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22 Jan 2003 : Column 418W—continued
Public Services Productivity
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 9 January 2003, Official Report, column 360W, on public services productivity, if he will place in the Library a list of attendees for the meetings of the Public Services Productivity Panel for 2000–02; and if he will make a statement. [91745]
Mr. Boateng: The Public Services Productivity Panel is a small group of senior business people and public sector managers that was established to identify ways of improving productivity in the public sector. A list of panel members from 2000–02 will be placed in the Library.
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Sustainable Fuels
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal measures he proposes to encourage the use of sustainable fuels in road vehicles. [91845]
John Healey: The Government's taxation plans are announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his annual Budget. In making his judgment, he considers all relevant economic, social and environmental factors.
Last year, the Government introduced a reduced rate of duty for biodiesel set at 20p per litre less than the prevailing rate for ultra low sulphur diesel.
In the Pre-Budget Report, we announced a reduced rate of duty for bioethanol, to be set at 20p per litre less than the prevailing rate for ultra low sulphur petrol.
The Green Fuel Challenge has resulted in support, in the form of duty exemptions, for pilot projects promoting research into the use of hydrogen, methanol and biogas from landfill sites as fuel for road vehicles.
Tax Returns
Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many self-assessment tax-returns were received by the Inland Revenue, and how many of these that have subsequently been lost (a) in the current financial year to date and (b) in each previous year of the operation of the self-assessment system; and how many complaints were received by the Inland Revenue from taxpayers who claim to have submitted their tax-returns before the self-assessment deadline, but where the Inland Revenue has no such record of such a tax-return being received (i) in the current financial year to date and (ii) in each previous year of the operation of the self-assessment system; [91575]
- (2) if he will make a statement on the loss of self-assessment tax return forms by the Inland Revenue. [91573]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 20 January 2003]: Around 9 million self-assessment return forms are received by the Inland Revenue each year. In an operation of this size a very small proportion of returns may be misplaced. But the Revenue do not keep specific
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data about the number. The Revenue do their utmost to keep to a minimum any inconvenience to taxpayers and do their best to help those affected.
Taxation
Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the income tax receipts foregone, since 1 October 2000, as a result of the Government's policy of levying a lower rate of tax on ultra-low sulphur petrol. [91023]
John Healey: No income tax receipts have been foregone, but the cost to the Exchequer of introducing, in October 2000, a lower duty rate for ultra-low sulphur petrol (ULSP) relative to that for ordinary unleaded petrol, is estimated to be £1,200 million to December 2002. Complete conversion of the UK unleaded petrol markets to these cleaner specification fuels has been achieved.
Thermal Insulation
Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the VAT rate of 17.5 per cent. on the sale of thermal insulation products for private purchasers; and if he will make a statement. [91976]
John Healey: The Government has received numerous representations from members of the public, and others from individual hon. members and businesses. Under long-standing formal agreements with our European partners, we are not able to introduce a reduced rate of VAT for energy-efficient or energy-saving materials sold direct to the public. The Government has pressed the European Commission to bring forward, during this year's review of VAT reduced rates, proposals to allow a reduced rate for energy-saving materials purchased for DIY installation.
Unpaid Tax
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of unpaid tax by each major category of tax for the last year for which information is available; and if he will make a statement. [91716]
Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue's financial account runs from the beginning of November until the end of October. The figures for the period to 25 October 2002, will not be verified until June of this year.