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National Insurance

Mr. Woodward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's income in 2001–02 was on national insurance on earned income from (a) employers and (b) employees. [47631]

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to Appendix 6 of Cm5383—Report by the Government Actuary on the drafts of the social security benefits up-rating order 2002 and the social security (Contributions) (re-rating and National Insurance Funds payments) order 2002.

Mr. Woodward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of revenue for financial year 2001–02 if top band taxpayers paid national insurance on unearned income. [47634]

Dawn Primarolo: If higher rate taxpayers paid national insurance on their taxed investment income then this would yield some £¼ billion in 2001–02. This estimate is based on the Survey of Personal Incomes.

Mr. Woodward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's income on national insurance is from taxpayers in the 40 per cent. income tax band. [47632]

Dawn Primarolo: The Government Actuary's Department estimate that some £6 billion primary class 1, class 2 and class 4 accrue in 2001–02 from higher rate taxpayers.

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Tax Credit Fraud

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the extent of fraud in tax credits; what assessment he has made of the Inland Revenue benchmarking exercise of fraud in tax credits; and if he will publish the benchmarking exercise. [46899]

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 5 February 2002, Official Report, column 815W.

Unearned Income Tax

Mr. Woodward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are paying tax at 40 per cent. on unearned income. [47633]

Dawn Primarolo: In 2001–02 some two million taxpayers were liable to tax at the higher rate on their investment income. This estimate is based on the Survey of Personal Income.

Alcohol Imports

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce a system of prior-approval for legitimate import of alcohol for personal use. [46979]

Mr. Boateng: The vast majority of people who import alcohol for personal use enter the UK without encountering any fiscal checks. A system of prior- approval would represent a significant restriction on movement of goods and people. It would be costly to introduce and could be held to contravene the UK's long-standing obligations under the Treaties of the European Union.

Alcohol Duty

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive the proposals from the EU on minimum duty rates on alcoholic drinks. [46978]

Mr. Boateng: The Commission proposals on EU minimum duty rates on alcoholic drinks are long overdue and are expected later on this year.

Performance Targets

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if the PSA target for UK revenue evasion prevention (a) was met in 2000–01 and (b) will be met in 2001–02; [47675]

(2) when the PSA target for HM Customs and Excise to pay 100 per cent. of undisputed invoices within 30 days will be met; [47691]

(3) if the PSA target for HM Customs and Excise to set up a virtual call centre structure to support the introduction of a national helpline for VAT, excise and customs freight by 31 March will be met; [47683]

(4) what recent assessment he has made of whether the HM Customs and Excise target of 18,500 detections of import and export irregularities will be met by the end of the Comprehensive Spending Review period; [47671]

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(5) what recent assessment he has made of whatever the PSA target to ensure that by 2005 100 per cent. of HM Customs and Excise services are offered electronically, and that the take-up rate for these services is at least 50 per cent., will be met; [47679]

(6) if the PSA target for HM Customs and Excise to increase its electronic communications with traders from 29 per cent. to 58 per cent. of potential dealing by 31 March will be met; [47687]

(7) what recent assessment he has made of whatever the PSA target to improve value for money in HM Customs and Excise by achieving average annual productivity gains of at least 2.5 per cent. per year until March 2004, without detriment to accuracy or customer satisfaction, will be met; [47677]

(8) what recent assessment he has made of whether the PSA target in HM Customs and Excise to stabilise the level of smuggling in 2001–02 will be met; [47693]

(9) if the PSA target for HM Customs and Excise to have identified annual savings of at least £5 million on estate spending by 31 March will be met on time; [47685]

(10) if the target for the number of detections of indecent or obscene material featuring children, a performance indicator listed on page 49 of the 2001 departmental report of HM Customs and Excise, (a) was met in 2000–01 and (b) will be met in 2001–02; [47673]

(11) what recent assessment he has made of whatever the PSA target to limit the market share taken by smuggled goods will be met on time; [47681]

(12) if the PSA target for HM Customs and Excise to implement the Procurement Review by 31 March will be met; [47689]

(13) if the PSA target for HM customs and Excise to collect the amount of forecast UK revenue yield from indirect taxes (a) was met in 2000–01 and (b) will be met in 2001–02; [47676]

(14) if the PSA target for HM Customs and Excise to reduce sickness absence by 2001 was met; [47684]

(15) if the PSA target for HM Customs and Excise to increase customer satisfaction by 6 per cent. in VAT, customs freight and excise will be met in 2001–02; [47672]

(16) what improvements have taken place in 2001–02 in the level of compliance with Customs and statistical requirements of businesses engaged in international trade; [47680]

(17) what recent assessment he has made of whether the PSA target for the reduction in sickness absence in HM Customs and Excise by 2003 will be met; [47688]

(18) what reductions in the costs to business of compliance with the main UK duties and taxes payable to HM Customs and Excise were achieved in 2001–02; [47678]

(19) what recent assessment he has made of whether the PSA target for HM Customs and Excise to assess requests for international technical assistance against its overall objectives and strategic priorities and to provide a first class service to sponsors and recipients to achieve the agreed goals will be achieved in 2001–02; [47670]

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(20) if the PSA target for HM Customs and Excise to review at least 60 per cent. by value of its services by March will be met; [47686]

(21) if the PSA targets for HM Customs and Excise to reduce the availability of drugs in the UK (a) were met in 2000–01 and (b) will be met in 2001–02; [47674]

(22) if the PSA target in HM Customs and Excise for 75 per cent. of the members of the Government Procurement Service in key designated posts to have, or to be working towards, a graduate level procurement qualification by 31 March 2000 was met. [47690]

Mr. Boateng: Information on performance against targets in 2000–01 is set out in the Customs and Excise's Report and Financial Statements published on 25 March 2002 (Cm 5309). Information on progress against targets in 2001–02 will be published in Customs' forthcoming departmental report.

Carrier Bags

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue to HM Exchequer which would result from the imposition of a tax on carrier bags in the UK at the same rate as in Eire. [47576]

Mr. Boateng: The Government keeps all taxes under review, but has not calculated the revenue that such a tax would bring.

Post-conflict Assistance Accounts

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress was made on post-conflict assistance accounts for countries which have not reached decision point under the HIPC Initiative at the Financing for Development in Mexico. [46658]

Mr. Boateng: There was no formal discussion on the Post Conflict Assistance Account at the UN Financing for Development Conference. However, the Post Conflict Assistance Account has been successfully established and has already provided assistance for six countries. The Department for International Development was the first contributor to this account, and the Government will continue to press for other countries to contribute.

Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to discuss the Poverty Reduction Strategy papers under preparation with the IMF and World Bank at their Spring Meeting in April 2002, with particular reference to the (a) financial resources required to achieve the 2015 development targets, (b) creation of a post-conflict assistance account and (c) definition of debt sustainability. [46883]

Mr. Boateng: We expect the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings to cover a broad range of issues of relevance to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; including support HIPC Initiative and support for countries emerging from conflict and the need to increase the level and effectiveness of finance for development.

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In addition, the Government will continue to press for action to ensure that HIPC countries leave the process with sustainable levels, and that in particular each country will have its debt sustainability reviewed at Completion Point and will receive additional debt relief as appropriate.

The Post-Conflict Assistance Account had been set up following last Spring Meetings and the UK has been the first country to contribute to this fund. Several countries have already benefited from this account and the Government will continue to press for other donors to contribute.

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