| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Select Committee Reports
Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answers of 16 March 1999, Official Report, columns 641-42 and 19 March 1999, Official Report, column 857, for what reasons he did not provide the information requested about his (a) political advisers, (b) officials and (c) Ministers. [78528]
Mr. Leigh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 22 March 1999, Official Report, column 101, for what reason he did not provide the information requested relating to the receipt by his parliamentary private secretary of the draft report of the Social Security Committee. [79193]
Mr. Gordon Brown [holding answers 25 and 29 March 1999]: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave on 16 March 1999, Official Report, columns 641-42, which gives a detailed account of the position.
Public Opinion Polls
Mr. Kenneth Clarke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a full report of the questions asked and answers given in all the public opinion polls commissioned by the Treasury since 1 May 1997; and if he will make a statement on the policy objective of commissioning public opinion polls. [72026]
Ms Hewitt [holding answer 22 February 1999]: The Government are committed to providing modern public services which are responsive to the needs of the public. Although the Treasury undertakes various public opinion research, this is usually in the form of business and economic surveys. The Treasury has not commissioned specific public opinion polls since 1 May 1997.
Limbless Association
Mr. Colman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if tax relief under the Millennium Gift Aid scheme is available in respect of the services provided by the Limbless Association in the UK. [79549]
Ms Hewitt:
The Millennium Gift Aid scheme is for donations to UK charities to support education and anti-poverty projects in the world's poorest countries. Donations to support services provided in the UK would generally not qualify.
30 Mar 1999 : Column: 668
I am unable to comment on a particular organisation's tax affairs.
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the recent report of the Financial Services Agency on millennium compliance; and if he will make a statement. [79385]
Ms Hewitt:
As the FSA has made clear, the primary responsibility for ensuring high levels of Year 2000 preparedness lies with the industry itself. But the FSA regards the issue as a major supervisory priority. It recently made public, on an aggregated basis, its assessment of the state of readiness in financial institutions. The UK financial services sector is generally regarded as a leader in working towards Year 2000 preparedness. Within that overall picture, though, a small number of firms appears to be less ready than others. The FSA has challenged these firms either to show that this assessment is out of date or rapidly produce a plan for remedial action. It has also made clear that--where there is no better way to protect depositors, investors or policyholders or the integrity of markets--it will take supervisory action.
The decisions on whether to take such action are the statutory responsibility of the FSA, though the Treasury will continue to liaise closely with them.
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will establish a review of the estimated £1.5 billion of mis-sold endowment mortgages on the same basis as the recent pensions mis-selling review. [79187]
Ms Hewitt:
The Financial Services Authority has confirmed that it is currently gathering information with a view to considering if such a review is necessary.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what duties Mr. Charlie Whelan has undertaken for Treasury Ministers since 4 January; [79000]
Mr. Gordon Brown:
Mr. Whelan resigned from the Treasury with effect from 13 January. Since then he has not undertaken any duties for Treasury Ministers.
Mr. Redwood:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the impact on employment of a 5 per cent. increase in the value of the pound against the euro, assuming no other changes of policy or external circumstance over a two-year period. [79213]
Ms Hewitt:
Assuming that the exchange rate were to increase with all other things remaining equal, there would tend to be a depressing effect on output, employment, and inflation in the short term. However, this is a wholly artificial assumption, not least because the Bank of England is required to set interest rates to hit a symmetrical inflation target.
30 Mar 1999 : Column: 669
Mr. Whittingdale:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many property transactions worth (a) over £250,000 and (b) over £500,000 took place in 1998; and how many of these related to (i) commercial property, (ii) domestic property and (iii) intellectual property; [79045]
30 Mar 1999 : Column: 670
Ms Hewitt:
Information on stamp duty revenue is normally presented on a financial year basis. Provisional estimates for 1998-99 are given in the table.
30 Mar 1999 : Column: 669
(2) how many times Mr. Charlie Whelan has visited HM Treasury since 4 January. [79003]
(2) what proportion of stamp duty revenue from property transactions worth (a) over £250,000 and (b) over £500,000 in 1998 related to (i) domestic property, (ii) commercial property and (iii) intellectual property. [79044]
| Price Band | Number (24) of transactions (thousands) | Net (25) receipts (£ million) | Proportion (26) of net receipts % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transactions over £250,000 but not over £500,000 | |||
| Residential transactions | 40 | 245 | 80 |
| Commercial property and land transactions | 10 | 65 | 20 |
| Total | 45 | 310 | 100 |
| Transactions over £500,000 | |||
| Residential transactions | 5 | 215 | 20 |
| Commercial property and land transactions | 10 | 825 | 80 |
| Total | 15 | 1,040 | 100 |
| All transactions over £250,000 | |||
| Residential transactions | 45 | 460 | 35 |
| Commercial property and land transactions | 20 | 890 | 65 |
| Total | 65 | 1,350 | 100 |
(24) Transactions rounded to the nearest 5,000. Figures are rounded individually and may not sum to the totals shown.
(25) Net receipts rounded to the nearest £5 million.
(26) Proportions rounded to the nearest 5 per cent.
30 Mar 1999 : Column: 669
It is estimated that stamp duty on transactions of intellectual property amount to about £5 million in 1998-99 from about 2,000 transactions. No further details are available on such transactions.
Special Advisers
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the total number of occasions when (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2 May 1997. [76821]
Ms Hewitt:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Chancellor to the hon. Member for Chesham
30 Mar 1999 : Column: 670
and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) on 22 October 1998, Official Report, column 1200. All arrangements for overseas travel by Treasury Special Advisers are consistent with the requirements set out in the Ministerial Code.
Shona McIsaac:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if people eligible for the working families tax credit will receive free prescriptions. [78311]
Mrs. Roche:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Paymaster General to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 15 March 1999, Official Report, column 517.