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19 Apr 2004 : Column 382W—continued

Older People

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what (a) initiatives, (b) campaigns and (c) advisory bodies relating to older people his Department (i) is responsible and (ii) has provided funding since 2001; and what the cost in each year was for each one. [166244]

Mr. Boateng: With the Department for Work and Pensions, HM Treasury has promoted a range of measures and initiatives aimed at improving the
 
19 Apr 2004 : Column 383W
 
incomes of older people, particularly those over state pension age, including increasing the basic state pension by more than inflation in 2001 -2003, guaranteeing future annual rises by the higher of 2.5 per cent. or RPI and launching the Pension Credit to reward those with modest savings for the first time.

This year the Government will pay an extra £100 to over-70 households

to help with council tax bills. This is on top of winter fuel payments, free TV licences and other measures.

Public Lavatories

Mr. Gummer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether the rateable value for the purpose of the uniform business rate of a public lavatory is the same in highly rateable and more lowly rated areas; [165937]

(2) what the criteria are by which a valuation officer evaluates a public lavatory for the purpose of the uniform business rate; [165939]

(3) what the (a) highest and (b) lowest rated public lavatory in England is for the purpose of the uniform business rate. [165940]

Dawn Primarolo: Details of the method and basis of valuation of Public Lavatories for non-domestic rating is set out in the Valuation Office Agency's Rating Manual. This can be found on its website at:

www.voa.gov.uk/ instructions/chapters/rating-manual/vol5/sect625.

There are variations in the level of assessments that reflect the different levels of build costs across the country. In practice, a part of the calculation is a 'location factor' applied to the build costs. In the 2000 rating lists in England and Wales the highest location factor is 31.8 per cent. greater than the lowest. An addition of 5 per cent. is made to public conveniences in urban areas; this does not apply to rural public conveniences.

The highest assessment for a public lavatory in England and Wales is £30,000 rateable value. This is a public lavatory at Tower Place, Tower Hill, London, EC4 6DS. There are a number of public lavatories assessed at £1 rateable value following the Lands Tribunal decision (Hodkinson (VO) v Strathclyde Regional Council Superannuation Fund 1996 RA 131).

Senior Citizens (Birkenhead)

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many senior citizens in Birkenhead qualified for the 10 pence rate of income tax in each year since its introduction. [166309]

Dawn Primarolo: All income taxpayers benefit from the 10p pence starting rate. The Survey of Personal Incomes estimates there are about 4,000 state retirement pension age taxpayers in the Birkenhead constituency in 2000–01 and 2001–02. Figures for 1999–2000 are currently not available.

Serious Organised Crime Agency

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) drug enforcement and (b) drugs policy functions are being transferred from HM Customs and Excise to the Serious Organised Crime Agency. [166107]

 
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Mr. Boateng: The investigation and intelligence responsibilities of HM Customs and Excise in tackling serious drug trafficking and recovering related criminal assets will be transferred to the Serious Organised Crime Agency. The policy functions related to these activities will also transfer.

Student Loans

Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was received by the Inland Revenue in student loan repayment in each month in financial years (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; and when the payments were transferred to the Student Loan Company. [166117]

Dawn Primarolo: Latest information on the recovery of student loans through the tax system and payments to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) of loans recovered is shown in Note 5 to the Trust Statement in Appendix 1 of the Inland Revenue Annual Report for the year ending 31 March 2003. An estimate of loans recovered, and payment to DfES, for 2003–04 will be published in the 2004 report.

Monthly figures for receipts are not available as student loan deductions made by employers are reported to the Inland Revenue after the end of the tax year.

Tax Credits

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit overpayments have arisen as a result of official errors in the last 12 months. [165412]

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Northavon (Steve Webb) on 9 March 2004, Official Report, column 1482W.

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether claimants of tax credits receive a copy of the Code of Practice on overpayments when it becomes evident that they may have been overpaid. [165413]

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Anniesland (John Robertson) on 21 January 2004, Official Report, column 1259W, and the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb) on 27 February 2004, Official Report, column 570–571W.

Tax Stamps

Mr. Alan Reid: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2004, reference 164497, on tax stamps, what the responses were of the two EU or accession countries not named in the answer; and if he will place copies of these responses in the Library. [165880]

John Healey: The Government has now received and reviewed responses from both Hungary and Lithuania. Neither country plans to discontinue its tax stamp scheme. The Government will consider publishing these responses if the countries concerned give their permission to do so.

Taxation

Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the information provided in his answer to
 
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the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) on taxation of 23 January 2003, Official Report, column 430W; and if he will make a statement. [166127]

Dawn Primarolo: Comprehensive information on income tax has been placed in the Library of the House in October 2003. This information will be updated shortly after the Easter recess.

The full-year capital gains tax yields in 2004–05 from introducing a rate of tax of 49 per cent. on (a) taxable and (b) gross incomes exceeding £100,000 per annum are both estimated to be £120 million.

The income tax information is based upon the Survey of Personal Incomes and excludes any estimate of behavioural response to the tax change.

Capital gains tax estimates take into account the likely effect on yield of changes in the volume of disposals in a full year caused by taxpayer's behaviour.

Wayleaves

Mr. Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will propose legislation to prohibit the Crown Estate from charging local authorities for wayleaves for public projects. [164774]

Ruth Kelly [holding answer 30 March 2004]: The Crown Estate has a statutory duty to obtain an appropriate return from its assets under section 1 (3) of The Crown Estate Act 1961. The Crown Estate is no different from any other landowner in the way it seeks payment for wayleaves or the way in which they are valued.

Mr. Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what powers the Crown Estate is entitled to charge a wayleave for a new bridge over the River South
 
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Esk at Montrose when a wayleave exists for the current bridge. [164776]

Ruth Kelly [holding answer 30 March 2004]: No new charge is being made for a wayleave over the River South Esk at Montrose. The wayleave for the existing bridge covers both the temporary and the new bridges.

The charges that are being made are for the lease for land for the temporary bridge, and the sale of land for the new bridge.

Mr. Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what powers the Crown Estate is able to charge substantial sums of money from Angus council for the construction of a temporary bridge over the River South Esk at Montrose while a new bridge is being built. [164777]

Ruth Kelly [holding answer 30 March 2004]: The Crown Estate Act 1961, s.1(3) places a statutory duty on The Crown Estate Commissioners to maintain and enhance the value of The Crown Estate and the return obtained from it, but with due regard to the requirements of good management.

A rental charge is being made for the lease of land for the temporary bridge because it is on Crown Estate foreshore and seabed (tidal riverbed is defined as seabed). The rental value was agreed between agents acting on behalf of The Crown Estate and on behalf of Angus council.

Mr. Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Crown Estate has received from local authorities in Scotland in each of the last 10 years as wayleaves for bridges and other public works projects. [164778]

Ruth Kelly [holding answer 30 March 2004]: The information is as follows:

	Amount (£)	Authority	Works	Date
2003–04	0	—	—	—
2002–03	0	—	—	—
2001–02	0	—	—	—
2000–01	0	—	—	—
1999–2000	500	Western Isles Council	Wayleave for bridge span, Sound of Scalpay	11 August 1999
	550	Shetland Islands Council	Wayleave for bridge span, Muckle Roe	9 April 1999
1998–99	0	—	—	—
1997–98	0	—	—	—
1996–97	0	—	—	—
1995–96	0	—	—	—
1994–95	0	—	—	—
1993–94	100	Western Isles Council	Wayleave for bridge span, River Miavaig	21 June 1993

Mr. Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what process is used to determine the value of a wayleave charged by the Crown Estate to local authorities in respect of public works projects. [164779]

Ruth Kelly [holding answer 30 March 2004]: The value of a wayleave is determined on a case-by-case basis through negotiation in accordance with professional valuation practice, with the respective local authority or its representative.

As is laid down in the The Crown Estate Act 1961, no account is taken of monopoly value when valuing any Crown Estate asset.

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