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Disability Benefits
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received from hon. Members with regard to constituents who had been awarded disability benefit for life but have subsequently had it withdrawn or downgraded; and if he will make a statement. [121927]
Mr. Bayley: Prior to 12 January 2000 the legislation that applied to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) allowed awards to be made for life or for a limited period. Although some awards were therefore given "for life", this terminology was misleading because the law has always allowed for awards of DLA to be altered where, for example:
(a) a person's care or mobility needs had increased or reduced;
(b) there had either been a mistake, or ignorance regarding the relevant facts; or
(c) there had been an error of law.
These rules are the same as those that apply to changes of almost all Social Security benefits. However the "life award" terminology in DLA was in this respect anomalous and created uncertainty. As a result, many representations were received from hon. Members on behalf of constituents who had been given life awards which were subsequently withdrawn or downgraded.
To help clarify the nature of these awards, references to awards made for life were removed from the legislation by the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999, and replaced with the words "indefinite award".
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This made the language used consistent with that which applies to other benefits. This change was welcomed by the Social Security Select Committee in its third report of the 1998-99 session.
Although the terminology has been changed to help clarify the situation, indefinite awards are made in the same circumstances in which a life award would previously be made. The rules that apply when an indefinite award is altered are the same that applied to life awards.
TREASURY
Tax (People over 65)
Mr. Portillo: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of tax revenues have been paid by people aged 65 years and above in each year since 1979. [121015]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 5 May 2000]: It is possible to provide reliable and appropriate estimates only for income tax and capital gains tax, and only for years after 1990-91 following the introduction of independent taxation. The estimates are given in the table.
| Year | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 1990-91 | 9.2 |
| 1991-92 | 9.1 |
| 1992-93 | 8.3 |
| 1993-94 | 7.5 |
| 1994-95 | 8.1 |
| 1995-96 | 7.9 |
| 1996-97 | 7.7 |
| 1997-98(7) | 8.2 |
| 1998-99(7) | 8.4 |
| 1999-2000(7) | 7.6 |
(7) Provisional
The estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes, the capital gains tax assessments and Self Assessment extracts. The provisional estimates are consistent with the March 2000 Budget.
Mr. Portillo: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of increasing the age-related personal allowance for people aged (a) 65 to 74 years and (b) 75 years and over by (i) £500, (ii) £1,000, (iii) £1,500 and (iv) £2,000; and how many people would cease to pay income tax in each case. [121017]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 5 May 2000]: The costs and effects of raising the age-related personal allowances in 2000-01 are shown in the tables:
| Increasing personal allowance by | £500 | £1,000 | £1,500 | £2,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| for 65-74s | -150 | -310 | -450 | -600 |
| for 75s and over | -100 | -190 | -270 | -350 |
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| Increasing personal allowances by | £500 | £1,000 | £1,500 | £2,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| for 65-74s | -170 | -310 | -450 | -600 |
| for 75s and over | -130 | -240 | -330 | -400 |
The estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes and consistent with the March 2000 Budget.
Carbon Dioxide
Mr. Jack: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the carbon dioxide which will be saved by his proposals for (a) general vehicle excise duty and (b) company car taxation. [120286]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 2 May 2000]: As indicated in table 6.2 of the 2000 Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report, the reforms to company car taxation (and general vehicle excise duty) announced by the Chancellor in the recent Budget are expected to result in emission savings of up to 1.0 million tonnes of carbon (MtC) by 2010.
ECOFIN
Mr. Hood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the outcome of the ECOFIN Council held in Brussels on 8 May; and if he will make a statement. [121571]
Miss Melanie Johnson: I attended the meeting of the Economic and Finance Council of Ministers on 8 May.
The Council agreed Exceptional Financial Assistance for Montenegro in the form of a 20 million euro grant. This must come from within the existing category IV ceiling.
The Council broadly welcomed the Commission's report on the implementation of the 1999 Broad Economic Policy Guidelines (BEPGs) and the Commission recommendation for the 2000 BEPGs.
The Commission presented its priorities for the 2001 EC Budget. Most Finance Ministers, myself included, rejected proposals to revise the financial perspectives.
The Council reached a political agreement on the amended proposal for a directive on the reorganisation and winding-up of credit institutions. The directive will be adopted once it is clear of all scrutiny reserves, and the final formalities are completed.
The Council agreed and published an opinion on the update to the Austrian stability programme for 2000-03.
The Council took note of a Commission presentation of its strategy to improve the operation of the VAT system.
Banana Dispute
Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on tax revenues to the Exchequer of the banana dispute between the EU and the US. [121710]
Miss Melanie Johnson: No estimate has been made.
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Climate Change Levy
Mr. Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the arrangements whereby rebate on the climate change levy will be made available to the horticulture industry. [121773]
Mr. Timms: The administrative arrangements for the repayment of climate change levy to horticultural users will be included in regulations to be published later this year.
Mr. Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Government will announce the kind of financial incentives they propose to make available to those companies that agree to take on binding emission targets. [R] [121772]
Mr. Timms: In the recent Budget, the Government announced that they see merit in the case put forward by the business led Emissions Trading Group (ETG) that some form of financial incentive will be required for companies to take on binding emission targets that generate additional emission reductions.
Since the Budget, the Government have continued to work closely with the ETG on the many complex issues that remain to be resolved, including the form such a financial incentive might take. Further announcements on financial incentives will depend on the progress the ETG and the Government can make in dealing with these outstanding issues.
Mr. Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how individual companies in the horticulture sector may apply for rebates for the Climate Change Levy; and on what basis such rebate will be made. [121774]
Mr. Timms: The administrative arrangements for the repayment of climate change levy to horticultural users will be included in regulations to be published later this year.
The basis for the rebate is set out in paragraph 41 of Schedule 6 to the Finance Bill.
EU (UK Contribution)
Mr. Gill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the authority is for payment of the UK's contribution to the EU; and how the amount is calculated. [121810]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Authority for payment of UK contributions to the EU is contained in the EC (Finance) Act 1995. Contributions are calculated in accordance with the Decision of the Council of the European Communities on the system of the Communities' Own Resources (31 October 1994). Further information on the Own Resources system can be found at Section E: Community Revenue of the White Paper European Community Finances (Cm 4382).
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