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Sixth Forms
Mr. Prior: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what guidance his Department has issued on the optimum size of sixth form classes; [62506]
- (2) if he will make a statement on the average size of sixth form classes in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Norfolk. [62507]
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Ms Estelle Morris: The average size of sixth form classes in England is 10.7 and in Norfolk is 10.2. The size of classes in the rest of the United Kingdom is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales.
The Department has issued no guidance on the optimum size of sixth form classes. In deciding what courses to offer in their sixth forms, schools must weigh up issues such as quality of provision, demand for particular courses, breadth of curricular choices accessible to students across the area, cost effectiveness and financial implications for the school as a whole.
Mr. Prior:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance his Department has issued on the optimum size of a sixth form college so that it is able to provide an appropriate choice of subjects. [62508]
Mr. Mudie:
The Department has not issued guidance on the optimum size of sixth form colleges.
Tax Harmonisation
15. Mr. Nicholls: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he proposes to ensure that Britain's taxation will not be harmonised with that of the rest of the EU when Britain joins European Monetary Union. [61760]
Dawn Primarolo: Decisions in this area are subject to unanimity. This would not be affected if the UK joined EMU.
29. Mr. Cash: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his use of the veto in respect of EU tax harmonisation measures relating to (a) corporate and company taxation, (b) VAT, (c) income tax, (d) taxes on investment and (e) capital taxes. [61775]
Dawn Primarolo: Decisions in all these areas are subject to unanimity. The Government will not support any action at European level that will threaten jobs or the competitive position of British business.
35. Mr. Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the Government's policy on proposals for tax harmonisation in Europe. [61782]
Dawn Primarolo: The Government will not support any action at European level that will threaten jobs or the competitive position of British business. Tax harmonisation is not the way forward for Europe. The priority for Europe is the promotion of employment reforms and competitive markets to achieve higher levels of employment and prosperity.
37. Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he intends to take to prevent tax harmonisation in the European Union. [61784]
Dawn Primarolo:
Decisions in this area are subject to unanimity. The Government will not support any action at European level that will threaten jobs or the competitive position of British business.
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16. Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to accelerate debt relief programmes for developing countries. [61761]
Ms Hewitt:
At the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank the Chancellor maintained momentum towards his Mauritius Mandate targets and has subsequently taken initiatives to help post-catastrophe countries.
18. Mr. McNulty:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his public expenditure plans for the NHS for the next three years. [61764]
Mr. Byers:
In the Comprehensive Spending Review on 14 July 1998, Official Report, columns 187-211, we announced an extra £21 billion for health in the UK for the next three years.
This is the biggest cash increase in the history of the NHS and, combined with our programme of reform, will provide the stable funding base needed to deliver the Government's commitment to modernise the NHS.
Coupled with the £250 million for the UK this year, which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced in the House on 3 November 1998, Official Report, column 688, of which £209 million is for England, this means health spending in England will rise by 3.8 per cent. a year over the lifetime of this Parliament. Figures for other countries of the United Kingdom are a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland.
19. Mr. Plaskitt:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about his priorities for public spending for the next three years, with particular reference to the balancing of budgets across the economic cycle. [61765]
Mr. Byers:
The Government are committed to spend an extra £40 billion on health and education over the next three years, and will double net public investment.
The Government's prudent approach to managing the public finances ensures that these commitments will be honoured while meeting the Government's two strict fiscal rules.
20. Mr. Win Griffiths:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his plans to increase non-capital expenditure on public services over the next three years. [61766]
Mr. Byers:
Spending plans for the next three years were set out in the Comprehensive Spending Review White Paper, published in July.
22. Ms Ward:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about his policy to increase the incentive to work. [61768]
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Dawn Primarolo:
The Budget contained a number of measures to help ensure that work pays, including the Working Families Tax Credit and reform to National Insurance Contributions. These changes will ensure a guaranteed minimum income of at least £190 a week for working families. And, as the Pre-Budget Report stated, we will also introduce a 10p starting rate of income tax, when it is economically right to do so. In addition, the Welfare to Work programme will, through the New Deal, help people to make the move from welfare into work.
23. Sir Teddy Taylor:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest estimate of total annual tax revenue per person in the United Kingdom; and what was the total (a) five and (b) 10 years ago. [61769]
Mr. Byers:
Figures for the total annual tax revenue per person in the United Kingdom were £2,812 in 1987-88; £3,574 in 1992-93; and £5,023 in 1997-98.
24. Dr. Cable:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the taxation of dividends paid to non-taxpaying low-income pensioners. [61770]
Dawn Primarolo:
Having listened carefully to all interested parties, the Government confirm the arrangements set out in the July 1997 Budget for phasing out payable credits in order to correct a bias in the tax system against the retention of profits for investment. Individuals have time to consider their investments before the new rules take effect--for example, they can move to tax-favoured investments should they wish to do so.
Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he is proposing to improve the tax position of pensioners. [61778]
Ms Hewitt:
In his statement to the House on the Comprehensive Spending Review, 14 July 1998, Official Report, columns 187-211, the Chancellor announced that, as part of a £2.5 billion package of support for pensioners, the Government would set a minimum tax guarantee, so that no pensioner would pay income tax unless their income rose above a specified level. The pre-Budget report confirmed that this level would be determined in the next Budget.
25. Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the continuation of duty-free sales after 30 June 1999; what transitional measures he proposes to introduce; and if he will make a statement. [61771]
Dawn Primarolo:
I have received a number of representations on the continuation of duty-free sales after 30 June 1999. This matter was discussed at the ECOFIN Council meeting on 1 December where a minority of Member States, supported by the UK, called for a fresh look at the decision to end intra-EU duty free sales on 30 June 1999. However, unanimity amongst Member States is required and there was no consensus for change. The Government are continuing to consider the arrangements which should apply after 30 June 1999.
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