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Income Tax
Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out for each of the last five years, in total, for employment income and self-employed income, for income ranges (a) £5,000, (b) £5,000–£10,000, (c) £10,000–£15,000, (d) £15,000–£20,000, (e) £20,000–£30,000, (f) £30,000–£50,000 and (g) £50,000 plus, the number of people paying income tax, the total amount raised and proportion of UK totals in each nation and region of the UK; and if he will provide estimates for 2002–03 where available. [37567]
Dawn Primarolo: The information requested has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
Tax Returns
Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 693W, if he will update his reply to take account of the advice on the Inland Revenue website (at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/workingtogether/ tax-net-prov-figs.htm) under the heading, Tax Returns and Provisional Figures Update; and if he will make a statement. [35105]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 14 February 2002]: Based on earlier legal advice and understanding of the law the Inland Revenue's practice was to reject as unsatisfactory any return that contained a provisional or estimated figure that did not have an adequate explanation or indication of when a final figure would be supplied.
Following an appeal against a late filing penalty the Inland Revenue sought fresh legal advice. From 23 October 2001, because of this new advice, the Inland Revenue now accept that a customer has made a return which contains an unexplained estimated or provisional figure and does not indicate when the final figure will be supplied.
A detailed explanation of the new position was published on the Inland Revenue's internet site and in their Tax Bulletin 57 published in January 2002.
Consumer Debt Advice
Mr. Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce financial advice bureaux to provide consumer debt advice and counselling. [37473]
Ruth Kelly: Good consumer debt advice and counselling can be vital to individuals with serious financial difficulties. That is why we welcome it being
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widely available though Citizens Advice Bureaux, National Debtline, other independent advice centres, the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) and local authority advice centres, all of which provide free help to those in difficulties. These are already funded by a combination of central and local government, and industry support channelled through the Money Advice Trust and CCCS.
In addition recent reports by the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux and the Consumer Policy Institute, as well as proposals from the Financial Services Authority in their Consultation Paper 121, focus attention on the way financial advice is delivered and funded. We are following the debate that has accompanied those initiatives closely.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the role of the Financial Services Authority in consumer debt advice and counselling. [37474]
Ruth Kelly: The Financial Services and Markets Act 2001 gives the Financial Services Authority (FSA) specific objectives:
- to promote public understanding of the financial system, including promoting awareness of the benefits and risks of investments and other financial dealing, and the provision of appropriate information and advice, and
to secure the appropriate degree of protection for consumers.
In the future a new FSA mortgage regime will regulate advice on the largest debt most people are ever likely to enter into.
The FSA seeks to ensure consumers are better able to make informed choices and achieve fair deals. An understanding of credit and debt and the role they play in financial planning is an essential part of this. To help ordinary consumers understand and use their rights the FSA operates a dedicated consumer website including a section on credit and debt, produces publications dealing, for example, with mortgages and unfair contract terms, and has developed materials to support work in schools. The latter includes material aimed at developing financial capability for pupils aged 14 to 19 that specifically addresses credit and debt.
The FSA does not duplicate the work done by others. Instead it provides links where appropriate to the more detailed specialist information provided by agencies such as the Citizens Advice Bureaux and other local government and voluntary initiatives.
Where the FSA is contacted by people with debt problems it refers them to the appropriate agency such as their local CAB or the National Debtline.
Railtrack
Mrs. May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance he has received from the ONS on the definition of a company limited by guarantee as a replacement for Railtrack in the national accounts. [37274]
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 Len Cook to Mrs. Theresa May, dated 26 February 2002:
- As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on what guidance has been received from the ONS on the definition of a company limited by guarantee as a replacement for Railtrack in the national accounts. (37274)
- In October 2001 ONS provided provisional statistical classification advice on plans for a company limited by guarantee. This provisional advice was that the company would be classified as a private non-financial corporation, if the detailed plans were developed as discussed. ONS will update this advice when detailed plans for the company have been finalised.
Mrs. May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the impact of Railtrack in administration will be on the PSBR. [37277]
Mr. Andrew Smith: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer given to the hon. Member for Vale of York (Miss McIntosh) on 4 December 2001, Official Report, column 202W.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 702W, on Railtrack, in what way the disclosure of information on the consultations on draft legislation would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussions. [37759]
Mr. Andrew Smith: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave her on 25 February 2002, Official Report, column 1052W.
National Savings
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a breakdown of the main components of the cost of re-branding National Savings; and what the cost was of advertising the name change in national newspapers. [37170]
Ruth Kelly: As a key part of its marketing strategy, all costs associated with the re-positioning have been met from National Savings and Investments' existing marketing and running costs budgets. The costs of communicating the name change and a new 24 hour, seven days a week telephone service in the national newspapers is £430,000. A breakdown of the main components of the re-positioning of National Savings and Investments is as follows:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| Promotion to current and potential customers | 1.1 |
| Programme of cross business/internal communication, training and implementation to staff of National Savings and Investments (120 staff), Siemens Business Services (2,000 staff), and Post Office Ltd. (17,500 branches). | 0.4 |
| Development and design fees for corporate identity and advertising and media fees. | 0.6 |
| Total | 2.1 |
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Film and TV Industry
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received concerning use of tax allowances by (a) independent film makers and (b) television producers. [36108]
Dawn Primarolo: The Chancellor receives numerous budget representations from various sources. All taxes are kept under review and decisions are made as part of the normal Budget process.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria he uses when determining tax allowances for (a) independent film makers and (b) television shows and soap operas. [36109]
Dawn Primarolo: There are three main measures providing enhanced tax relief for the production or acquisition of film, Sections 40A to D of the Finance (No. 2) Act 1992, Section 42 of the same Act, and Section 48 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 1997. The measures are designed to promote growth, employment, investment and opportunities in the British film industry.
Transport 10-Year Plan
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 12 February 2002, Official Report, column 243W, on funding for the 10-year transport plan, whether there will be a decrease of £1.962 billion for payment over the years 2006–07 to 2011–12. [37227]
Mr. Andrew Smith: Of the £1.962 billion figure, £1.5 billion reflected the advancement of direct grants due to Railtrack in future control periods. The long-term savings resulting from this advancement of grant will be one of a number of factors to be taken into account in this year's review of the Ten Year Plan.
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