1997]: The application of the standard rate of VAT to recombinant factor 8 is common to all manufactured drugs. It is estimated to raise approximately £1 million per year.

Paymaster

Mr. Matthew Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the privatisation of the Paymaster agency. [16092]

Mr. Oppenheim: Conditional agreements for the sale of both the pensions and banking businesses of Paymaster, together with its IT support and its building in Crawley, were exchanged with a joint venture between EDS and Hogg Robinson yesterday. These are subject only to Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment Regulations 1981) consultations, which can begin with the company at once.

The £22.7 million consideration agreed with the purchasers represents a good outcome for the taxpayer. The purchasers have made it clear that they intend to develop the business through the winning of new contracts and the transfer-in of other existing business, and to continue operations from its current Crawley and Basingstoke locations, so the outcome is equally good for the agency's staff and customers.

On the pensions side, the schemes will, of course, continue to be funded and have their rules set by sponsoring Government Departments, which will also remain responsible for ensuring service levels; only the administrative functions are being contracted out to the privatised agency.

On the banking side, I announced on 31 October 1996, Official Report, column 255, the creation of a new Office of HM Paymaster General as a separate statutory body within the National Investment and Loans Office to maintain control over the Paymaster General's accounts at the Bank of England. The privatised agency will supply transaction services to this office on behalf of its departmental and other public sector customers.

I believe that this is an excellent outcome for all. The purchasers are eager to keep the present business intact and to build on the service improvements introduced in recent years by the current management. They bring formidable IT and transaction-processing expertise to support those efforts, combined with a powerful private sector pensions reputation and marketing experience. Paymaster can look forward to becoming a player of repute in the private sector market that was previously closed to it, and customers can expect even higher service levels and more competitive prices in future.

Mersey Docks and Harbour Company

Mr. Kilfoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Government have for the disposal of their shareholding in the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company. [15223]

13 Feb 1997 : Column: 316

Mr. Jack: The Government own some 12.4 million shares in the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, representing around 13.9 per cent. of the company's issued share capital. The Government have no immediate plans for the sale of their holding.

Arms Supplies (Rwanda)

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 18 December 1996, Official Report, columns 636-37, if he will place in the Library copies of pages 2 to 4 of the letter of 30 November 1995 from the chairman of the United Nations special commission on arms supplies to Rwanda to the international liaisons section of United Kingdom Customs and Excise. [14961]

Mr. Oppenheim: The letter of 30 November 1995 indicates that the attachment accompanying the letter was a copy of the United Nations Security Council resolution 1013 (1995). That was the sole content of pages 2 to 4 of the fax. A copy of that resolution is already held in the Library.

"Social Trends" Data

Mr. Wigley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the tables and graphs in "Social Trends" that make use of data drawn from the general household survey. [14686]

Mrs. Angela Knight: 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 Dennis Roberts to Mr. Dafydd Wigley, dated 13 February 1997:


NumberTitle
2.2Households by size
2.3Households: by type of household and family
2.5People in households and communal establishments: by type of household and family in which they live
2.9Families headed by lone parents as a percentage of all families with dependent children
2.10Percentage of dependent children living in different family types
2.12Percentage of women cohabiting
2.19Women remarrying: by year, and length, of separation, 1993-1995
2.28Contraception: by method used
4.10Percentage of full-time employees who started their current job in the previous 12 months
5.26Membership of a current pension scheme: by gender and earnings, 1995-96
6.10Households with consumer durables
7.4Chronic sickness: by age, 1974 and 1995-96
7.19Adult cigarette smoking: by gender
7.22Consumption of alcohol: by gender 1984 and 1994-95
8.15Site of NHS GP consultation
8.18Sight tests: by source of funding and socio-economic group, 1994-95
8.20Use of selected personal social services: by age, 1994-95
10.2Owner-occupation: by socio-economic group, 1981 and 1995-96
10.3Tenure: by age of head of household, 1995-96
10.4Household composition: by tenure, 1995-96
10.7Type of dwelling: by tenure, 1995-96
10.8Type of dwelling: by construction date, 1995-96
10.9Under-occupation and overcrowding: by type of household, 1995-96
10.15Length of time at current address: by tenure, 1995-96
13.5Participation in home-based leisure activities: by gender
13.20Participation in the most popular sports, games and physical activities: by gender

13 Feb 1997 : Column: 317

2001 Census

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the draft religious questions which are being tested for inclusion in the 2001 census are being phrased in such a way as to identify each of the main Christian denominations. [14389]

Mrs. Angela Knight: The question on religious affiliation to be asked in the 1997 census test in England and Scotland will include pre-coded tick-boxes for Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Islam, Jewish and Sikh, but

13 Feb 1997 : Column: 318

will not identify the main Christian denominations. The census test in Northern Ireland will include a different question, which is worded to meet the local requirements for information, and which does identify the main Christian denominations present in the Province.

The final choice of questions to be included in the census will be made after a full evaluation of the results of the census test, further research, and a further extensive round of consultation. All this information will be taken into account when the Government publish their proposals for questions to be included in the 2001 census in a White Paper in mid-1998. The White Paper will invite comment. The census order paper will be debated in Parliament.


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