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8 Sept 2003 : Column 101W—continued
Euro
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what funds have been allocated by his Department for the Government's campaign to promote UK entry to the European single currency. [127411]
Mr. Boateng: I refer to the answer the Economic Secretary gave to the right hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) on 20 June 2003, Official Report, column 458W.
European Economic Convergence
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 3 July, Official Report, column 370W, on European Economic Convergence, what research he has commissioned into using discretionary fiscal policy to offset inflationary pressures; and if he will publish the results of this research. [127615]
Mr. Boateng: The Treasury published a paper "Fiscal Stabilisation and EMU" that included a discussion of these issues.
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 14 July, Official Report, column 132W, on European Economic Convergence, what the element of pre-commitment is. [127616]
Mr. Boateng: In the context of my answer of 14 July, Official Report, column 132W, on European Economic Convergence, and with reference to the discussion paper "Fiscal Stabilisation and EMU", the element of pre-commitment refers to the institutional arrangements
8 Sept 2003 : Column 102W
that would be put in place to demonstrate that stabilisation policy was credible, symmetric and consistent with sound public finances.
Fuel Duty Rebates
Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what value he attributed in pence per litre to (a) carbon dioxide saving, (b) improved local air quality, (c) diversity of supply and (d) economic development benefits in calculating duty rebates for (i) LPG and (ii) biodiesel and bioethanol. [127190]
John Healey: The Government offers lower duty rates for less environmentally-damaging fuels by offering duty differentials relative to the main road fuels. These differentials are intended primarily to reflect the relative environmental benefits of the fuel in question, but they also take account of other factors, such as costs of production and supply, and wider social and economic benefits, including fuel security and the potential to encourage the recycling of waste products. In the light of all these factors, we have set a duty incentive of 20 pence per litre in the case of biodiesel and bioethanol. For road fuel gases the incentives, when converted from pence per kilogram to the equivalent pence per litre, are 39.72 pence per litre for natural gases and 40.42 pence per litre for liquefied petroleum gas.
It would not, however, be appropriate to compare the duty incentive for biofuels with those for road fuel gases. The latter are directed predominantly at improvement in local air quality rather than as a carbon saving measure. They also face significant market barriers: they require a dedicated and separate re-fuelling infrastructure and vehicles have to be converted or be specifically designed to use gaseous fuels. In contrast, incentives for biofuels are focused on climate change issues and greenhouse gas reductions. Biofuel blends can be supplied through the existing re-fuelling infrastructure and used in existing vehicles.
Home Improvements (Finance)
Mr. Pike: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what recent representations he has received asking him to reduce VAT on home improvements; and if he will make a statement; [126247]
- (2) what recent discussions he has had with (a) other government departments, (b) housing bodies and (c) other interested bodies on VAT on home improvements for poor housing; and if he will make a statement; [126248]
(3) what recent representations he has received on improving poor housing stock and tackling problems of empty homes through financial grants; and if he will make a statement. [126249]
John Healey: The Government have already taken targeted and efficient action through the tax system and through public spending to support the regeneration of the UK's existing housing stock, including the introduction of reduced VAT rates on the renovation of empty properties and the £500 million housing market renewal fund for Pathfinder areas.
The Government continues to receive representations from a wide range of interested bodies seeking additional reduced rates of VAT or additional grant
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funding to assist further in the renewal of the UK's housing stock and discussions take place on a regular basis where necessary to explore these proposals in more detail.
The Government will consider all representations for new reduced rates in the context of the European Commission's upcoming review of the reduced rates provisions in the EC Sixth VAT Directive, and will consider all representations for increases in public spending in the context of the next Spending Review.
Inland Revenue
Mr. Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Inland Revenue submitted the Supplementary Memorandum published in the 29th Report of the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 2002–03, HC 332; how the adjustments in transfer pricing cases in the three years to 31 March 2002 referred to in the memorandum arose in each year; and how many adjustments arose from (a) LBO and (b) International Division-led cases in each year. [126364]
Dawn Primarolo: The number of adjustments was as follows:
| LBO led | Revenue policy (international) led | |
|---|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 158 | 105 |
| 2000–01 | 195 | 72 |
| 2001–02 | 166 | 72 |
Mr. Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the criteria were by which the Commissioners of Inland Revenue individually qualified for performance pay in each year since 1999–2000; and what performance pay they (a) might have been paid and (b) were paid in each year. [126365]
Dawn Primarolo: The Commissioners are members of the Senior Civil Service (SCS), and as such subject to the rules for SCS pay. In accordance with Government policy on pay in the civil service those rules provide for consolidated base pay and bonuses to be performance related. So in all years since 1999–2000 the Commissioners could receive performance related pay.
The pay of senior civil servants is reviewed annually by the Government, advised by the Senior Salaries Review Body. The pay of Permanent Secretaries, including the Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue, is determined by the Permanent Secretaries Remuneration Committee; in its deliberations, the Committee has decided to follow the broad lines of the pay system which applies to senior civil servants generally.
The table sets out the range of performance related base pay and bonus awards which the Commissioners might have been paid.
8 Sept 2003 : Column 104W
The pay of the Commissioners and other Board members is set out, in bands of £5,000, in the Inland Revenue Annual Reports. Details of performance appraisal, and of consequential pay adjustments, are considered to be confidential to the individual concerned.
Mr. Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of Inland Revenue postal enquiries received a complete response within 15 working days in each of the last 12 months. [126380]
Dawn Primarolo: The total volume of correspondence, and the percentage dealt with in the Inland Revenue local office network within 15 working days, in each of the last 12 months were as follows:
| Total post received (million) | Percentage dealt with within 15 days | |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | ||
| June | 6.501 | 79.9 |
| July | 4.971 | 77.0 |
| August | 6.447 | 77.7 |
| September | 5.249 | 73.4 |
| October | 5.547 | 72.3 |
| November | 6.674 | 75.8 |
| December | 5.309 | 77.6 |
| 2003 | ||
| January | 6.619 | 78.4 |
| February | 5.957 | 83.3 |
| March | 6.104 | 84.0 |
| April | 5.503 | 85.6 |
| May | 7.568 | 79.6 |
Mr. Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of telephone calls to local Inland Revenue offices were answered at the switchboard within 20 seconds in each of the last 12 months. [126381]
Dawn Primarolo: The number and percentage of telephone calls answered within 20 seconds in the Inland Revenue local office network in each of the last 12 months were as follows:
| Number (million) | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | ||
| June | 2.575 | 89.6 |
| July | 3.296 | 88.5 |
| August | 2.763 | 90.4 |
| September | 2.959 | 88.8 |
| October | 3.129 | 92.7 |
| November | 2.982 | 93.3 |
| December | 2.231 | 92.0 |
| 2003 | ||
| January | 2.473 | 87.6 |
| February | 2.754 | 91.2 |
| March | 3.130 | 86.4 |
| April | 3.107 | 85.5 |
| May | 3.286 | 80.9 |
| June | 3.243 | 83.1 |
8 Sept 2003 : Column 105W
Mr. Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of callers to Inland Revenue enquiry centres without an appointment were attended to within 15 minutes in each of the last 12 months. [126385]
Dawn Primarolo: The number and percentage of personal callers to Inland Revenue Enquiry Centres attended to within 15 minutes in each of the last 12 months is as follows:
| Number of callers attended to in15 minutes (000s) | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | ||
| July | 289.5 | 96.7 |
| August | 327.9 | 97.0 |
| September | 331.1 | 96.4 |
| October | 277.5 | 98.0 |
| November | 294.5 | 98.7 |
| December | 171.6 | 98.9 |
| 2003 | ||
| January | 561.2 | 97.6 |
| February | 283.7 | 97.9 |
| March | 298.7 | 97.5 |
| April | 318.2 | 88.3 |
| May | 465.3 | 69.3 |
| June | 336.3 | 72.1 |
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