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Bankruptcy and Winding-up Orders
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many (a) bankruptcy orders and (b) winding-up orders were granted to HM Customs and Excise in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02 to date; [11635]
- (2) how many (a) bankruptcy petitions and (b) winding- up petitions were issued by HM Customs and Excise in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02 to date. [11175]
Mr. Boateng [holding answer 5 November 2001]: The latest information, which is available on HM Customs' and Excise website, www.hmce.gsi.gov.uk, is as follows:
| Petitions issued | Orders made | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | 1999–2000 | 1999–2000 |
| Bankruptcy | 4,894 | 2,412 |
| Winding up | 4,426 | 2,750 |
Figures are not yet available for 2000–01 and 2001–02.
Venture Capital
Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the total venture capital investment was in real terms in the last year for which information is available in each region of the United Kingdom; [15940]
- (2) how much venture capital was invested in real terms in UK companies in each year since 1992. [15939]
Mr. Boateng: No official statistics are published on venture capital investment. Information is, however, collected by the British Venture Capital Association, and is available from its website, www.bvca.co.uk.
Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total venture capital investment was as a percentage of GDP in the last year for which information is available in each member state of the European Union. [15941]
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Mr. Boateng: No official statistics are published on venture capital investment broken down by EU country. Information is, however, collected by the European Venture Capital Association and is available from its website, www.evca.com. GDP figures for EU members are available from Eurostat, www.europa.eu.int/comm/ eurostat.
Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the competition authorities of the European Commission on the Community investment scheme for venture capital subsidies in deprived areas; and if he will make a statement on compatibility of the proposals with European competition law on state aid. [15952]
Mr. Boateng: The Government are confident that their proposals are compatible with state aid regulations.
Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he will define disadvantaged areas in relation to the operation of the community investment scheme for venture capital subsidies in deprived areas. [15951]
Mr. Boateng: I assume this question refers to proposals for a community development venture fund. The Government expect the operations of the community development venture fund to focus on the most disadvantaged areas in England as defined in the DTLR's index of multiple deprivation. The Government regard this a robust indicator of deprivation as it incorporates measures of:
- Income
Employment
Health, Deprivation and Disability
Education, Skills and Training
Geographical Access to Services
Housing.
Investment Tax Credit
Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the deadweight take-up of the community investment tax credit in its first full year of operation; and what measures he will take to ensure that deadweight impact is minimised. [15933]
Mr. Boateng: Forecasting in this area is very uncertain, with respondents to the Government's consultation on the community investment tax credit giving wide-ranging estimates of demand. The Government will minimise deadweight through the selection procedure for organisations using the tax credit.
White Papers
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions in the last 12 months, confidential final revise proof copies of White Papers have been made available under embargo to (a) the Lobby
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and Upper Gallery and (b) members of other organised groups of correspondents before publication; and if he will make a statement. [16707]
Mr. Boateng: The Treasury follows the guidance laid down in section 7: "Confidential Final Revise Copies" of the Cabinet Office's publication, "How to publish a Command Paper—February 2001" in its production of White Papers.
Aggregates Levy
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has made to other European Union countries on the introduction of an aggregates levy broadly comparable with that proposed in the United Kingdom. [16732]
Mr. Boateng: The UK co-operates with the other member states in several European forums to discuss tax matters, and it does so with our national commitment to sustainable development very much to the fore. However, the implementation of an aggregates levy in any other member state must be a matter for the elected Government of that state.
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on the international competitiveness of the United Kingdom's quarry industry of the introduction of the aggregates levy; [16704]
- (2) what assessment he has made of the likely change in the import of (a) aggregate and (b) concrete products as a result of the aggregates levy; [16706]
(3) what assessment he has made of the likely change in the import of concrete products to the United Kingdom from (a) the Republic of Ireland and (b) other countries following the introduction of the aggregates levy. [16703]
Mr. Boateng: All imports of aggregate will be subject to the aggregates levy. Exports of aggregate from the UK will not be subject to the levy. This will protect the international competitiveness of the UK's quarrying industry.
There is not expected to be significant impact on the concrete products sector generally because international trade in these products is limited by weight and transport costs. Imports currently represent a very small proportion of total pre-cast concrete industry sales, and these are mainly high value products whose prices would not be significantly affected by the levy.
Mr. Heath: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what representations he has received on the distribution of the sustainability fund derived from the proposed aggregates levy; [15339]
- (2) what part will be played by local elected representatives in the distribution of the sustainability fund derived from the proposed aggregates levy. [15341]
Mr. Meacher: I have been asked to reply.
A DEFRA consultation paper on the possible distribution of the aggregates levy sustainability fund in
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England was published on 2 October 2001. A copy is available in the House of Commons Library.
The paper invites views on how local authorities should be involved in the fund.
We expect to receive comments on this issue and the others raised in the consultation paper until the consultation period closes on 27 November.
Copies of the responses will be placed in the DEFRA library and may be published, unless a respondent asks for their response to be treated as confidential. Confidential responses will nevertheless be included in any statistical summary of views expressed.
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Working Hours
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 6 November 2001, Official Report, column 154W, on working hours, if the raw data provided by staff are provided on a monthly basis; and if he will make a statement. [16710]
Mr. Boateng: Before September 2000, data on working hours were manually collected three times a year as set out in the information requested by the hon. Member on 14 November 2001, Official Report, column 774W. Since September 2000, a spreadsheet has been available for staff to record their working hours which provides information on a monthly basis.