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Capital Gains Tax
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which organisations have made representations to the Treasury since 7 June 2001 concerning the structure of capital gains tax taper relief; and if he will make a statement. [39901]
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Ruth Kelly: As is normal in the run up to the Budget, the Government have received a number of representations from a variety of organisations. The pre-Budget report said:
- "The Government are considering the various proposals it has received in response to the consultation launched in June 2001 on value for money options to simplify CGT within the existing policy framework. It is also considering whether there is any case for changes to the CGT regime for non-business assets."
Ruth Kelly: The Government's reform of capital gains tax generated a large number of representations, some in response to the consultation announced by the Chancellor in his Budget on 2 July 1997, some outside that consultation. A comprehensive list of all the parties concerned could be produced only at disproportionate cost. We are grateful to the many individuals and organisations who took the trouble to let us know their views. Their ideas fed into the reforms that the Government made to capital gains tax in 1998 and subsequently.
Press Releases
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many press releases were issued by his Department (a) between 1 May and 31 December 1997 and (b) in each year from 1998 to 2001 inclusive. [40042]
Ruth Kelly: The information is as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1 May-31 December 1997 | 129 |
| 1998 | 239 |
| 1999 | 283 |
| 2000 | 151 |
| 2001 | 154 |
Press and Public Relations
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were employed in a press or public relations function in his Department on 1 January in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002. [39931]
Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) on 5 December 2001, Official Report, column 328W.
Relocation Expenses
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the payment of relocation expenses to staff in his Department. [40976]
Ruth Kelly: Treasury policy on the payment of relocation expenses is that assistance can only be given in the form of reimbursement of reasonable vouched expenses actually and necessarily incurred.
Email Mailing List
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of
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days that the Treasury's email mailing list system has been operational since 1 January 2001; and if he will make a statement. [40813]
Ruth Kelly: The Treasury's email mailing list system was set up more than seven years ago and has historically proven very reliable. Since January 2001, the system has encountered some technical difficulties and become difficult to maintain. Over the last 14 months the service has been out of operation for approximately four to six weeks. Where possible, the Treasury internet team have informed subscribers when the service is not available.
The Treasury's Information Services team are currently evaluating alternative systems that should prove more reliable. In the meantime, Members interested in seeing lists of recent Treasury press notices can find them on the Treasury's website at http://www.treasury.gov.uk/ Newsroom_and_Speeches/.
Intrastat System
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what use is made by the Government of the statistical information obtained from Intrastat returns. [40836]
Ruth Kelly: HM Customs and Excise collect statistics for intra Community trade via the Intrastat system. Statistical data are supplied to other Government Departments to enable them to carry out their economic and strategic obligations.
Data from Intrastat returns are a necessary component of the Office for National Statistics' (ONS) monthly trade first release and is a significant part of the Quarterly Balance of Payments (BOP) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data. The data appear in three economic indicators that are widely used across Government, in particular in HM Treasury and the Bank of England, to assess the economic performance of the UK.
A number of other Government Departments and devolved Administrations with policy interests in overseas trade, such as the DTI and the Welsh Assembly Government use the data for their own needs. It is used to evaluate global markets and in the development of regional international trade strategies.
The Defence Analytical Services Agency uses the data for reporting the export and import of defence equipment and the defence balance of payments for trade in services and for estimating UK employment dependent on defence equipment exports.
The Defence Export Services Organisation uses the information for the reporting of statistics on exports of military equipment, published in the annual report on Strategic Export Controls.
Customs supply data to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for, among other uses, compiling Government reports, e.g. BSE and foot and mouth.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he plans to simplify the classification system used to identify products under the Intrastat system. [40837]
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Ruth Kelly: HM Customs and Excise collect statistics for intra-Community trade via the Intrastat Supplementary Declaration. Declarations can be submitted on paper or electronically.
Intrastat, including the classification system used to identify products, is governed by European legislation. There are currently no plans to simplify the classification system.
Insurance Cover (Overseas Treatment)
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the availability of insurance cover for medical treatment overseas for injuries received from terrorist activities. [41189]
Ruth Kelly: We receive a great many representations from both industry and individuals.
Insurance cover for medical treatment overseas, including for injuries received from terrorist activities, continues to be available in the UK marketplace.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Publicity Expenditure
Mr. Bercow: To ask the President of the Council what assessment he has made of the total real terms expenditure of his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies on publicity in each of the years (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000, (d) 2000–01 and (e) 2001–02 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole of the present year; and if he will break these figures down to indicate expenditure on (A) advertising and (B) press and public relations. [36169]
Mr. Robin Cook: No expenditure has been incurred by my Department on publicity.
Union Duties
Mr. Bercow: To ask the President of the Council how many staff in his Department, agencies and non- departmental public bodies receive paid leave to undertake union duties; how many days they are allocated; and what has been the cost to public funds in each of the last four years. [36199]
Mr. Robin Cook: No staff in my Department have received paid leave to undertake union duties.
Entertainment Costs
Mr. Bercow: To ask the President of the Council if he will list for 1997–98 and each subsequent financial year the amount spent by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies in respect of hotel and other similar privately-provided accommodation (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad for (A) Ministers, (B) staff and (C) other persons; if he will list the proportion of this cost incurred in respect of (x) food and (y) alcohol in each case; and if he will list the average cost per hotel room or similar unit of accommodation provided in each case. [34377]
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Mr. Robin Cook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 14 February 2002, Official Report, columns 559–60W.
Mr. Evans: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how much was spent on entertainment by the Lord Chancellor's Department in each year from 1997 to date. [40067]
Mr. Wills: Estimated expenditure by both officials and Ministers on entertainment for the financial year 2000–01 was £60,768, in 1999–2000 was £71,166 and in 1998–99 was £45,087. Information for 1997–98 is not readily available.
These figures differ from those previously provided by the Department in an earlier answer in the previous Parliament on 8 May 2001, Official Report, column 55W. The reason for the discrepancy is that a significant amount of expenditure that should not have been included in the total for entertainment had been miscoded as such by officials. The majority of the miscoded amount was for working lunches for panel members conducting interviews of candidates for judicial office. The effect was to overstate the true figure by approximately 20 per cent. for each of the three years covered above in the 8 May 2001 answer.
I apologise to the House for this mistake. The errors resulted from an incomplete understanding of existing guidance by staff and the Department has drawn the attention of budget management staff to the correct procedures to be followed. Comprehensive guidance is to be re-issued before the end of the financial year.
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