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Barnett Formula
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer under the application of the multiplier to each area of comparable expenditure under the Barnett formula, which spending areas contributed to a reduction in Scotland's allocation in the last financial year. [12190]
Mr. Andrew Smith [holding answer 2 November 2001]: Increases in Scotland's allocation for 2000–01 were announced following the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review. Details of the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review were announced in the spending plans published in July 1998 (Cm 4011) and the Barnett formula comparability factors used in the Comprehensive Spending Review were published in the Statement of Funding Policy in March 1999.
Euro
Barbara Follett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on euro preparations. [13250]
Ruth Kelly: The Fifth Report on Euro Preparations was published on 4 November. Copies are available in the Vote Office and the Library of the House.
6 Nov 2001 : Column: 154W
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make a statement on the current level of Treasury research into whether the United Kingdom has passed the five economic tests for membership of the euro zone; who will undertake the final tests; and how long the analysis will take; [13022]
- (2) if it is the assessment of his Department that the United Kingdom qualifies for membership of the euro zone. [13023]
Ruth Kelly: The Government have said that they will complete an assessment of the five economic tests within two years of the start of this Parliament.
European Central Bank
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the accountability to EU member states of the European Central Bank. [12554]
Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Economic Secretary to the Treasury, on 11 November 1999, Official Report, column 771W.
Landfill Tax Credit Scheme
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what options he is considering for the (a) reform and (b) abolition of the Landfill Tax Credit scheme; [12042]
- (2) if he will amend the Landfill Tax Regulations to permit environmental bodies to make direct contributions to recycling schemes; [12045]
(3) when he will publish a consultation document on the future of the Landfill Tax Credit scheme. [12043]
Mr. Boateng: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell) on 30 October 2001, Official Report, columns 624–25W.
Airline Industry
Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will bring forward taxation measures to provide emergency support to the airline industry following the terrorist attacks of 11 September; [11969]
- (2) if he will bring forward taxation measures to assist the tourism industry; and if he will make a statement. [11970]
Dawn Primarolo: The Government keep all taxes under review and decisions will be made as part of the normal Budget process.
Working Hours
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 23 October 2001, Official Report, column 204W, on excessive hours, if he will state the methodology by which his answer was reached. [11607]
Ruth Kelly: Aggregated data are produced three times a year from information provided by staff on their average working hours. This showed the trend I referred to in my reply to the hon. Member on 23 October 2001, Official Report, column 204W.
6 Nov 2001 : Column: 155W
Railtrack
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guarantees the Treasury is offering to Railtrack plc in administration to enable it to borrow from the market. [11087]
Mr. Spellar: I have been asked to reply.
I refer the right hon. Member to the Loan Agreement, copies of which were placed in the House Library on 17 October 2001.
Public-Private Partnerships
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what advice he has received since 7 October concerning additional risk premia that PPP partners might seek; [10770]
- (2) what representations he has received since 7 October from (a) actual and (b) potential PPP partners concerning modifications of standard contractual arrangements; [10771]
(3) what representations he has received since 7 October about the operation of public private partnerships; and if he will publish them; [10769]
Angela Watkinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from interested organisations regarding public/private partnerships. [11543]
Mr. Andrew Smith: Ministers and officials regularly receive representations on public-private partnerships (PPP). It is for those making such representations to publish them if they so wish. It would not be appropriate to make public the terms of contractual negotiations in advance of contract signature. The general guidance on "Standardisation of PFI Contracts", published in 1999 and which is available in the Library of the House of Commons, is currently being reviewed by the Office of Government Commerce. It is hoped to issue a revised draft of this guidance for consultation shortly.
VAT
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of criminal VAT fraud were reported in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02 to date; how many prosecutions were completed in each year; and how many of those prosecutions were completed successfully. [12208]
Mr. Boateng: The number of reported VAT fraud criminal cases is:
- 1999–2000: 105
- 2000–01: 92.
Accurate figures for 2001–02 will be calculated after the year in question.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value was of criminal VAT evasion prevented by HM Customs and Excise in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02 to date. [12207]
6 Nov 2001 : Column: 156W
Mr. Boateng: The value of criminal evasion prevented by Customs while investigating rose from £618 million in 1999–2000 to £993 million in 2000–01. Figures showing the total value of revenue evasion prevented by Customs in 2001–02 will be published in due course.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many traders were dealt with by the VAT large payers unit in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01; how many traders are now being dealt with by the unit; and if he will make a statement. [12205]
Mr. Boateng: The number of traders dealt with by the VAT large payers unit was 10,000 in 1997–98, 13,000 in 1998–99, 13,500 in 1999–2000, 14,500 in 2000–01 and is currently around 14,900.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the total value of VAT repayment returns in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01; [12203]
- (2) what the target of HM Customs and Excise is for effecting VAT repayment returns; and what proportion of VAT returns, representing what sum of money, were effected within the relevant target time in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01. [12204]
Mr. Boateng: Customs processes around 2 million VAT repayment returns each year, the values of which are set out on a regular basis in the HM Customs and Excise "Value Added Tax Factsheet", available from the House of Commons Library.
A target to authorise 92 per cent. of all repayments within 10 working days of the receipt of a claim in the VAT central unit was set for the year 1997–98, and this was increased to 96 per cent. for 1998–99 and subsequent years. The actual achievement in each of the subject years was over 97 per cent.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value of (a) court fines and costs and (b) confiscation and compensation orders following the completion of prosecutions in VAT criminal cases in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02 to date. [12215]
Mr. Boateng: The amount of money realised for each of the periods referred to was, in respect of confiscation orders for VAT cases only, as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| (a) 1999–2000 | 415,585,93 |
| (b) 2000–01 | 795,020.25 |
| (c) 2001–02(4) | 102,411.78 |
(4) April to September
Customs does not keep details as to the value of court fines or costs orders made nor does it have any record of compensation orders made. Similarly, it does not keep any record of confiscation orders made—only the amount realised through enforcement.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value of VAT civil evasion prevented by HM Customs and Excise was in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01. [12209]
6 Nov 2001 : Column: 157W
Mr. Boateng: The value of VAT civil evasion prevented by HM Customs and Excise in the years 1997–98 and 1998–99 are contained in Customs annual reports for these years. Figures for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 are:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 70 |
| 2000–01 | 71 |
From the current financial year, HM Customs and Excise has ceased to calculate a figure for VAT criminal evasion prevented.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many and what proportion of applications for VAT registration during (a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000, (c) 2000–01, and (d) 2001–02 to the most recent date for which information is available were (i) refused or (ii) referred for further investigation; [12197]
- (2) how many and what percentage of applications for VAT registration were found to be (a) invalid or (b) potentially fraudulent in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02 to the most recent date for which information is available. [12200]
Mr. Boateng: For 1998–99, information on the proportion of applications falling into these categories is published in appendix B of the HM Customs and Excise annual report 1998–99. For 1999–2000 and 2000–01, this information was not centrally collated and would now involve disproportionate cost to produce. National registration statistics for 2001–02 will be published in due course.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many VAT fraud cases were investigated under the civil penalty procedure in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000, (d) 2000–01 and (e) 2001–02 to date. [12210]
Mr. Boateng: Prior to 2001–02, HM Customs and Excise has recorded information on the numbers of VAT fraud cases where a civil penalty was imposed but not the number investigated. Figures for 1997–98 and 1998–99 were published in Customs annual reports for these years. Figures for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 are as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 860 |
| 2000–01 | 729 |
Accurate figures for 2001–02 will be calculated after the year in question.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses were sent the annual reminder mailshot with VAT returns in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001. [12201]
Mr. Boateng: The information is as follows:
| Million | |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 1.6 |
| 2000 | 1.7 |
| 2001 | 0 |
6 Nov 2001 : Column: 158W
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value, net of withdrawals and reductions, of the (a) default surcharge, (b) penalties and (c) interest charged by HM Customs and Excise in respect of VAT in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02 to date. [12198]
Mr. Boateng: The information is as follows:
| Net value of penalty charged | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | 2001(5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Default surcharge | 117.3 | 126.9 | 47.9 |
| Default interest | 77.4 | 71.6 | 25.8 |
| Other penalties | 22.9 | 29.8 | 10.8 |
(5) To 31 August 2001
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