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Economic Activity

Sue Doughty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rates of economic activity were recorded in each of the last five years in (a) the UK and (b) each region, broken down by (i) age and (ii) sex. [107430]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Sue Doughty, dated 7 April 2003:

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Energy Efficiency

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what fiscal measures or instruments he plans to use to encourage (a) registered social landlords, (b) private landlords, (c) local authorities and (d) other public bodies acting as landlords to install the most efficient heating systems in their properties; [106791]

John Healey: The Government have already introduced a range of measures to promote energy efficiency in the home. Budget 2000 reduced the rate of VAT to 5 per cent. on the grant-funded installation of new central heating systems and heating appliances. Budget 2002 extended the reduced rate of VAT to the grant-funded installation of factory-insulated hot water tanks, micro combined heat and power systems, and renewable energy heating systems in the homes of the less well-off.

Budget 2001 introduced 100 per cent. first-year enhanced capital allowances (ECAs) for designated energy-saving plant and machinery.

The ECA scheme enables businesses to write-off the whole cost of their investment in designated energy-saving equipment against the taxable profits of the period during which the investment is made. In the commercial sector, energy service companies can claim ECAs on their spending on qualifying equipment. Special rules enable them to claim allowances where, as part of a comprehensive energy services agreement, they provide equipment that becomes a fixture on another person's land in which they have no interest.

The Government's Affordable Warmth Programme supports the installation of modern energy efficient central heating systems in low- income homes, including registered social landlord homes. The equipment is leased to the landlord and where the equipment is designated energy-saving equipment. Special rules enable the lessor to claim the enhanced capital allowances. The benefit can be passed on in the form of lower rental charges.

The Government consulted on economic instruments to improve household energy efficiency during 2002 and a summary of responses has been published on the

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Treasury website. In his pre-Budget report in November 2002 the Chancellor announced that the Government will consult further on specific measures to promote greater energy efficiency by households, once the responses to the initial consultation have been fully considered.

The Government have also introduced other measures to improve energy efficiency and tackle fuel poverty in the domestic sector, including the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) and Warm Front. This commitment requires gas and electricity suppliers to encourage and assist their domestic customers to reduce energy consumption and to meet targets for quantified energy savings. At least 50 per cent. of the benefits from the EEC currently go to households on income and disability related benefits.

Since its launch in June 2000, the Warm Front Scheme, which provides packages of insulation and heating measures worth up to £2,500 to private sector households in receipt of certain benefits, has assisted over half a million households, helping improve the comfort levels and living conditions of some of the most vulnerable members of society.

EU Directives

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the EU Directives and Regulations which have been implemented by his Department since 17 April 2002. [106827]

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury plays a leading role in the UK's EU policy on financial services and tax. Since 17 April 2002, the Treasury has led on the implementation of 10 Directives:


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I am not aware of any further directives being implemented since 17 April 2002, but the Department does not keep a central record of this information and it could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

EC Regulations are, in general, directly applicable in the member states, without the need for further incorporation into national law. However, some Regulations require UK measures to make them workable and enforceable. Some Regulations enact small or technical amendments. As far as we have been able to verify, the number of Regulations implemented by HM Treasury since 17 April 2002 is three:


Fair Trade

Mr. Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce concessions for Fair Trade companies for (a) capacity building activities and (b) capital investment programmes. [107736]

Dawn Primarolo: The Government are committed to supporting ethical trading wherever possible and provides significant support to the Fairtrade Foundation's efforts in promoting the supply and marketing of fair trade products. All taxes are kept under review and any proposals for new taxes and tax reliefs will be considered as part of the normal Budget process. Since 1997 the Government have introduced incentives to benefit all companies including, cuts in the rates of corporation tax and permanent 40 per cent. first year allowances.

Health Insurance

Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on low income families of his decision to end the tax exemption of trading surpluses of non-mutual, not-for-profit health cash plan providers; [105851]

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John Healey: There has been no change to the underlying tax rules that are used when determining the mutual trading status of health cash plan providers. Tax exemption continues to apply to providers which meet the requirements for mutual trading or which have amended their constitutions and membership rules in order to comply with them.

The Inland Revenue reviewed the status of these organisations in 2000, following an inquiry which discovered that the conditions of mutual trading were not being met by some providers. During that review, the Inland Revenue considered whether the necessary legal requirements of mutuality were being met in cases where mutual trading had been claimed.

No representations were made to Treasury Ministers during the Inland Revenue review. Inland Revenue held discussions with the representative body of these providers, and offered not to apply the changed treatment retrospectively and to allow a grace period for the providers to decide how to operate in future. No assessment can be made of the impact of this review, which will depend on decisions taken by individual providers.


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