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Inland Revenue/

Customs and Excise Research Programme

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the (a) subjects and (b) terms of reference of the first two research studies undertaken by the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise Joint Compliance Costs Research Programme. [16340]

Dawn Primarolo: The first two research studies undertaken by the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise in the Joint Compliance Costs Research Programme are: (i) a study of the compliance costs of corporation tax for UK businesses; and (ii) a study of the compliance costs of VAT for UK businesses. The terms of reference of the studies were covered by the contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Communities (OJEC) submitted on 26 May 2000.

Railtrack

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the statement made by the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in the House on 13 November 2001, Official Report, column 724, if he will list the dates, up to one month prior to 5 October, when he sent advice to the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. [16277]

Mr. Andrew Smith: Treasury Ministers have discussions with a variety of people, including colleagues in other Departments, on a wide range of subjects on a regular basis.

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on which dates, up to one month prior to 5 October, he sent advice to the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, that funds were not likely to be approved to maintain the (a) viability and (b) liquidity of Railtrack plc. [16278]

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Mr. Andrew Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for Transport, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions to the right hon. and learned Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham (Mr. Hogg) on 14 November 2001, Official Report, column 735W.

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the Office for National Statistics was asked to examine the accounting treatment of the successor organisation to Railtrack; and if he will make a statement. [16593]

Mr. Andrew Smith: The Office for National Statistics was asked to examine the accounting treatment of a possible successor organisation to Railtrack on Wednesday 3 October.

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the briefings his officials have given to newspapers on Railtrack in the last seven days. [15332]

Mr. Andrew Smith: The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions is responsible for railways policy.

Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he authorised the payment of £162 million from the Strategic Rail Authority to Railtrack on 1 October. [16162]

Mr. Andrew Smith: The timing of payments to Railtrack via the SRA is a matter for the SRA and the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he (a) has had and (b) plans to have with the Governor of the Bank of England on the effects of and matters arising from the administration of Railtrack. [15932]

Mr. Andrew Smith: Treasury Ministers have discussions with a wide variety of people on a wide range of subjects on a regular basis.

Corporation Tax

Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total corporation tax receipts were in the last financial year; and what receipts had been expected. [15929]

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is set in the Office for National Statistics publication "Financial Statistics", a copy of which is in the Library. The latest forecasts were published in Budget 2000 and previously in the pre-Budget report 2000.

Consumer Debt

Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total amount of non-mortgage consumer debt was in real terms in each year since 1992. [15936]

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

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Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Howard Flight, dated 20 November 2001:



YearNominal non-mortgage consumer debt (VZRI) (£ million)RPIX (CHMK)'Real' non-mortgage consumer debt (£ million)
199253,188136.438,994
199352,974140.537,704
199457,617143.840,067
199567,624147.945,723
199676,859152.350,466
199787,497156.555,909
1998101,659160.663,300
1999114,872164.369,916
2000126,733167.775,571

Census

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if the Office for National Statistics authorised the use of Government-held personal records about (a) asylum seekers and (b) other categories of people during compilation of the 2001 census returns; [16336]

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Lidington, dated 20 November 2001:







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