House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 28 Nov 2001 (pt 32)

Inland Revenue

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to privatise the distraint work of the Inland Revenue; and if he will make a statement. [18236]

Dawn Primarolo: This proposal is still under consideration.

Local Authority Debt Repayment

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rules govern annual debt repayments by local authorities in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [18515]

Mr. Andrew Smith: Like any other borrowers, local authorities have a contractual obligation to comply with the terms of repayment specified in their agreement with the lender. The local government capital finance system requires English and Welsh authorities each year to set aside amounts out of their revenue resources to meet debt and other credit liabilities. This helps to ensure that, whenever a debt falls due, the authority has enough money to make the repayment. The Government have no immediate plans to change these arrangements.

Financial Regulation

(Overseas and Dependent Territories)

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the British overseas and dependent territories with which exchange of information agreements have been agreed (a) for tax and (b) financial regulation purposes,

28 Nov 2001 : Column: 1013W

indicating the date of such agreement; and if he will list separately those overseas and dependent territories with which no such agreement yet exists. [17728]

Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 26 November 2001]: For tax purposes, the UK has Double Taxation Arrangements with Guernsey (1952), Isle of Man (1955) and Jersey (1952) (all Crown Dependencies), and the Falkland Islands (1997) and Montserrat (1947) (both Overseas Territories) which include provisions for the exchange of information for tax purposes. The UK has no such agreements with the remaining Overseas Territories, ie Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Pitcairn Islands, St. Helena and its Dependencies (St. Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan de Cunha), South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands, and Turks and Caicos Islands.

For financial regulatory purposes, the Overseas Territories of the Caribbean and Bermuda and Gibraltar have in place gateways which allow for the exchange of information with overseas regulators including the UK. The territories of the Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands and British Virgin Islands have introduced "compulsory powers" legislation to enable investigative assistance to overseas regulators to be provided. Bermuda's existing regulatory powers are being strengthened. Anguilla has compulsory powers legislation in draft.

The Crown Dependencies have Memorandums of Understanding providing for exchange of information with a range of UK regulatory bodies.

Exchange Rate

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent steps he has taken to ensure a competitive sterling to euro exchange rate. [18517]

Ruth Kelly: The Government do not have a target for the sterling/euro exchange rate. The way to ensure long-term exchange rate stability and competitiveness is through the pursuit of sound macroeconomic policies aimed at achieving sustained growth and low inflation.

Mr. Reed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from manufacturers about the rate of sterling in the last six months; and if he will make a statement. [18488]

Ruth Kelly: The Chancellor and other Treasury Ministers often receive representations from manufacturers and all areas of business on a wide range of economic issues, and value their insights.

Stamp Duty

Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional revenue he raised in 2000–01 from property and land transactions in the Arundel and South Downs constituency as a result of the increases in stamp duty in the March 2000 Budget. [18331]

Ruth Kelly: The information is not available.

28 Nov 2001 : Column: 1014W

Manufacturing (East Midlands)

Mr. Reed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what analysis he has made of the impact of the slow down in the world economy on manufacturing in the east midlands. [18490]

Ruth Kelly: No country can insulate itself from the global economy, and these uncertain times test all regions of the UK. Because of the tough decisions this Government have taken we are today in a better position to withstand the ups and downs of the world economy.

The pre-Budget report further outlined the Government's regional strategy.

Higher Rate Taxpayers

Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many higher rate taxpayers there were in the constituency of Arundel and South Downs in each year since April 1997. [18314]

Dawn Primarolo: There were 7,300 higher rate income taxpayers in the constituency of Arundel and South Downs in the 1999–2000 tax year. This estimate is based on the Survey of Personal Incomes. I regret that estimates are not available for earlier years.

Income Data

Mr. Illsley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) of those self-employed aged between (a) 18 and 35, (b) 36 and 45, (c) 46 and 50, (d) 51 and 55, (e) 56 and 60 and (h) 61 and 74 years, if he will estimate the numbers earning (i) up to £35,000 per year, (ii) between £35,000 and £45,000 per year, (iii) between £45,000 and £55,000 per year, (iv) between £55,000 and £65,000 per year, (v) between £65,000 and £75,000 per year, (vi) between £75,000 and £85,000 per year, (vii) between £85,000 and £95,000 per year and (viii) over £95,000 per year, for the tax year (A) 2000 and (B) 2001; [18600]

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(3) if he will estimate, of those between the ages of (a) 18 and 35, (b) 36 and 45, (c) 46 and 50, (d) 51 and 55, (e) 56 and 60 and (f) 61 and 74 years, the numbers earning (i) up to £35,000 per year, (ii) between £35,000 and £45,000 per year, (iii) between £45,000 and £55,000 per year, (iv) between £55,000 and £65,000 per year, (v) between £65,000 and £75,000 per year, (vi) between £75,000 and £85,000 per year, (vii) between £85,000 and £95,000 per year and (viii) over £95,000 per year, for the tax year (1) 2000 and (2) 2001. [18603]

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates for the number of taxpayers with some self employed income, by range of age and total earned income (income from employment, income from self employment and pensions) are given in the tables, based on the Survey of Personal Incomes.

28 Nov 2001 : Column: 1015W

Estimated number of people with some self employment income by range of earnings and age, 2000–01Thousands

Age (lower limit)

Earnings upper limit (£) 18 36 46 51 56 61 74

35,000 21 37 21 20 13 13 ⁽²²⁾—

45,000 12 22 12 10 7 7 ⁽²²⁾—

55,000 5 16 8 8 5 4 ⁽²²⁾—

65,000 4 11 6 6 4 3 ⁽²²⁾—

75,000 3 8 4 4 2 2 ⁽²²⁾—

85,000 1 6 3 3 2 2 ⁽²²⁾—

95,000 6 23 14 13 7 5 ⁽²²⁾—

	Age (lower limit)
Earnings upper limit (£)	18	36	46	51	56	61	74
35,000	21	37	21	20	13	13	⁽²²⁾—
45,000	12	22	12	10	7	7	⁽²²⁾—
55,000	5	16	8	8	5	4	⁽²²⁾—
65,000	4	11	6	6	4	3	⁽²²⁾—
75,000	3	8	4	4	2	2	⁽²²⁾—
85,000	1	6	3	3	2	2	⁽²²⁾—
95,000	6	23	14	13	7	5	⁽²²⁾—

Estimated number of people with some self employment income by range of earnings and age, 2001–02Thousands

Age (lower limit)

Earnings upper limit (£) 18 36 46 51 56 61 74

35,000 23 39 22 21 13 13 ⁽²²⁾—

45,000 12 22 13 10 8 8 ⁽²²⁾—

55,000 6 16 8 8 5 4 ⁽²²⁾—

65,000 4 11 6 6 4 4 ⁽²²⁾—

75,000 3 8 4 4 2 3 ⁽²²⁾—

85,000 2 7 3 3 2 2 ⁽²²⁾—

95,000 6 25 15 14 8 6 ⁽²²⁾—

	Age (lower limit)
Earnings upper limit (£)	18	36	46	51	56	61	74
35,000	23	39	22	21	13	13	⁽²²⁾—
45,000	12	22	13	10	8	8	⁽²²⁾—
55,000	6	16	8	8	5	4	⁽²²⁾—
65,000	4	11	6	6	4	4	⁽²²⁾—
75,000	3	8	4	4	2	3	⁽²²⁾—
85,000	2	7	3	3	2	2	⁽²²⁾—
95,000	6	25	15	14	8	6	⁽²²⁾—

Estimated number of people with some self employment income by taxpayer's marginal rate, 2000–01Thousands

Age (lower limit)

Marginal rate 18 36 46 51 56 61 74

Starting rate⁽²³⁾ 79 70 40 40 30 30 ⁽²²⁾—

Savers rate⁽²⁴⁾ ⁽²²⁾— 7 ⁽²²⁾— 8 8 12 ⁽²²⁾—

Basic rate⁽²⁵⁾ 517 555 265 289 210 218 ⁽²²⁾—

Higher rate⁽²⁶⁾ 60 135 75 68 43 49 ⁽²²⁾—

	Age (lower limit)
Marginal rate	18	36	46	51	56	61	74
Starting rate⁽²³⁾	79	70	40	40	30	30	⁽²²⁾—
Savers rate⁽²⁴⁾	⁽²²⁾—	7	⁽²²⁾—	8	8	12	⁽²²⁾—
Basic rate⁽²⁵⁾	517	555	265	289	210	218	⁽²²⁾—
Higher rate⁽²⁶⁾	60	135	75	68	43	49	⁽²²⁾—

⁽²²⁾ These cells have insufficient numbers in the sample to provide a reliable estimate.

⁽²³⁾ Taxpayers with a marginal rate at the 10 per cent. starting rate from an extra £1 of earnings

⁽²⁴⁾ Taxpayers with a marginal rate at the 20 per cent. lower rate for savings income or the 10 per cent. ordinary dividend rate from an extra £1 of earnings

⁽²⁵⁾ Taxpayers with a marginal rate at the 22 per cent. basic rate from an extra £1 of earnings

⁽²⁶⁾ Taxpayers with taxable income above the higher rate threshold.

Estimated number of taxpayers by range of earnings and age, 2000–01Thousands

Age (lower limit)

Earnings upper limit (£) 18 36 46 51 56 61 74

35,000 270 317 164 121 66 64 11

45,000 96 140 70 58 32 30 5

55,000 51 83 42 34 19 15 3

65,000 25 50 28 23 12 11 1

75,000 13 31 16 15 7 7 1

85,000 9 23 10 11 5 5 1

95,000 38 91 47 44 23 18 2

	Age (lower limit)
Earnings upper limit (£)	18	36	46	51	56	61	74
35,000	270	317	164	121	66	64	11
45,000	96	140	70	58	32	30	5
55,000	51	83	42	34	19	15	3
65,000	25	50	28	23	12	11	1
75,000	13	31	16	15	7	7	1
85,000	9	23	10	11	5	5	1
95,000	38	91	47	44	23	18	2

28 Nov 2001 : Column: 1016W

Estimated number of taxpayers by range of earnings and age, 2001–02Thousands

Age (lower limit)

Earnings upper limit (£) 18 36 46 51 56 61 74

35,000 315 352 179 135 70 70 12

45,000 111 158 83 63 37 33 5

55,000 57 89 43 37 22 16 3

65,000 30 57 30 26 12 12 1

75,000 16 35 19 16 9 8 1

85,000 9 23 11 12 5 5 1

95,000 42 100 51 48 25 19 2

	Age (lower limit)
Earnings upper limit (£)	18	36	46	51	56	61	74
35,000	315	352	179	135	70	70	12
45,000	111	158	83	63	37	33	5
55,000	57	89	43	37	22	16	3
65,000	30	57	30	26	12	12	1
75,000	16	35	19	16	9	8	1
85,000	9	23	11	12	5	5	1
95,000	42	100	51	48	25	19	2

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