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Euro

Mrs. Browning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library his analysis of the constitutional implications of replacing the pound sterling with the euro. [124885]

Mr. Boateng: As the Chancellor said in his statement to Parliament on 9 June 2003:

"The Government's view is that if the economic case is clear and unambiguous then the constitutional issue, while a factor in the decision, should not be a barrier to entry."

Iraq

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the total monthly cost to the UK of (a) civil and (b) military operations in Iraq. [123342]

Mr. Boateng: The Treasury does not estimate such costs in the manner requested. In April 2003, the Department for International Development set aside £210 million for reconstruction and humanitarian work in Iraq. As of 26 June, £154 million of this has been allocated to UN agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement and NGOs. A further £60 million was set aside by the Chancellor in the Budget to support the work of the UN on the reconstruction and development of Iraq.

It would be premature to make an estimate of the total costs of the recent military campaign in Iraq. The Chancellor announced in the Budget a £3 billion special reserve.

Taxes and Benefits

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which taxes were the main component elements of the (a) other indirect taxes and (b) other intermediate taxes described in the document "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income 2001–02"; and if he will make a statement. [124449]

John Healey: The Information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 10 July 2003:

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer asking which taxes were the main component elements of (a) other indirect taxes and (b) other intermediate taxes, described in the document "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income 2001–02". I am replying in his absence. (124449)

The above document was produced by the ONS and published on the National Statistics website on April 11th 2003 and in Economic Trends in the May 2003 edition. The analysis can be obtained from the House of Commons library. This includes measures of income inequality for the United Kingdom as a whole based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey. Indirect taxes paid by households are estimated approximately for this analysis.

Indirect taxes paid by households on final goods and services are broken down in the tables into: VAT; duty on tobacco, alcohol and hydrocarbon oils; vehicle excise duty; television licences; stamp duties on house purchase; customs duties; betting taxes; insurance premium tax; air passenger duty; Camelot National Lottery Fund; and 'other indirect taxes'. The components of 'other indirect taxes' are: stamp duties on share dealings, legal and commercial documents; and taxi licenses.

Total 'intermediate taxes' are that portion of 'indirect taxes' which are passed on by businesses to households. These are broken down in the tables into: commercial and industrial rates; employers' National Insurance contributions; duty on hydrocarbon oil; vehicle excise duty; and 'other intermediate taxes'. The main components of 'other intermediate taxes' are the estimates of VAT and stamp duty, which are passed on by businesses to households.

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Trade Union Representatives

Mr. Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what protection is afforded to people among his staff who are trade union representatives, with particular regard to (a) pay and conditions and (b) promotion. [124833]

John Healey: A number of Treasury staff are allocated paid time off under the departmental facilities agreement to carry out industrial relations and trade union activities. All staff, regardless of duties, are assessed in the same way for pay purposes and promotion opportunities.

PRIME MINISTER

Hospitality (Tobacco Companies)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Prime Minister what hospitality he has accepted from senior executive officers of tobacco companies and from major shareholders in those companies since January 2000. [118198]

The Prime Minister: Any hospitality that I receive is dealt with in line with the requirements set out in the Ministerial Code, and declared in the normal way.

European Constitution

Mr. Cash: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on whether any of the provisions of the proposed new constitutional treaty presented to the Inter-Governmental Conference cannot be amended under the provisions of the existing treaty. [124823]

The Prime Minister: The provisions of the existing EU treaties, including those for amendment, will only be changed if all member states agree to a new Constitutional Treaty, replacing the existing treaties, and if that Treaty is ratified by all 25 member states. The provisions of a new Constitutional Treaty, once in force, would replace the existing treaties, including those provisions governing treaty amendment.

Foreign Decorations

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to paragraph 86 of the Ministerial Code of Conduct, (a) how many Ministers have accepted decorations from foreign countries since 1 May 1997; (b) if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of this paragraph; and (c) whether he intends to refuse any such decoration offered to him. [119106]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 13 June 2003]: Paragraph 86 of the Ministerial Code of Conduct (July 2001) is about the acceptance of air miles. Guidance to Ministers on the acceptance of decorations from foreign countries is set out in paragraph 90 of the Ministerial Code.

The Ministerial Code is a code of conduct and guidance on procedures for

Ministers.

Any offer of a decoration from a foreign state would be considered in the light of that guidance.

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As far as I am aware, there is a record of one occasion in 2002 where Angela Smith MP was awarded the Cuban medal of friendship as a member of Parliament in recognition of her work as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cuba.

DEFENCE

Aircraft Carriers

Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his discussions on the aircraft carrier contract with BAE Systems and Thales. [123481]

Mr. Ingram: Regular discussions occur between the future carrier (CVF) project team, BAE Systems and Thales United Kingdom as part of the routine business of the Assessment Phase. These cover and include issues relating to the contract for Stage 3 of the Assessment Phase.

Armed Forces (Maintenance Payments)

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors underlie the length of time taken between the deduction of maintenance payments from service personnel's wages and its subsequent payment to separated partners. [123934]

Mr. Caplin: When a Deduction from Earnings Request is received by Armed Forces Pay Authorities, a letter is sent to the individual with a copy of the request. This allows the individual six weeks from the date of the letter to contest the request. If no reply is received then the request is imposed, with the amounts deducted being paid to the Child Support Agency for subsequent payment to separated partners.

Civil Contingency Reaction Forces

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when each of the Civil Contingency Reaction Forces will be operational. [124496]

Mr. Ingram: Civil Contingency Reaction Forces will reach Full Operating Capability by 31 December 2003.

Council of Ministers

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department's vote in the Council of Ministers against a legislative proposal (a) was sufficient and (b) was not sufficient to achieve with other member states a blocking minority; [117212]

(2) on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department abstained in the Council of Ministers on a legislative proposal which was passed by qualified majority voting; [117235]

(3) on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department has been outvoted by qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers; and if he will list the legislation by year; [117239]

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(4) on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department indicated dissent from a proposal in the Council of Ministers but did not register a vote or abstention. [117259]

Mr. Caplin: Although Defence Ministers meet regularly to discuss defence issues as part of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, they are not involved in legislation. Decisions on the common strategies, common positions and joint actions which the European Council may adopt in support of its Common Foreign and Security Policy require unanimity.

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