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5 Jan 2004 : Column 160W—continued
Debt Interest
Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the level of central government gross debt interest in (a) 2006–07 and (b) 2008–09 derived from the projections for public sector net debt up to 2008–09 in Table B5 of the 2003 pre-Budget report. [145179]
Mr. Boateng: PBR projections for public expenditure after the end of the 2002 Spending Review period are based on assumptions about overall growth rates, as set out in paragraph B27 of the pre-Budget report, rather than on forecasts of individual spending components. Therefore no forecasts of debt interest after 2005–06 are available.
Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the size of the increment in central Government gross debt interest from 2004–05 to 2005–06 relative to the size of the increments for the years (a) 2002–03 to 2003–04 and (b) 2003–04 to 2004–05. [145186]
Mr. Boateng: Estimates of central Government gross debt interest depend on a combination of factors. In the PBR projection there is a large increase between 2002–03 and 2003–04, mainly due to higher RPI inflation in 2003–04, and between 2003–04 and 2004–05, mainly due to assumed interest rates, based on market expectations, which are much higher in 2004–05, and a larger rise in the RPI. The increase in debt interest between 2004–05 and 2005–06 is smaller because assumed interest rates rise by less than in the previous year and RPI inflation is lower.
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Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the size of the increment in central Government gross debt interest between 2004–05 and 2005–06 indicated in the pre-Budget report 2003 relative to that indicated in Budget 2003. [145187]
Mr. Boateng: Changes to estimates of central Government debt interest payments since the Budget reflect the revision of projections of a number of factors, as outlined in paragraph B73 of the pre-Budget report.
Departmental Advertising
Michael Fabricant: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total expenditure on information campaigns and advertising was for his Department for each year since 1997. [145330]
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total expenditure on (a) information campaigns and (b) advertising was for his Department in each year since 1997. [145708]
Ruth Kelly: I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 19 November 2003 Official Report, column 1093W.
Domestic Business Tax Allowance
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many respondents to the recent Treasury consultation on economic instruments to improve household energy efficiency supported domestic business tax allowance. [145423]
John Healey: The Government have published a summary of consultation responses, which is available from the Treasury website. This summary explains that the Government received 126 responses to the consultation, of which 72 supported a domestic business tax allowance.
Employment (Older People)
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how his pre-Budget report plans for full employment will help older people who wish to remain in the labour market. [145129]
John Healey: The 2003 pre-Budget report plans for full employment will help ensure that older workers are given the choice and opportunity to continue working beyond their normal retirement age. Details of these measures are contained in paragraphs 4.31, 5.53 and 5.62 of the pre-Budget report [Cm 6042].
Financial Products (Mis-selling)
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what resources he is allocating to increase adult financial literacy so that parents of children with child trust funds can make informed decisions about investments for their children. [145711]
Ruth Kelly: We are working with the FSA and key players in adult literacy from Government and the voluntary sector to identify the needs of parents in relation to managing the Child Trust Fund and the best ways of meeting them.
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We will continue to work very closely with the FSA and others, like the Personal Finance Education Group (PFEG), to improve financial literacy standards among the population. I am on the Financial Capability Steering Group led by the FSA.
Research has been carried out into the communication needs of parents whose children are eligible for the Child Trust Fund, particularly those of parents who have little or no experience of saving. The findings will inform the information pack that will be sent out with the CTF voucher and a website on the CTF.
This work will develop over 2004 and involve financial providers and community groups too. We expect a range of explanatory materials to be developed to help families make informed decisions about their Child Trust Funds.
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills about using the child trust fund to improve financial literacy for children and teenagers. [145713]
Ruth Kelly: I am the Minister responsible for the Child Trust Fund and my officials work very closely with the Department for Education and Skills and others involved in delivering financial capability for young people. I also refer my hon. Friend to the answer I am today giving to his question 145719.
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what resources will be available to teachers to increase their financial literacy so they are able to inform their pupils about child trust funds. [145719]
Ruth Kelly: We have already committed to commissioning the development of a range of Child Trust Fund (CTF) teaching and learning resources. The Inland Revenue will also work closely with the Department for Education and Skills, devolved administrations, FSA and other organisations to assess what additional support will help children engage with their CTF. This could include joint work to consider the professional development needs of teachers teaching personal finance topics and issuing updated guidance on teaching personal finance incorporating the CTF.
A key point of contact will be a website dedicated to the CTF. It will be developed initially to meet the information and guidance needs of parents, then increasingly over time those of teachers and children.
Ensuring teachers are properly equipped to deliver financial capability is important. We await with interest the outcome of work that has been undertaken independently by the Personal Finance Education Group into these issues, which is due to report in the new year.
Gershon Review
Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Gershon Review is expected to report. [145946]
Mr. Boateng: The Efficiency Review led by Sir Peter Gershon is expected to report around the time the Spending Review is announced.
5 Jan 2004 : Column 163W
Gift Aid
Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for (1) what reason he proposes to end gift aid tax relief on admission charges to charity venues; [144987]
- (2) what discussions he has had with heritage and conservation charities about the ending of gift aid tax relief on admission charges; [144988]
(3) what his estimate is of the cost to charities of the ending of gift aid tax relief on admission charges; [144989]
(4) if he will list those charities which will be affected by the ending of gift aid tax relief on admission charges; [144990]
(5) how much money has been rebated to charities as a result of gift aid tax relief on admission charges since its inception. [144991]
John Healey: Many heritage and conservation charities benefit from a special exemption which means they can offer free admission to donors, without that admission being regarded as a benefit under Gift Aid rules. This was originally introduced in 1989 and applied to deed of covenant arrangements. Since the change to Gift Aid in April 2000 an increasing number of heritage and conservation charities are granting free admission in return for a donation equal to the entrance fee. Charities are able to claim Gift Aid on such donations. This is an undesirable and unintended side effect of the Gift Aid legislation. It is unfair for some charities to be able to reclaim Gift Aid whilst others cannot.
The amendments to the legislation will ensure that the special exemption for certain heritage and conservation charities applies as it was originally intended and not to "day memberships" of this kind.
The Government will be consulting closely with charities which might be affected, through their associations and representative bodies, on the detail of how the change may be best achieved.
Information on the amount repaid in relation to admission charges is not available, as there is no mechanism within Gift Aid to distinguish amounts repaid to charities according to the type of the donation. For this reason there are no estimates available of the cost to charities of the ending of the relief on admission charges.
Information about individual organisations claiming Gift Aid is not available; Exemption 15 (Statutory and other restrictions) of the Open Government Code applies.
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