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National Insurance
Mr. Swire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total number of (1) employees with earnings above the national insurance contribution ceiling; [22241]
- (2) earnings by employees in excess of the national insurance contributions ceiling. [22240]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 17 December 2001]: It is estimated that total earnings over the Upper Earnings Limit of £500 per week for Class 1 Employee Contributions in 1999–2000 were £48.3 billion; and that the average weekly number of employees earning over £500 per week during 1999–2000 was 3.8 million.
These estimates were provided by the Government Actuary's Department and are the latest available figures.
War-risk Insurance (Airline)
John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money has been given to each airline to underwrite their third party war risk insurance. [22964]
Mr. Andrew Smith: The Government have not given money to UK airlines to underwrite their third party war risk insurance. The scheme set up by the Government on
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24 September provides cover to fill the gap in the market; airlines are offered insurance above that which is currently available in the market up to the level at which they were insured before the terrorist attacks on the US.
Airlines and aviation service providers are charged a commercially based premium for cover under the scheme, although for the first month of the scheme charges were waived for airlines in recognition of the particular financial difficulties they faced in the immediate aftermath of 11 September. Premiums charged to airlines and service providers are in line with European guidelines.
Before 11 September, war and terrorism insurance was included in the premium for the airlines' primary policy. The airlines still hold this: the premiums charged for Government insurance are over and above the premiums for the primary policy.
Working Families Tax Credit
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 December 2001, Official Report, column 203W, on working families tax credit, how many people are in receipt of the various components of working families tax credit with a final income of (a) 20 to 30 per cent., (b) 30 to 40 per cent., (c) 40 to 50 per cent., (d) 50 to 60 per cent., (e) 60 to 70 per cent., (f) 70 to 80 per cent., (g) 80 to 90 per cent. and (h) 90 to 100 per cent. more than initial income. [22667]
Dawn Primarolo: It is estimated from the Family Resources Survey that, under the working families' tax credit (WFTC) regime applying to awards starting from June 2001, the numbers of such families are in the following table:
| Percentage increase in final net income(7)over initial net income(7) | Families (Thousands) |
|---|---|
| (a) 20 to less than 30 | 180 |
| (b) 30 to less than 40 | 120 |
| (c) 40 to less than 50 | 90 |
| (d) 50 to less than 60 | 50 |
| (e) 60 to less than 70 | 30 |
| (f) 70 to less than 80 | 40 |
| (g, h)(8) 80 to less than 100 | 30 |
(7) Final net income is as projected, including estimated entitlement to WFTC, housing benefit (HB) and council tax benefit (CTB). Initial net income if this less the estimated entitlement to WFTC, plus any consequent increase in estimated entitlement to HB and CTB.
(8) The sample size is too small to yield separate reliable estimates for (g) and (h).
Notes:
1. Estimates are derived from 1999–2000 FRS with incomes projected forward to 2001–02 and assuming the 2001–02 regimes for income tax and national insurance contributions. They are subject to sampling error.
2. Survey results are calibrated to the number of families on maximum WFTC awards yielded by administrative data.
Business Administration
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses in the Buckingham constituency are
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(a) administering working families tax credit, (b) providing access to stakeholder pensions and (c) administering repayment of student loans. [22639]
Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses in the Epsom and Ewell constituency are (a) administering working families tax credit, (b) providing access to stakeholder pensions and (c) administering repayment of student loans. [23425]
Dawn Primarolo: The information is either not available, or could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Exchange Rate
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the 2001 IMF Article IV, consultation Concluding Statement, assessment of the impact of the level of the pound on the manufacturing sector; and if he will make a statement. [23758]
Ruth Kelly: The Government's latest forecast for manufacturing output was published in the pre-Budget Report (Cm 5318) and takes account of all relevant factors, while Annex A, Box A5 discusses recent developments in the manufacturing sector.
Benefits (Fareham)
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in the Fareham constituency (a) received and (b) were entitled to (i) WFTC, (ii) DPTC and (iii) child tax credit in (A) 2000–01 and (B) 2001–02. [22983]
Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the numbers in the Fareham constituency receiving the working families tax credit (WFTC) and the disabled person's tax credit are published in the respective Quarterly Inquiries, copies of which are in the Library. The estimates for WFTC are however based on 5 per cent. samples of awards, and are therefore subject to sampling error. No estimates are available of the numbers in Fareham who are eligible for those tax credits.
It is estimated that about five million families will benefit from the children's tax credit for 2001–02. Figures for each constituency are not available, but it is estimated that about 675,000 of these families are in the south-east (excluding London).
Journalists
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what EU funds are available to (a) train and (b) facilitate the activities of journalists; and what representations he has made on them. [22935]
Ruth Kelly: The Community budget is implemented by the European Commission in accordance with the Treaty, EC legislative decisions and the amounts agreed annually by the budgetary authority (Council and European Parliament). Any individual or organisation may make a case to the Commission for support from the budget; for example there is an EC subsidy available for the "Journalists in Europe" association.
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Annuities
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will amend the rules governing annuities so that it is not compulsory for pensioners to translate all relevant funds into an annuity at the age of 75. [22738]
Ruth Kelly: The Government's policy on annuities and proposals for reform will be set out in a consultation document which will be published shortly.
Carbon Trust
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the forecast cost of the Carbon Trust over (a) the present and (b) the subsequent three financial years. [20471]
Mr. Meacher: I have been asked to reply.
The Carbon Trust's first year funding from Government and the devolved Administrations is expected to be around £50 million, from Climate Change Levy receipts and the Government's Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme.
For the following two years it is anticipated that the Trust will continue to receive funding of around £50 million per year from the Government and devolved Administrations subject to relevant parliamentary approvals. The forecast funding of the Carbon Trust beyond this time is subject to the outcome of forthcoming Spending Reviews.
PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
Staff Numbers
Mr. Bercow: To ask the President of the Council how many people were employed in his Department in each of the last four years. [23792]
Mr. Robin Cook: The information requested is as follows:
| Year | Number of staff(9) |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 33 |
| 1998–99 | 31 |
| 1999–2000 | 29 |
| 2000–01 | 41 |
(9) As published in The Departmental Report 2001, Cm 5199, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.
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