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30 Jan 2004 : Column 566W—continued
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Heathfield Transmitter
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects that work on the Heathfield Transmitter will take place; and if she will make a statement. [152099]
Estelle Morris: The responsibility to convert the transmitter network to digital lies with broadcasters. As there are not enough frequencies to broadcast both analogue and digital signals with sufficient power levels throughout the country, digital reception will not be available in Eastbourne before digital switchover. We are committed to switchover, which we believe could be achieved between 2006 and 2010, but we are not yet in a position to decide a firm timetable.
Heritage Lottery Funding (Trafford)
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Heritage Lottery funding has been awarded in the Trafford Metropolitan Council area in each of the last five years. [151125]
Estelle Morris: The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded the following in the Trafford Metropolitan Council area in each of the last five years:
| Financial year | £ |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 225,000 |
| 1998–99 | 32,800 |
| 1999–2000 | nil |
| 2000–01 | 91,000 |
| 2001–02 | 25,000 |
| 2002–03 | nil |
TREASURY
R and D Tax Credits
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2004, Official Report, column 1044W, on research and development tax credits, how many claims for research and development tax credits from companies have been (a) accepted and (b) rejected by the Inland Revenue; and if he will make a statement. [151786]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 29 January 2004]: The figure of over 8,000 claims given in the first of my answers of 19 January 2004, Official Report, column 1044W, represents the number of Corporation Tax Self Assessment returns where companies have claimed research and development tax credits. The number of claims that have been adjusted following an inquiry by Inland Revenue is not available.
Business Tax Credits
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses notified the Inland Revenue of their intention to claim tax credits in future financial years when trading at a profit as a result of trading
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losses, in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what the total sum of tax credits so notified was. [152184]
Ruth Kelly: Loss making small companies can in certain circumstances choose to either claim payable credits under the research and development tax credit scheme or instead claim enhanced tax relief in future accounting periods.
Information on the number of such companies that have chosen to claim the enhanced tax relief and the amount of this relief is not available.
Gangmasters (Agriculture)
Mr. Connarty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much in unpaid (a) income tax and (b) national insurance contributions has been recovered from gangmasters operating in the UK's agricultural sector since 1994. [152097]
Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue does not keep a separate record of recoveries of unpaid income tax and National Insurance Contributions from agricultural gangmasters. It would be disproportionately expensive to provide it.
Customs and Excise
Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what (a) budgets have been agreed and (b) costs have been incurred in fulfilling HM Customs and Excise obligations in respect of ports and airports (i) in the south east of England and (ii) elsewhere for each of the last six years for which records are available; [150983]
- (2) how much HM Customs and Excise has spent on (a) travel, (b) accommodation, (c) subsistence and (d) other costs in respect of the establishment of mobile teams to support its work at ports and airports in (i) the south east of England and (ii) elsewhere for each of the last six years for which records are available; [150984]
(3) what budget has been agreed for the creation of mobile Customs and Excise teams to cover ports and airports; and how much has been budgeted for (a) travel costs, (b) accommodation, (c) subsistence allowance and (d) other costs related to the expense of establishing the service and re-deploying staff. [150987]
John Healey [holding answer 26 January 2004]: HM Customs and Excise reorganised in April 2001, creating a Law Enforcement (LE) arm of approximately 7,500 officers. LE staff perform the majority of Customs operational activity at ports and airports in the UK. One of the aims of this restructuring and the subsequent LE business plan for 2003 to 2006 is to build a more intelligence-led, mobile and flexible workforce. The south region includes the south-east, south-west and central southern England.
The following table gives the authorised expenditure of the LE organisation on salaries, travel and subsistence and other running costs. These costs exclude the intelligence operational arm which is not managed on a comparable regional basis. Comparative data are not available for the years prior to the creation of Law Enforcement.
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| Authorised regional spend | of which: Travel and subsistence(8) | |
|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 outturn | ||
| South region | 62.9 | 2.3 |
| Elsewhere | 148.9 | 7.7 |
| 2002–03 outturn | ||
| South region | 63.9 | 2.3 |
| Elsewhere | 144.3 | 8.4 |
| 2003–04 forecast | ||
| South region | 62.4 | 2.5 |
| Elsewhere | 143.7 | 8.2 |
(8) Includes costs for travel, temporary accommodation and subsistence costs.
Note:
Separate figures are not available in the format requested.
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Acting Chairman of HM Customs and Excise will reply to the letter of 27 October 2003 from the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham about the Chalfont St. Giles Bowling Club. [152185]
John Healey: Customs and Excise replied to the hon. Member's letter on 29 January 2004.
Inland Revenue
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what targets have been set for the answering of correspondence by the Inland Revenue. [151836]
Dawn Primarolo: The targets for post in local tax areas in 2003–04 are:
- 80 per cent. of post worked within 15 working days.
- 95 per cent. of post worked within 40 working days.
- 80 per cent. of post worked within 15 working days dealt with completely and correctly.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much correspondence to the Inland Revenue at present remains unanswered after (a) three, (b) six and (c) nine months. [151837]
Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue does not keep records on this basis. The current target for local tax areas is to work 80 per cent. of post (which includes correspondence and other items) within 15 working days and 95 per cent. of post within 40 working days.
Labour Productivity Levels
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action the Government is planning to improve labour productivity levels. [151478]
John Healey: The Government are committed to raising the rate of UK productivity growth over the economic cycle, improving competitiveness and narrowing the productivity gap with the US, France and Germany. The Government's approach to raising productivity is set out in "Productivity in the UK: The Evidence and the Government's Approach", which was published alongside the 2000 pre-Budget Report.
The Government reports on steps to increase productivity in every Budget and pre-Budget Report. Recent key steps include the introduction of the
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Enterprise Act 2002, the introduction of R&D tax credits, the reduction of corporation tax rates, implementation of major reforms to capital gains tax, proposals for new Enterprise Capital Funds to increase venture capital investment for small businesses with high-growth potential, increased investment to raise standards in education and to improve adult skills, and a comprehensive review of capital markets through the Myners, Sandler and Higgs reviews.
Foreign Earnings Deduction
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department has had with representatives of the shipping industry to discuss plans to prevent workers on offshore installations from receiving the foreign earnings deduction benefit; and if he will make a statement. [151603]
Dawn Primarolo: The intention of Foreign Earnings Deduction (FED) is to encourage seafarers to work on UK ships which can be called upon in time of conflict. Some workers on offshore installations are exploiting FED to seek a tax relief that was never intended for them. As announced in the pre-Budget Report, we will be introducing amendments to the legislation to make it clear that workers on offshore installations are not entitled to this relief and officials have begun discussions with industry representatives.
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to limit the entitlement to foreign earnings deductions for seafarers serving on ships registered in the UK or other EU countries; and what assessment his Department has made of the impact such a change would have on the UK shipping sector. [151605]
Dawn Primarolo: In the pre-Budget Report (Cm 6042), it was announced that there would be changes in the Foreign Earnings Deduction to prevent workers on offshore installations claiming the relief. Any changes beyond this would follow consultation with the shipping industry and trade unions and be consistent with the Government's continuing support for the UK shipping industry.
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