---

Parliamentary Questions

Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on how many occasions he deposited papers in the Library in response to parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000. [127101]

Mr. Rooker: We have answered 1,815 parliamentary questions between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000. Papers were deposited in the Library in response to 40 parliamentary questions.

TREASURY

Council Tax Exemptions

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will issue guidelines to universities and local authorities on the issuing of exemption certificates for council tax eligibility for intercalating students; and if he will make a statement. [124696]

Ms Beverley Hughes [holding answer 15 June 2000]: I have been asked to reply.

Those undertaking a period of intercalation, who remain enrolled at the educational establishment, may continue to qualify as students for council tax purposes. Guidance was issued to this effect to all local authorities on 29 April 1996. We have no evidence to suggest there is a need to issue further guidance at this time. However, we continue to keep the operation of council tax under review and will issue further guidance should the need arise.

Parliamentary Questions

Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions he deposited papers

21 Jun 2000 : Column: 214W

in the Library in response to parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000. [127104]

Mr. Timms: The information is not held in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, in replying to parliamentary questions Treasury Ministers often place documents in the Library of the House for the information of Members.

Vocational Training

Mr. Willis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to specify the vocational training courses that will qualify for tax relief. [126809]

Mr. Timms: I assume the hon. Member is referring to the new Individual Learning Account framework being introduced shortly by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and in Scotland by the Scottish Ministers. Clause 57 of the Finance Bill provides that employees will not be taxable on any financial contribution which their employers may make towards the cost of an eligible learning course for which a Government grant may be payable. The range of training which can qualify will be a matter for the Department for Education and Employment and devolved administrations, but I can confirm that it will be a very wide range.

Mr. Willis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the saving to the Exchequer that will result from the removal of tax relief for vocational training costs from students. [126808]

Mr. Timms: As the Chancellor made clear in his 1999 Budget statement, the savings from the removal of Vocational Training Relief (VTR), as set out in Table A2.1 of the FSBR 2000--will help pay for the Government grants and discounts that can be claimed under the coming Individual Learning Account scheme. The Government are making available £150 million in grants and discounts up to April 2002. In addition we are introducing in the Finance Bill a tax exemption for employees on employer contributions towards these learning accounts; the estimated Exchequer cost of this exemption is £10 million in a full year.

Working Families Tax Credit

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government are taking to publicise the working families tax credit in Northern Ireland. [125496]

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Elmet (Mr. Burgon) on 9 February 2000, Official Report, column 215W.

Mr. Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many lone parents are benefiting from the working families tax credit. [126866]

Dawn Primarolo: The number of families in receipt of working families tax credit at the end of April 2000 is provisionally estimated at 1,053,000. Of these, it is estimated that 542,000 were headed by lone parents.

21 Jun 2000 : Column: 215W

Mr. Davidson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much is spent annually on the working families tax credit; and how much would be spent if the national minimum wage were raised to five pounds per hour. [125111]

Dawn Primarolo: Table C12 in the March 2000 Financial Statement and Budget Report shows estimated and projected expenditure on the working families tax credit (WFTC) and the disabled person's tax credit (DPTC).

It is not possible to estimate accurately the potential impact of raising the minimum wage on the labour market. No reliable estimate of its effect on WFTC expenditure can therefore be provided.

Single Market

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what tax measures are needed to complete the EU single market. [126404]

Dawn Primarolo: The Government assess all EU tax proposals on their merits, including whether they assist the effective functioning of the single market.

Customs and Excise (Liverpool)

Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed in the location and operation of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in Liverpool. [126437]

Dawn Primarolo: It is for the Chairman and the Management Committee of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to determine where best to place Customs operations in order to discharge its various responsibilities. I understand that there are no major changes currently planned in the location of Customs and Excise in Liverpool, but changing demands and work patterns mean that the management would be failing in its responsibilities if it did not keep the position constantly under review.

Sea Tax Rebates

Mr. Wigley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on sea tax rebates. [124198]

Dawn Primarolo: I assume that the right hon. Member is referring to the Tonnage Tax. The Government's proposals on tonnage tax are set out in schedule 22 of this year's Finance Bill.

Pesticides Tax

Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) representations the Treasury has received and (b) meetings he has held on the proposed pesticides tax with (i) the British Agrochemicals Association, (ii) UKASTA, (iii) NOAH, (iv) the National Farmers' Union, (v) the Country Landowners' Association and (vi) agrochemical companies, giving the name of each company, including the dates and duration of the meetings. [126900]

Mr. Timms: Ministers and officials have had numerous meetings with representatives of the agrochemicals industry, agriculture and environmental non-Government organisations, and received a number of representations on

21 Jun 2000 : Column: 216W

a possible pesticides tax and on a voluntary package of measures to reduce the environmental impact of pesticides use.

The Government are currently consulting on a formal set of voluntary proposals which have been published by the British Agrochemicals Association. The Government welcome the views of all interested parties on these proposals and their effectiveness in tackling the environmental impacts of pesticide use.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Wormwood Scrubs Prison

Mr. Darvill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons will publish his report into his follow-up inspection of Her Majesty's Prison Wormwood Scrubs of 7 to 17 February. [127381]

Mr. Straw: Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons' report of his unannounced inspection is being published today. Copies have been made available in the Library and the Vote Office.

I made a statement to the House on 28 June 1999, Official Report, columns 21-33, on the report of an unannounced full inspection of Wormwood Scrubs prison that had taken place in March 1999. That report made deeply disturbing reading. Sir David's inspection had taken place against the background of criminal investigations into allegations that a number of members of staff at Wormwood Scrubs had assaulted prisoners. Sir David and his team of inspectors had found the overall treatment of prisoners was profoundly unsatisfactory.

In my statement last year, I said that I had made it absolutely clear to the Director General of the Prison Service that change must be delivered at Wormwood Scrubs. I expected a robust action plan to be put in place quickly, and I expected the majority of Sir David's recommendations to be accepted and implemented. I reported that I had asked Sir David Ramsbotham to carry out a further inspection in six months' time and that I would report the result to the House.

The Chief Inspector returned to Wormwood Scrubs between 7 and 17 February this year, and his report of that inspection is published today. He found Wormwood Scrubs much improved from his previous visit. Change had taken place, and life for prisoners had improved. Prisoners felt safer, and their relationships with staff were better. Health care was radically improved, education had been expanded and, together with employment, could attract most prisoners into purposeful activity.

The extent of the changes required, including substantial cultural change, inevitably takes time. Nevertheless, the chief inspector found that a promising start had been made and real improvements had already been delivered. The report makes 99 recommendations for further improvement, but encouragingly identifies 12 examples of good practice.

I should like to pay tribute to all those who have contributed to this change. Senior managers at Prison Service headquarters have given the establishment both leadership and support. The Governor and his management

21 Jun 2000 : Column: 217W

team have tackled the problems at Wormwood Scrubs with determination and commitment, and their legitimate authority has been restored. It also gives me great pleasure to commend the staff of Wormwood Scrubs for what has been achieved. This time last year, there were serious concerns as to whether or not the Prison Officers' Association would co-operate fully with what needed to be done. Sir David notes the determination of the vast majority of staff in the prison to see Wormwood Scrubs restored to a place of excellence, known for the high quality of the treatment of and conditions for its prisoners.

Staff at Wormwood Scrubs still face a difficult time. A number of staff are still suspended from duty in connection with the investigations into the allegations of assault. I understand that the first criminal trials are likely to start in the next few weeks, and this will bring further unwelcome attention on everyone connected with the establishment. Nevertheless, today's report shows how much has already been achieved in the face of these sorts of difficulties, and with Sir David Ramsbotham I am optimistic that the programme of improvement will be continued and completed at Wormwood Scrubs. I am still keeping the option of market-testing open, but believe that this report shows the kind of rapid progress I had hoped for.

---