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Croydon County Court
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will ensure that an urgent investigation is carried out into the loss by Croydon County Court of evidence sent by Mr. Gary Osborn to Croydon County Court in March and May 1997 relating to case CR 75 00 67. [4085]
Mr. Hoon: The question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 17 June 1997:
PQ 98/124: Loss of evidence at Croydon County Court
The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the loss by Croydon County Court of evidence sent by Mr. Osborn. The evidence to which you refer is a defence to civil proceedings brought against your consistuent.
I have asked my officials to look into the concerns you raise and will write to you as soon as the investigation is complete.
TREASURY
Internet
Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on Government revenues of the increase in use of the Internet; and if he will make a statement. [3193]
Dawn Primarolo:
The Government are examining the tax implications of increased use of the internet in close consultation with other Governments, at OECD and in other fora, and with the business community.
17 Jun 1997 : Column: 117
Mr. Townend:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his target for the overall burden of taxation as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product. [3356]
Dawn Primarolo:
The Government's fiscal policy is directed at reducing borrowing. The intention is that, over the economic cycle, the government borrow only to finance public investment and not to fund current expenditure. Public debt as a proportion of national income is held at a stable and prudent level. Forecasts and projections of the tax burden will be published int he Red Book on 2 July.
Mr. Ruffley:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what calculations the Treasury has made as to the effect on average household bills for (a) gas, (b) telephone services, (c) water and (d) electricity of a windfall tax on the profits of privatised utilities. [3680]
Mr. Geoffrey Robinson:
The Chancellor of the Exchequer will be considering a wide range of factors in reaching his view on the windfall tax. Household bills are affected both by demand and price: where services are subject to price caps, these are a matter for the regulators.
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 3 June, Official Report, column 147, if he will make a statement defining numerically what constitutes lasting economic stability for the financial years (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99, and (c) 1999-2000. [3335]
Mr. Geoffrey Robinson:
Lasting economic stability is built on prudent economic management and sound finance. The Government regard price stability as an essential pre-condition for high and stable levels of growth and employment. The Chancellor set out his inflation target in the remit to the Monetary Policy Committee on June 12 which can be obtained from the House of Commons Library. Sound public finances are also important for lasting economic stability. The Government's fiscal policy will be spelt out in the Budget on July 2, along with forecasts and projections for Government borrowing.
Mr. Green:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase the underlying growth rate of the British economy. [3327]
Mr. Geoffrey Robinson:
The Government are setting up a framework to deliver lasting economic stability which is an essential pre-condition for high and stable levels of growth and employment. The Government also aim to rebuild British economic strength with a modern industrial base, high levels of investment and a culture of entrepreneurship that will unlock British economic potential.
Mr. Boswell:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the impact on tax revenues of a 1 per cent. increase in gross domestic product. [3443]
17 Jun 1997 : Column: 118
Dawn Primarolo:
The estimate reported in Treasury Occasional paper No. 4, "Public Finances and the Cycle", is that a one per cent. increase in output relative to trend increases tax revenues by over 1½ per cent. a year later. This estimate is of course subject to a margin of error and the precise effect on tax revenues will depend in part on the composition of the increase in GDP.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average level of tax raised from all sources of taxes, per capita in the last year for which statistics are available. [2253]
Dawn Primarolo
[holding answer 16 June 1997]: In 1995-96 the average level of total taxes and National Insurance contributions per capita was £4,370, compared with an average level of £1,526 in 1980-81. The average level in 1980-81 in 1995-96 prices was £3,309.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average delay in the publication of statistics on income and tax after the end of each annual exercise in the collection of statistics; and if he will make a statement. [2254]
Dawn Primarolo
[holding answer 16 June 1997]: The Inland Revenue publishes an annual volume entitled Inland Revenue Statistics which includes a large variety of different statistics on income and tax. Updated figures are usually available on request in advance of publication and each section of Inland Revenue Statistics includes details of when new figures are likely to become available and how they can be obtained.
Rev. Martin Smyth:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria are used by HM Customs and Excise for seizing pornographic material being imported into the United Kingdom. [3396]
Dawn Primarolo
[holding answer 16 June 1997]: The question of whether an item is indecent or obscene is a matter for the Courts. Customs seek to prohibit material which cannot lawfully be traded in the UK and would be in breach of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 or the Protection of Children Act 1978.
Customs Officers are issued with guidance which covers the type of activity that is likely to be considered by the Court's to be indecent or obscene.
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the feasibility of allowing local authorities to retain the money that is derived from fining speeding motorists and hypothecating that money to local authorities to further discourage traffic speeding through increased traffic policing. [3007]
Mr. Michael:
It is for highway and police authorities to decided on the appropriate level of resources to devote to speed enforcement, in accordance with their priorities. Hypothecating the revenue from speeding fines would result in expenditure on traffic enforcement being determined by the income generated, rather than the relative priority of the activity.
17 Jun 1997 : Column: 119
Mr. Gibb:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what expenditure savings have been budgeted by the Treasury for (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99 as a result of the proposed abolition of the assisted places scheme. [3642]
Mr. Byers:
I have been asked to reply. I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for South East Cambridgeshire (Mr. Paice) on 5 June, Official Report, column 245.
Mr. Peter Bottomley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library his Department's briefing for inward investors on the improvement in industrial relations and the reduction in days lost in strikes since the winter of 1978-79. [3454]
Mr. Fatchett:
No current published inward investment material contains reference to the reduction in days lost in strikes since 1978-79.
This Department's Invest in Britain Bureau has produced a promotional leaflet "Britain--The Preferred Location". A copy of this document has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Dr. Marek:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is his policy that liberalisation of Gibraltar airport is an integral part of the completion of the single market. [3996]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
In the absence of any agreement over the airport, Gibraltar has been suspended, since 1987, from EC air liberalisation measures. We are prepared to consider any practicable proposal for the development of the airport.
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