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Fuel Tax (Farmers)

Dr. David Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the increased revenue to the Exchequer if diesel fuel supplied to farmers were taxed at the rate of other diesel fuel. [135277]

Mr. Timms [holding answer 30 October 2000]: It is not possible to estimate accurately the revenue impact of increasing the rate of duty applied to diesel fuel used by farmers because there are no estimates of the amount of fuel used in vehicles covered by paragraphs 2 to 5 of Schedule 1 to Hydrocarbon Oils Duties Act 1979.

Dr. David Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount of fuel taxed at a lower rate for farmers which was sold in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [135278]

Mr. Timms [holding answer 30 October 2000]: There are no estimates of the amount of fuel used in vehicles covered by paragraphs 2 to 5 of Schedule 1 to Hydrocarbon Oils Duties Act 1979.

Clearances of gas oil amounted to 6.964 million litres in 1999-2000 and raised duty of £211.2 million. However, sectors other than farming are entitled to use gas oil, for example construction and mining.

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Annuities

Mr. Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the review on annuities is expected to report. [135733]

Miss Melanie Johnson: Various proposals have been put forward as alternatives to the annuity purchase requirement for pension schemes. An announcement will be made in due course if it is decided that any changes are required.

Beekeepers

Mr. Steen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce a tax rebate for beekeepers. [134641]

Dawn Primarolo: While the Government keep all taxes under review, there are no plans at present to introduce a tax rebate for beekeepers. Any changes would be considered as part of the Budget process.

Community Amateur Sports Clubs

Mr. Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce tax exemptions for community amateur sports clubs. [135732]

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Miss Melanie Johnson: Many community amateur sports clubs are already exempt from corporation tax on the income they earn from their members, and the subscriptions of their playing members are exempt from VAT. On 29 September DETR published a Green Paper, "Modernising Local Government Finance", which included, at Annex E, a section inviting views on rate relief for non-profit-making sports clubs.

Domestic Heating Fuel

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much (a) the pre-tax cost of a litre of domestic heating fuel, (b) the fuel duty on a litre and (c) the VAT on a litre has increased by (i) percentage and (ii) actual terms since January 1999; and how much additional revenue the Treasury has received as a result. [135124]

Mr. Timms: Information on the prices of different fuel products is available in "Energy Trends", published monthly by the DTI. There is no excise duty on standard grade heating oil. The rate of VAT applying to domestic heating oil has remained at 5 per cent. since it was reduced to that level from 8 per cent. in September 1997.

Estimating the additional revenues accrued by the Government as a result of the rise in the price of heating oil is difficult because we need to make assumptions about the way in which consumers fund the rise in the price of fuel. If expenditure is diverted predominantly from standard-rated goods towards expenditure on heating oil, VAT receipts may actually fall.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

Magistrates Courts

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many appeals against closure of magistrates courts there were in 1990; and if he will make a statement. [135204]

Jane Kennedy: The information required to answer the question of how many appeals against the closure of magistrates courts there were in 1990 is not readily accessible. I will in due course, write to the hon. Member to provide the information he requests. The Lord Chancellor's Department assumed responsibility for policy for magistrates courts from the Home Office in April 1992.

The Government's policy is that magistrates courts are best managed locally by magistrates courts committees under the provisions of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997. Decisions concerning the future of magistrates courts are for local magistrates courts committees to determine.

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates courts there were in England and Wales in (a) 1990 and (b) 1999. [135205]

Jane Kennedy: My Department does not hold records for 1990. Prior to 1992 magistrates courts were the responsibility of the Home Office. I will in due course write to the hon. Member to provide an estimate of the number of courts in 1990.

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Definitive information about courthouse numbers was not held centrally until 1995, when there were 516 magistrates courts in England and Wales. In 1999 there were 436.

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many (a) appeals and (b) successful appeals against closure of magistrates courts there were in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999. [135203]

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is set out in the table.

	Appeals	Successful appeals
1997	17	2
1998	26	1
1999	9	1

Civil Courts (IT)

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on progress in installing new IT equipment and systems in the civil courts. [135125]

Jane Kennedy: The Court Service has a rolling programme of improving existing IT systems in the County Courts, together with a long-term business and IT strategy programme.

The most recent significant IT change in the civil courts was the implementation of the Civil Justice Reforms. In order to implement this change effectively within the required timescales without excessive risk, the Court Service (in partnership with its IT supplier) made wide ranging changes to pre-existing systems. Core IT and business changes were implemented to the defined timetable--subsequent refinements have been introduced to improve operational effectiveness.

However, it is recognised that there remains significant scope to exploit further the potential of modern technologies (as was highlighted by the civil.justice.2000 report). This theme is at the centre of the Modernising the Civil Courts (MCC) programme which we are developing. We plan to issue a consultation paper on MCC later this year. That paper will highlight a wide range of business areas where the application of a diverse set of technologies could significantly enhance the administration of civil justice. In order to ensure that change to IT systems is delivered in the most effective way, a department-wide Information and Communications Technology strategy has been developed--this will ensure that the IT deployed is fully in line with the principle of the Modernising Government initiatives.

MCC will involve a long-term programme of change. Thus, in parallel with it, the Court Service has begun to, and will continue to, improve current IT facilities. For example:

A series of upgrades to CaseMan (the main county court IT system) have been implemented to deliver operational changes. These have incorporated a range of changes proposed by end users. There are standing processes to continue with future releases (taking on board end user input);

A major upgrade of CaseMan has been contracted for with our IT provider and will eliminate old stand-alone systems next year;

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Earlier this year a facility was introduced that allows major issuers to issue claims by submitting data electronically through telephone lines. Previously the submission of this data had been restricted to tape and disk;

In the near future, the Court Service plans to pilot new electronic arrangements for handling certain applications to the county courts;

The Court Service will also shortly be piloting kiosk based access to its electronic services in conjunction with the University of Wolverhampton, the CAB and Telford local authority;

The Court Service is piloting a video conferencing network linking Cardiff, Manchester, Leeds and the Royal Courts of Justice;

The Court Service rolled out laptops to the majority of the Judiciary. The services provided include access to the internet in general along with specific access to online legal sources related to the Human Rights Act;

The Court Service relaunched its website that provides online access to a wide range of civil court forms and guidance along with general information as to the operation of the courts. This site is one of the most accessed websites provided by UK central Government.

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