You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and Records > Hansard > Commons Debates > Commons Debates by date > Commons Debates - previous sessions > Bound Volume Hansard - Written Answers
Previous Section Index Home Page

Aggregates Levy

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the European Commission has given state aids approval for the proposed phasing in of the Aggregates Levy in Northern Ireland. [46311]

Mr. Boateng: We are confident of getting state aid approval from the European Commission shortly for the phasing-in of the levy for aggregates used in processed products in Northern Ireland. The relief will be backdated to 1 April to ensure that no levy is paid on aggregate used to make these products in 2002–03.

Private Finance Initiative

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the difference was between the price offered in reaching preferred bidder stage and the final contract price for the five largest PFI contracts let by his Department in each of the last four years; and if he will make a statement. [45595]

Ruth Kelly [holding answer 25 March 2002]: The difference between the price offered in reaching preferred bidder stage, and the final contract price for PFI contracts let in the last four years is #11 million per annum. The difference is primarily attributable to the Department's changing requirements between preferred bidder announcement and final contract award.

Money Laundering

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the benefits of restricting the use of cash for payment for goods and services in excess of a determined figure as a means of tackling money laundering; and if he will make a statement. [46202]

Ruth Kelly [holding answer 25 March 2002]: HMT will shortly consult on proposals for revision of the 1993 Money Laundering Regulations, implementing the Second EC Money Laundering Directive and taking into account changes made in the Proceeds of Crime Bill. In this context we will be considering all options to tackle money laundering, in consultation with law enforcement agencies, industry stakeholders and consumers.

26 Mar 2002 : Column 857W

Public-Private Partnerships

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the difference was between the price offered in reaching preferred bidder stage and the final contract price for PPP contracts let by his Department in each of the last four years; and if he will make a statement. [45610]

Ruth Kelly [holding answer 25 March 2002]: The Department has not let any PPP contracts over the last four years.

Road Pricing (Lorries)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to make a statement on road pricing for lorries. [45300]

Mr. Boateng: The Government published a consultation document XModernising the Taxation of Haulage" alongside Pre-Budget Report 2001. The consultation closed on 8 February. The Government is now considering all responses. Any changes to taxation policy would be a matter for the Budget.

Comprehensive Spending Review

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to ensure that sustainable development concerns are integrated into the comprehensive spending review process; and if he will make a statement. [28296]

Mr. Andrew Smith: As part of their submission to the Spending Review, departments with a Public Service Agreement have been requested to produce a Sustainable Development Report identifying the sustainable development impacts of their policy priorities. Specific guidance on this aspect of the Spending Review has been circulated to departments and made publicly available. Departmental Sustainable Development Reports are one element of the Spending Review submissions that Ministers will consider and will contribute towards the wider evidence-base of the Spending Review.

Manufacturing Work Force

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each constituency in England the percentage of the work force engaged in manufacturing in (a) 1990, (b) 1997 and (c) at the most recent date for which figures are available. [46205]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 25 March 2002:


26 Mar 2002 : Column 858W

Electoral Registers

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Harris) of 31 January 2002, Official Report, column 450W, on electoral registers, what guidance he has given to financial institutions needing to obtain electoral registers to carry out their obligations under the Money Laundering Regulations; and if he will make a statement. [46451]

Ruth Kelly: Guidance notes advising financial institutions how to fulfil their obligations under money laundering legislation are produced by industry associations such as the Joint Money Laundering Steering Group, rather than by the Government. HM Treasury is working closely with DTLR, which has lead responsibility for electoral matters, to ensure that institutions are able to meet their legal requirements under any new regulations on sale of the electoral register.

Parliamentary Questions

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the hon. member for Truro and St. Austell's question of 15 January concerning sustainable development and the 2002 spending review; and if he will make a statement. [46574]

Mr. Andrew Smith: I have done so today and I have also written to the hon. Gentleman concerning his earlier question.

SCOTLAND

Correspondence

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the average response time was for responding to departmental correspondence; what percentage of letters took longer than one month for a response; and what percentage took longer than three months for a response in each of the last five years. [37450]

Mrs. Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.

The information is collected in such a format where calculating the average response time could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, information relating to our own 15 working day response target is as follows:

in 1999, out of 409 cases, 81.42 per cent. were replied to within the 15 day target;

in 2000, out of 616 cases, 75.49 per cent. were replied to within the 15 day target;

in 2001, out of 408 cases, 74.26 per cent. were replied to within the 15 day target.

in 1999, 0.73 per cent. of cases took longer than one month for a response; in 2000, no cases took longer than one month for a response; and in 2001 4.41 per cent. took longer than one month for a response.

in no cases has the department taken longer than three months to respond.

26 Mar 2002 : Column 859W

Capita

Mr. Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many contracts the Department has with Capita; and how much they are worth. [38371]

Mrs. Liddell: My Department has no contracts with Capita Group.

Mr. Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by the Department. [39336]

Mrs. Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.

Since that date, no contracts have been awarded to the Capita Group by my Department.

Ministerial Meetings

Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when she plans to meet Railtrack; and how many times she has met them since becoming Secretary of State for Scotland; [39898]

26 Mar 2002 : Column 860W

Mrs. Liddell: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 25 March.

Next Section Index Home Page