Previous Section Index Home Page


Single Currency

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money has been spent by the European Union on the changeover to the euro to date; and what has been the cost of the information campaign. [128112]

3 Jul 2000 : Column: 100W

Miss Melanie Johnson: Information on changeover planning in the first wave is contained in the Second Outline National Changeover Plan, published on 9 March 2000.

Public Service Agreements

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if public service agreement targets will be set for each indicator in the publication "Quality of Life Counts". [128099]

Mr. Andrew Smith: The indicators in "Quality of Life Counts" will be an important benchmark against which progress in key areas of sustainable development can be assessed. The Government will publish new Public Service Agreements as part of the outcome of the 2000 Spending Review in July. These PSAs will include targets for improvement in many of the areas contributing to progress against the indicators in "Quality of Life Counts". Some of the wider indicators may be more appropriately related to departmental aims and objectives.

Pensioners (Taxation)

Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate (a) the pre-tax income and (b) the taxable income needed by a married couple aged 65 with full basic state retirement pension and extra pension paid to one person (i) with and (ii) without an individual's tax allowance of dividend income, which would be required to incur an income tax liability of £5,000 in (A) this financial year, (B) 2001-02 and (C) in each of the last four financial years. [128114]

Dawn Primarolo: An individual's income tax liability depends on the levels of income of different types that he or she receives and the tax reliefs due. A husband and wife are each taxed on their individual income.

Dividends paid on or after 6 April 1999 are taxed at 10 per cent. below the basic rate limit and carry a tax credit of 10 per cent. which meets that liability. From 1996-97 to that date, they were taxed at the lower rate of 20 per cent., with a 20 per cent. tax credit.