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TREASURY
Tax Harmonisation
12. Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has had regarding EU tax harmonisation; and if he will make a statement. [66528]
Dawn Primarolo: The Chancellor gets a large number of representations on many subjects, particularly in advance of a Budget. The Government's position on EU tax issues was set out on 9 December 1998, Official Report, columns 388-422, by me and my hon. Friend the Member for Tyneside, North (Mr. Byers) when he was Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
Single Currency
15. Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the preparations needed for United Kingdom entry into the single European currency. [66531]
Ms Hewitt: The UK economy needs a period of stability and settled convergence before we could join the single currency. The Government are committed to a programme of economic reforms which are both in the national economic interest and which should help to deliver the stability needed to prepare us for membership.
In addition we will issue an outline National Changeover Plan early this year which will set out the practical steps that would need to be taken if the UK decides to join.
Windfall Tax
16. Mr. Nigel Griffiths: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount to be raised by the windfall tax in the current year. [66532]
Mrs. Roche:
The second and final instalment of the Windfall Tax was due in December and £2.6 billion was collected. In total, the Windfall Tax raised £5.2 billion.
28 Jan 1999 : Column: 345
22. Ms Shipley:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further plans he has for the proceeds of the windfall tax on the privatised utilities. [66538]
Mrs. Roche:
The Windfall Tax has enabled the Government to embark on the New Deal--the biggest ever programme to get unemployed and economically inactive people into work. Over 300,000 people have already benefited from the New Deal so far, and over 60,000 have found jobs.
The Government have constantly extended and developed programmes under the New Deal since taking office. Its purpose is to give people new hope and new chances, and a route out of poverty and benefit dependency. This principle will guide future policy development, as resources allow.
17. Mr. Coaker:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made towards the implementation of the working families tax credit. [66533]
Dawn Primarolo:
The Inland Revenue is leading a joint project team with the Benefits Agency which is developing the detailed administrative arrangements for the new tax credit in time for its introduction later this year.
18. Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy with regard to orphan assets. [66534]
Ms Hewitt:
The Treasury's policy on orphan assets (inherited estates) of insurance companies was set out in the Treasury's response to the Treasury Select Committee report on personal pension misselling. This was published in the Committee's First Special Report (session 1998-99) on 18 January.
19. Mr. Reed:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on discussions he has had with colleagues in Japan and Germany in advance of the G7 Finance Ministers meeting next month relating to the HIPC initiative. [66535]
Ms Hewitt:
The HIPC initiative was discussed with all G7 partners, including Germany and Japan, and with other countries at the Annual Meetings of the IMF/World bank in Washington in October. The Chancellor also discussed the initiative with German Finance Minister Oskar Lafontaine in November. The HIPC initiative will next be discussed at the G7 Finance Ministers' and Central bank Governors' meeting in Bonn on 20 February following Chancellor Schroeder's announcement last week of a new German initiative on debt.
20. Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to enable the Royal National Lifeboat Institution to recover value added tax on the cost of maintenance work to boathouses. [66536]
28 Jan 1999 : Column: 346
Dawn Primarolo:
In common with all individuals and organisations, charities, including the RNLI, cannot reclaim VAT on the things that they buy which relate to their non-business activities.
21. Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he made of the impact on the contingency reserve of recent military action against Iraq. [66537]
Mr. Milburn:
The cost of overseas operations will be considered against the Defence budget as a whole when agreeing the Spring Supplementary Estimates.
23. Mr. Woolas:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the current levels of youth unemployment. [66539]
Ms Hewitt:
Youth claimant unemployment has fallen by over 100,000 since the general election, to stand at 315,000 last October. This fall has been spurred by the New Deal for young people unemployed for over six months, which has so far helped over 50,000 of them into jobs.
24. Mr. Robathan:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the proposed EU withholding tax. [66540]
Dawn Primarolo:
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Wealden (Sir G. Johnson Smith) today, Official Report, column 465.
25. Mr. Charles Kennedy:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to revise the current structure of the fiscal regime in respect of North sea oil; and if he will make a statement. [66541]
Mrs. Roche:
We have no plans at present to revise the structure of the North Sea fiscal regime.
26. Mr. Healey:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact the working families tax credit will have on child poverty during its first year of operation. [66543]
Dawn Primarolo:
This Government believe that, for those that can, work is the best way out of poverty. The Working Families Tax Credit, together with the National Minimum Wage and reform of National Insurance Contributions, will help to make work pay and encourage the move from welfare into work. Together, these reforms will provide a guaranteed income for families with children, who are working full-time, of £190 a week.
32. Mrs. Ellman:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to tackle the poverty trap in relation to taxes and benefits for people moving from unemployment into work. [66549]
28 Jan 1999 : Column: 347
Dawn Primarolo:
The Government have taken a number of steps to make work pay and help people move from welfare into work. The introduction of the National Minimum Wage, reform to National Insurance Contributions and the Working Families Tax Credit will all help to make people better off in work than out of work. Together, these reforms will provide a guaranteed income for families in full-time work of £190 a week.
33. Mr. Blizzard:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to help working families on low incomes. [66550]
35. Mr. Watts:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about his plans to increase the net income of people in work. [66552]
Dawn Primarolo:
The Government have introduced a number of measures to increase the net income of low-income families. These include the introduction of the National Minimum Wage, reform of National Insurance Contributions and the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit. Together, these reforms will provide a guaranteed income for families in full-time work of £190 a week.
27. Mr. Khabra:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the action his Department is taking following the Office of Fair Trading's recent recommendation that banking and insurance companies should provide better services for people on low incomes and benefits. [66544]
Ms Hewitt:
We are studying the Director General's report.
28. Mr. Stunell:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce a tax rebate system for embedded suppliers using the electricity distribution network. [66545]
Dawn Primarolo:
I assume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the findings of Lord Marshall's report on "Economic instruments and business use of energy". The Government are considering the recommendations carefully.
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