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Anglo-Scottish Ministerial Meetings

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many formal and official inter-ministerial meetings his Department has held with the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by (a) Scottish Executive Department, (b) subject and (c) date. [72721]

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Mr. Boateng: Treasury Ministers meet Scottish Executive Ministers on occasion on a range of subjects.

White Van Imports

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many vehicles have been impounded by HM Customs and Excise in respect of white van imports since 1 January 2000. [72505]

John Healey: Customs' centrally held information on vehicle seizures does not differentiate the types of vehicle seized as outlined in the answer given by the former Financial Secretary (Paul Boateng), to the hon. Member for Guildford (Sue Doughty), on 3 December 2001, Official Report, column 65W. The total number of vehicles seized for all excise offences across the whole of the UK was 5,200 in the financial year 1999–2000, and 10,219 for the year 2000–01. Figures for 2001–02 will be published in the context of the overall performance of the 'tackling tobacco smuggling' strategy later in the year.

Hearing Aids

Rachel Squire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to exempt from tax the hearing aids required for hearing impaired people to pursue employment. [72203]

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Perth (Annabelle Ewing) on 11 July 2002, Official Report, column 1104W.

Mr. Tynan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will change the rules so that hearing aids paid for by employers are exempt from tax. [71717]

Dawn Primarolo: The Government are continuing to remove barriers to work and ensure that disabled people do not face discrimination in the work place. Regulations came into force on 9 July 2002 to ensure that benefits for disabled employees which may be used both in and out of the work place, such as a hearing aid, will not be liable to a tax charge.

Non-domicile Tax Status

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what methodology the Inland Revenue is using to assess the number of individuals claiming non-domicile tax status; what the cost is of such status; what other work is being undertaken as a result of the review announced in paragraph 5.83 of the 2002 Budget; and if he will make a statement. [70274]

Dawn Primarolo: In his Budget statement, the Chancellor announced a review of the residence and domicile rules as they affect the tax liabilities of individuals. The work of the review is being undertaken by officials. As part of that work the Inland Revenue will be carrying out various fact-finding exercises, drawing on a range of sources.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when the EU Customs Code Committee on customs warehouses and free zones is next due to meet;

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whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement; [71834]

John Healey: The following table indicates when the various EU Committees are next due to meet.

EU Committee(14)Next meeting (2002)
Transit16 September
Customs warehouses and free zones25 September
Customs Valuation23 September
Movement of air or sea passengers' baggage (technical problems)(15)—
General Customs RuleDate to be arranged
Counterfeit and Pirated Goods3 September
Customs Procedure with Economic Impact25 September
Favourable Tariff Treatment (Nature or End-use of Goods)25 September
Single Administrative DocumentDate to be arranged

(14) There is no EU VAT or Customs Committee on the recovery of claims other than that on mutual assistance.

(15) This Committee has not met in the past five years and has no outstanding items under consideration. No further meetings have been timetabled.


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The UK is normally represented by one or two officials from HM Customs and Excise on each of these Committees. The Customs delegates at these Committees represent all of the UK.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the European Advisory Committee on statistical information in the economic and social spheres (CEIES) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [71838]

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

Letter from John Pullinger to Angus Robertson, dated 24 July 2002:


The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your parliamentary question concerning the EU European advisory committee on statistical information in the economic and social sphere (CEIES). I am replying in his absence. (71838)
The European advisory committee on statistical information in the economic and social sphere (CEIES) next meets on 22nd November 2002. In addition to the National Statistician there are 2 UK members who serve in a personal capacity. Members do not represent individual interests or organisations.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the EU Committee on monetary, financial and balance-of-payments statistics is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [71826]

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

Letter from John Pullinger to Angus Robertson, dated 24 July 2002:


The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your parliamentary question concerning the EU Committee on monetary, financial and balance-of-payment statistics. I am replying in his absence. (71826)
The EU Committee on monetary, financial and balance-of- payments statistics is due to meet at the end of January 2003. The exact date of the meeting is not yet fixed.
The Scottish Executive has never attended and is not a member.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the EU Committee on the harmonisation of the compilation of gross national product at market prices is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [71833]

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

Letter from Mr. John Pullinger to Mr. Angus Robertson, dated 24 July 2002:


The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your parliamentary question concerning the EU Committee on the harmonisation of gross national product at market prices. I am replying in his absence. (71833)

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The EU Committee on the harmonisation of gross national product at market prices is due to meet on 5th November 2002.
The terms of reference of the committee relates to methodology for compilation of National Accounts, which is a reserved issue. The Scottish Executive has never attended and is not a member.

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