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Self-Assessment Tax System
Mr. David Howell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters of complaint he has received so far in 1997 from taxpayers concerning (a) the self-assessment system and (b) inaccurate tax demands arising under the system. [17851]
Mr. Jack [holding answer 4 March 1997]: In 1997, I have received (a) 11 letters expressing concern about the self-assessment system and (b) two letters of complaint concerning inaccurate tax demands arising under the system.
Value Added Tax
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce a VAT reclaim cap on repayment traders; what form this will take; and if he will make a statement. [18501]
Mr. Oppenheim [holding answer 4 March 1997]: Drafts of the regulations introducing a three-year cap on repayment traders to parallel the measure in force for payment traders are well in hand, and they will be laid before the House as soon as possible.
Petrol and Diesel Oil (Tax)
Mr. William Ross: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the tax payable on a gallon of each grade of (a) petrol and (b) diesel oil in each of the last five financial years and the current financial year; and what percentage of the retail price the tax represented in each year. [18517]
Mr. Oppenheim [holding answer 4 March 1997]: The information requested is given in the following table.
(2) To December of 1996.
10 Mar 1997 : Column: 22
Payment of Bills
Mr. Betts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of bills to his Department were paid (a) in accordance with agreed contractual conditions and (b) within 30 days of receiving goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice where no contractual conditions applied in the last year for which figures are available. [18809]
Mrs. Angela Knight [holding answer 6 March 1997]: In the current financial year to date, the Treasury has paid 96.8 per cent. of its bills within contractual conditions. These normally require payment within 30 days of the receipt of the invoice. Bills in dispute constitute the great majority of the remaining 3.2 per cent.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Parliamentary Questions
Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will review the answering of parliamentary questions, with particular reference to blocking answers and disproportionate costs. [17788]
10 Mar 1997 : Column: 23
Mr. Freeman:
The Government recently reviewed the answering of parliamentary questions as part of their consideration of the Public Service Committee's second report, Session 1995-96 on "Ministerial Accountability and Responsibility". In their response (HC 67), the Government reaffirmed their commitment to openness in all their dealings with Parliament, and published new "Guidance to officials on drafting answers to Parliamentary Questions".
Information that is available to the Government will be withheld only when disclosure would not be in the public interest, this being decided in accordance with relevant statute and the Government's code of practice on access to government information. Where information has to be withheld, the Government are further committed to providing the House with the reason in each case.
The advisory limit, above which Ministers may decide to decline to provide an answer on grounds of disproportionate cost, remains £450, the level set in February 1993.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many of his answers to parliamentary questions in the last 12 months have exceeded the advisory cost limit; and if he will make a statement.[19335]
Mr. Freeman:
Where the cost of answering a particular parliamentary question is estimated to exceed £450, it is the general practice for Departments to make it clear that the question could be answered only by incurring disproportionate cost. Given the large number of questions tabled, it would be unreasonable for my Department systematically to calculate the exact cost of answering every single parliamentary question.
Mr. Donohoe:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 19 February, Official Report, column 588, what method of transport he used in carrying out his official duties in Scotland on 31 January; and how much this transport cost. [19422]
The Deputy Prime Minister:
I flew to Glasgow to carry out my official duties in Scotland on 31 January. The cost to official funds was £130.50, as half the cost of my return air ticket was met by Conservative central office. I used the official car of the Under Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Robertson) between Glasgow airport and the venue for the launch of the White Paper. The transport for my political engagements was provided by Conservative central office.
Mr. Donohoe:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 19 February, Official Report, column 588, if he will list the official engagements which he undertook in Scotland on 31 January in his capacity as Deputy Prime Minster; and what specific duties he undertook in this capacity in Troon. [19423]
The Deputy Prime Minister:
In my capacity as Deputy Prime Minister, I joined my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland on 31 January to launch the White Paper on education and skills development in Scotland. I undertook no official duties in my capacity as Deputy Prime Minister in Troon.
10 Mar 1997 : Column: 24
Mr. Duncan Smith:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made on the deregulation initiative over the last two years. [19731]
Mr. Freeman:
Since passing the Deregulation and Contracting Act 1994, we have made considerable progress in removing unnecessary burdens on business including:
16. Mr. John Marshall:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received about the future of London Transport. [17768]
Sir George Young:
Following my recent statement to the House, a wide range of views have been expressed about the Government's proposals to privatise London Underground.
20. Mr. Tony Banks:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to privatise the London Underground. [17772]
25. Lady Olga Maitland:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future ownership of London Underground. [17777]
Sir George Young:
I announced to the House on 25 February, Official Report, columns 149-52, that the Government intend to privatise the London Underground. Privatisation will enable the Underground's infrastructure to be modernised as soon as possible, while capping fares
10 Mar 1997 : Column: 25
and safeguarding the aspects of the present system which passengers value, such as travelcard, safety and service levels. We are now developing our proposals and aim to publish a White Paper in the summer.
Mr. Dykes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from (a) members of the public and (b) organisations on his proposals to privatise the London underground network. [18273]
Mr. Bowis:
We have received a number of representations from members of the public and organisations on our proposals to privatise London Underground.
Mr. Harry Greenway:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further proposals he has for the improvement of London Underground; and if he will make a statement. [18014]
Mr. Bowis:
The Government believe that, while great strides have been made by the underground's management and staff in recent years, the best way to improve the London Underground is to privatise it. Privatisation will enable the Underground's infrastructure to be modernised as soon as possible, while capping fares and safeguarding the aspects of the present system which passengers value, such as travelcard, safety and service levels.
repealing or simplifying more than 1,000 regulations, more than 500 in the past year--examples include:
44 deregulation orders submitted to Parliament benefiting business and charities by over £100 million a year. This includes amendment to the Trustee Investment Act which will benefit charities by up to £40 million a year
500,000 of the smallest companies no longer need to have their accounts audited
over 100 sets of out of date health and safety requirements are being amended or repealed
abolishing or simplifying 148 business licences
commitment to reduce the burden of Government surveys by 25 per cent. by 2000 saving business £17.5 million a year.
Introduced business-friendly enforcement procedures giving business new rights when enforcement action is taken against them in key areas such as health and safety and the environment.
125 local authorities have undertaken to establish local business partnerships to promote co-operation between local business and local regulatory authorities
new regulation subject to an analysis of benefits and compliance costs. Ministers must certify they have read a compliance cost assessment and risk assessment and are satisfied that benefits justify the costs and for regulations implementing EC legislation that they have applied the European law checklist to prevent unnecessary gold plating and double banking.
Direct Access Government launched as a pilot one-stop shop service eon the Internet for accessing regulatory information and forms
in Europe, the simpler legislation for the internal market initiative has produced concrete proposals for improvements in certain areas including trade statistics and construction products.
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