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28 Jan 2003 : Column 744W—continued
Construction Industry Scheme
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what impact the extension in application of the Construction Industry Scheme to the fitting out of commercial properties has had on (a) landlords, (b) tenants and (c) other non-construction sector enterprises; whether a regulatory impact assessment has been made following the recent changes; and if he will make a statement. [93367]
Dawn Primarolo: There have been no recent changes to the scope of the Construction Industry Scheme. Whether the scheme applies to the fitting out of commercial premises depends on the commercial arrangements between the parties concerned. This has always been the case.
Dormant Accounts
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the total amount of assets residing in dormant accounts and intestate estates held by (a) banks, (b) building societies, (c) credit unions and (d) the post office; [92347]
- (2) what assessment he has made of (a) the British Bankers Association scheme and (b) the Building Societies Association scheme to assist customers in tracing dormant accounts and intestate estates. [92349]
Ruth Kelly: We welcome both these schemes. As stated in the discussion document "Next Steps on Volunteering and Giving in the UK", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House, we believe that a more comprehensive unclaimed assets scheme for the voluntary and community sector has considerable attractions. We intend to work constructively with the banks, financial institutions and the voluntary and community sector to reach a shared understanding of the assets involved, of how things can be improved and how a comprehensive database might be achieved that would lead to a considerable increase in charities' income.
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to introduce legislation to place a statutory duty on banks, building societies, credit unions and the Post Office to trace owners of dormant accounts; [92348]
- (2) what plans he has to introduce legislation to enable the transfer of assets held in dormant accounts and intestate estates held by banks, building societies, credit unions and the Post Office into an independently managed dormant accounts fund, if the rightful owner or heir is not traced. [92350]
HMS Nottingham
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2003, Official Report, column 403W, on HMS Nottingham, which Department of State is paying for the cost of transportation of HMS Nottingham on a heavy lift ship. [93028]
Mr. Ingram: I have been asked to reply.
28 Jan 2003 : Column 745W
The cost of transporting HMS Nottingham back to the United Kingdom on a heavy lift ship will be met by the Ministry of Defence from within existing funds, and by flexing of priorities if necessary.
Inland Revenue
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the level of real spending in the Inland Revenue in each year from 1985–86 to 2002–03, using 2000–01 prices; and if he will make a statement. [91721]
Dawn Primarolo: The real expenditure on the Inland Revenue Department's administration, quoted at 2000–01 prices is as follows:
| Expenditure | |
|---|---|
| 1985–86 | (2)— |
| 1986–87 | 1,647.3 |
| 1987–88 | 1,718.1 |
| 1988–89 | 1,668.6 |
| 1989–90 | 1,748.0 |
| 1990–91 | 1,833.8 |
| 1991–92 | 1,919.7 |
| 1992–93 | 1,914.6 |
| 1993–94 | 2,007.7 |
| 1994–95 | 1,845.9 |
| 1995–96 | 1,871.7 |
| 1996–97 | 1,810.3 |
| 1997–98 | 1,771.7 |
| 1998–99 | 1,810.3 |
| 1999–2000 | 1,929.0 |
| 2000–01 | 2,096.0 |
| 2001–02 | 1,991.0 |
| 2002–03 | (3)— |
(2) Information unobtainable within the timescale.
(3) Full-year expenditure details not yet available.
Notes:
1. 1999–2000—The Inland Revenue took on the Contributions Agency and Family Credit Unit.
2. 1999–2000—The reported expenditure from this year forward has been reported under the resource accounting, that is accruals, basis. Prior to this the figures were reported under a cash basis.
Landfill Tax Credit
David Burnside: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to revise the operation of the landfill tax credit in Northern Ireland. [93270]
John Healey: As announced in the pre-Budget report, the Government will continue a reformed tax credit scheme which will make available approximately a third of the funding that is currently going through the landfill tax credit scheme, around £47 million per year, for spending on local community environment projects. The figure of £47 million will be kept broadly constant in real terms, which will ensure that the current level of support for these types of projects is maintained. The Government are considering how this successor tax credit scheme, which will apply throughout the UK, may be changed to take account of the most serious criticisms of the current scheme made by bodies including the Public Accounts Committee. The Government will set out its plans for reform of the scheme on a Budget timetable.
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The remainder of the funding which would otherwise be going through the landfill tax credit scheme, around £100 million in 2003–04, will be allocated to public spending to encourage sustainable waste management.
This spending will be a devolved matter, and it will be for the Northern Ireland Assembly or, during a period when the Assembly is suspended, Northern Ireland Office Ministers to determine how to allocate these funds to sustainable waste management activities in Northern Ireland.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Afghanistan
Mr. Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was spent on aid to Afghanistan in 2002; and what will be spent in 2003. [93143]
Clare Short: The international community provided approximately $1.8 billion to Afghanistan in 2002. DFID's contribution is over £55 million in the 2002–03 financial year so far.
Donor's contributions for 2003 have yet to be finalised, although there are indications that it will be broadly similar to last year.
Computer Misuse
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many cases of computer misuse there were in her Department in each of the last five years, broken down by each category of misuse; and how many of those cases resulted in disciplinary action. [93045]
Clare Short: I am pleased to advise that we have had no recorded cases of computer misuse in the last five years in my Department.
Ethiopia
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with the Defence Secretary regarding safeguards on military aid to Ethiopia. [92862]
Clare Short: Our Country Assistance Plan for Ethiopia includes a commitment to consideration of how we might help Ethiopia reform its security sector. The first step towards this will be a joint DFID/FCO/MOD scoping mission in early April 2003.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the impact of Ethiopia's debt burden on poverty levels in Ethiopia. [92863]
Clare Short: Ethiopia qualified for interim debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative at decision point in November 2001. In the current Ethiopian financial year, this will reduce external debt service payments by 54 per cent. and allow an increase in poverty-targeted expenditure of around 1.3 per cent. of GDP. Ethiopia has now completed its Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, called "Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Programme".
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This sets out the policy action framework not only for spending the savings from debt relief, but also for allocating all other aid and Government revenue, so that they have the greatest impact on poverty reduction.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of human rights violations by (a) the Ethiopian Government and (b) the Ethiopian military. [92864]
Clare Short: We take allegations of human rights abuses in Ethiopia seriously, regularly raising concerns both bilaterally and through the EU. The Ethiopian Government set out plans in its Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper to make progress in these areas. Our response is set out in our newly agreed Country Assistance Plan for Ethiopia.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of (a) the freedom of the press and (b) the independence of the judiciary in Ethiopia. [92865]
Clare Short: The Ethiopian Government set out plans in its Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper to make progress in these areas. Our response is set out in our newly agreed Country Assistance Plan for Ethiopia.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of levels of political and ethnic violence in Ethiopia. [92866]
Clare Short: We have covered these issues in our newly agreed Country Assistance Plan for Ethiopia, which will be available on the DFID website in February 2003.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of Ethiopia's total debt burden will be relieved if Ethiopia completes the HIPC Initiative; and when she expects Ethiopia to complete the HIPC Initiative. [92867]
Clare Short: We expect Ethiopia to reach completion point under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative in 2004, at which stage, it will receive an irrevocable reduction in its debt stock. Total debt relief is expected to be US$1.9 billion in nominal terms, which is equivalent to 47 per cent. of the net present value of debt service. The British Government are concerned that no country should exit the HIPC process with an unsustainable level of debt. Where necessary, we therefore support the provision of additional debt relief at completion point—so called 'topping up'—for countries such as Ethiopia which, since decision point, have suffered shocks which reduce their export earnings and ability to service their debts.
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