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Utility Costs
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the change in cost of utilities has been arising from the pilot study of the working of section 74A of the New Roads and Streetworks Act 1991; [70378]
- (2) what his estimate is of the likely annual change in cost of utilities to the average household following the national implementation of section 74A of the New Roads and Streetworks Act 1991; [70377]
(3) if he will place in the Library a copy of the assessment of the pilot study of the working of section 74A of the New Roads and Streetworks Act 1991; and when this will be available. [70379]
Mr. Jamieson: Pilot schemes to test powers under which local authorities can charge utility companies "lane rental", under section 74A of the New Roads and
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Streetworks Act 1991, began on 4 March 2002 in Camden and Middlesbrough. No decision has yet been taken on whether to make these powers available nationally. However, the Government have appointed Halcrow to measure the impact of lane rental, in terms of its effect on the level of disruption caused by utility works, the costs which it imposes on those utilities, and the possible impact on utility customers.
Halcrow are due to deliver their first report to my Department, covering the first few months of the scheme, later this year. I will arrange for copies of their report to be placed in the Library of the House in due course.
Ladbroke Grove Inquiry
Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many train operating companies have not implemented recommendation 69 of the Ladbroke Grove public inquiry report. [69868]
Mr. Jamieson: Recommendation 69 was that
- "the provision on board of explanatory information about the emergency facilities of individual trains is endorsed".
Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he takes to verify that Lord Cullen's recommendations in the Ladbroke Grove public inquiry report have been implemented. [69867]
Mr. Jamieson: The Government have asked the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) to ensure that all recommendations are implemented. HSC published progress reports covering the six-month recommendations from Lord Cullen's 1 and 2 reports on 20 March and 23 May, respectively. In the autumn, HSC will publish a report that will cover progress on all 295 railway safety recommendations arising from the recent railway public inquiries.
Vehicle Excise Duty
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much revenue has been raised by vehicle excise duty in each of the last five years. [70182]
Mr. Jamieson: The figures, in millions and net of rebates and refunds, are as follows:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1996–98 | 4,252 |
| 1997–98 | 4,487 |
| 1998–99 | 4,855 |
| 1999–2000 | 4,738 |
| 2000–01 | 4,941 |
River Thames
Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the recommendations made by Lord Justice Clarke to increase safety on the River Thames. [71290]
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Mr. Jamieson: On 29 November last year I announced that I had, that day, placed in the Libraries of the House an updated summary of the action taken on each of Lord Justice Clarke's 74 recommendations. I have placed a further update in the Libraries of the House today.
Roads (At-work Accidents)
Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what targets the Government have set for reducing death and injuries to Government employees at work while on the road. [66669]
Mr. Alexander: I have been asked to reply as Minister for the Civil Service.
No specific targets have been set for reducing deaths and injuries to civil servants at work while on the road. The Government and Health and Safety Commission have, however, set a broad based target to reduce the rate of all fatal and major injury accidents by 10 per cent. by 2010. This target covers all accidents reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Deaths and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. This includes the reporting of accidents to employees at work on the road, but not generally work-related traffic accidents.
A high level forum has also been established to explore ways in which the civil service can act as an exemplar for reducing all accidents to its employees.
TREASURY
VAT
Alan Howarth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much irrecoverable VAT was paid, in each of the last three years for which information is available, in respect of the activities of the university museums and galleries which have collections that have been designated by Resource as outstanding. [70039]
John Healey [holding answer 15 July 2002]: There is no requirement for such bodies to record VAT that cannot be recovered. As a consequence this information is unavailable.
Mis-selling
Mr. Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints of mis-selling of (a) endowment policies and (b) other financial products by (i) tied agencies and (ii) independent financial advisers have been made to the Financial Services Authority in each of the last five years. [70370]
Ruth Kelly: The Financial Services Authority, as regulator, makes rules for IFAs and for tied agents. These include rules designed to prevent mis-selling and rules which require regulated firms to follow specified complaints procedures. Where firms are unable to resolve complaints themselves, FSA rules require them to allow complainants to pursue their complaints with the Financial Ombudsman Service and to comply promptly with an ombudsman's decision.
The FOS has provided the following figures for complaints handled either by itself or by its predecessor bodies.
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| IFAs | Percentage | Tied Agents | Percentage | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 2,312 | 15.84 | 12,283 | 84.16 | 14,595 |
| 2000–01 | (11)— | — | (11)— | — | 9,067 |
| 1999–2000 | (11)— | — | (11)— | — | 3,135 |
| 1998–99 | (11)— | — | (11)— | — | 2,856 |
| 1997–98 | n/a | — | n/a | — | 2,751 |
(11) See table 3.
| IFAs | Percentage | Tied agents | Percentage | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 1,952 | 15.76 | 10.434 | 84.24 | 12,386 |
| 2000–01 | (12)— | — | (12)— | — | 8,019 |
| 1999–2000 | (12)— | — | (12)— | — | 6,112 |
| 1998–99 | (12)— | — | (12)— | — | 5,642 |
| 1997–98 | n/a | — | n/a | 4,042 |
(12) See table 3.
| IFAs (percentage) | Tied agents (percentage) | |
|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 15.8 | 84.2 |
| 2000–01 | 13.9 | 86.1 |
| 1999–2000 | 14.9 | 85.1 |
| 1998–99 | 15.5 | 84.5 |
(13) Breakdown figures are not available for the separate categories of investment complaints.
Pharmaceutical Companies
John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what tax incentives exist to encourage donations of medicines to developing countries by UK-based pharmaceutical companies. [70495]
John Healey: Clause 55 of the Finance Bill 2002 will remove a potential tax charge on corporate donations of medical supplies and equipment made for humanitarian purposes. It will also make the cost of delivering those gifts tax deductible and will apply to goods donated on or after 1 April 2002. Similar tax treatment is already available under section 83A of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 for gifts in kind made to United Kingdom charities by businesses.
Statistics Commission
Barbara Follett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Statistics Commission's annual report and accounts for 2001–02 will be published. [71293]
Ruth Kelly: The Statistics Commission's annual report and accounts, covering the 2001–02 financial year, are being published today having been laid before both Houses of Parliament. Copies are available in the Vote Office and Printed Paper Office.
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