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Universal Banking
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the high street banks which (a) are working with the Post Office to develop the concept of Universal Banking services and (b) have declined to do so. [138513]
Mr. Byers [holding answer 16 November 2000]: The Post Office is working with the High Street banks, other financial institutions, the British Bankers' Association and the Building Societies Association to develop the concept of Universal Banking services. No bank has declined to do so.
EC Merger Regulations
Mr. Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the French presidency's proposals for EU-wide mergers and acquisition legislation. [138679]
Dr. Howells [holding answer 16 November 2000]: EC legislation on mergers and acquisitions has existed since 1989 in the form of the EC Merger Regulation (Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064-89, since amended by Council Regulation (EC) 1310-97). Mergers which meet the thresholds in the Regulation fall to the consideration of the European Commission rather than to that of national competition authorities.
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The French Presidency has not made any proposals regarding the amendment of the EC Merger Regulation. However, the European Commission has begun a review of the Regulation following a report to the Council of Ministers on the operation of its thresholds. The report can be found on the Commission's website at: www.europa.eu.int/comm/competition/mergers/review and copies will be placed in the Library of the House.
Offshore Oil Industry
Mr. Welsh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made to the European Commission concerning the impact of the EC Directive on large combustion plants on the off-shore oil industry. [139155]
Ms Hewitt: My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment has represented the views of Her Majesty's Government in discussions on this Directive. Under the Common Position reached at the June meeting of the Environment Council, the Directive would not apply to plant used on offshore platforms.
Telecommunications
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he intends to take to provide assistance to businesses based in areas not scheduled for coverage by BT's ADSL roll-out programme. [139071]
Ms Hewitt [holding answer 17 November 2000]: The Government will stimulate and promote industry investment in higher bandwidth services so that as many people as possible can get faster access to the Internet and other information services. For this reason, we are encouraging a range of higher bandwidth technologies, such as cable modems, third generation mobile phones, broadband fixed wireless and satellite services, as well as ADSL. To cover the areas that the market does not reach, we will work through the development agencies in the regions, and in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales to develop effective strategies for the rollout of higher bandwidth services.
Business Regulations
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many regulations on businesses were in existence in 1997; and how many there are now. [136418]
Mr. Stringer: I have been asked to reply.
This information is not kept in the form requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Existing regulations with the potential to affect business may originate far back in history and cross a great spread of departmental responsibilities.
Since 1998, every regulation with an impact on business is required to undergo a regulatory impact assessment to ensure that all the alternatives have been considered and that the benefits justify the costs. Regulatory impact assessments can be obtained from the Libraries of the House.
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CABINET OFFICE
Civil Servants (Retirement Age)
Mr. Colman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will end the requirement for civil servants to retire at the age of 60. [137621]
Mr. Stringer: Departments have authority to set the normal retirement age for their own staff, with the exception of those in the Senior Civil Service, and some already operate retirement ages above 60. The normal retirement age for members of the Senior Civil Service is currently 60.
In the light of the Performance and Innovation Unit report "Winning the Generation Game" Departments are considering, as recommended in the report, whether changes to their retirement arrangements would be practicable, and the Cabinet Office will consider whether to change the retirement age for the Senior Civil Service.
Drug Misuse
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the Government's strategy to reduce unlawful drug use. [137448]
Mr. Stringer: The Government's 10-year strategy for tackling drug misuse, "Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain", was published in 1998. The strategy is proactive and wide-ranging. It aims to create a healthy and confident society, increasingly free from the harm caused by the misuse of drugs, particularly Class A drugs such as heroin and cocaine.
The UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator published his Annual Report for 1999-2000 on 7 November 2000. The report shows that we are making progress towards meeting the challenging targets we have set. My hon. Friend will be interested to read the written answer that my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Gapes) on 7 November 2000, Official Report, column 153W, which highlighted areas of work where the drugs strategy is having a positive impact.
Copies of the Annual Report for 1999-2000 have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
TREASURY
Regeneration Schemes (Tax Relief)
Mr. Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to Cm 4917, if he will make a statement on the participation of people with disabilities in his proposals for tax reliefs for regeneration schemes. [138201]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 13 November 2000]: The Government are determined that disabled people have the opportunity to lead fulfilling and independent lives and play a full and active role in society.
The Government have been encouraged by the work of the first three Urban Regeneration Companies (URCs)--Liverpool Vision, New East Manchester, and Sheffield One--in developing a clear vision and strategy for key
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areas of these cities. The Government will continue to monitor the URCs carefully, and will consider how a tax relief could help to promote their development. At present no decisions have been made on the details of any possible tax relief.
Pensions/Taxation
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to Cm 4917, if he will update his answers to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) of 3 July 2000, Official Report, column 15W, on pensions, and the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell of 28 July 2000, Official Report, column 1011W, on capital gains tax, and 28 July 2000, Official Report, column 1016W, on taxation of incomes; and if he will make a statement. [138326]
Dawn Primarolo: Responsibility for pensions policy rests with the Secretary of State for Social Security.
Updated estimates, consistent with the November 2000 pre-Budget report, are as follows:
- The full year cost of reducing the top rates of income tax (including dividends) by 10 percentage points is £8 billion in 2000-01.
- The yield from introducing a 50 per cent. rate on taxable income over £100,000 is given in another written answer which I am today giving to the hon. Gentleman (137844).
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 13 November 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 1 November 2000, Official Report, column 515W.
Introducing a 50 per cent. rate of income tax on taxable income of over £100,000 would yield £2.9 billion in 2000-01 and for later years this figure will increase by on average £300 million per year. These estimates include tax on dividends, and taxable income has been defined as income after deducting the personal allowance.
These latest estimates are now based on the 1998-99 survey of personal incomes and are consistent with the November 2000 pre-Budget report.
Post War Credit Claims
Mr. Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of those who are entitled to repayment of post war credit have not yet claimed; what is the estimated value of the money owed; what measures the Government are taking to locate those whose claims are outstanding; and if he will make a statement. [138702]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The total sum of post war credits remaining unclaimed is estimated at £33 million. Figures for the numbers entitled to make a claim are not available. Substantial publicity campaigns have been mounted and approximately 95 per cent. of the original credit has already been repaid.
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