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New Deal (Young People)
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of all participants finding subsidised or unsubsidised work through the New Deal for Young People have found employment with (a) public sector employers and (b) private sector employers; and if he will make a statement on the relationship between these figures and Government targets. [79824]
Mr. Andrew Smith: To the end of January 1999, 14,000 clients had entered Subsidised Employment. The split of the jobs was 12 private sector jobs for each public sector job.
A comparable split cannot be provided for the 62,300 unsubsidised job starts as categorisation is available only by standard industrial classification, and then only for ES placings.
We have not set targets for the numbers of young people placed in the public or private sector, but have indicated that we would not expect the proportion moving into public sector jobs to exceed the share of public sector jobs available for the work force as a whole.
Mr. Kidney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action he has taken to (a) increase the accountability of Ofsted school inspectors and (b) reduce unnecessary apprehension by teachers about inspections since 1 May 1997. [81651]
Ms Estelle Morris:
We have agreed a number of changes with HM Chief Inspector of Schools since 1 May 1997 to improve the quality, consistency and value for money of the school inspection system. Those changes are contributing to increased accountability of school inspectors and should enable teachers to approach inspections with greater confidence. The changes include a reduction in the notice given for inspections from two terms to 6-10 weeks and short inspections for the most effective schools. The changes were widely welcomed in consultation. I have asked the Chief Inspector, Chris Woodhead, to write to my hon. Friend with further details of the changes and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.
Company Cars (Mileage)
Mr. Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many company cars travelled (a) more and (b) less than 18,500 miles in the last year for which figures are available. [81266]
Ms Hewitt
[holding answer 19 April 1999]: Annual mileage data are collected only for drivers whose company cars are available for private use. According to the latest National Travel Survey, there were an estimated 925,000 company car drivers whose total mileage was at least 18,500 miles per annum. This compares to 675,000 company car drivers whose total annual mileage was less than 18,500 miles per annum.
26 Apr 1999 : Column: 56
Mr. Sutcliffe:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exch equer if he will make a statement about the proposed arrangements for transferring people from disability working allowance to the disabled persons tax credit. [79767]
Dawn Primarolo
[holding answer 19 April 1999]: Recipients of Disability Working Allowance whose awards run out after the introduction of the Disabled Persons Tax Credit will be sent claim packs for the new tax credit in the same way that they would formerly have been sent a claim pack for renewal of their benefit.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Secretary of State for Defence in respect of an increase in the defence budget. [81659]
Mr. Milburn
[holding answer 22 April 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and I are keeping the additional costs of the Kosovo operation under close scrutiny.
Mr. Hawkins:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes there have been to numbers of HM Customs and Excise staff at Heathrow Airport since 1 May 1997 involved in investigations relating to drugs or other illegal items. [80986]
Dawn Primarolo:
In May 1997, the number of HM Customs and Excise investigators based at Heathrow was 65. Since then, including a number of transfers of staff resulting from the closure of an office in Reading, the number has risen to 99. These staff deal with investigations relating to drugs, other prohibited goods and other customs and VAT frauds.
Mr. William Ross:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many litres of (i) petrol and (ii) diesel oil duty was paid in each quarter in each of the last three years and the current year up to 31 March, in respect of such fuels sold in Northern Ireland by (a) retailers and (b) wholesalers. [82196]
Ms Hewitt:
Figures are shown in the table for total deliveries of petrol and diesel into Northern Ireland. There are no separate figures available for retailers and wholesalers. Figures for the first quarter of 1999 will not be available until towards the end of May.
Source:
Department of Trade and Industry
26 Apr 1999 : Column: 57
VAT Registration Threshold
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the real terms percentage increase in the VAT registration threshold since 1 May 1997. [81702]
Dawn Primarolo: The percentage increase in the VAT registration threshold in real terms since 1 May 1997 is 2 per cent.
Public Sector Cash Requirement
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the public sector net cash requirement for (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-2000, (c) 2000-01, (d) 2001-02, (e) 2002-03 and (f) 2003-04. [81703]
Mr. Milburn: Figures published by the Office for National Statistics on 20 April showed a public sector net cash repayment of £7.4 billion in 1998-99. Forecasts of the public sector net cash requirement were published in table B26 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report.
EU Tobacco Taxes
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in euros the value of the tax and duty imposed on (a) 100 grammes of rolling tobacco and (b) 200 cigarettes in each EU member state. [81723]
Dawn Primarolo: The information is shown in the table.
Source: European Commission (Directorate General XXI) Excise Duty Tables (December 1998)
26 Apr 1999 : Column: 58
Income Tax
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances families with children and earnings of less than £235 a week will pay net income tax. [81724]
Dawn Primarolo: The Chancellor announced in his Budget Statement that the minimum income guarantee under the WFTC to every family with children and with full-time earnings would increase to £200 a week. He also said that no such family earning less than £235 a week would pay any net income tax from October 1999.
Family Incomes
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the weekly family disposable income, after tax, national insurance, child benefit and maintenance payments are taken into account of (i) a lone parent with two children under 11 in receipt of maintenance payments of £40 a week, (ii) a lone parent with two children under 11 not in receipt of maintenance payments, (iii) a single-earner married couple with two children under 11 and (iv) a two earner married couple with two children under 11 earning in each case (a) £150 a week and (b) £250 a week and where the incomes of the two-earner couple are split in the ratio 80:20. [81726]
Dawn Primarolo: The available information, which shows weekly disposable (net) income after tax (including Child Benefit and Working Families Tax Credit), National Insurance Contributions and maintenance payments at the specified levels of earnings, is given in the table. The figures are shown for 1999-2000 and take account of all changes announced in the 1998 and 1999 Budgets which come into force in 1999-2000.
From October 1999 the WFTC will provide help with child care costs. The child care tax credit will be worth 70 per cent. of eligible child care costs, subject to maximum child care costs of £100 a week for families with one child and £150 a week for families with two or more children. To ensure that parents with older and disabled children also benefit, the age limits on children for whom parents can claim help with child care costs will be raised to 14, and for disabled children up to age 16.
26 Apr 1999 : Column: 59
| Gross income | Net income | |
|---|---|---|
| Lone Parent with 2 children under 11 in receipt of £40 pw maintenance payments | 150.00 | 276.77 |
| 250.00 | 306.92 | |
| Lone Parent with 2 children under 11 not in receipt of maintenance payments | 150.00 | 236.77 |
| 250.00 | 266.92 | |
| Single Earner Married Couple with 2 children under 11 | 150.00 | 236.77 |
| 250.00 | 266.92 | |
| Two Earner Married Couple with 2 children under 11 (income split 80:20) | 150.00 | 241.22 |
| 250.00 | 274.34 |
Notes:
1. Income tax payments are calculated on the basis that the households receive no tax reliefs other than the standard allowances and have income only from employment. All earners, including wives, are assumed to pay Class 1 national insurance contributions at the contracted-in rate.
2. Child Benefit is treated as negative income tax.
3. WFTC calculations assume no child care costs.
4. Lone parents are assumed to be new claimants after April 1998.
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