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17 Jun 2004 : Column 1034W—continued
House Prices
22. Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to moderate the rise in house prices. [179144]
Ruth Kelly: In Budget 2003, the Chancellor noted that a reduction in housing market volatility would enhance macro-economic stability. He asked Kate Barker to review housing supply in the UK, and David Miles to review the UK mortgage market.
At the time of Budget 2004, both reviews presented their final reports. The Government have welcomed their analysis and recommendations for action.
As recommended in the Barker Review, the Government are implementing a programme of change to the planning system and to the delivery of development, consulting with stakeholders as necessary.
The Government endorses David Miles' conclusion that urgent reform is desirable to make the UK mortgage market work better for consumers in a number of areas. The FSA has in train reforms in the mortgage market, which will move to statutory regulation on 31 October. The Chancellor has asked the FSA to consider and report on the further reforms proposed by David Miles.
Fuel Efficiency (Vehicles)
23. Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to use the tax system to improve the fuel efficiency of vehicles. [179145]
John Healey:
The Chancellor considers all relevant environmental, economic and social factors in deciding taxation policy. He will announce any changes to taxation policy in the context of his Budget statement.
17 Jun 2004 : Column 1035W
The Government already has a good record in using taxation to improve fuel efficiency through, for example, duty differentials in favour of cleaner fuels and graduated vehicle excise duty and the reform of company car taxation which provide incentives for more fuel efficient cars.
Development Aid
24. Ms Munn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his plans to set a timetable to reach the 0.7 per cent. of gross national income target for overseas aid by 2008. [179146]
John Healey: I refer to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Ann McKechin) earlier today.
Better Regulation
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 27 May 2004, Official Report, column 1727W, on Regulation, (1) what assessment he made of the recommendation of the Mandelkern Group on Better Regulation Final Report of 13 November 2001 that simplification does not mean deregulation; and what his assessment is of the adoption of this recommendation in the Better Regulation Action Plan published by the European Commission in June 2002; [178859]
(2) which section of the European Commission's Better Regulation Action Plan provides for the removal of existing legislation which is in force; and if he will make a statement. [178861]
Ruth Kelly: The Government is working with its partners, through the joint initiative on regulatory reform, to ensure that the framework of existing European law is subject to thorough review.
In doing this it is building on the Commission's Better Regulation Action Plan, which was developed in response to the Mandelkern Report as well as the Commission's White Paper on European Governance, and other submissions.
The simplification workstream of this Action Plan covers a broad range of tools. Its aim is to reduce the costs of regulation while preserving overall policy objectives. This can include removal or revision of existing legislation. The Commission's progress report stated that simplification includes "efforts to simplify the substance of a policy . . . in such cases it may be necessary to adapt or to entirely rethink the legislative approach," 1
1 COM (2003) 623 final: First Report on the Implementation of the Framework Action Plan Updating and Simplifying the Community Acquis, p8
Burmese Imports
Vera Baird: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value of imports of (a) marine products, (b) shrimp and prawns and (c) timber from Burma has been in the past five financial years; and which companies import each type of product. [179228]
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John Healey: I refer my hon. friend to the answer I gave her on 5 March 2003, Official Report, column 1104W. The value of imports requested is shown in the table as follows.
| Goods | Financial year | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Marine products | 1999–2000 | 1.787 |
| (exc shrimps and prawns)(2) | 2000–01 | 3.362 |
| 2001–02 | 4.359 | |
| 2002–03 | 4.082 | |
| 2003–04 | 3.372 | |
| Shrimps and prawns(3) | 1999–2000 | 2.433 |
| 2000–2001 | 3.324 | |
| 2001–2002 | 3.462 | |
| 2002–2003 | 4.025 | |
| 2003–2004 | 1.547 | |
| Timber(4) | 1999–2000 | 2.022 |
| 2000–2001 | 3.434 | |
| 2001–2002 | 3.624 | |
| 2002–2003 | 1.637 | |
| 2003–2004 | 1.541 |
(2) Live fish; fish and fish fillets, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates fresh, chilled, frozen, smoked, dried, salted or in brine; fish products not fit for human consumption
(3) Fresh, chilled, frozen, boiled, salted, dried or in brine.
(4) Rough, worked, planed, moulded etc, including plywood, fibreboard etc, but excluding made up artless of wood
Source:
Overseas Trade Statistics, HMCE
Vera Baird: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total value of imports from Burma was in 2003, broken down by import. [179231]
John Healey: The total value of imports from Burma in 2003, broken down by commodity is published in the Overseas Trade Statistics and is available on Customs' website www.uktradeinfo.com). It is shown in the table as follows:
| Value (£) | |
|---|---|
| Articles of apparel and clothing accessories | 51,313,636 |
| Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic invertebrates and preparations thereof | 5,881,650 |
| Power generating machinery and equipment | 1,153,475 |
| Furniture and parts thereof, bedding, mattresses etc. | 1,055,213 |
| Cork and wood manufactures (excluding furniture) | 998,606 |
| Cork and wood | 968,649 |
| Vegetables and fruit | 439,924 |
| Parcel post | 195,853 |
| Miscellaneous manufactured articles not elsewhere specified | 109,966 |
| Textile yarn, fabrics, made up articles etc. | 78,304 |
| Footwear | 13,983 |
| Non-metallic mineral manufactures not elsewhere specified | 13,621 |
| General industrial machinery and equipment and machine parts not elsewhere specified | 7,806 |
| Other transport equipment | 7,088 |
| Manufactures of metal not elsewhere specified | 5,793 |
| Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and manufactures thereof | 4,227 |
| Tobacco and tobacco manufactures | 1,482 |
| Machinery specialized for particular industries | 704 |
| Elsewhere specified | 625 |
| Total | 62,250,605 |
Source:
Overseas Trade Statistics, HMCE
17 Jun 2004 : Column 1037W
Compensation Payments
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many compensation payments were made to members of the public by his Department and its agencies in each year since 1997–98, broken down by the (a) amount paid and (b) reason for payment. [172895]
Ruth Kelly: Compensation payments made to members of the public by the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Departments and agencies are made in a wide variety of circumstances, including:
costs following Tribunal/Court rulings and those arising from Adjudicator and Ombudsman reviews;
property damage;
compensation paid by HM Customs and Excise, VAT, tax regimes;
compensation paid to meet out of pocket expenses, inconvenience or hardship caused by officials failure or delay.
Losses and special payments are required to be published in Departmental Annual Accounts in accordance with the Resource Accounting Manual.
Developing Countries (Poverty)
Mrs. Betty Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on UK investment in tackling poverty in developing countries. [179136]
Ruth Kelly: UK investment in tackling poverty has doubled in real terms since 1997 and will rise to nearly £5 billion by 2005–06—the highest ever level of UK development aid.
By 2005–06, 90 per cent. of the aid budget will be spent in the world's poorest countries, including a record £1 billion bilateral aid programme in Africa. We are also working closely with developing countries to ensure that aid is spent effectively and reaches those in greatest need.
As I announced in the Budget, we will not cut aid in the new spending round, but will continue to increase the resources that we give to the developing world.
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