House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 9 Feb 2004 (pt 8)

9 Feb 2004 : Column 1167W—continued

Energy Efficiency

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a summary of responses received to the consultation paper Economic instruments to improve household energy efficiency: consultation document on specific measures. [153763]

John Healey: The consultation was launched on 1 August 2003, and closed on 24 October. The Government received 126 responses, a summary of which was published on the Treasury's website on 11 December 2003, and a copy is available in the Library of the House.

Euro

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect upon forecast euro area gross domestic product growth of the strength of the euro on the euro area trade route; and what assessment he has made of the implications of this effect for the UK economy. [153587]

Ruth Kelly: The Government will update their forecasts for the UK economy and the euro area in the Budget on 17 March, taking into account all relevant factors.

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Family Expenditure Survey

Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the definition of income in the family expenditure survey includes capital gains. [153616]

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Dr. Vincent Cable, dated 9 February 2004:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking whether the definition of income in the Family Expenditure Survey includes capital gains. (153616)

The definition of income used in the Family Expenditure Survey, and its successor from 2001–02, the Expenditure and Food Survey, does not include capital gains. This is in accordance with international guidelines. Further detail is available on the National Statistics website at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme social/Family Spending 2001 02 revised/Family Spending revised.pdf

International Finance Facility

Ms Drown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contribution the UK will make to the International Finance Facility to 2015; and what proportion of projected GDP this represents. [152921]

John Healey: Final decisions on contributions to the proposed International Finance Facility can only be taken in conjunction with donor partners.

For our part, the UK Government stands ready to commit the additional resources pledged at the 2002 Monterrey Conference, where all EU states agreed to reach 0.39 per cent. ODA/GNI from 2006. The most recent Spending Review announced that UK ODA would reach £4.9 billion from 2005–06, or 0.4 per cent. ODA/GNI, thereby exceeding our Monterrey commitment. This represents a 93 per cent. increase in UK official development assistance since 1997.

MOD Expenditure

Mr. Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those categories of expenditure within which the Ministry of Defence may normally incur commitments within existing budgetary limits without the need to refer to his Department. [153516]

Mr. Boateng: A list of categories within HM Treasury's financial delegation to MOD has been placed in the Library of the House.

National Savings Bank Accounts

Mr. Gale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions took place between the Treasury, the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters and non-governmental organisations representing the elderly prior to the decision to withdraw the National Savings Bank Blue Ordinary Account; and if he will make a statement. [153474]

Ruth Kelly: National Savings and Investments' primary role is to raise cost-effective financing for the Government and it can only achieve this by offering savings and investment products which are attractive to customers and which they want to buy.

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The Ordinary Account, set up in 1861, has changed little since it was introduced. Due to extensive changes in the savings market, the Ordinary Account no longer reflects customers' savings needs. In light of this, and following research with a wide range of customers, National Savings and Investments decided, with the Treasury's approval, to close the Ordinary Account and open a new and more appealing product—the Easy Access Savings Account. The features of this new product are aimed at offering customers greater flexibility in managing their savings.

The Post Office remains a key channel for National Savings and Investments and the new Easy Access Savings Account has been specifically developed with them to take advantage of their new network banking capability.

Although neither the Treasury nor National Savings and Investments had direct discussions with the National Federation of Sub Postmasters, the Post Office engaged in direct discussions with the Federation on how to introduce the new account and close the Ordinary Account.

In December, as the first public announcement of the planned changes was made, special interest groups, including those with a special interest in the elderly, were informed by the Post Office and National Savings and Investments. National Savings and Investments also offered to discuss their plans directly with these groups as well as with the Federation.

Mr. Gale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what provision will be made to enable National Savings Bank Blue Ordinary Account holders without bank accounts to transfer funds to a National Savings Bank Easy Access Account; [153475]

Ruth Kelly: In common with many other providers, National Savings and Investments' new Easy Access Savings Account requires a customer to have a bank or building society account to receive repayments. The Easy Access Savings Account will therefore not be suitable for those without such an account. However, National Savings and Investments offer other products, including the Investment Account, which can be operated without the need for a bank account. The Post Office card account is limited to receiving pension or benefit payments only and no other credits so would not be suitable as an alternative to use with an Easy Access Savings Account.

Mr. Gale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what facilities will be made available to give persons holding National Savings Bank blue ordinary accounts who do not have a bank account access to their funds after 31 July. [153451]

Ruth Kelly: After 31 July 2004, if a customer wishes to make a withdrawal from their Ordinary Account—which must be to close the account—the arrangements will remain as they currently stand. A customer who

9 Feb 2004 : Column 1170W

does not have a bank account can request an uncrossed warrant that can be encashed at a chosen Post Office branch.

Penrose Report

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the reasons are for the delay in the publication of the Penrose Report on Equitable Life. [153796]

Ruth Kelly: As set out in my written statement of 5 January 2004, the Treasury intends to publish the report in full as soon as possible. There will be an announcement about publication in due course.

Provision for Defence Capability

Mr. Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the net cash requirement for Request for Resources 1: Provision for Defence Capability is for financial years 2001–02 to 2002–03; and what the planned net cash requirement is for financial years 2003–04 to 2005–06. [153023]

Mr. Boateng: For 2001–02 and 2002–03, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Ministry of Defence's Report and Accounts 2002–03 (published in October 2003) and for the current year to the Winter Supplementary Estimate for 2003–04 (published in November 2003). Net Cash Requirement figures for 2004–05 and 2005–06 are not held.

R and D Tax Credit

Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the small businesses that have applied for the research and development tax credit have had their applications accepted in each year since 2000. [152527]

Dawn Primarolo: The number of claims from small companies received in each year since 2000 is given in my answer to a question from the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) of 19 January 2004, Official Report, column 1045W. The figures provided represent the number of Corporation Tax Self Assessment returns where companies have claimed research and development tax credits.

Spirit Duty (Evasion)

Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful prosecutions there were for evading duty on spirits in 2001–02. [152946]

John Healey: In 2001–02 there were nine prosecutions for evading duty on spirits, of these seven were successful and two were unsuccessful.

Additionally 99 prosecutions were brought for cases involving the evasion of duty on mixed excise goods, some of which may have included spirits.

Figures for the current and future years will be reported by HM Customs and Excise in their Annual Report.

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