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Economic and Monetary Union
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those measures in the Budget which will assist the United Kingdom in conforming to his five economic tests for joining EMU. [77895]
Ms Hewitt: The Government have said that the UK economy needs a period of economic stability in order to demonstrate settled and sustainable convergence. The Budget reinforces economic stability by keeping the public finances under control, while allowing fiscal policy to support the economy in the next phase of the cycle. The measures contained in the Budget to raise productivity and increase employment opportunities for all will also improve the flexibility of the UK economy to adapt to economic change. These measures are in the national economic interest. Preparations should be made in this Parliament so that, should the economic tests be met, a decision to join a successful single currency can be made early in the next Parliament.
Employment
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the impact of a 1 per cent. increase in wages on employment levels. [77888]
Ms Hewitt [holding answer 19 March 1999]: The impact on employment would depend on why wages increased, and how employers, employees and others in the labour force responded to the increase in wages. For example, an increase in wages reflecting higher productivity need not have any effect on employment.
Community Projects
Mr. Whittingdale:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his policy to apply the guidance in VAT Information Sheet 4/98-Local Authorities, Community Projects and VAT Recovery, to contracts entered into after 31 March 1999. [78287]
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Dawn Primarolo:
Yes. Expanded guidance is given in VAT Information Sheet 1/99.
Sir Teddy Taylor:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing (a) actual tax revenue and (b) national insurance revenue in each of the past three years, adjusted for inflation; and what estimates he has made for such revenues in the forthcoming year. [77626]
Dawn Primarolo
[holding answer 22 March 1999]: Figures for tax revenues are published in table S24 of Financial Statistics. Figures for the GDP deflator are published in table 2.1 of Economic Trends. Forecasts of tax revenues were published in table B10 of the March 1999 Financial Statement and Budget Report.
Ms Lawrence:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the 1999 departmental reports to be published. [78425]
Mr. Milburn:
Publication dates for the 1999 departmental reports will be as follows:
| Departments | |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 23 March | Department of Health |
| Law Officers' departments | |
| Wednesday 24 March | Department for Education and Employment |
| Thursday 25 March | Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions |
| Cabinet Office | |
| Friday 26 March | Home Office |
| Ministry of Defence | |
| Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | |
| Monday 29 March | HM Treasury and Chancellor's departments |
| Department for Culture, Media and Sport | |
| Tuesday 30 March | Inland Revenue |
| HM Customs & Excise | |
| Department of Social Security | |
| Scottish Office | |
| Welsh Office | |
| Northern Ireland Office | |
| Department for International Development | |
| Department of Trade and Industry | |
| Lord Chancellor's Department | |
| Wednesday 31 March | Main Estimates (for each department) |
| Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses | |
| Foreign and Commonwealth Office |
Tax Law Rewrite Project
Ms Lawrence: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Tax Law Rewrite project. [78572]
Dawn Primarolo:
I am pleased to announce that the Tax Law Rewrite project continues to make very good progress. The Inland Revenue will be publishing on 30 March the project's fourth Exposure Draft, which contains draft clauses on the trading income of individuals. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House on that day.
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This latest publication includes rewritten legislation covering the rules for calculating the profits of a trade, the basis period rules and the rules on farming. I would strongly encourage anyone with an interest in these areas to participate fully in the consultation process, which is key to the success of the project.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated additional yield from the increase in fuel oil duty in the Budget for (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2000-01. [77457]
Ms Hewitt:
HM Customs and Excise estimate the additional yield, compared to an indexed base, from the increase in fuel oil duty to be £15 million in 1999-2000 and £25 million in 2000-01.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) by what date he has asked Lord Alexander to produce his report on the taxation of shipping; and if that report will be published; [76845]
(3) when Lord Alexander has been asked to complete his review of shipping taxation; [76912]
(4) if the review of shipping taxation by Lord Alexander will consider matters relating to (a) social security contributions, (b) income tax contributions and (c) linkages to training; [76913]
(5) what assistance will be provided to Lord Alexander by the Government during his review of shipping taxation; and if officials from the Inland Revenue will assist Lord Alexander during the review; [76846]
(6) if the review of shipping taxation by Lord Alexander has considered taxation regimes other than the proposed tonnage tax; [77087]
(7) what plans he has to introduce the changes in shipping taxation recommended by Lord Alexander in this session's Finance Bill. [77086]
Dawn Primarolo
[holding answers 15 and 16 March 1999]: The scope of the inquiry is set out in the terms of reference, which are:
Lord Alexander will have access to officials from all relevant departments. It would of course be premature to consider any changes to the taxation of shipping in advance of Lord Alexander's report.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many copies of Her Majesty's Treasury Budget Summary, "Budget 99, Building a Stronger Economic Future for Britain", have been (a) printed and
23 Mar 1999 : Column: 208
(b) sent out by his Department; what was the cost of (i) printing and (ii) postage to where they have been sent; and if he will make a statement. [77299]
Dawn Primarolo
[holding answer 18 March 1999]: 1.5 million Budget summary leaflets have been printed and distributed at a cost of £100,000 for printing and postage.
Mr. Gibb:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the titles of the documents which his Department has issued to Ministers to explain the Budget to the press and general public. [77323]
Dawn Primarolo
[holding answer 18 March 1999]: The documents include the Budget 99 Report, the Budget 99 leaflet, a consultation document on the Climate Change Levy and the following Press Notices:
(2) what terms of reference he has set for Lord Alexander's review of shipping taxation; [76844]
"To conduct an independent study of the case for, and the design of, a lower rate ring-fenced tonnage-based tax and additional enhanced training incentives, for the shipping industry, taking account of the Government's objectives for UK shipping, and the national and international tax and competitiveness issues involved, concluding as soon as is practical."
23 Mar 1999 : Column: 209
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