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TREASURY

Health Care Expenditure

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each year from 1979 to date the percentage of GDP spent by the United Kingdom on (a) public healthcare, (b) private healthcare and (c) total healthcare; and if he will make a statement. [84858]

Mr. Milburn: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development produces figures for public and total healthcare spending in member countries. Figures for the UK over the period requested are set out in the table. Private healthcare expenditure is taken as the difference between public and total healthcare expenditure.

YearTotal healthcare expenditure as a percentage of GDPPublic healthcare expenditure as a percentage of GDPPrivate healthcare expenditure as a percentage of GDP
19795.34.70.6
19805.65.00.6
19815.95.30.6
19825.85.10.7
19836.05.20.8
19845.95.20.7
19855.95.00.9
19865.95.00.9
19875.95.00.9
19885.84.90.9
19895.84.90.9
19906.05.10.9
19916.55.41.1
19926.95.91.0
19936.95.81.1
19946.95.81.1
19956.95.81.1
19966.95.81.1
19976.75.71.0

Source:

OECD health databank 1998


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Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative

Ms Jenny Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to support Oxfam's proposal of a human development window when reviewing the working of the HIPC initiative at the G8 summit. [85539]

Ms Hewitt: The Government's policy on debt relief was set out in a recent memorandum to the Select Committee for International Development. In that memorandum the Government emphasised the need to strengthen the link between debt relief and poverty reduction.

Debt Management Office

Ms Lawrence: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the UK Debt Management Office's targets for 1999-2000. [86304]

Ms Hewitt: The DMO's targets for 1999-2000 are set out as follows, together with the outturn against the equivalent targets for 1998-99. The DMO is today also publishing its Corporate Overview and Business Plan for 1999-2000. I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library.








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    7. To ensure that the qualifications that the NAO have made in respect of the Gilt-Edged Official Operations Account are satisfactorily addressed in the running and presentation of the Debt Management Account. [Same target in 1998-99.]

Birth Certificates

Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those purposes for which his Department and its executive agencies require a birth certificate to be furnished by (i) employees, contractors or those applying for employment of contracts, and (ii) other persons. [85823]

Ms Hewitt: Each of the Chancellor's departments and agencies (HM Treasury, HM Customs and Excise, Inland Revenue, National Savings, Office for National Statistics, Royal Mint, Government Actuary, Debt Management Office and Valuation Office Agency) requires, as part of the Basic Check on new employees, some evidence of identity, age (for pensions purposes), and of the right to work in the UK. Such evidence depends upon whether or not the applicant is a UK or EC national but might be provided from a combination of different documents including a full British passport, P45, valid British driving licence, birth certificate, proof of residence at a given address, etc., or (where relevant) a full EC or other national passport; an identity card issued by an EC country; or other proof of immigration status and/or the right to work. Employees are also required to produce their birth certificate when undergoing Developed Vetting procedures (required when they will have constant access to Top Secret information and assets). Most departments also require contractors to make checks similar to the Basic Check on their employees. Birth certificates, as a means of identity, are not required to be furnished by other persons.

Personal Service Companies

Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if information on certified agencies and other clients of personal service companies will be available through EDI to enable recruitment consultancies and others to check on a company's status; [86188]

8 Jun 1999 : Column: 287

Dawn Primarolo: The rules will not be finalised until consultation on the proposals is complete. The Inland Revenue will meet with representative bodies in June and are considering written representations from individuals. I have asked the Inland Revenue to publish details of the new rules in as near final form as possible, along with comprehensive guidance on the application of the rules, at the earliest possible stage.

Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how VAT will be applied to non-certified agencies supplying personal services when they have paid income tax and national insurance. [86182]

Dawn Primarolo: The VAT position of non-certified agencies will not be affected by the Inland Revenue proposals. VAT will continue to be due on the full value of the supplies made by the agencies, including income tax and national insurance deducted by the client.

Stability Pact Targets (Italy)

Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in which forum European Finance Ministers modified stability pact targets in relation to Italy. [85894]

Ms Hewitt: The 25 May ECOFIN agreed a draft text of the Board Economic Guidelines for Italy which reflects the possibility of lower than forecast growth in 1999 impacting on Italy's deficit.


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