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Budget Publications
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what departmental guidelines govern the content of the Treasury publication, "Budget 99, Building a Stronger Economic Future for Britain"; and if he will make a statement. [77301]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 18 March 1999]: "Budget 99, Building a Stronger Economic Future for Britain" complies with the Cabinet Office guidance on the work of the Government Information Service.
Capital Gains Tax
Mr. Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people paid CGT in financial years (a) 1995-96, (b) 1996-97, (c) 1997-98; and what is his estimate for (d) 1998-99. [R] [74063]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 2 March 1999]: The number of taxpayers with a Capital Gains Tax liability arising in the years 1995-96 to 1998-99 is as follows:
| Thousand | |
|---|---|
| Year | Number |
| 1995-96 | 100 |
| 1996-97(15) | 110 |
| 1997-98(15) | 160 |
| 1998-99(15) | 190 |
(14) Excludes companies as their capital gains are charged to Corporation Tax.
(15) Provisional. These figures were previously published in Table 1.6 of Inland Revenue Statistics 1998 (IRS 1998) and have been revised in line with outturn and the March 1999 Budget forecast.
Business Taxes
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish for each tax levied on businesses (a) the amounts paid in 1996-97 and 1997-98 and (b) his estimate for 1998-99. [75293]
19 Mar 1999 : Column: 858
Dawn Primarolo
[holding answer 8 March 1999]: Detailed historical data on receipts from individual taxes can be found in Chapter 2 of "Financial Statistics".
Estimates of tax receipts in 1998-99 can be found in Table B10 of the March 1999 Financial Statement and Budget Report.
Mr. Nigel Jones:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the increased revenue to his Department as a result of the abolition of duty-free shopping in financial year 1999-2000. [77441]
Dawn Primarolo:
Such estimates are sensitive to a whole range of assumptions about the nature of the successor regime and the post abolition marketing strategies of the duty-free operators. There is insufficient certainty on either of these points to make meaningful predictions at this stage.
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions permission has been given by HM Customs and Excise for private companies to export goods from RAF airfields in each of the last five years. [77246]
Dawn Primarolo:
HM Customs and Excise does not keep records of such information.
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if HM Customs' permission was given for a military cargo to be exported from RAF Manston in Kent in May 1998, which subsequently went missing en route to South Africa. [77251]
Dawn Primarolo:
HM Customs and Excise did give authority for the loading of a shipment of goods to South Africa, which moved via the UK having been released for export from the Community by Customs in another Member State. Information available at the time of shipment did not indicate that the cargo included any controlled military goods.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on changes to United Kingdom determination of VAT liability, pursuant to (a) COM (98) 660 and (b) COM (98) 663; what legislation will be required; and what effect this will have on income to the Exchequer. [74444]
Dawn Primarolo:
Explanatory memoranda were placed in the Library of the House in respect of draft Directive Com (98) 660.
Mr. Whittingdale:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much extra revenue will be raised in excise duty on petroleum due to changes made since 1 May 1997 in 1997-98 and each of the following four years. [76575]
19 Mar 1999 : Column: 859
Dawn Primarolo:
HM Customs and Excise estimate the extra revenue raised in excise duty on petrol due to the changes made since 1 May 1997 to be:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| Financial year | Extra revenue |
| 1997-98 | 350 |
| 1998-99 | 740 |
| 1999-2000 | 600 |
| 2000-01 | 820 |
| 2001-02 | 1,000 |
The figures have been calculated by comparing estimated revenue streams under the current Government's duty commitments (as shown in table C.1 of the 1998 FSBR and table IB.2 of the 1999 ESBR/FSBR) with an estimate of what revenue streams would have been under the previous Government's 5 per cent. escalator.
Diesel
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much extra revenue will be raised in excise duty on (a) diesel and (b) ultra-low sulphur diesel due to changes made since 1 May 1997 in 1997-98 and each of the following four years. [76574]
Dawn Primarolo: HM Customs and Excise estimate the extra revenue raised in excise duty on (a) diesel and (b) ultra-low sulphur diesel due to the changes made since 1 May 1997 to be:
| Financial year | Diesel | Ultra-low sulphur diesel |
|---|---|---|
| 1997-98 | 220 | -5 |
| 1998-99 | 570 | 10 |
| 1999-2000 | 120 | 430 |
| 2000-01 | 0 | 900 |
| 2001-02 | 0 | 1,040 |
The figures have been calculated by comparing estimated revenue streams under the current Government's duty commitments (as shown in table C.1 of the 1998 FSBR and table IB.2 of the 1999 ESBR/FSBR) with an estimate of what revenue streams would have been under the previous Government's 5 per cent. escalator. It has been assumed that after 1999-2000 all diesel will have been replaced with ultra-low sulphur diesel.
Although it was legislated for under the previous Government, the separate rate for ultra-low sulphur diesel did not come into effect until after 1 May 1997 and has therefore been treated as a change since that date.
Toddington Primary School
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on what date he received the Statement of Case from Gloucestershire County Council on its proposals to close Toddington Primary School. [77365]
Ms Estelle Morris:
The statement of case was received on 12 March 1999.
19 Mar 1999 : Column: 860
Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he had with (a) teachers, (b) playgroup staff and (c) parents before proposing guidelines for the teaching of the under-fives; what extra provision he is making in terms of (i) teachers and (ii) buildings for implementing the guidelines; and if he will make a statement. [77367]
Ms Hodge:
The Qualification and Curriculum Authority held eight consultative conferences with representatives of Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships, which include providers of early education and parents, before issuing its consultation document on the review of the desirable learning outcomes on 22 February. The consultation document has been sent to EYDC Partnerships, Local Education Authorities, teachers associations and to a sample of schools. Alongside this, the Secretary of State is considering responses to the consultation on the regulation of early education and day care which covered issues including adult:child ratios, qualifications and premises requirements.
Military Exercises
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the airborne exercise in France carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [72925]
Mr. Doug Henderson: This exercise was a reciprocal exchange exercise between the Parachute Regiment and the French 1 Regiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes, involving 80 personnel from the Parachute Regiment, which took place in France in September 1997. The only additional cost for this exercise was for personnel to travel to and from France at a cost of £3,100 as exercises conducted under a reciprocal agreement are at no cost to the visiting force because personnel exchange places and use the supporting assets that are already in place.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of, which countries had armed forces involved in, what assessment he has made of the value of and how many personnel were deployed on the air exercises in the USA carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [76597]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The UK was involved in a number of air exercises in the USA in the specified time period, all of which provided excellent and valuable training opportunities for the participating forces. Holland, Brazil, Singapore and Spain also participated in the exercises, with the UK and the US. For fast jet exercises, the total additional cost to the UK was some £1.85 million, with a total of 1,600 UK personnel being deployed in the specified time period, although no more than 500 personnel were deployed for a single exercise. For Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) exercises, the total additional cost to the UK was some £600K, with a total of 550 UK personnel being deployed in the specified time period, although no more than 200 personnel were deployed for a single exercise.
19 Mar 1999 : Column: 861
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of, which countries had armed forces involved in, and how many personnel were deployed on the jungle training exercise in Singapore carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [76590]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
835 personnel from the Royal Marine Command deployed, via Singapore, for a jungle training exercise in Malaysia. The exercise formed part of the Ocean Wave Far East deployment and the additional cost incurred was £51K. The exercises involved personnel of the UK and Royal Malaysian Armed Forces.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel were deployed on the jungle training exercise in Thailand carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [76593]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
136 personnel of the Royal Marine Command participated in this exercise.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the three infantry battalion exercises in Kenya carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [72971]
Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 1 March 1999]: The cost of the three infantry battalion exercises in Kenya carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998 was as follows:
| £ million | ||
|---|---|---|
| Exercise | Cost | |
| Grand Prix 1/97 | 0.063 | |
| Grand Prix 2/97 | 0.622 | |
| Grand Prix 3/97 | 0.672 | |
| Total | 1.357 |
The cost of Grand Prix 1/97 excludes the costs of movement by RAF transport aircraft and from Kenya, as these figures are no longer available. The costs of ammunition and of spares consumed during the exercise are also excluded as these costs are not separately identified.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the combined maritime and
19 Mar 1999 : Column: 862
air exercise in Malaysia carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [76611]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
As I advised the hon. Member on 4 March 1999, Official Report, column 866, the RN participated in Exercise "Flying Fish" as part of their "Ocean Wave" deployment, the total additional cost of which was approximately £9.8M. The additional cost to the RAF of Exercise "Flying Fish" was some £800K.
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