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11 Nov 2003 : Column 169W—continued
Councillor Expenses
Mr. Flook: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what policy advice the Inland Revenue gives to local authorities on the taxation of the expenses given to a councillor in a mayoral year. [137244]
Dawn Primarolo: Guidance to local councils on the expenses and allowances payable to councillors and civic dignitaries is published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).
The ODPM guidance includes advice provided by the Inland Revenue on tax and National Insurance issues.
11 Nov 2003 : Column 170W
Creative Industries/Tourism
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the UK workforce was employed in creative industries in 2002–03. [135836]
Estelle Morris: I have been asked to reply.
The most recent estimate of employment in the creative industries is for June 2002. It is estimated that at that time 6.7 per cent. of the UK workforce were employed in the creative industries, or in creative occupations outside of the creative industries.
ECOFIN
Mr. Hood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcome was of the ECOFIN Council held on 4th November; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement. [137073]
Mr. Gordon Brown: I attended ECOFIN on 4 November.
The Council decided to postpone the discussion on the Excessive Deficit Procedure for France (recommended u nder Article 1 04(8)) until the next ECOFIN on 25 November. France has committed to a budget deficit of less than 3 per cent. of GDP in 2005. The presidency concluded that postponement was the favoured option.
The Council endorsed the Economic Policy Committee (EPC) report on the impact of ageing populations on public finances and confirmed the mandate to EPC to produce new common budgetary projections by mid-2005 on the basis of approach outlined in the EPC report. The Council also invited the EPC to produce a study on economic incentives affecting retirement. I led the orientation debate on the Transparency Directive and expressed strong concerns about the regulatory burden of introducing mandatory quarterly reporting across the EU. I supported the principle of transparency but stressed the importance of balance between it and burdensome reporting requirements. The Presidency concluded that there was a realistic chance of finding a solution and Coreper should continue discussions, ahead of the next ECOFIN, according to European Parliament timetable.
On structural indicators for the spring report 2004, the Council adopted the following conclusions:
- The ECOFIN Council considers that the Commission's shortlist of headline indicators needs to be improved to contain indicators measuring economic reform. The EPC should continue its work with a view to achieving this.
At the request of Belgium, the Council discussed the process for finalising agreements with the UK's dependent and associated territories and Member States, concerning the taxation of savings. It was concluded that this issue would be discussed further at alater stage.
Before the formal meeting, a dialogue with the Candidate Countries took place. The Commission congratulated the Accession States on preserving
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macroeconomic stability in difficult times, but stressed that challenges remained on public finances and public sector reform.
Over lunch, Finance Ministers discussed the Intergovernmental Conference. The Chancellor stressed that tax harmonization and a federal approach to fiscal policy would be damaging for Europe's economic interests. Finance Ministers should work together to ensure outcomes from the Inter-Governmental Conference that enhanced the ability of European countries to raise productivity and employment levels and ensured that Member States retain a central role in determining their economic policies.
EDS
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 29 October 2003, Official Report, column 243W, on EDS, what sums have been paid (a) in VAT and (b) in respect of capital purchases by the Inland Revenue since 1998–99; and if he will make a statement. [136947]
Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is as follows:
| (a) | £ million |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 44.9 |
| 1999–2000 | 51.8 |
| 2000–01 | 51.4 |
| 2001–02 | 76.1 |
| 2002–03 | 64.7 |
| (b) | £ million |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 48.0 |
| 1999–2000 | 43.4 |
| 2000–01 | 46.9 |
| 2001–02 | 135.5 |
| 2002–03 | 37.9 |
During 2001–02 and 2002–03 the Inland Revenue exercised its right under its contract with EDS to buy out the future finance lease obligations for the EDS-held assets used to provide IT services to the Inland Revenue under the terms of the IT service agreement. This did not affect the legal status of the contract.
Fuel Duty
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment was made of the environmental effects before setting duty rates for (a) liquefied petroleum gas and (b) biodiesel in the 2003 Finance Bill. [137499]
John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Mr. Blizzard), 8 September 2003, Official Report, column 102W.
Income Tax
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people (a) paid income tax and (b) paid no income tax in each of the last 10 tax years. [136749]
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Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to table 2.1 on the Inland Revenue website for the number of taxpayers in the UK http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/income tax/it t01 1.htm and the Office For National Statistics website for the population estimates for the United Kingdom for the years 1991–2000, 2001 and 2002 respectively.
- http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D6627.xls
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D7092.xls
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D7100.xls
Pensioners (Income Tax)
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of pensioners paid income tax in each nation of the United Kingdom in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2002–03, broken down by region. [137219]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 10 November 2003]: Estimates for the number and proportion of taxpaying pensioners for the years 1996–97 and 2002–03 by Government Office Region are given in the table.
| Number of taxpayingpensioners (numbers:thousands)(1) | Percentage ofpensioners payingtax(2) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region | 1996–97(3) | 2002–03(4) | 1996–97 | 2002–03 |
| England | 3,200 | 4,100 | 36 | 45 |
| North East | 140 | 200 | 30 | 40 |
| North West and Mersyside | 420 | 530 | 34 | 42 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 280 | 37O | 30 | 40 |
| East Midlands | 250 | 330 | 33 | 42 |
| West Midlands | 290 | 41O | 30 | 42 |
| East of England | 380 | 46O | 39 | 44 |
| London | 410 | 53O | 38 | 52 |
| South East | 670 | 770 | 45 | 51 |
| South West | 400 | 510 | 40 | 48 |
| Wales | 200 | 27O | 35 | 46 |
| Scotland | 330 | 410 | 36 | 43 |
| Northern Ireland | 70 | 90 | 30 | 33 |
| United Kingdom | 3,800 | 4,900 | 36 | 45 |
(1) Men aged 65 and over and women aged 60 and over.
(2) Mid-year population estimates on the number of pensioners are supplied by the Office for National Statictics.
(3) This estimate is based upon the 1996–97 Survey of Personal Incomes.
(4) This estimate is based upon the 200–01 Survey of Personal Incomes and is consistent with April 2003 budget.
National Insurance Fund
Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount of the Treasury supplement to the National Insurance Fund for the current year if it were paid at the rate specified in section 1(5) of the Social Security Act 1973; and what proportion of the total cost of the basic pension this would be. [132275]
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Dawn Primarolo: The rate of Treasury supplement varied each year. The rate that applied when it was abolished in 1988–89 was 5 per cent. On this basis, Treasury supplement (if it still applied) would be £3.4 billion in 2003–04.
Private Schools
Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on Treasury revenues of the exemption for private schools arising from their charitable status from (a) income tax, (b) corporation tax, (c) capitals gains tax, (d) stamp duty and (e) inheritance tax on gifts in each of the last five years. [137468]
Dawn Primarolo: Information is not available on the costs of charitable reliefs broken down by type of charity. The available information relates to all charities and is published in Table 10.2 of Inland Revenue Statistics at: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/charities/menu.htm.
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