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8 Sept 2003 : Column 105W—continued
Iraq
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the projected cost is of British troops being stationed in Iraq for a further (a) six months, (b) 12 months, (c) 18 months and (d) 24 months. [127412]
Mr. Boateng: The Government remains committed to maintaining appropriate forces in Iraq for as long as is necessary. Parliament will be invited to vote on provision for 2003–04 in Supplementary Estimates.
Office for National Statistics
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the projected budget for the Office of National Statistics is for (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05. [127216]
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. Alex Salmond, dated 8 September 2003:
- As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the projected budget for the Office for National Statistics for (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05. (127216)
- Information on the planned budget for 2003–04 and 2004–05 can be found in Table 1 of the Office for National Statistics 2003 Spring Departmental Report (Cm 5931), copies of which are available in the House of Commons library. A copy of the Report is also available on the National Statistics website at the following reference: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme other/ONS Spring03 Departmental Report.pdf
Regional Gross Value Added
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the most recent estimates are for regional gross value added; and when new estimates will be released. [127215]
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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. Alex Salmond, dated 8 September 2003:
- As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question on what are the most recent estimates for regional Gross Value Added; and when new estimates will be released. (127215)
- The most recent estimates of regional Gross Value Added were published on 14 August 2003 (for revised 1989–1999 data) and 20 August 2003 (for 2000–2001 data).
- The data are available in the House of Commons Library and on the Office for National Statistics web site at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/regionalaccounts.
- Regional (NUTS level 1) Gross Value Added estimates for 2002 are due to be published in March 2004. Sub-regional (NUTS levels 2 and 3) estimates of Gross Value Added for 2001 are due to be published in October 2003.
Store Cards
John Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of high interest rates on store cards on consumer spending. [128147]
Mr. Boateng: The Government's latest forecast of household expenditure was published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report (HC 500) on 9 April and took into account all relevant factors. Interest rates on store cards are unlikely to have a material influence on overall consumer spending.
Tax Credits (Delayed Payment)
Laura Moffatt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been reimbursed for bank charges incurred as a result of delayed payment of tax credits. [121720]
Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) on 12 May 2003, Official Report, column 23W.
Treasury Accommodation
Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff will transfer to the HM Treasury building at 1 Horse Guards road, London from (a) the Inland Revenue and (b) HM Customs and Excise when construction work is completed; and what area in square feet will be occupied by staff transferring from (i) the Inland Revenue and (ii) HM Customs and Excise. [127065]
John Healey: Final decisions about numbers and space requirements will be taken once the outcome of the O'Donnell review of organisations dealing with tax policy and administration is known.
Venture Capital
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on the venture capital industry of taxing carried interest through income taxing rather than capital gains tax. [127078]
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Dawn Primarolo: There has been no change to the taxation of carried interest and therefore no assessment has been made of the impact of taxation of carried interest on the venture capital industry. The tax treatment of carried interest has not been changed by the introduction of Schedule 22 in Finance Act 2003.
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the British Venture Capital Association in respect of taxation measures announced in the Budget; and if he will make a statement. [127079]
Dawn Primarolo: A meeting took place between the British Venture Capital Association (BVCA) and Inland Revenue officials on 9 June to discuss the impact of the new legislation in Schedule 22 Finance Act 2003 and this was followed by exchanges of correspondence. On 25 July, the Revenue published on their website two "Memoranda of Understanding" between the BVCA and the Inland Revenue clarifying, respectively, the Income Tax treatment of carried interests in Venture Capital Limited Partnerships and the Income Tax treatment of Managers' Equity Investments in Management Buyouts. They have also published on their web-site guidance on the income tax treatment of "Earn-outs" which are often a feature of venture capital arrangements.
Working Tax Credit
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost was of the advertising of working tax credit; what (a) the installation and (b) the running costs of the helpline were; what evaluation is due to take place of the advertisement campaign; and if he will make a statement. [114959]
Dawn Primarolo: With regard to the total cost of advertising new tax credits (working tax credit and child tax credit) I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr. Prisk) on 18 March 2003, Official Report, column 681W. The advertising campaign is being evaluated by tracking research and media audits carried out by independent external agencies managed by COI Communications on behalf of the Inland Revenue.
As to the costs of setting up and running the helpline I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) on 12 May 2003, Official Report, column 25W.
EU Directives
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the EU directives implemented by the Department since 8 June 2001. [126591]
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Ruth Kelly: The Treasury plays a leading role in the UK's EU policy on financial services and tax. Since 8 June 2001, the Treasury has led on the implementation of 13 directives:
Directive 98/4/EC, amending Directive 98/38/EEC co-ordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and telecommunications sectors. Implemented by the Utilities Contracts (Amendment) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2418) effective 26 July 2001;
Directive 2000/46/EC on the taking-up, pursuit of and prudential supervision of the business of electronic money institutions (implementation date: 27 April 2002);
Directive 2000/28/EC, amending Directive 2000/12/EC relating to the taking up and pursuit of the business of credit institutions (implementation date: 27 April 2002);
Directive 2001/44/EC, amending Directive 76/308/EEC on mutual assistance for the recovery of claims resulting from operations forming part of the system of financing the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, and of agricultural levies and customs duties and in respect of value added tax and certain excise duties (implementation date: 24 July 2002);
- Directive 2000/31/EC on certain legal aspects of information society services, in particular electronic commerce, in the Internal Market ("Directive on electronic commerce") (implemented by the Treasury as regards matters within the scope of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000: implementation date: 21 August 2002);
Directive 2000/26/EC on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles and amending Council Directives 73/239/EEC and 88/357/EEC (Fourth Motor Insurance Directive) (implementation date: 19 January 2003);
Directive 2001/78/EC of 13 September 2001 amending Annex IV to Council Directive 93/36/EEC, Annexes IV, V and VI to Council Directive 93/37/EEC, Annexes III and IV to Council Directive 92/50/EEC, as amended by Directive 97/52/EC, and Annexes XII to XV, XVII and XVIII to Council Directive 93/38/EEC, as amended by Directive 98/4/EC (Directive on the use of standard forms in the publication of public contract notices) (implementation date: 4 February 2003);
Directive 2002/38/EC and regulation 792/2002 regarding value added tax arrangements applicable to electronically supplied services and broadcasting;
Directive 2002/10/EC concerning the structure and rates of excise duty applied on manufactured tobacco;
Directive 2001/115/EC with a view to simplifying, modernising and harmonising the conditions laid down for VAT invoicing;
Commission decision 2001/574, following directive 95/60/EC, establishing a common fiscal marker for gas oils and kerosene;
Directive 2000/64/EC, amending various other Directives, with regard to the exchange of information with third countries. Implemented by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Disclosure of Confidential Information)(Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/693) effective 3 April 2003;
Directive 2001/17/EC on the reorganisation and winding up of insurance undertakings. Implemented (except as regards Lloyd's) by the Insurers (Reorganisation and Winding Up) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1102) effective 20 April 2003.
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