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13 Mar 2003 : Column 377W—continued
TREASURY
Working Hours
Mr. Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) Wales work less than 16 hours a week. [102780]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Nigel Evans, dated 13 March 2003:
- As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about people who work less than 16 hours a week by country of residence. (102780)
- The attached table gives the information requested for the three-month period ending November 2002. These estimates are from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). They are not seasonally adjusted.
| Thousands, not seasonally adjusted | |
|---|---|
| UK | 2,422 |
| England | 2,084 |
| Wales | 98 |
| Scotland | 190 |
| Northern Ireland | 50 |
(5) Total usual weekly hours worked in main job, including paid and unpaid overtime.Note:
These Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates are Not Seasonally Adjusted (NSA) and have not yet been adjusted to take account of the Census 2001 results.
Source:
ONS Labour Force Survey
Accountancy Services
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost to his Department was for accountancy services in 2002. [101568]
Ruth Kelly: This information is not held in the format required, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
13 Mar 2003 : Column 378W
Advertising Costs (Scotland)
Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Department spent on advertising in Scotland in each year since 1999 on (a) television, (b) newspapers, (c) radio, (d) magazines, (e) billboards and (f) sporting events. [102335]
Ruth Kelly: The information is as follows:
| 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TV | — | — | — | — | — |
| Newspapers | — | 26,966.00 | 45,466 | 11,7l6.6l | 84,148.61 |
| Radio | — | — | 20,128.95 | 7,897.45 | 28,026.40 |
| Magazines | — | — | — | — | — |
| Billboards | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sporting events | — | — | — | — | — |
| TOTAL | — | 26,966.00 | 65,594.95 | 19,614.06 | 112,175.01 |
Valuation Office Agency
The detailed breakdown requested is not available. However, the total amount spent on advertising in Scotland was as follows:
| Total spent on advertising | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 35 |
| 2000–01 | 0 |
| 2001–02 | 0 |
| 2002–03 | (6)146.87 |
(6) To date
Inland Revenue
It is not possible to separate out costs for all media as this is generally bought on a UK wide basis. Where this is possible separating out spending for Scotland would incur disproportionate costs.
National Savings and Investments
| 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TV | 218,466 | — | — | — | 218,466 |
| Press | 13,245 | 3,510 | 6,107 | 18,183 | 41,045 |
| Billboards | — | — | — | 38,316 | 38,316 |
| Radio | — | — | — | — | 0 |
| TOTAL | 231,711 | 3,510 | 6,107 | 56,499 | 297,827 |
Source:
DDS, Outdoor Connection
The figures for press relate only to Scottish newspapers.
Royal Mint
The Royal Mint advertises in the UK media but does not currently break down spend geographically below this level.
No expenditure was incurred by the Treasury, the Office for National Statistics, the Office of Government Commerce, the Debt Management Office and the Government's Actuary's Department.
13 Mar 2003 : Column 379W
Economic Instruments
Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the selective use by the EU of economic instruments where the aim is to influence environmental behaviour. [102473]
John Healey: Economic and market-based instruments are one of the range of instruments that can be used to influence environmental behaviour. As stated in the European Economic Reform White Paper 'Realising Europe's Potential', published in February 2002, the Government are in favour of the use of such instruments at Community level where these are most appropriate.
The voluntary agreements with car manufacturers on carbon dioxide emissions from new cars and the forthcoming EU Emission Trading Scheme are good examples of the community, with the Government's support, developing economic and market-based instruments where these are most appropriate to address environmental issues with a strong trans-boundary or single market dimension.
Generally, the Government will only allow departures from member states' freedom to set tax rates and bases where there are strong, specific reasons for the UK to do so which would otherwise be undermined by a lack of community level action. For example, the Government recognise that there are strong and specific reasons to agree common approaches to tackle climate change. Otherwise, for example, businesses could relocate within the EU to member states that did not tax the causes of climate change—thereby not reducing climate change at all.
For this reason, the Government are prepared to agree to the proposed EU energy products directive that would increase the minimum rates of duty on road fuels within the EU and introduce minimum rates on some other energy products. This proposal is currently being discussed in Brussels and the Government expect that agreement will be reached on it shortly. However, the Government believe that member states should be free to tax more than the minimum rates if they wish to do so.
Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he takes to ensure that his use of economic instruments is consistent with sound environmental practice; if proposals for tax changes are always subject to prior environmental impact assessment; and if he will make a statement. [102474]
John Healey: The Chancellor takes account of all relevant social, economic and environmental factors when deciding taxation policy. The environmental impacts of Budget measures are taken into account in the Budget decision-making process. The impacts of any measures which have a significant environmental effect are published in the Budget and pre-Budget report documents.
The document 'Tax and the environment: using economic instruments', published with the 2002 pre-Budget report, sets out how the Government use an evidence-based approach based on an assessment of costs and benefits when developing environmental policy measures.
13 Mar 2003 : Column 380W
Foundation Hospitals
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what request he has recently made to the Office of National Statistics in relation to confirming the correct accounting treatment for the classification of the borrowings of foundation hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [101620]
Mr. Boateng [holding answer 10 March 2003]: Treasury officials consult ONS about the national accounts treatment of new institutions as a matter of routine. Treasury officials sent a letter to ONS on the 3 February 2003 with the full involvement of DH officials. This was a routine inquiry and not undertaken by Ministers.
Fuel Tax
Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account he has taken of the trends in relative transport costs of (a) car, (b) bus and (c) train over the last 30 years in determining his policy on fuel tax for private vehicles. [102480]
John Healey: The Chancellor takes into account all relevant social, environmental and economic factors when setting road fuel duty rates.
IT Projects
Mr. Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list each information technology project being undertaken by his Department and its agencies including (a) the start date, (b) the planned completion date, (c) the current expected completion date, (d) the planned cost and (e) the current estimated cost; and if he will make a statement. [98223]
Ruth Kelly: The information has been placed in the Library.
Landfill Tax
Mr. Swire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to enable the administration of the new landfill tax credit scheme. [102343]
John Healey: From 1 April 2003 the landfill tax credit scheme will be capped at a value of around £47 million per year for spending on local community environmental projects, ensuring that the current level of support for these projects is maintained. The Government have been considering the detailed administration and criteria for the successor scheme in consultation with stakeholders and are considering how the management of the scheme might be improved to ensure greater transparency and accountability, more attention to value for money, and better evaluation of projects. The Government will set out their plans for reform on a Budget timetable.
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