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16 Sept 2003 : Column 654W—continued
Capital Gains Tax
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what his latest estimate is of the revenue cost of the changes to capital gains tax introduced in the March 2000 Budget for each year from 2000–01 to 2005–06; what assessment has been made of the economic benefits of the reform; and if he will make a statement; [130129]
- (2) what his latest estimate is of the cost of changing the capital gains tax business assets taper relief in the November 2001 Pre-Budget Report; and if he will make a statement; [130132]
(3) what his estimate is of the revenue yield from abolishing capital gains tax taper relief for each year from 2000–01 to 2005–06; and if he will make a statement. [130139]
Dawn Primarolo: The estimated yield, on an accrual basis, from abolishing Capital Gains Tax Taper Relief, as currently operating, for 2000–01 and 2001–02 are published in Table A3.1 in the Budget Report 2003. The figures take into account some of the likely effects on yield from changes in taxpayers' behaviour. Figures for later years are not available.
The estimated cost, on an accrual basis, of changes to the Capital Gains Tax Taper Relief announced in Budget 2000 for each year from 2000–01 to 2002–03 are published in Table A. 13 in the Budget Report 2000.
The estimated cost, on an accrual basis, of changes to the Capital Gains Tax Taper Relief outlined in Pre-Budget Report 2001 for each year from 2002–03 to 2004–05 are published in Table A.2 in Budget 2002 report.
The estimates of cost of Budget 2000 and Pre-Budget Report 2001 changes take into account most of the likely effects on yield from changes in taxpayers' behaviour. Figures for later years are not available.
We intend to evaluate taper relief once the system has had time for its effects to become measurable.
Customs and Excise
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 8 September 2003, Official Report, column 98W, what new technology and extra operational activity at (a) Newhaven, (b) Poole, (c) Isle of Wight, (d) Portsmouth and (e) Southampton, is intended to replace the full-time manning at present; and if he will make a statement. [129846]
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John Healey: The Technology will improve existing capacity to detect the illicit importation of radiological material into the UK. It will not replace any existing Customs capability. As to Custom's operational activity, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him to his earlier question on 8 September 2003, Official Report, column 99W.
Deprivation
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which electoral wards are among the 10 per cent. most deprived in England and Wales. [128899]
Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
There are 841 wards in England and 865 wards in Wales that are among the 10 per cent. most deprived wards in the two countries. The full list of these most deprived wards is available in the Libraries of the House.
There are separate deprivation measures for England and Wales and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is only responsible for deprivation-related policy in England. Deprivation policy in Wales is the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly.
Film Industry
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the total annual (a) revenue cost and (b) economic benefit of the film industry tax reliefs introduced in and since the July 1997 Budget for each year from 1997–98 to 2005–06; and if he will make a statement. [130013]
Dawn Primarolo: Section 48 of the Finance (No.2) Act 1997 introduced a tax relief for expenditure on the production or acquisition of the master version of a British qualifying film with total production expenditure not exceeding £15 million. This relief is estimated to have cost £440 million for the period 1997–98 to 2001–02 and costs for the further years are estimated as follows:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 300 |
| 2003–04 | 140 |
| 2004–05 | 70 |
| 2005–06 | 50 |
We are continuing to assess the overall effectiveness of this relief as part of the Budget process.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the yield to the Exchequer from abolishing the film industry tax reliefs; and if he will make a statement. [130014]
Dawn Primarolo: There are three main measures providing enhanced tax relief for expenditure on the production or acquisition of the master version of a film. None of these reliefs has been abolished. However, the relief contained in section 48 of the Finance (No.2) Act 1997 for British qualifying films with total production expenditure not exceeding £15 million applies only to expenditure incurred on or before 2 July 2005. I also refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer which I am today giving to his companion question 130013.
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Parliamentary Questions
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many questions directed to him remain unanswered. [130762]
John Healey: 2,483 of the 3,341 (74.3 per cent.) written questions tabled to the Treasury Ministers in the present parliamentary session to date received substantive replies on or before the dates on which answers were due. Answers have not yet been given to 147 questions, but in 131 cases the answers are not overdue.
Pensions
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost of restricting income tax relief on pensions to the basic rate of income tax; and if he will make a statement. [130565]
Dawn Primarolo: The estimated yield from restricting income tax relief on employee and self-employed pension contributions to the basic rate is £1.9 billion in 2002–03. The yield from restricting employer contributions is £2.8 billion, this estimate assumes that the proportion of total employer contributions relating to higher rate taxpayers is that same as that for employees. The estimates take no account of any behavioural effects which are likely to result from such changes.
Stamp Duty
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish (a) the results of the consultation on the reform of stamp duty land tax affecting commercial leases and (b) revisions to the Government's proposals. [130009]
Dawn Primarolo: We expect to publish shortly.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to align the residential and non-residential property upper thresholds for the zero rate stamp duty band. [130556]
Dawn Primarolo: The Chancellor's decision to increase the zero rate stamp duty threshold to £150,000 for non-residential property has been welcomed by business representatives as a boost for small businesses investing in commercial property and will come into effect from 1 December 2003. The level of the thresholds is kept under regular review.
As part of the Government's plans to regenerate the most deprived parts of the UK, in 1,997 Enterprise Areas the purchase of residential property costing up to £150,000 is already exempt from stamp duty.
Tax
Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the impact on the tax yield of increasing the top rate of tax to 50 pence in the pound. [129254]
Dawn Primarolo: This estimate can be derived from the Inland Revenue Statistics table T1.6 "Direct effects of illustrative tax change" which is available on the Inland Revenue website. It excludes any behavioural response to the tax change.
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Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to change the rules relating to non-domicile status for tax purposes. [129255]
Dawn Primarolo: At Budget 2002, the Chancellor announced a review of the residence and domicile rules as they affect the tax liabilities of individuals. That work is continuing. The background paper published on Budget Day 2003 provides a framework for further analysis and discussion.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the annual cost for each year from 2002–03 to 2005–06 of the tax changes made in the March 2002 Budget to (a) research and development tax credit for large companies, (b) exemption for gains on large shareholdings, (c) community investment tax credit, (d) Vaccines Tax Credit, (e) tax relief for community amateur sports clubs, (f) beer duty relief for small brewers, (g) expansion of the scope of the lower rate of air passenger duty and (h) reform of the tax relief on intellectual property; what assessments have been made in each case of the economic benefits of the tax changes made; and if he will make a statement. [130237]
Dawn Primarolo: The available information is shown in Table A1 of the Budget 2002 Financial Statement and Budget Report (pp153–154).
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