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23 Oct 2003 : Column 655W—continued
Money Laundering Regulations
Mr. Best: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what implications the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 will have for client confidentiality between professional accountants and their clients; [131853]
- (2) if he will introduce a minimum reporting level in the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 at which professional accountants must report their clients for errors and omissions in their financial affairs; [131854]
(3) what assessment he has made of the impact that the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 will have upon the number of (a) persons and (b) businesses evading tax in the UK. [131855]
Ruth Kelly: I propose shortly to lay before the House the new Money Laundering Regulations, and amending orders to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and Terrorism Act 2000. They will bring those providing accountancy services, along with other specified activities and professions, into the regulated sector for the purposes of the money laundering legislation.
The Proceeds of Crime Act requires a person who has knowledge, suspicion or reasonable grounds for knowledge or suspicion, of money laundering as a result of information or other matter that came to him or her in the course of a business in the regulated sector to report this to a nominated person in that organisation, or to the National Criminal Intelligence Service. This obligation to report relates to the proceeds of any crime—regardless of the sum of money involved and will override, in this case, the duty of confidentiality owed to that client.
The new Money Laundering Regulations will require regulated bodies to put in place the systems that will allow them to discharge their responsibilities under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
The subject of a minimum reporting threshold was debated extensively during the passage of the Proceeds of Crime Bill, and was rejected by Parliament (mainly
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because of the poor correlation between the sums laundered and the seriousness of the underlying offences). Given that the Act has no minimum reporting level, there can be no such de minimis provision in the Regulations.
The UK takes the view that tax evasion is a serious criminal offence. The strengthening of the whole anti-money laundering regime within the UK, and internationally, will aid in the detection and reduction of money laundering and underlying crime, including tax evasion. Ministerial assurances were given during Parliamentary debate on the Proceeds of Crime Bill that the civil settlement procedure known as "Hansard" by which the Inland Revenue deals with cases of suspected tax evasion, where the taxpayer is actively seeking to set their affairs straight, would be unaffected.
Productivity Performance.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the productivity performance figures were for each year since 1997 expressed as (a) output per worker and (b) output per hour; and if he will make a statement. [132879]
John Healey: In the UK output per worker is measured as output per filled job. Productivity performance figures are published regularly by the Office for National Statistics. Figures for 1997 to 2002 (the last complete year for which figures are available) are given in the table.
| Year | Output per filled job (index 2000 = 100) | Output per hour worked (Index 2000 = 100) |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 94.6 | 92.2 |
| 1998 | 96.5 | 94.8 |
| 1999 | 97.6 | 96.4 |
| 2000 | 100 | 100 |
| 2001 | 101.1 | 100.9 |
| 2002 | 102.5 | 102.6 |
Public Sector Jobs
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many public sector jobs there were in (a) May 1997, (b) May 2000 and (c) May 2003. [133661]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
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Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Redwood, dated 23 October 2003:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question concerning how many public sector jobs there were in (a) May 1997, (b) May 2000 and (c) May 2003. (133661)
Data for periods to May are not available, but the table below shows the job levels in the public sector for the three month periods ending in August for each of the years 1997, 2000 and 2002 (the latest available data).
| August 1997 | August 2000 | August 2002 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public sector | 4,954 | 5,094 | 5,298 |
(9) Not seasonally adjusted
Source:
Administrative Returns from public bodies
United Kingdom Companies (Government Subsidy)
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what this year's budget is for Government subsidy of United Kingdom companies. [133663]
Mr. Boateng: There is no Government budget for subsidies. However, the Government seeks to promote economic growth through tackling the five drivers of productivity (innovation, investment, enterprise, competition and skills).
Government Departments that run programmes include the Department of Trade and Industry, whose total budget for business support programmes in 2003–04 stands at £425 million, and the Department for Education and Skills.
DEFENCE
International Security and Peace
Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the British armed forces are engaged in operations aimed at strengthening international security and peace. [132273]
Mr. Ingram: The Aim of the Ministry of Defence, as set out in the Public Service Agreement, is:
- "To deliver security for the people of the United Kingdom and the Overseas Territories by defending them, including against terrorism; and to act as a force for good by strengthening international peace and stability".
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New Recruits
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the number of new recruits required to bring each of the Services up to full strength as outlined in the Strategic Defence Review. [132180]
Mr. Caplin: The latest audited armed forces manning shortfall figures available show that, as at 1 July 2003, the armed forces had a deficit of 6,060 trained personnel (Naval Service 1,020; Army 4,220; RAF 820).
Last year, the Services exceeded their numeric recruiting target of 25,381 with 26,220 new entrants. This year, the recruiting target currently stands at 25,618.
Psychiatric Reports
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the disclosure of psychiatric reports as part of a submission to the courts pertaining to the character of a soldier charged with unlawful killing; and what rank of officer would be charged with approving the contents of such a submission. [131986]
Mr. Caplin: The Ministry of Defence is required by law to release medical information during the course of certain legal proceedings and its policy is in compliance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998. For the Army, the disclosure of medical records is the responsibility of the Army Medical Directorate. The rank of the individual charged with approving the release will vary from case to case.
Service Veterans
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to compile a register of Service veterans; what his estimate is of the number of living veterans; and what information is recorded to assess the welfare needs of former members of the armed services. [131960]
Mr. Caplin: The Ministry of Defence does not compile a register of Service veterans. At the first Veterans Forum held on the 24 July 2001 it was agreed with members of the Confederation of British Service and Ex-Service Organisations that the definition of a veteran should be as wide as possible and cover anyone who has ever served in HM forces, their widows/ers and dependants.
I announced, to the House (17 September 2003, Official Report, column 51WS) the publication of a King's College London research paper into areas of unmet need within the veterans' community. This found that although joining the armed forces is generally a positive experience, with the overwhelming majority of Service leavers appearing to do well in civilian life, there is a small minority of Service personnel who have difficulty making the transition back to civilian life.
Personnel most vulnerable to problems of transition include those discharged for medical reasons, including mental health conditions, as well as those dismissed for disciplinary reasons, premature leavers and those discharged as temperamentally unsuitable. The Ministry of Defence is working with a wide range of organisations across Government, the ex-Service voluntary sector
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and other non-governmental organisations to further improve the support available to these and other ex-Service personnel.
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