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Pension Plans (Tax Relief)
Mr. Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the total annual cost to the Treasury was of providing tax relief on personal pension plans at (a) the starting rate, (b) the standard rate and (c) the higher rate in each of the last three years; [151767]
- (2) how many people paid into personal pension plans and how many schemes attracted tax relief at (a) the starting rate, (b) the standard rate and (c) the higher rate in each of the last three years. [151766]
Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answers 1 March 2001]: Estimates of the cost of tax relief for contributions to personal pensions and such information as is available on the number of contributors by rate of income tax are given in the tables.
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| Number of employees(28) making contributions to personal pensions | |
|---|---|
| Approximately | 3 million(29) |
| Of which: | |
| higher rate taxpayers | 200 thousand |
(28) Based on aggregate information provided by plan managers and survey data
(29) All benefit from repayment of basic rate tax claimed by their pension provider including those who are non-taxpayers or pay tax at less than the basic rate
| Thousand | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rate of income tax | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 |
| Non-taxpayers | 150 | 160 | 110 |
| Starting(31) rate | 180 | 30 | 60 |
| Basic rate | 680 | 800 | 800 |
| Higher rate | 250 | 250 | 260 |
| Total | 1,260 | 1,240 | 1,230 |
(30) Based on relief claimed on tax returns. 1999-2000 and 2000-01 figures are provisional
(31) 20 per cent. lower rate 1998-99; 10 per cent. starting rate 1999-2000 and 2000-01
| £ million | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Source of contributions and rate of income tax relief | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 |
| Employees' contributions | |||
| Basic rate | 550 | 580 | 590 |
| Higher rate | 270 | 290 | 310 |
| Employers' contributions(32) | |||
| Basic rate | 300 | 300 | 300 |
| Higher rate | 140 | 150 | 160 |
| National Insurance rebates(33) | |||
| Basic rate | 175 | 271 | 287 |
| Contributions by the self-employed | |||
| Starting rate(34) | 30 | 5 | 5 |
| Basic rate | 210 | 240 | 240 |
| Higher rate | 490 | 520 | 550 |
(32) On the basis that under present arrangements employers' contributions are not taxable as a benefit in kind of the employees. Figures assume that the proportion related to higher rate taxpayers is the same as that observed for employees' contributions.
(33) Basic rate tax relief in respect of the employees' part of the National Insurance rebate received by around 3.7 million employees with appropriate personal pensions.
(34) 20 per cent. lower rate 1998-99; 10 per cent. starting rate 1999-2000 and 2000-01.
Public Sector Wage Bill
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of total managed expenditure was directly attributable to the public sector wage bill in the last five years for which figures are available. [151303]
Mr. Andrew Smith [holding answer 26 February 2001]: The figures are available from the national accounts produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Further detail can be found in table 11.2 of
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ONS's "United Kingdom National Accounts 2000" (the Blue Book) tables 11.2 (paybill) and 11.4 (total managed expenditure).
Departmental Policies (Chichester)
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Chichester constituency, the effects on Chichester of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [155285]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Chichester, along with the rest of the United Kingdom, is benefiting from the long-term action we have taken to build economic stability and secure high and stable levels of growth and employment. Since the general election, claimant unemployment in the constituency has fallen by 504, or 41 per cent., youth unemployment is down by 77 per cent., and long-term unemployment has fallen by 63 per cent.
Macro-economic stability is being complemented at the micro-economic level by the Government's policies to ease the transition from welfare into work and to make work pay. To the end of December 2000, the new deal for 18 to 24-year-olds had helped 251 young people in Chichester constituency gain valuable skills and experience--138 (55 per cent.) of whom had moved into employment. The Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), introduced in October 1999, is helping to make work pay for low and middle-income families. In August 2000, 1,400 families in the constituency were benefiting from WFTC.
The Government are also committed to developing policies which enable pensioners to share in the country's rising prosperity. All pensioners, including 25,500 in Chichester, will receive an above-inflation increase in the basic state pension from April 2001. Single pensioners will receive an extra £5 a week, and couples will receive an extra £8 a week. All pensioners aged 75 or over have also been entitled to a free TV licence since November 2000--including around 16,400 in Chichester.
Children's Tax Credit
Mr. Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what impact he estimates the new Children's Tax Credit will have on the incomes of working families. [155127]
Dawn Primarolo: The new Children's Tax Credit will be worth up to £520 a year or £10 a week for hard-working families when it is introduced from April.
Mapeley Ltd.
Mr. Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 23 January 2001, Official Report, column 569W, whether the technical details have now been finalised; and if he will announce the date upon which the contract is to begin. [155098]
Dawn Primarolo: The technical details have been finalised. The contract was signed on 6 March and is on schedule to commence as planned on 2 April 2001.
Departmental Policies (Ynys Mon)
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, with statistical information
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relating as directly as possible to the Ynys Mon constituency, the effects on Ynys Mon of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [154935]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Ynys Mon, along with the rest of the United Kingdom, is benefiting from the long-term action we have taken to build economic stability and secure high and stable levels of growth and employment. Since the general election, claimant unemployment in the constituency has fallen by 631, or 24 per cent., youth unemployment is down by 74 per cent., and long-term unemployment has fallen by 41 per cent.
Macro-economic stability is being complemented at the micro-economic level by the Government's policies to ease the transition from welfare into work and to make work pay. To the end of December 2000, the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds had helped 1,091 young people in Ynys Mon constituency gain valuable skills and experience--580 (53 per cent.) of whom had moved into employment. The Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), introduced in October 1999, is helping to make work pay for low and middle income families. In August 2000, 1,300 families in Ynys Mon constituency were benefiting from WFTC.
The Government are also committed to policies which enable pensioners to share in the country's rising prosperity. All pensioners, including 14,600 in Ynys Mon, will receive an above-inflation increase in the basic state pension from April 2001. Single pensioners will receive an extra £5 a week, and couples will receive an extra £8 a week. All pensioners aged 75 or over have also been entitled to a free TV licence since November 2000--including around 9,100 in Ynys Mon.
Departmental Policies (Ceredigion)
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Ceredigion constituency, the effects on Ceredigion of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [154934]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Ceredigion, along with the rest of the United Kingdom is benefiting from the long-term action we have taken to build economic stability and secure high and stable levels of growth and employment. Since the general election, claimant unemployment in the constituency has fallen by 384, or 24 per cent., youth unemployment is down by 73 per cent., and long-term unemployment has fallen by 26 per cent.
Macro-economic stability is being complemented at the micro-economic level by the Government's policies to ease the transition from welfare into work and to make work pay. To the end of December 2000, the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds had helped 704 young people in Ceredigion constituency gain valuable skills and experience--341 (48 per cent.) of whom had moved into employment. The Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), introduced in October 1999, is helping to make work pay for low and middle income families. In August 2000, 1,800 families in Ceredigion constituency were benefiting from WFTC.
The Government are also committed to policies which enable pensioners to share in the country's rising prosperity. All pensioners, including 13,700 in Ceredigion, will receive an above-inflation increase in the
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basic state pension from April 2001. Single pensioners will receive an extra £5 a week, and couples will receive an extra £8 a week. All pensioners aged 75 or over have also been entitled to a free TV licence since November 2000--including around 8,800 in Ceredigion.
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