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Investment Income
Mr. Denzil Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total revenue yield in a full year of the imposition of a tax at the rate of 20 per cent. on the investment income, other than dividends received from United Kingdom resident companies, of pension funds and life assurance companies. [8751]
Dawn Primarolo: Using calculations based on my right hon. Friend's assumption an estimate of the full year yield for 1997-98 from a tax at 20 per cent. on the investment income, other than dividends paid by UK companies, of the funds of occupational pension schemes and the pension funds invested by life insurance companies is about £4½ billion. This estimate does not take account of any behavioural effects which might result from such a change. The investment income arising from the UK non-pensions business of life insurance companies is already subject to tax.
Local Government Finance, Scotland
Mr. Swinney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 2 July, Official Report, columns 179-80, if he will list the information requested taking account of the changes in the composition of the Scottish block and the price bases to deflate the figures to 1996-97 prices; if he will list the total expenditure over the period at 1996-97 prices; and what this expenditure would have been had no changes been made to the formula. [7805]
Mr. Darling [holding answer 14 July 1997]: Table 1.3 of the "Scottish Departmental Report" (Cm 3614) details the Scottish block in cash terms. The relevant figures at 1996-97 prices for the period 1991-92 to 1997-98 are shown in the table:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1991-92 Outturn | 13,086 |
| 1992-93 Outturn | 13,546 |
| 1993-94 Outturn | 13,970 |
| 1994-95 Outturn | 14,317 |
| 1995-96 Outturn | 14,117 |
| 1996-97 Forecast | 14,015 |
| 1997-98 Plans | 13,322 |
Most of the reduction in the final year of this series is accounted for by water debt commutation and by the proposed sales of the student loans book and the Scottish Homes loan book.
24 Jul 1997 : Column: 715
Tables 1.2 and 1.3 of "Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses" gives the total expenditure within the control total, by Department form years 1991-92 by Department in cash and real terms (1995-96) respectively. Tables 5.2 and 5.3 detail central Government expenditure within the control total by Department for the period from 1978-79 in cash and real-terms (1995-96 prices) respectively.
Additional information is not held in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Ms Kelly:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people in Bolton, West who have been mis-sold personal pensions; and how many of these have received compensation. [9687]
Mrs. Liddell:
No such estimates have been made.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the 10 banks receiving the highest amounts of payment from public funds in the last available year. [9870]
Mrs. Liddell:
That information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Helen Jones:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will allow BNFL employees who transfer to wholly owned subsidiaries of that company to remain in the Principle non-industrial superannuation scheme. [9215]
Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
[holding answer 21 July 1997]: No. Primary legislation would be required to allow employees of wholly-owned subsidiaries of BNFL to remain in the PNISS pension scheme. There are currently no plans for such legislation. BNFL has set up and operates its own group pension scheme which closely mirrors the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's principal non-industrial superannuation scheme.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish a consultative paper in relation to his spring 1998 Budget; and if he will make a statement. [9486]
Mr. Gordon Brown
[holding answer 21 July 1997]: I will publish a consultative economic paper, which will include an economic forecast, some months in advance of the spring Budget. No decision has been taken yet on the exact timing.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effects of the change in the GDP deflator forecasts announced in his Budget on the level of public sector pay increases for 1998-99 and 1999-2000. [9481]
Mr. Darling
[holding answer 21 July 1997]: All Departments are reallocating spending within their departmental ceilings as part of the comprehensive spending review.
24 Jul 1997 : Column: 716
The Government's approach to public sector pay is that pay increases must be affordable within agreed spending plans.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the countries to which Her Majesty's Government are providing assistance on the detection of anti-personnel mines. [9187]
Clare Short:
We are directly supporting demining activities in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Cambodia, Northern Iraq, Laos and Mozambique.
Additionally, the UK contributes to demining activities funded through the European Commission, the United Nations and the Organisation of American States.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what procedures exist for ensuring value for money in commercial contracts between the UNHCR and suppliers. [9414]
Clare Short:
The UNHCR follows a set of procurement procedures to ensure value for money. Competitive bidding is employed to ensure public accountability, including checks and audits by internal and external bodies.
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will publish the terms of the agreement signed on 30 January by the European Commission and the UN Population Fund to launch a reproductive health initiative in Asia. [9839]
Clare Short:
A copy of the agreement has been placed in the Library.
Mr. Sedgemore:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is the size of the total allocation for the Asia initiative; and for how many years the programme runs. [9872]
Clare Short:
The EC allocation for the Asia initiative for reproductive health is 25 million ecu--approximately £17 million. A further 5 million ecu is expected to be contributed by beneficiary organisations and through contributions in kind by the United Nations Population Fund, the implementing agency. The programme will run for four years, including one year for inception.
Ms Perham:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how often since 1992 her Department or the former Overseas Development Administration has been responsible for employment advertisements which contained age restrictions upon those who could apply. [9504]
24 Jul 1997 : Column: 717
Clare Short:
An exact analysis of employment advertisements is not available except at disproportionate cost. The Department's policy is to recruit on merit and more than a quarter of professionals recruited since 1992 have been 50 or more years of age.
Sir John Stanley:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make representations to the European Union against the use of EU aid funds for projects which put the interests of tourism before those of indigenous people in the areas concerned. [9918]
Clare Short
[holding answer 23 July 1997]: My Department recognises that many indigenous groups suffer grave disadvantage in access to services, economic opportunities and in having their voices heard. We are committed to development which ensures that all local people are fully involved. At the June Development Council, it was agreed that the Commission should develop a policy paper on co-operation with and support for indigenous people. We look forward to helping to take this work forward.
Sir John Stanley:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reports her Department has received about plans by the Botswanan authorities to move Kalahari bushmen out of the central Kalahari game reserve; and if she will make a statement. [9919]
Clare Short
[holding answer 23 July 1997]: My Department is aware of and concerned about the resettlement programme for bushmen living in the central Kalahari game reserve. We have offered to finance a conference in Botswana to discuss these issues with all parties including the bushmen, and to help develop solutions. We would welcome any suggestions the hon. Member might wish to put forward.
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