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Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 18 February 1997
TREASURY
Treasury Building (Development)
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department made of the presence of (a) hazardous materials and (b) ozone-depleting substances in the Treasury building which might be affected by its planned development with Exchequer Partnership plc; and what plans he has for (i) energy efficiency and (ii) waste management schemes in the development of the building. [13637]
Mrs. Angela Knight: All known asbestos is recorded in an Asbestos Register and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health--COSHH--registers are also held. Regular health and safety inspections, audit and tours are carried out. All halon fire extinguishers have been replaced and regular checks for CFC leakage detection are carried out on relevant departmental equipment. This information is available to Exchequer Partnership plc.
So far as the redevelopment project is concerned, Exchequer Partnership will be contractually obliged to ensure that an "excellent" rating under the BREEAM system is obtained. In addition, design and construction will be carried out in accordance with all statutory authority regulations and requirements, including European legislation, statute or subordinate legislation relevant to new building and refurbishment. Exchequer Partnership plc must adhere to the Government's environmental policies.
Data Collection (Postcodes)
Mr. Barnes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what use his Department and its agencies make of postcode areas for the collection of data and in formulas for the distribution of grants and awards; and when such usages were last reviewed. [14797]
Mrs. Angela Knight: Postcodes are used extensively by the Office for National Statistics. The Treasury and the Chancellor's other departments and agencies make no use of postcode areas.
Personal Savings
Mr. Pearson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number and proportion of households with personal equity plan savings of a value (a) less than £10,000, (b) £10,000 to £20,000, (c) £20,000 to £30,000 and (d) over £30,000. [16018]
Mr. Jack: The information requested is not available.
Investment Income
Mr. Pearson:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the average amount of
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income tax paid by adult (a) pensioner and (b) non-pensioner taxpayers with annual investment income of (i) less than £50, (ii) £50 to £75, (iii) £75 to £100, (iv) £100 to £125, (v) £125 to £150, (vi) £150 to £175, (vii) £175 to £200, (viii) £200 to £250, (ix) £250 to £300, (x) £300 to £400, (xi) £400 to £500 and (xii) over £500 for the most recent year for which information is available. [15989]
Mr. Jack:
Available estimates for 1997-98 based on projections from a mixture of statistical sources are given in the table. It is not possible to provide reliable estimates for all of the specified bands of investment income.
| Average amount of income tax paid(1) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Range of taxable investment income for 1997-98 £ | Taxpayers aged under 64 £ | Taxpayers aged 65 or over £ |
| 1-49 | 2,350 | 900 |
| 50-99 | 2,450 | 950 |
| 100-499 | 3,500 | 1,050 |
| Over 500 | 6,100 | 2,600 |
(1) Includes income tax paid on all types of income such as earned income, self employment and investment income.
British Agrochemicals Association
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings he has had with the British Agrochemicals Association Ltd. in the last 12 months; what was the subject of the meetings; and if he will make a statement. [16291]
Mr. Kenneth Clarke: I have had no meetings with it in the last 12 months.
Personal Pensions (Tax Relief)
Mr. Denham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the net present cost in 1996 prices of tax relief on contributions made to appropriate personal pensions since 1988-89 assuming the social discount rate used by his Department. [13840]
Mr. Jack [holding answer 4 February 1997]: The net present cost of income tax relief for the years 1988-89 to 1995-96 1 in respect of contributions to appropriate personal pensions is given in the table, split between national insurance fund contributions and contributions above this minimum made by employees and employers. The figures are in 1996-97 prices rounded to the nearest £0.1 billion, and have been calculated using the GDP deflator and a real discount rate of 3.75 per cent. in line with that underlying the Government Actuary's report on occupational and personal pension schemes, Cm 3221.
| NIF contributions £ billion | Employee/employer contributions £ billion | Total contributions £ billion | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net present cost of income tax relief paid | 2.0 | 2.3 | 4.3 |
(2) The cost of income tax relief for 1995-96 is provisional.
Financial Advice (Complaints)
Mr. Home Robertson:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the delay in
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the investigation by the investment ombudsman and the Investment Management Regulatory Organisation of a complaint by Mr. Alan Holmes of Gullane, East Lothian, concerning compliance with IMRO rules and the terms of the Financial Services Act 1986 in relation to independent financial advice given to him by IMRO-regulated companies. [15112]
Mrs. Angela Knight
[holding answer 13 February 1997]: The investment ombudsman's office has been set up by IMRO for the independent investigation of complaints about investment business brought by investors against firms regulated by IMRO. Consistent with the independent status of the ombudsman, his investigations are not subject to Government direction or supervision. The service is provided free to complainants. Before the ombudsman can investigate a complaint, he must be satisfied that it falls within his jurisdiction, and this can take time to determine with complex cases. The case to which the hon. Member refers is complicated, but the ombudsman is dealing with it as quickly as is possible.
Mr. Bill Walker:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals are paid by English-based employers and work in Scotland and whose income tax is collected from their English employer. [15992]
Mr. Jack
[holding answer 14 February 1997]: The information is not available.
Mr. Walker:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much income tax was collected by the Inland Revenue from Scottish-based employers in each of the last five years. [15932]
Mr. Jack
[holding answer 14 February 1997]: During each of the years from 1992-93 onwards the following amounts of income tax and national insurance contributions have been collected under PAYE from Scottish-based employers. It is not possible to identify separately amounts of income tax and national insurance contributions.
Mr. Walker:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the time it would take to introduce an income tax regime to tax people where they live instead of at their employer's pay office. [15933]
Mr. Jack
[holding answer 14 February 1997]: The estimate sought could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Walker:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of setting up an income tax regime to tax people where they live instead of at their employer's pay office. [15934]
Mr. Jack
[holding answer 14 February 1997]: None.
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Mr. Walker:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals are paid by Scottish-based employers and work outside of Scotland and whose income tax is collected from a Scottish employer. [15991]
Mr. Jack:
The information is not available.
Mr. Bradley:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what correspondence Her Majesty's Treasury has had with (a) the British Rail Board vendor unit and (b) bidders for subsidiary companies of the British Rail Board in respect of the surplus on the British Rail pension fund and the privatisation of subsidiary companies; and if he will make a statement. [16040]
Mr. Jack
[holding answer 17 February 1997]: None.
Additionally, some employers will have paid income tax on the profits of their business but separate totals are not held for Scottish-based employers.
1992-93: £6,448,442,000
1993-94: £6,865,410,000
1994-95: £7,466,284,000
1995-96: £7,984,301,000
1996-97 (to January 1997): £5,835,077,000.
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