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14 Oct 2003 : Column 16W—continued
Local Authorities: Euro Preparations Guidance
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost for each local authority in the East of England of implementing the guidance contained in Local Authorities: Euro Preparations Guidance—Part 1, June 2003. [131838]
Ruth Kelly: We expect no significant costs to local authorities at this stage. Local authorities would have a critical role to play during any changeover and as part of sensible business planning, in line with preparations in the wider public sector and across the economy, the guidance recommends that they should make preparations. All the evidence from the euro area suggests that early planning can significantly reduce costs.
Penrose Report
Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive Lord Penrose's report on Equitable Life. [131354]
Ruth Kelly: The timetable for his report is a matter for Lord Penrose. Lord Penrose remains committed to producing his report as soon as he properly can.
Events (Ministerial Attendance)
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the (a) sports events, (b) arts events, (c) broadcasting events, (d) tourism events and (e) museums and galleries she has attended since 1 November 2002. [118007]
Tessa Jowell: The number of events attended since 1 November 2002, is given in the following list:
Sporting:
8 December 2002 BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
1 January 2003 Arsenal v Chelsea @ Highbury
12 February 2003 England v Australia @ Upton Park
16 March 2003 World Indoor Athletics Championships
13 April 2003 London Marathon Opening.
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Arts:
19 November 2002: A Streetcar Named Desire.
10 November 2002: Twelfth Night @ Donmar Warehouse.
15 December 2002: Mahler 2 @ Royal Festival Hall.
21 December 2002: The Wind in the Willows @ Linbury Studio.
23 December 2002: The Merry Wives of Windsor @ RSC Swan Theatre.
28 January 2003: The Rite of Spring @ Treptow Arena
10 February 2003: The Vortex @ Donmar Warehouse.
15 May 2003: Henry V @ National Theatre.
20 May 2003: Winters Tale @ Roundhouse
28 June 2003: The Lady from the Sea @ The Almeida Theatre
Broadcasting:
6 February 2003: Launch of BBC 3.
23 February 2003: BAFTAS
13 May 2003: Thirty Club Dinner
16 May 2003: Cannes Film Festival: Calendar Girls.
Tourism:
7 November 2002: Tourism Forum @ Tate Modern
4 February 2003: Cumbria: CBI Dinner
5 February 2003: BTA Breakfast.
22 May 2003: Tourism Breakfast @ Claridges
Museums and Galleries:
17 December 2002: The Soul of the Homeless @ Museum of London.
3 February 2003: Constable to Lacroix @ Tate Britain.
17 March 2003: Duhrer Exh. @ British Museum.
25 March 2003: Titan Exhibition @ The National Gallery.
17 March 2003: Roundhouse Theatre Event
3 April 2003: British Empire and Commonwealth Museum
28 April 2003: Built Heritage Foundation, Shoreditch.
28 April 2003: Elizabeth @ National Maritime Museum.
National Insurance Contributions
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he received on the decision to remove the concession on Class 1 national insurance contributions applicable to mariners working on UK and Isle of Man registered ships where such ships never enter or trade in UK territorial waters (a) before and (b) after the decision was announced; what discussions he has held on the matter; what estimate he has made of the net revenue effect of this change to (i) receipts by Her Majesty's Treasury and (ii) seafarers and mariners registered as UK citizens; and what estimate he has made of the effect of this change on the (A) international competitiveness of the UK/Isle of Man shipping industry and (B) future numbers of UK citizens employed in the industry. [131875]
Dawn Primarolo: None. The changes announced were in relation to ships trading in UK waters, not international shipping.
PAYE
Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 20 January 2003, Official Report, column 57W, on PAYE schemes with one or
14 Oct 2003 : Column 18W
two employees, how many such schemes there were for each year from 1999–2000 onwards for companies only, excluding unincorporated businesses. [131397]
Dawn Primarolo: The information is in the table.
| PAYE schemes live at April: | Number of PAYE schemes with one or two employees(1),(2),(3) |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 396,000 |
| 2002 | 366,000 |
| 2001 | 353,000 |
| 2000 | 334,000 |
(1) Companies only.
(2) Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
(3) Schemes live at a particular date have been classified by the number of employees shown on the most recent end-of-year returns submitted by employers. The number of employees may not be available for newly set up schemes at each of these dates.
Pensioners (Tax Rates)
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensioners pay tax at a marginal rate of 40 per cent.; and if he will make a statement. [130564]
Dawn Primarolo: An estimated 190,000 state retirement age pensioners pay tax at a marginal rate of 40 per cent. in 2003–04.
This estimate is based upon the 2000–01 Survey of Personal Incomes and is consistent with April Budget 2003.
Reduced VAT Rate (Energy Saving Materials)
Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the Exchequer was of the reduced rate of VAT on energy saving materials in each year since 1998; and what effect the extension had on these sums in each year from 2000. [130998]
John Healey: Estimates of the revenue cost of the reduced rate of VAT for energy saving materials measures for the years 1998–99 to 2000–01 were published in Table 1.3 of the 1998 Financial Statement and Budget Report [HC 620]. It is estimated to have the same full-year cost in subsequent years.
Estimates of the additional cost for the years 2000–01 to 2002–03 of extending the measure in Budget 2000 were published in the 2000 Financial Statement and Budget Report [HC 346].
Urban Regeneration Cost
Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the Exchequer has been of the four measures to regenerate Britain's towns and cities announced on 8 November 2000 and introduced in the 2001 Budget. [131296]
Dawn Primarolo: Costs of major tax reliefs can be found in Table A3.1 of the 2003 Financial Statement and Budget Report and in the Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs. Costs of minor tax reliefs can be found on the Inland Revenue website.
14 Oct 2003 : Column 19W
Stamp Duty Land Tax
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Minister is responsible for the implementation of stamp duty land tax. [131293]
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date 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. [131292]
Ruth Kelly: We expect to publish shortly.
Tax Credits
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff were seconded to work on working families tax credit, broken down by Government department; how many of those staff are still seconded to work on the working family tax credit; what arrangements were made to cover the work previously being undertaken by staff who were seconded; and if he will make a statement. [128800]
Dawn Primarolo: A number of staff have been seconded to Inland Revenue from other Government Departments in recent years, including from the former Department of Social Security and the Department for Work and Pensions. However, I regret that information is not held centrally on their areas of work.
Tax Incentives
Mr. Walter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to implement tax incentives for companies who allow members of staff to work from home; and what assessment he has made of the impact this would have on traffic congestion. [131898]
Dawn Primarolo: Companies can usually claim any expenses wholly and exclusively incurred in respect of employees' home working as a deduction in working out their trading profits for tax purposes.
In addition, a number of measures have been introduced in recent years to help employers support home workers without them incurring a tax charge or liability to pay National Insurance contributions. These include:
- exemption for provided computer equipment;
exemption for other provided equipment, services and supplies;
exemption for reimbursed additional household costs.
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