| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
18 Jun 2003 : Column 232W—continued
Advertising
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total expenditure on advertising by the Department was in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; and what the level of planned expenditure is for (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05. [114426]
Dawn Primarolo: For (a), I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 19 June 2002, Official Report, columns 387–390W; and for (b), to the Financial Secretary's answer to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 5 March 2003, Official Report, columns 1061–63W. The information relating (i) to 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05 is given in the table.
| Department | (i) 2003–04 | (ii) 2004–05 |
|---|---|---|
| HM Treasury | 0 | 0 |
| Inland Revenue | Not yet available | Not yet available |
| HM Customs and Excise | 2,570,000 | 4,300,000 |
| Office of National Statistics | 0 | 0 |
| Debt Management Office | 529,000 | This information cannot be disclosed.Exemption 6 of the Code of Practice onAccess to Government Information applies |
| Government Actuary's Department | 59,000 | 62,000 |
| Valuation Office Agency | 270,000 | Not yet available |
| Royal Mint | This information cannot be disclosed.Exemption 7 of the Code of Practice onAccess to Government Information applies | See column (i). Exemption 7 applies |
| Office of Government Commerce | 0 | 0 |
| OGC Buying Solutions | 40,000 | 0 |
| National Savings and Investments (NSI) | 2,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
BAE Systems
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish his assessment of the proposals submitted by BAE Systems for the provision of Hawk training aircraft to the Royal Air Force; what matters he raised in representations to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the BAE Systems proposals; and if he will make a statement. [119853]
Mr. Jack: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what instructions he has issued to the Ministry of Defence relating to the purchasing of the BAE Advanced Jet Trainer; [119726]
- (2) if he will make a statement on the factors that will determine Treasury approval for the Ministry of Defence to purchase a new Advanced Jet Trainer for the RAF. [119727]
John Healey: The Ministry of Defence is carefully evaluating the proposals submitted by BAE Systems on the Advanced Jet Trainer. The Secretary of State for Defence will consult Treasury Ministers and other colleagues when this evaluation is complete.
HM Treasury will take all relevant factors into account when considering proposals to provide the armed forces with an Advanced Jet Trainer, including the impact that any decision might have on the economy of the UK. Our objectives on this are clear and are shared across Government. We are determined to ensure that the armed forces get the best possible equipment at the best possible value for money to the taxpayer. We are committed to the Defence Industrial Policy launched last year, and to a globally competitive aerospace industry.
Birth Statistics
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many children were born in 2002–03; and how many women had their first child in that year. [119919]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Willetts, dated June 2003:
- As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the number of children born in 2002–03, and how many women had their first child in that year.
18 Jun 2003 : Column 233W
- Births data for the first quarter of 2003 are not yet available. In the calendar year 2002 there were 596,122 live births in England and Wales. The latest year for which estimates are available that give whether a birth is a mother's first live birth or not is 2001. For that year it is estimated that 248,000 women had a first live birth in England and Wales. There were 594,634 live births in 2001.
Capital Gains Tax
Denzil Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the total yield in a full year of imposing capital gains tax at present rates on the disposal by individuals of their only or main residences. [119369]
Dawn Primarolo: The latest estimated costs of exempting gains arising on disposal of a main or only residence were given in Chapter A of Budget 2003.These costs are not the same as the yield from abolition of the relief as consequential effects on the housing market would substantially reduce the yield. Reliable estimates of the yield from imposing capital gains tax at present rates on the disposal by individuals of their only or main residences are available only at disproportionate cost.
Child Benefit
Ms Atherton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provisions he plans to ensure that child benefit continues to be paid without interruption to the father of dependent children when his wife dies. [118984]
Dawn Primarolo: Where a child benefit claimant dies and their partner wants to claim child benefit instead, he or she needs to make a new claim. They have up to three months to do this and not suffer a break in their right to payment. The Inland Revenue will do all it can, in such cases, to ensure claims are processed as quickly as possible and to maintain continuity of payment.
The surviving partner should also claim child tax credit.
Mrs. Calton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to allow those already in receipt of child benefit and who are eligible for child tax credit to receive the credit without resubmitting information provided for receipt of child benefit. [119522]
Dawn Primarolo: To claim child tax credit the claimant, or claimants, are asked to provide their details and those of the children they want to claim for. The child information required has been kept to a minimum. It includes information not relevant for child benefit purposes such as whether disability benefits are received for a child.
Although, in most cases, the person entitled to child benefit for a child will be the same as the recipient of child tax credit for him or her, that is not always the case. So it is right that people should be asked to confirm the details of the children they are claiming for.
Construction Industry
Mr. Hurst: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much arrears of national insurance contributions was reclaimed from employers in the construction industry in each year since 1999. [118829]
18 Jun 2003 : Column 234W
Dawn Primarolo: The Class 1 and Class 1A national insurance contributions recovered from employers recorded as being within the construction industry are shown in the table. These figures represent national insurance contributions recovered by Employer Compliance officers and relate to a range of circumstances where employers failed to account properly for Class 1 and Class 1A national insurance.
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 12.3 |
| 2000–01 | 9.3 |
| 2001–02 | 9.2 |
| 2002–03 | 10.8 |
Correspondence
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 6 May 2003 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Julie Walker; and if he will reprove the Tax Credit office for failing to fulfil its commitment to reply within 15 working days. [119859]
Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue replied to the right hon. Member on 13 June 2003 and very much regret having been unable to do so sooner. The Tax Credit office aims to reply to 80 per cent. of complaints within 15 working days and will measure their performance and report against that aim in due course.
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 1 May 2003 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Teresa Cole; and if he will reprove the Tax Credit office for failing to fulfil its commitment to reply within 15 working days. [119860]
Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue replied to the right hon. Member on 13 June 2003 and very much regret having been unable to do so sooner. The Tax Credit office aims to reply to 80 per cent. of complaints within 15 working days and will measure their performance and report against that aim in due course.
Inheritance Tax
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason the cost of professional advice in executing a will subject to inheritance tax is not allowable against the value of the estate. [119301]
Dawn Primarolo: IHT is charged on the value of the estate at death net of liabilities existing at that time. Expenses incurred after death do not affect the deceased person's net assets at death, and accordingly, have never been deductible, with the single exception of an allowance for reasonable funeral expenses.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |