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Financial Statement and Budget Report
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which of the items listed in Table 1.11 of the Red Book are also included in public spending figures. [76455]
Mr. Milburn: To ensure consistency with the European System of Accounts 1995, the following measures in Table 1.11 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report, published in March 1999, are scored either in DEL or AME:
- 3: Research and development tax credit
- 6: Abolition of Vocational Training Relief
- 15: Employment Credit
- 16: Income Support: two week extension for lone parents moving into work
- 19: Increases in Income Support child premia
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- 20: Increases in Working Families Tax Credit and Disabled Person's Tax Credit
- 21: Child benefit: indexation of rates and uprating
- 22: Sure Start Maternity Grant
- 23: Maternity pay reforms
- 25: Increase in minimum income guarantee for pensioners
- 26: £100 Winter Allowance
- 27: Abolition of mortgage interest relief
- 39: Energy efficiency measures and support for renewable energy sources.
Mortgage interest relief, the Working Families Tax Credit and Disabled Persons Tax Credit are income tax credits administered by the Inland Revenue and are therefore netted off from income tax receipts when assessing the level of and changes to net taxes and social security contributions.
Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what measures he has put in place to ensure the spread of best practice on use of the PFI throughout Government; [76398]
- (2) what are the criteria on the basis of which decisions about the relative priority of PFI projects are made. [76397]
Mr. Milburn: Recommendation number 4 of the review of the Private Finance Initiative by Sir Malcolm Bates, announced on 23 June 1997, said that the Treasury Taskforce should sign off the commercial viability of all significant projects before the procurement process commences.
A further announcement on 10 February 1998 said that projects would be deemed "significant" for at least one of four reasons: those which are either big, high profile, highly replicable or ground breaking. They are also likely to raise issues that require speedy resolution.
The Taskforce continues to publish a full range of policy statements, technical notes and other guidance on PFI. These are available from Treasury Public Enquiry Unit, the Taskforce website (www.treasury-projects-taskforce.gov.uk) and in CD ROM form.
The Taskforce also maintains a library containing contract documents, case studies and other relevant documentation which those involved in PFI are encouraged to consult.
The Taskforce encourages public sector staff involved in PFI to undertake appropriate training, and has commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers to manage a Taskforce approved training programme.
Capita in partnership with the Taskforce runs a programme of conferences covering PFI issues of the day.
Mr. Blizzard:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to use revenue gained from the abolition of duty free to reduce excise duty on beer. [77603]
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Dawn Primarolo:
The Government are continuing to press strongly for an extension of duty free sales to allow time for a better successor regime to be developed. In his Budget on 9 March 1999, Official Report, columns 173-90, the Chancellor announced a freeze on beer duty.
Mr. Blizzard:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the proposal to reduce indicative limits contained in the Customs and Excise review of alcohol and tobacco duties. [77604]
Mrs. Roche:
The recommendation that the Government should consider the need to negotiate changes to the rules regulating the system of minimum indicative levels is currently being considered along with a range of other options designed to tackle fraud and smuggling. It would require the unanimous agreement of all 15 member states to change the rules.
Mr. Webb:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate is provided by his Department's Survey of Personal Incomes of (a) the number of people making contributions in excess of £3,600 per year and (b) the average contribution of those persons to (i) personal pensions and (ii) occupational pension schemes. [76244]
Ms Hewitt:
Of the 14 million people currently making extra provision to voluntary private pensions above the compulsory minimum, around 2½ per cent. make contributions in excess of £3,600.
Approximate information for those contributions in 1996-97 is in the table.
| Number of people | Average contribution (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Personal pensions | 230,000 | 8,800 |
| Occupational pensions | 120,000 | 6,200 |
Notes:
1. Estimates should be treated with caution since contributions to occupational pensions and net personal pension arrangements are not directly measured by the Survey of Personal Incomes and have been modelled from other survey and administrative information.
2. Personal pensions includes contributions to retirement annuity contracts, but excludes 'minimum contributions' by DSS to appropriate personal pension schemes and contributions made by employers.
3. Occupational pensions excludes contributions made by employers, but includes free-standing additional voluntary contributions.
4. Covers contributions made by employees and the self-employed.
5. Includes basic rate tax repaid to scheme administrators in respect of contributions made by employees to personal pensions under net contribution arrangements.
6. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000 people and £100 respectively, although they are not necessarily accurate to that degree.
Agricultural Chemicals
Mr. Brake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to publish the results of his Department's work on taxing (a) fertilisers and (b) pesticides. [74971]
Ms Hewitt:
A research report commissioned by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions on the possible impact and design of a tax or charge on pesticides has today been published, together
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with a list of consultative questions. The Government will consider carefully the views expressed on a number of issues raised in the report in deciding how best to proceed.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which part of the budget of the Europe Union provides funds for the Soul Programme; how much is devoted to it; by whom it is administered; and what programmes in the United Kingdom it supports. [76773]
Ms Hewitt:
I am unaware of any programme by this name.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the adoption of the euro would involve the physical movement of any proportion of UK gold reserves to the European Central Bank. [77543]
Ms Hewitt:
In accordance with Article 30 of the ESCB Statute and paragraph 10(b) of Protocol No.11 to the EC Treaty, if the UK joined the single currency, the Bank of England would be required to contribute to the foreign reserve assets of the ECB. The Bank of England would be credited by the ECB with a claim equivalent to its contribution, which would be remunerated. The ECB has the right to hold and manage the foreign reserve assets that are transferred to it, but physical movements is not necessary for these purposes.
Mr. Whittingdale:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with Action with Communities in Rural England on a VAT refund scheme for building projects which have received grant aid from public funds; and if he will make a statement. [78286]
Dawn Primarolo:
ACRE made representations in November 1997 to the first phase of the Review of Charity Taxation. These, along with 3,000 other replies, were analysed and informed the Review's consultation document which was published on Budget Day.
Mr. Whittingdale:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the outcome of discussions about the proposed withholding tax at the ECOFIN meeting on 15 March; and if he will make a statement. [78204]
Dawn Primarolo:
The Commission gave an informal progress report on its discussions with third countries on adoption of equivalent measures in relation to payments of interest to Community residents. There was no general discussion of the draft Directive on taxation of savings, and no decisions were taken.
Mr. Whittingdale:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the charging of VAT on repairs and improvements to village halls; and if he will make a statement. [78288]
24 Mar 1999 : Column: 262
Dawn Primarolo:
There is no scope for VAT relief on Village halls under the EC Sixth VAT Directive. Therefore their repair and maintenance is subject to VAT at the standard rate.
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