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Working Families Tax Credit

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families are (a) eligible for and (b) in receipt of help with child care costs through the working families tax credit. [25978]

Dawn Primarolo: The numbers of families receiving the child care tax credit within working families tax credit (WFTC) are shown in the WFTC Quarterly Enquiries, copies of which are in the Library.

It is not known how many families are eligible for the child care tax credit.

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost of the working families tax credit was for each financial year to date; and what the projected cost is for (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03, (c) 2003–04 and (d) 2004–05. [28061]

Dawn Primarolo: The figures for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 are shown at Appendix 1 of the Inland Revenue annual report for the year ending 31 March 2001, a copy of which is in the Library. Projections to 2003–04 made at the time of the pre-Budget report of expenditure on the working families' and disabled person's tax credits are shown in Table B15 of the document.

Tax Units

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax units paying a marginal tax rate of 40 per cent. have children; and how many tax units have children. [26282]

Dawn Primarolo: It is estimated from household survey data that there are about 7.5 million families with dependent children (including those aged up to 18 and in full-time further education), and that about 1 million of these contain at least one adult who pays income tax at the higher rate.

Public Sector Current Balance

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cyclically adjusted public sector current balance in cash terms for (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03, (c) 2003–04, (d) 2004–05 and (e) 2005–06. [26104]

Mr. Andrew Smith: Projections for the cyclically- adjusted current budget are published as a percentage of GDP. The latest projections are set out in table B2 on page 165 of the 2001 pre-Budget report.

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Tax Receipts

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what tax receipts are anticipated from the clearing banks for the year 2001–02. [26219]

Ruth Kelly: Forecasts of tax receipts are not available in any more details than that published in Budget and pre-Budget reports.

Scottish Provident Institution

Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 8 January 2002, Official Report, column 802W, to the hon. Member for Colchester (ref. 24558), on the Scottish Provident Institution, what action he has taken in respect of representations he has received about the Scottish Provident Institution and the performance of the FSA in dealing with matters raised by Scottish Provident Action for Membership. [27176]

Ruth Kelly: I understand that Scottish Provident Action for Membership has been in contact with the Financial Services Authority. This is primarily a matter for the company and relevant former policyholders.

Stability and Growth Pact

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the stability and growth pact on the conduct of the United Kingdom's fiscal policy. [27001]

Ruth Kelly: The Government's fiscal policy objectives and fiscal rules are set out in the 2001 pre-Budget report. The pre-Budget report contains projections of the public finances which show that the Government remain on track to meet both their fiscal rules over the cycle, including in the cautious case. The projections are consistent with a prudent interpretation of the stability and growth pact which takes into account the economic cycle, sustainability and the important role of public investment (as specified in Article 104 of the EU treaty).

Public Works Loan Board

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes have been made in the last three years to the quotas for lending to local authorities by the Public Works Loan Board. [27000]

Ruth Kelly: The total quota entitlements for lending to local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales were £4.962 billion in 1998–99, £4.361 billion in 1999–2000 and £5.256 billion in 2000–01. The rules governing the quota entitlement set by the Public Works Loan Board remained unchanged in each of the three years.

Financial Services

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of gross domestic product of (a) the United Kingdom and (b) each region was accounted for by financial services in each of the last four years. [27442]

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 Kidgell to Mr. John Bercow, dated 17 January 2002:

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on the proportion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) accounted for by financial services for the United Kingdom and for the regions and countries. I am replying in his absence. (27442)

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes estimates of Gross Value Added (GVA) at basic prices (previously referred to as GDP) with an industrial breakdown for the 12 regions and countries of the United Kingdom. GVA at basic prices differs from GDP only in that it does not account for taxes or subsidies on products. For estimating proportions GVA and GDP can be treated synonymously.

These data were published as an ONS News Release on 27 February 2001 and in the March 2001 edition of Economic Trends, consistent with the United Kingdom National Accounts "The Blue Book" 2000. These publications are available in the House of Commons Library and on the web at http:// www.statistics.gov.uk/regionalaccounts.

Mr. Gus O'Donnell

Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the presentation and slides produced by Mr. Gus O'Donnell for a seminar with economics undergraduates and students on 30 November 2001; and if he will make a statement. [26556]

Ruth Kelly: The slides have been placed in the House of Commons Library. They were available on the university of Nottingham website following a similar talk given by Mr. O'Donnell at that university on 3 December.

European Central Bank

Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what proposals he has made to reform the European central bank in order to (a) improve policy-making transparency and (b) improve the definition of the inflation target; and if he will make a statement; [26547]

(2) what steps he is taking to secure increased transparency and accountability in the decision-making process of the European central bank; [27464]

Ruth Kelly: As the Chancellor said to the House of Lords Select Committee in January 1999,

"the issues of transparency in decision making, which we dealt with in our reform of the Bank of England and the symmetry of the inflation target, which have proved to be central to the success of the United Kingdom's new monetary framework, will also be issues for future debate in Europe".

Charities (Scotland)

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to respond to recommendation 9 of the McFadden report on a regulatory regime for charities in Scotland. [27142]

Ruth Kelly: We are currently examining issues relating to the partnership in service delivery between the voluntary and public sectors, and how barriers to this partnership might be overcome.

Euro

Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff at the Bank of England are involved in working on the preliminary technical work for joining the euro; and if he will make a statement. [26697]

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Ruth Kelly: The Treasury is in regular contact with the Bank of England on a whole range of issues, including aspects of the preliminary and technical work. But it is clear that the assessment will be a Government assessment, and the work will be undertaken by the Treasury.

Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if there will be a political judgment involved in the decision as to whether or not Britain should join the euro; and if he will make a statement. [26550]

Ruth Kelly: As the Chancellor stated in October 1997, the determining factor underpinning any Government decision on membership of the single currency is the national economic interest and whether the economic case for joining is clear and unambiguous.

Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government's decision to join the euro will be affected by (a) the level of the pound against the euro and (b) the degree of progress on harmonisation in Europe; and if he will make a statement. [26554]

Ruth Kelly: The determining factor underpinning any Government decision on membership of the single currency is the national economic interest and whether the economic case for joining is clean and unambiguous. The five economic tests will define whether a clear and unambiguous case can be made.

Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reforms to the (a) fiscal policy rules and (b) operational arrangements for monetary policy, in relation to members of the Single European Currency, are being sought by the Government before Britain will join the euro; and if he will make a statement. [26553]

Ruth Kelly: The determining factor underpinning any Government decision on membership of the single currency is the national economic interest and whether the economic case for joining is clear and unambiguous.

Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his policy to seek a devaluation of the pound sterling against the euro before Britain joins the single European currency; and if he will make a statement. [26555]

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Financial Secretary, on 3 July 2001, Official Report, column 125W.

Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what budget allocation has been made by his Department for (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03 for carrying out the preliminary technical work for evaluating the five economic tests for membership of the euro; and if he will make a statement. [26544]

Ruth Kelly: No separate budget allocation has been made for this work for either year. The resources needed will be found from the budgets of the several Treasury management units which will contribute to the preliminary and technical work.

Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the (a) officials, (b) special advisers and (c) Ministers of his Department who are involved in the preliminary technical work for joining the euro; and if he will make a statement; [26549]

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(2) how many officials of HM Treasury were involved in the preliminary technical preparations for joining the euro at (a) 1 January 2001, (b) 1 June 2001, (c) 1 December 2001 and (d) the latest date for which data are available; and if he will make a statement. [26551]

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to him on 25 October 2001, Official Report, column 373W.

Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is (a) his estimate of the date on which the Treasury will complete its evaluation of whether the five economic tests for joining the euro have been met and (b) the latest date by which their evaluation is due to be completed; and if he will make a statement. [26552]

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 2 July, Official Report, column 67W.

Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the five economic tests for membership of the euro will have to be met clearly and unambiguously if Britain is to join the euro; and if he will make a statement. [26548]

Ruth Kelly: The determining factor underpinning any Government decision on membership of the single currency is the national economic interest and whether the economic case for joining is clear and unambiguous. The five economic tests will define whether a clear and unambiguous case can be made.

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