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Spending Review
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his statement of 18 July 2000, Official Report, columns 219-44, on the Spending Review, and the document entitled "Prudent for a Purpose", Cm 4807, page 32, how he defines productivity for the purpose of his target of raising productivity; if his measure of gross domestic product per capita will incorporate regional price information; and if he will make a statement. [132248]
Mr. Timms: There are two measures of productivity for the purposes of the target concerned. One is output per worker, the other is output per hours worked. The source for both of these is the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita for the UK expressed in real terms is estimated using price information which is collected from a wide range of consumer outlets and businesses, chosen to ensure that prices from all parts of the UK are represented.
Monetary Policy Committee
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 17 July 2000, Official Report, columns 98-99W, what representations he has received this year concerning new appointments to the Monetary Policy Committee; if he will publish the
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terms of reference that are used to draw up shortlists for appointments to the Monetary Policy Committee; and if he will make a statement. [131951]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The criteria for the appointment of external members of the MPC are set out in section 13(4) of the Bank of England Act 1998.
Stock Exchanges (Stamp Duty)
Mr. David Heath: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the level of stamp duty payable on transactions at the stock exchanges in (a) London, (b) New York, (c) Frankfurt, (d) Amsterdam, (e) Zurich, (f) Milan, (g) Madrid and (h) Paris. [131918]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Transfers of shares in UK-registered companies are subject to UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (SDRT) wherever they are traded. Shares in non-UK companies may be traded in the UK without incurring UK stamp duties. The rate of stamp duty/SDRT on transfers of UK shares is 0.5 per cent.
The information on the taxes imposed by other jurisdictions is available from:
- The Inventory of EU Taxes (16th Edition)
- Taxation of Individuals in Europe (International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation)
- The United States State Tax Handbook.
HIPC
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the UK's unilateral debt cancellation initiative has been paid by (a) the Treasury and (b) Department for International Development. [132289]
Miss Melanie Johnson: As the Department responsible for public spending in support of development, of which HIPC debt relief is a major element, the funding for debt relief is provided by the Department for International Development. Additional resources have been included in the Department for International Development's budget for the costs of debt relief.
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the UK's contribution to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Trust Fund is (a) from the Treasury budget and (b) from the Department for International Development budget. [132290]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The UK has pledged over $350 million to the HIPC Trust Fund. As the Department responsible for public spending in support of development, of which HIPC debt relief is a major element, the funding for debt relief is provided by the Department for International Development.
ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS
Roads
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much was allocated for road infrastructure in England and Wales in
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(a) each year from 1993-94 to 2000-01 and (b) such future years for which information is available; and what proportion of that spending will be for funding PFI in each year. [130980]
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Mr. Hill [holding answer 17 July 2000]: The table shows the figures for England between 1993-94 and 2003-04. Funding for road infrastructure in Wales is the responsibility of the National Assembly.
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| National roads | PFI content | Local roads | PFI content | London roads | Total | PFI content | Percentage PFI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 2,062 | -- | 2,139 | -- | (1)-- | 4,201 | -- | -- |
| 1994-95 | 2,038 | -- | 2,485 | -- | (1)-- | 4,523 | -- | -- |
| 1995-96 | 1,760 | -- | 2,468 | -- | (1)-- | 4,228 | -- | -- |
| 1996-97 | 1,573 | -- | 2,372 | -- | (1)-- | 3,945 | -- | -- |
| 1997-98 | 1,483 | -- | 2,342 | -- | (1)-- | 3,825 | -- | -- |
| 1998-99 | 1,355 | -- | 2,313 | -- | (1)-- | 3,668 | -- | -- |
| 1999-2000 | 1,396 | -- | 2,206 | -- | (1)-- | 3,602 | -- | -- |
| 2000-01 | 1,396 | -- | 2,420 | -- | (1)-- | 3,816 | -- | -- |
| 2001-02 | 1,632 | 206 | 2,386 | 59 | 495 | 4,512 | 265 | 6 |
| 2002-03 | 1,803 | 220 | 2,504 | 103 | 633 | 4,940 | 323 | 7 |
| 2003-04 | 1,925 | 239 | 2,672 | 153 | 707 | 5,304 | 392 | 7 |
(1) n/a
Notes:
1. Figures include new construction, improvements and maintenance.
2. Before 2001-02, London figures are included in national or local roads as appropriate.
3. The London provision is notional. Actual expenditure is at the discretion of the Mayor.
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Mersey Partnership
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what studies he has (a) undertaken and (b) evaluated on the sustainability of funding to the Mersey Partnership from the public sector; [131727]
- (2) what value for money assessment he has made of the public sector contributions to the Mersey Partnership. [131729]
Ms Beverley Hughes: There have been no individual studies undertaken to look at the value for money and sustainability of funding to the Mersey Partnership from the public sector. For each Objective 1 bid a full appraisal has been undertaken which include assessments of value for money and the level of public sector contributions. Also, the Mersey Partnership's performance has been monitored primarily on a quarterly basis as Objective 1 claims are submitted; and a separate but connected process has been established for monitoring the use of the Merseyside Development Corporation's residual funding. In addition, the Regional Director of Government Office for the North West has been a member of the Mersey Partnership Board which is provided with quarterly progress reports.
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Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect of the expenditure of public funds by the Mersey Partnership in each of the last five years. [131726]
Ms Beverley Hughes: Government Office for the north west undertakes an assessment of progress against agreed outputs for the Mersey Partnership's Objective 1 funded activities each quarter. The latest claim was received at the beginning of June and the Mersey Partnership appear to be on course to meet all the outputs by 31 December 2000, and indeed have already surpassed some of the outputs signed up-to.
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what the sources were of public sector contributions to the Mersey Partnership in each of the last five years; [131724]
- (2) what assessment he has made of the division between public and private sector in membership contributions to the Mersey Partnership in each of the last five years. [131728]
Ms Beverley Hughes: Funding for the Mersey Partnership over the past five years has been as follows:
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| Year | Objective 1 | Merseyside development corporation contribution fund | Membership contributions | Private sector contributions | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-96 | 609 | -- | 415 | 359 | 1,383 |
| 1996-97 | 543 | -- | 415 | 388 | 1,346 |
| 1997-98 | 605 | -- | 412 | 472 | 1,489 |
| 1998-99 | 869 | 689 | 406 | 924 | 2,888 |
| 1999-2000 | 783 | (1)781 | 382 | 778 | 2,724 |
| Total | 3,409 | 1,470 | 2,030 | 2,921 | 9,830 |
(1) Residual value of fund £155,000
Notes:
1. Includes all private sector income.
2. Includes other private sector income e.g. sponsorship.
3. From 1998-99 includes all private sector income from Tourism company (including "commercial" revenues generated).
4. 1998-2000 is 15 month year for TMP and 12 month year for Tourism.
5. Membership contributions included local authorities, Merseyside TEC, English Partnership and represent voluntary contributions as part of the partnership agreement.
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Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for future public sector funding for the Mersey Partnership. [131725]
Ms Beverley Hughes: There are no specific plans as yet, but it is anticipated that the Mersey Partnership will be making an application to the new Objective 1 programme. However, any bid will be subject to the usual rigorous appraisal that takes account of value for money and the level of public sector support. Membership subscriptions received from public sector agencies are a
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matter for those organisations and they have to decide whether they are receiving value for money, although I understand most subscriptions are now underpinned by service level agreements.
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on spending under the principal expenditure headings using public funds by the Mersey Partnership in each of the last five years. [131730]
Ms Beverley Hughes: Expenditure by the Mersey Partnership over the past five years has been as follows:
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£000
| | 1999-2000 | 1998-99 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995
| Administration | 377 | 302 | 236 | 284 | 208
| Corporate Communications | 613 | 589 | -- | 49 | 367
| Investor Services | 342 | 319 | 495 | 329 | --
| Partnership Development | 162 | 25 | 126 | 78 | 76
| Research and Intelligence | 105 | 144 | -- | -- | --
| Image Promotion/Public | -- | 132 | 657 | 559 | 948
| Added Value Programmes | 369 | 129 | -- | -- | --
| Tourism | 681 | 538 | -- | -- | --
|
| Total | 2,649 | 2,178 | 1,514 | 1,299 | 1,599
| |
|---|
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| Operational ratios (Expressed as a percentage of total expenditure) | |
|---|---|
| Administrative overhead | 15.2% |
| Full unallocated establishment cost | 34.6% |
| Cost per job created (excluding tourism expenditure) | £1,172 |
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the resignation of the Chief Executive of the Mersey Partnership. [132088]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The resignation of the Chief Executive is a matter for him and the board of the Mersey Partnership. I understand the Chief Executive announced his intention to step down from the post at the end of July, and the board will appoint an interim manager until a new Chief Executive has been appointed.
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