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30 Jan 2003 : Column 999W—continued
Landfill Tax Credit Scheme
Mr. Flook: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of unpaid volunteers involved in schemes funded by the landfill tax credit scheme. [94085]
John Healey: No estimate has been made of the number of unpaid volunteers involved in projects funded by the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. However, the Government are conscious of the good work they do, and is committed to promoting volunteering, as outlined in the discussion document "Next Steps on Volunteering and Giving in the UK", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Volunteers can make an enormous contribution to our society, in helping to meet social and environmental challenges.
Mr. Flook: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of private funds attracted by the public funds provided by the landfill tax credit scheme in each year since its inception. [94086]
John Healey: No precise figures are held on the quantity of match funding obtained by projects funded through the landfill tax credit scheme. However, a study by Glasgow Caledonian University for Entrust, the scheme's regulator, has estimated that on average waste management and recycling projects have levered in approximately 34 per cent. additional funding in addition to landfill tax credit scheme funding.
Ministerial Travel
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) international and (b) domestic travel costs were of each Treasury Minister in each year since 2000. [94377]
Ruth Kelly : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office, on 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 334W.
Mortgage Equity
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of mortgage equity withdrawal was in each quarter since 1997. [94395]
Ruth Kelly: Figures on mortgage equity withdrawal are produced by the Bank of England and can be found on their website at www.bankofengland.co.uk/mew.xls.
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has commissioned into the effect mortgage equity withdrawal has on the UK economy; and if he will make a statement. [94410]
Ruth Kelly: Full consideration is given to such effects in the assessments of economic developments and prospects published by the Treasury in Pre-Budget and Budget Reports.
Public-Private Partnerships
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 21 November
30 Jan 2003 : Column 1000W
2002, Official Report, column 280W, on PPP and PFI, what plans he has to review the system of assessing whether a PFI deal is on or off balance sheet. [94423]
Mr. Boateng: None. The Government's policy when accounting for PFI contracts is to follow Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (GAAP). In particular, Application Note F to Financial Reporting Standard 5—Private Finance Initiatives and Similar Contract complemented by the Treasury Taskforce Technical Note No. 1 (Revised) 'How to Account for PFI Transactions'.
The balance sheet treatment of particular assets procured through PFI is audited by the National Audit Office or, where applicable, the Audit Commission, not the Government.
Rebated Gas Oil
John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 16 January 2003, Official Report, column 752W, on rebated gas oil, what criteria are used in determining whether red diesel can be used by a vehicle. [94028]
John Healey: The Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979 sets out the circumstances in which rebated (or "red") diesel can be used in vehicles.
HM Customs and Excise Notice 75—"Fuel for road vehicles"—explains this and is available from either the Customs National Advice Service (tel: 0845 010900) or from the Customs website (www.hmce.gov.uk).
Stock Market
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions his Department has had with representatives of (a) business, (b) the insurance sector and (c) the pension fund sector on the value of the FTSE 100 share index. [94390]
Ruth Kelly: Ministers and officials regularly meet representatives from business and the financial sector and discuss a range of issues.
Tax Harmonisation
Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he (a) has had and (b) intends to have with his European counterparts concerning harmonisation of VAT and corporation tax levels as a result of Franco-German agreement concerning the future of the European Union. [92768]
Dawn Primarolo : The Government have made it quite clear that the harmonisation of VAT and corporation tax levels is not the way forward for Europe.
Tobacco Smuggling
Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 20 January 2003, Official Report, column 48W, on tobacco smuggling, when the Government expect to publish their response to the Committee of Public Accounts' report on tobacco smuggling. [94018]
30 Jan 2003 : Column 1001W
John Healey: The Government will publish their response to the Committee of Public Accounts' report on tobacco smuggling in the normal way by Treasury Minute.
Diversity Programme
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost of the HM Treasury (a) diversity action plan and (b) diversity programme in each year since 1997–98. [93447]
Ruth Kelly: The Treasury's diversity awareness programme was introduced in spring 2001. The cost of the awareness programme is met from within
Feedback Programme
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was of the HM Treasury 360 degree feedback programme in each of the last three years; how many HM Treasury staff went on this programme; what its purpose is; and if he will make a statement. [93446]
Ruth Kelly: The Treasury has in place a 360 feedback programme as part of its drive to improve leadership skills and in response to the Cabinet Office target that all of the Senior Civil Service should go through a 360 feedback and personal development programme. To date, 115 people have taken part in the programme, including 42 people below the Senior Civil Service. The cost of the programme was met from within the Treasury's existing DEL.
Staff (Pay)
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the highest percentage pay rises were among HM Treasury staff in each year from 1997; which staff received these pay rises; and if he will make a statement. [93442]
Ruth Kelly: The information is as follows:
| Year | Percentage increase | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 7.4 | Increase due to exceptional performance and relatively low existing salary |
| 2000–01 | 15.1 | Increase due to exceptional performance and relatively low existing salary |
| 2001–02 | 15.0 | Increase in the range minimum |
| 2002–03 | 7.6 | Increase due to exceptional performance and relatively low existing salary |
To provide the percentage pay rises for the years 1997 and 1998 the cost would be disproportionate.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the average percentage pay rise in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03 for HM Treasury staff, broken down to show (i) all staff and (ii) Senior Civil Service staff; and if he will make a statement. [93444]
Ruth Kelly: The information is as follows:
30 Jan 2003 : Column 1002W
| 2001–02 | 2002–03 | |
|---|---|---|
| Below Senior Civil Service (%) | 4.4 | 4.2 |
| Senior Civil Service (%) | 5.0 | 8.4 |
WORK AND PENSIONS
Family Incomes
Mr. Keith Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families had an income below £10,000 a year in each of the last five years.[94439]
Malcolm Wicks: The information is in the table:
| Percentage | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 16 |
| 1998–99 | 15 |
| 1999–2000 | 13 |
| 2000–01 | 12 |
| 2001–02 | 11 |
Notes:
1. Figures are based on a total income of £10,000 at 2001–02 prices. Constant prices are worked out on the basis of survey year, for instance, April 2001 to March 2002.
2. The estimates are based on sample counts that have been adjusted for non-response using multi-purpose grossing factors that control for tenure type, council tax band and a number of demographic variables. Estimates are subject to sampling error and remaining response bias.
3. Total income is income from all sources for all adults and children, including tax credits.
4. Total income has not been adjusted for family size.
Source:
Family Resources Survey (Great Britain).
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