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Euro
Paddy Tipping: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of British overseas trade takes place using the euro. [59111]
Ruth Kelly [holding answer 24 May 2002]: Customs and Excise conduct an annual survey of trade invoices used by British business for the import and export of goods between the UK and the rest of the world. The survey indicates the extent to which UK traders use the euro as a means of payment for international trade.
The most recent figures are for 2000 and show that 9 per cent. of EU trade was invoiced in euros, compared to 50 per cent. in sterling. For non-EU trade, 1 per cent. was invoiced in euros, compared to 54 per cent. in US dollars.
The results for 2001 will be released by end June.
Financial Services Authority
Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Financial Services Authority about changes in fees charged to WI markets under the Registrar of Friendly Societies. [59434]
Ruth Kelly [holding answer 24 May 2002]: The Treasury maintains a regular dialogue with the Financial Services Authority to help both institutions discharge their responsibilities effectively. This has included discussion of fees for which the FSA is responsible in relation to its registration of industrial and provident societies (formerly registered by the Registrar of Friendly Societies).
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Public Consultations
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the public consultations undertaken by his Department since June 2001, stating in each case the (a) number of respondents and (b) percentage of those specifically consulted who responded. [60153]
Ruth Kelly: All public consultations undertaken by the Treasury are listed on the Treasury's website (http:// www.hm-treasury.gov.uk).
Data on consultations are not held centrally and could not be collected except at disproportionate cost.
Bee Diseases Insurance Ltd.
Mr. Paice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from Bee Diseases Insurance Ltd. regarding the impact of tax and regulatory costs. [60321]
Dawn Primarolo: The Government receive a number of representations from a variety of organisations regarding a range of different issues.
Population Statistics
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of men and women in England who will be at each age from 18 to 30 years in 2010. [59714]
Ruth Kelly: The latest projections of the number of men and women aged 18 to 30 in England in the year 2010 are given in the following table:
| Age | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 348 | 332 |
| 19 | 354 | 339 |
| 20 | 350 | 335 |
| 21 | 350 | 337 |
| 22 | 356 | 344 |
| 23 | 350 | 340 |
| 24 | 350 | 340 |
| 25 | 351 | 341 |
| 26 | 341 | 331 |
| 27 | 345 | 332 |
| 28 | 345 | 330 |
| 29 | 349 | 333 |
| 30 | 352 | 338 |
Source:
Government Actuary's Department, 2000-based national population projections
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the numbers of (a) men and (b) women in England at each age from 18 to 30 years. [59713]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. Barry Sheerman, dated 10 June 2002:
- The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question concerning the number of men and women in England at each age from 18 to 30 years. I am replying in his absence. (59713)
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- The estimates of the number of people of these ages are available for mid-2000 on the National Statistics website at www.statistics.gov.uk. The specific address for the mid-2000 population estimates is: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/ theme_population/PENo3/PENo3_v3.pdf and from this page you should select Table 4 for the data you require.
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the percentages of 17 year olds in England who reside (a) with both their natural parents, (b) with one parent and a step-parent, (c) with a single parent, (d) with adoptive or foster parents, (e) in custody or in care and (f) independently. [59709]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Barry Sheerman, dated 10 June 2002:
- The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on the percentage of 17 year olds in England who reside (a) with both their natural parents, (b) with one parent and a step-parent, (c) with a single parent, (d) with adoptive or foster parents, (e) in custody or in care and (f) independently. I am replying in his absence. (59709)
- Estimates of the percentages of 17 year olds living in private households in 2001 in England in the first four of these categories may be made using the Labour Force Survey, and are shown in the table below.
| Percentage | |
|---|---|
| (a) with both natural parents | 64 |
| (b) with one parent and a step-parent | 8 |
| (c) with a lone parent | 21 |
| (d) with foster parents | 0.2 |
| (e) other family and non-family situation | 7 |
Source:
Labour Force Survey
Some information for category (e) is available from the Department of Health and the Home Office. The total number of 17 year olds in care (including those in foster care) in 2001 in England was 4,000, representing about 0.7 per cent. of the total. In addition, there were 1,456 young offenders aged 17 in custody in England and Wales in 2000, about 0.2 per cent. of the total.
Small Businesses
Mr. Paice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the changes to the tax burden on unincorporated small businesses and of that on incorporated small businesses since 1997. [60319]
Dawn Primarolo: Since 1997 the Government have introduced numerous measures to help both incorporated and unincorporated business, including: making 40 per cent. first year capital allowances permanent, implementation of the Carter Review of payroll services, cutting the small companies rate of corporation tax from 23 per cent. to just 19 per cent., introducing a 10p starting rate of income tax and introducing measures to ease the impact of VAT on small business.
Tax Credits
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to publicise the increased children's tax credit for families in which a child has recently been born. [58764]
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Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue has arranged for application forms for children's tax credit to be placed in "Bounty packs" which are given to mothers at around the time of the birth of their baby. Information is also including in the pack that Bounty provide for mothers during pregnancy and for when their baby is about three to five months old. Additionally, a parent may get an application form by ringing the Inland Revenue helpline on 0845 300 1036 or downloading it from the Inland Revenue's website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk.
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people he expects to start claiming (a) the child tax credit and (b) the working tax credit, in (i) April 2003, (ii) October 2003 and (iii) April 2004. [58753]
Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the "The Child and Working Tax Credits" in the series 'The Modernisation of Britain's Tax and Benefit System, Number 10, April 2002', which states that around 5¾ million families are expected to benefit from the child tax credit. Some of these families will also receive the working tax credit as will other low-income working households. Families with children receiving income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance will not need to make a separate claim for the new tax credits. During the transition period, they will continue to receive IS/JSA but with enhanced child premia rates.
Corporation Tax
Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on double taxation treaties of disallowing the discounting of financial costs against the supplementary charge on oil and industry corporation tax. [58744]
Dawn Primarolo: The supplementary charge should be creditable under most of the UK's double taxation agreements, but this is ultimately a matter for our treaty partners.
Mr. Pollard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to extend the reduction in corporation tax to small companies that trade as unincorporated businesses; and if he will make a statement. [60245]
Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Djanogly) on 20 May 2002, Official Report, column 2624W.
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