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21 Apr 2004 : Column 497W—continued

Local Government Finance

12. Mr. Barnes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average council tax increase from 2003–04 to 2004–05 was in shire counties. [166265]

Mr. Raynsford: The average increase in the Band D council tax in shire county areas between 2003–04 and 2004–05 is 6.2 per cent. This contrasts with an increase of 13.8 per cent. in 2003–04.

Planning/Regeneration

Mike Gapes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on planning and regeneration policy in areas of high population density. [166260]

Keith Hill: The needs of high density areas differ greatly depending on local circumstances. Regeneration strategies are best decided locally. Planning can play an important role in high-density areas helping to create well designed and planned sustainable communities.
 
21 Apr 2004 : Column 498W
 

PRIME MINISTER

EU Constitution

Bob Spink: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement in the House on a referendum on the EU constitution. [167220]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to my statement on Europe in the House on 20 April 2004, Official Report, columns 155–57.

Libya

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Prime Minister (1) whether (a) he raised the issue of the sale and transportation of illegal arms to the Provisional IRA when he recently met with Colonel Gaddafi in Libya and (b) he was given a full inventory of the weapons and explosives which the Provisional IRA received; [166764]

(2) whether discussions took place with Colonel Gaddafi regarding financial compensation to those injured by, and to the families of those murdered by, illegal weapons transported to the IRA by Libya; and if he will make a statement; [166765]

(3) whether the issue of (a) arms supplies to the IRA by Libya and (b) compensation for victims of terrorism in Northern Ireland arising from arms shipments from Libya to the IRA was raised during his meeting with Colonel Gaddafi. [167396]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for South Antrim (David Burnside) on 1 April 2004, Official Report, column 1569W.

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Prime Minister what details were given by Colonel Gaddafi and the Libyan Government regarding their involvement in the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher; and if he will make a statement. [166766]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for South Antrim (David Burnside) on 1 April 2004, Official Report, column 1569W.

Following my visit, a Metropolitan Police team visited Tripoli between 3 and 6 April to take forward the investigation into the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher.

TREASURY

Accountancy Services

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) which (a) chartered accountants and (b) chartered accountancy firms are banned from carrying out work for the Government; [166384]

(2) which (a) chartered accountancy and (b) chartered accountant firms have had bans lifted since 1997; and what criteria are used to determine whether bans should be (i) imposed and (ii) lifted. [166385]

Ruth Kelly: No chartered accountants or firms of chartered accountants are currently formally banned from carrying out work for the Government. However, following the collapse of Barlow Clowes, the two
 
21 Apr 2004 : Column 499W
 
partners of Deloitte and Touche (the auditors) who were censured by the Joint Disciplinary Scheme Committee of Enquiry (an integral part of the accountancy profession's regulatory regime) voluntarily agreed not to put themselves forward for Government work.

The ban on the employment of Arthur Andersen for Government work was lifted in November 1997 for   reasons explained on 14 November 1997, Official Report, column 695.

There are no formal criteria for the imposition or lifting of a ban, and each case is viewed on its merits.

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) nature and (b) value was of all contracts, consultancies or other services placed with the accountancy firms (i) Deloitte & Touche, (ii) Ernst & Young, (iii) KPMG and (iv) PricewaterhouseCoopers since 2000–01 by the Department and its agencies. [166097]

Ruth Kelly: The following information and tables provide the information required in the form in which the Chancellor's Departments and agencies have been able to compile it, without having to incur disproportionate costs.
HM Treasury⁽¹⁾ Spend (£)

	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Deloitte Touche	0	91,473	144,628	207,261
Ernst & Young	0	0	1,410	0
KPMG	41,125	0	262,057	5,006
PriceWaterhouseCoopers	462,251	19,892	203,837	8,119

⁽¹⁾ Including DMO.



Office of Government Commerce⁽²⁾ Spend (£)

	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Deloitte & Touche	0	0	—	—
Ernst & Young	0	0	—	—
KPMG	261,000	85,000	—	—
PriceWaterhouseCoopers	—	—	—	—

⁽²⁾ Including OGC Buying Solutions.



HM Customs & Excise Spend (£)

	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Deloitte & Touche	876,061	38,748	—	—
Ernst & Young	253,153	215,748	—	—
KPMG	214,190	1,237,316	—	—
PriceWaterhouseCoopers	243,254	111,356	—	—

Inland Revenue Spend (£)

	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Deloitte & Touche	0	2,115	302,273	48,472
Ernst & Young/Cap Gemini(3)	1,937,237	1,673,971	6,796	70
KPMG	92,500	0	32,261	83,279
PriceWaterhouseCoopers	141,101	190,372	109,680	6,289

⁽³⁾ Combined expenditure with Ernst Young/Cap Gemini—further breakdown only available at disproportionate cost.

Inland Revenue (IR) has access to a range of services provided by the specified companies and their affiliated organisations. The expenditure detailed above for the   specified companies was incurred primarily for management services.
 
21 Apr 2004 : Column 500W
 

The Valuation Office—Executive Agency of the Inland Revenue

During the relevant period, the IP's Valuation Office Agency (VOA) incurred expenditure only with KPMG (for business advice on the 2007 council tax revaluation) as follows:

2002–03: £634,960

2003–04: £1,034,925

The Royal Mint 1 Spend (£)

	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Andersen	0	0	—	—
Deloitte & Touche	0	0	—	—
Ernst & Young	0	0	—	—
KPMG	0	0	—	—
PriceWaterhouseCoopers	137,000	51,000	—	—

⁽⁴⁾ Including Audit Work.



Office for National Statistics Spend (£)

	2000–01	2001–02	2002- 03	2003—04
Deloitte & Touche	699	15	—	—
Ernst & Young	50	0	—	—
KPMG	251,876	191,296	—	—
PriceWaterhouseCoopers	2,198	0	—	—

National Savings Spend (£)

	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Deloitte & Touche	570,000	420,000	—	—
Ernst & Young	0	0	—	—
KPMG	0	0	—	—
PriceWaterhouseCoopers	43,000	0	—	—

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