| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Fish Quotas
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what response he has made to the suggestion by the European Commission representative in the UK that national fishing quotas could be abolished after 2002. [99752]
Mr. Morley: None. No member state or the Commission has put forward any such proposals.
Mr. Steen: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes are proposed in the fish quota system from 2003, with particular reference to the replacement permit system; and if he will make a statement. [100448]
Mr. Morley: No changes have been proposed in the TACs and quotas system under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) nor do I expect any change as a result of the review of the CFP in 2002. The question of replacement permits does not therefore arise.
Transgenic DNA
Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what analysis has been made of the propensity of bacteria in the human mouth and respiratory tracts to take up antibiotic resistance marker genes and other transgenic DNA. [100168]
Ms Quin:
This issue is carefully considered by the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes as part of their rigorous safety assessment of genetically modified (GM) foods. The Committee has published two
1 Dec 1999 : Column: 234W
reports on the use of antibiotic resistance markers in GM plants for human food (in July 1994 and July 1996), copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. In addition the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Foods funds a programme of R&D to underpin the safety assessment process which provides information on this and other issues related to GM foods.
Energy Saving
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received (a) in favour of and (b) in opposition to a reduction in the rate of VAT on energy saving materials in the last year. [100775]
Mr. Timms: Treasury and HM Customs and Excise have received a number of representations in favour of a reduced rate of VAT for energy savings materials. They have received none opposing it.
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rates of VAT are charged in each of the other European Union countries on (a) energy saving materials and (b) domestic fuel. [100776]
Mr. Timms: The VAT rates given in the table apply to fuel put to both domestic and business use in other Member states. Only the UK has a different VAT rate for fuel put to domestic use.
| Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|
| (a) | (b) | |
| Member state | Energy saving materials | Fuel and power |
| Austria | 20 | (18)10, 20 |
| Belgium | 21 | (19)12, 21 |
| Denmark | 25 | 25 |
| Finland | 22 | 22 |
| France | 20.6 | 20.6 |
| Germany | 16 | 16 |
| Greece | 18 | (20)8, 18 |
| Ireland | 21 | 12.5 |
| Italy | 20 | 10 |
| Luxembourg | 15 | (21)6, 12 |
| Netherlands | 17.5 | 17.5 |
| Portugal | 17 | (23)(24)5, 17 |
| Spain | 16 | 16 |
| Sweden | 25 | 25 |
| UK | (23)5, 17.5 | (24)5, 17.5 |
(18) The reduced rate applies to supplies of wood.
(19) The reduced rate applies to supplies of coal and peat.
(20) The reduced rate applies to supplies of wood.
(21) The 6 per cent. rate applies to gas and electricity; wood, oil and coal are 12 per cent.
(22) 5 per cent. applies to electricity and oil.
(23) For energy saving materials installed under a Government funded grant scheme.
(24) 5 per cent. applies to supplies of fuel and power for domestic and charitable use.
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he has taken in the last year to pursue with other European Union countries a wider reduction in the rate of VAT charged on energy saving materials. [100773]
Mr. Timms:
There have been no discussions within the last year.
1 Dec 1999 : Column: 235W
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the employment implications of reducing the rate of VAT on energy saving materials. [100774]
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which European Union countries which have varied the rate of VAT charged on energy saving materials since May 1997, indicating the change to the rate charged; and what representations he has made to (a) the European Commission and (b) other bodies on these changes. [100771]
Mr. Timms:
No other EU Governments have varied the rate of VAT charged on energy saving materials since May 1997.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has made to the European Commission regarding the reduction of VAT on energy saving materials in France. [100772]
Mr. Timms:
None. The French reduced rate is for the renovation and repair of private dwellings, under a European Commission initiative permitting experimental reduced VAT rates. It does not cover DIY energy saving materials, since the experimental reduced rate may only be applied to services.
Dr. Iddon:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the reduction of VAT on energy saving materials in (a) France and (b) Italy; and what plans he has for similar reductions in the United Kingdom. [100601]
Mr. Timms:
There have been no reductions in VAT on energy saving materials in France or Italy. France has announced a reduced rate for the repair and renovation of private dwellings under the optional experimental scheme covered by Annex K of the EU's Sixth VAT Directive. Italy has made an application to the Commission to do the same.
Dr. Iddon:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reduce VAT on energy saving materials to 5 per cent. [100603]
Mr. Timms:
This Government have already reduced to 5 per cent. the VAT rate applicable to grant-funded installation of energy saving materials in the homes of the less well off. EC VAT law does not allow the UK to apply a reduced VAT rate to sales of energy saving materials for DIY installation.
Mr. Chope:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Inland Revenue of providing the support for small firms' payroll operations outlined in the Inland Revenue press release of 11 November. [100740]
Dawn Primarolo:
The support announced on 11 November builds on existing extensive assistance for small firms and is estimated to cost up to £40 million over the next three years.
1 Dec 1999 : Column: 236W
Mr. Paterson:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the net and gross contributions by the United Kingdom to the EU in 1997 and 1998, indicating the source of the date. [100621]
Miss Melanie Johnson:
The information requested can be found in Table 3 of the Government's White Paper "European Community Finances" (Cm 4382).
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what consultations he has had with representatives of the Muslim and Jewish communities about the provision of registrars' services between Christmas and the end of the Millennium holiday; [100584]
Miss Melanie Johnson:
The provision of special facilities such as for members of the Muslim and Jewish communities is a matter for the Proper Officer for Registration Matters in each local authority in agreement with the registrars.
The Registrar General's standing instructions will apply as they do every Christmas and New Year period. If the Registrar's Office is shut for two or more consecutive days, or if special facilities such as those for the Jewish and Muslim communities are provided in the area, there will be a notice explaining what arrangements have been made to deal with urgent matters. Proper Officers have been asked to publicise the availability of the service over the Christmas and New Year period. The Registrar General has advised the Proper Officer for Registration Matters in each local authority that an emergency service will be needed for death informants on 30 December 1999 and 4 January 2000.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of income lost to the Treasury as a result of the use of off-shore tax havens. [100851]
Dawn Primarolo:
This information is not available.
(2) what steps he has taken to ensure adequate provision of registrars' services during the period between Christmas and the end of the Millennium holiday. [100585]
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |