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Research and Development (Tax Credits)

Barbara Follett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to publish a consultative note on research and development tax credits for large companies. [21111]

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Dawn Primarolo: The Treasury is today publishing "Designs for Innovation", which seeks views on the details of a version of a volume based research and development tax credit. Copies have been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

Reviews and Consultations

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the forecast (a) cost and (b) completion date of the consultation on competition in the annuities market; [20474]

(2) what his target date for completion of the consultation on road haulage taxation is; and how much he expects the consultation to cost; [20468]

(3) what is the forecast (a) cost and (b) publication date for the new analysis of Britain's regional productivity challenge, referred to in CM 5318, page 6; [20475]

(4) what he expects the cost of the Wanless report to be; and when he expects it to be completed; [20458]

(5) what his target date for the completion of consultation on motorcycle vehicle excise duty is; and how much he expects the consultation to cost; [20469]

(6) what he expects to be the cost of Sir Howard Davies' review of enterprise in schools and further education; [20485]

(7) what are (a) the terms of reference and (b) the intended participants for the analysis of Britain's regional productivity challenge, referred to in CM 5318, page 6; [20476]

(8) what is the forecast (a) cost and (b) completion date of the review of the Inland Revenue's links with business; [20480]

(9) what was the cost of the Carter report into payroll burdens. [20457]

Dawn Primarolo: The reviews and consultations have been, and are being, conducted at modest cost and within departmental expenditure limits. The Government have requested responses by 8 February 2002 to the consultation documents "Modernising the Taxation of the Haulage Industry" and "Reforming Motorcycle Vehicle Excise Duty". The Government's analysis of Britain's regional productivity challenge was published on 27 November in "Productivity in the UK: 3—The Regional Dimension". The review of Inland Revenue links with business has been completed and the report was published on 27 November. The Government intend to consult on promoting competition in the annuities market in the first quarter of 2002. Mr. Wanless will produce a final report to the Chancellor before the conclusion of the 2002 Spending Review.

Firearms

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many firearms intended for illegal importation were seized by HM Customs and Excise in each year since 1990. [20539]

Mr. Boateng: The following table sets out the number of firearms seized by customs since 1990. It includes all complete weapons falling within the definition of a firearm in the Firearms Act 1968.

4 Dec 2001 : Column 207W

Number of illegal firearms seized by HM Customs and Excise

Year ended 31 March	Hand guns	Rifles	Shotguns	Self defence sprays	Stun guns	Total
1990	1,489	144	44	414	301	2,392
1991	253	535	49	1,132	48	2,017
1992	176	126	82	692	53	1,129
1993	138	41	39	2,580	427	3,225
1994	304	349	68	6,266	216	7,203
1995	261	49	111	7,221	79	7,721
1996	82	61	122	5,464	177	5,906
1997	264	268	32	3,452	120	4,136
1998	333	174	362	4,248	344	5,471
1999	83	106	51	2,343	106	2,689
2000	417	95	129	1,169	101	1,911
2001	163	48	44	2,428	114	2,697

Fuel Prices

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has collated on the (a) pump price and (b) levels of tax and duty of unleaded petrol and diesel in each EU country. [20552]

Mr. Boateng: The information requested can be found in the HM Customs and Excise "Hydrocarbon Oils Factsheet".

Small Businesses

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his specific target for reducing the compliance costs of small businesses with reference to paragraph 3.36 of CM 5318; and how he intends to measure progress. [20481]

Dawn Primarolo: Details of the consultation announced in paragraph 3.36 of CM 5318, the pre-Budget report 2001, were given in the pre-Budget report press notice REV/C&E 1 "Boosting investment and growth for small businesses". Ministers will consider the wider implications for small companies when considering any proposals to simplify the corporation tax computation that arise from the consultation.

RenewCo

Mrs. May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer against what criteria the ONS was determining the treatment of RenewCo in the national accounts. [18775]

Ruth Kelly [holding answer 27 November 2001]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from John Kidgell to Mrs. Theresa May, dated 4 December 2001:

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question concerning against what criteria the ONS was determining the treatment of RenewCo in the national accounts. I am replying in his absence. (18775).

The criteria ONS used in determining the national accounts treatment of Renewco are those specified in the international statistical manuals, namely the 1995 European System of Accounts and the 1993 System of National Accounts. Within the European Union, member states' implementation of these guidelines is subject to scrutiny by Eurostat (Commission) and national accountants in other member states.

Mrs. May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice the ONS gave the Treasury on the treatment of RenewCo in the national accounts. [18774]

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Ruth Kelly [holding answer 27 November 2001]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from John Kidgell to Mrs. Theresa May, dated 4 December 2001:

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question concerning what advice the ONS gave the Treasury on the treatment of RenewCo in the national accounts. I am replying in his absence. (18774)

ONS is responsible for the UK's national accounts, and, therefore, for the classifications of institutions and transactions within them. The Treasury applies the same classifications within public sector finances.

In the case of RenewCo, the Treasury consulted the ONS, at various times, on how ONS would classify the institution within the national accounts. The ONS provided the following advice, on the following dates.

On 3 April 2001 provisional advice was given, based on the provisional information provided to ONS, that RenewCo would be classified as a private sector institution.

Following the lifting of confidentiality restrictions the case was examined by the ONS's Public Sector Classification Committee, which on 14 June 2001 confirmed the earlier provisional advice.

On 27 July 2001 advice was given that RenewCo's planned receipts from the Strategic Rail Authority would be scored under the National Accounts heading "other capital transfers".

On 26 September 2001 advice was given that, based on new information HM Treasury had provided on changes to the contract, the case would need to be re-examined.

On 5 October 2001 provisional advice was given, based on the provisional information provided, that borrowing by RenewCo (now referred to as NGCL) would be classified as public sector borrowing.

Copies of the letters giving advice are available from the Library of the House.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the involvement of the Office for National Statistics in negotiations between the Strategic Rail Authority, the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions and Railtrack about Renewco. [20416]

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

Letter from John Kidgell to Chris Grayling, dated 4 December 2001:

The National Statistician has been asked to answer your question about the classification of RenewCo. I am replying in his absence. (20417)

I have already given details of the advice given and the dates in my reply to Theresa May MP, which appeared in Hansard.

Pensions

Mr. Illsley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many members of group personal pension plans there are in the age groups (a) 18 to 35, (b) 36 to 45, (c) 46 to 50, (d) 51 to 55, (e) 56 to 60 and (f) 61 to 74 years. [18602]

Mr. McCartney: I have been asked to reply.

Information on the ages of members of group personal pension plans is not recorded separately from that of all personal pensions.

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Mr. Illsley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many group personal pension plans there were in 2000–01; and how many individual members of them there were. [18601]

Mr. McCartney: I have been asked to reply.

Information on the number of group personal pension (GPP) plans is not recorded centrally as no distinction is made between different types of personal pension.

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