---

27 Oct 2004 : Column 1295W—continued

Employment Statistics (Tooting)

Tom Cox: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of working people living in the Tooting parliamentary constituency are in full-time employment. [193794]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 21 October 2004:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about employment in Tooting. (193794)

It is estimated that for the twelve months ending February 2003, the proportion of working age people in full time employment resident in the Tooting Parliamentary Constituency was 61.2%.

These estimates from the Labour Force Survey are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability.

Fuel Duties

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce measures to compensate for higher duties on petrol and diesel in those areas of the UK with the highest levels of petrol and diesel consumption; and if he will make a statement. [193708]

John Healey: The Chancellor of the Exchequer keeps all taxation policy under review and any changes are announced in the context of the Budget.

Hospices (VAT Relief)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2004, Official Report, column 580W, on hospices (VAT relief), on which purchases hospices can benefit from specific VAT zero rates. [193727]

Dawn Primarolo: The construction of a new building for use as a hospice and the conversion of an existing non-residential building into a hospice are VAT zero-rated.

Charitable hospices, and other charities which provide care or medical treatment for chronically sick and disabled people, also benefit from a number of other VAT zero rates on their purchases including medicines; medical, sterilising, laboratory and certain other equipment to be used for medical research, diagnosis or treatment; ambulances and certain other vehicles; equipment designed solely for chronically sick and disabled people; certain equipment designed for invalids, such as adjustable beds, commodes, patient hoists and wheelchairs; certain adaptations to buildings to facilitate chronically sick and disabled people, such as installation of lifts, the installation or adaptation of bathrooms and lavatories and the widening of doorways and passageways; and the adaptation of any goods to suit the condition of chronically sick and disabled people.

Local Authority Debt

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the (a) Public Sector Loan Board and (b) Treasury gives advice to local authorities on how to reschedule debt to reduce interest rates paid. [193813]

 
27 Oct 2004 : Column 1296W
 

Mr. Timms: The prudent management of debt is the responsibility of local authorities acting on the advice of their Chief Financial Officers in accordance with professional standards. HM Treasury and the Public Works Loan Board do not offer advice on debt management to local authorities.

New Deal

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many personnel the Department has recruited under the New Deal in each of the past five years. [193675]

Mr. Timms [holding answer 25 October 2004]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer which the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Ruth Kelly) gave him on 25 October Official Report, columns 1051–54W.

Private Sector Finance

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much private sector finance has been issued in each year since it was introduced; what the average interest rate was in each year; in which years it is scheduled to be repaid; and whether a sinking fund is being established to meet these repayments. [193804]

Mr. Boateng: Information on projects signed under the Private Finance Initiative can be found in the Signed Projects List which is published on the Treasury website at: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/F20/9F/ACF12A5.xls.

The list contains data on the estimated capital value of investment delivered via PFI and on the year in which individual projects were signed.

Under PFI repaying the debt raised to finance projects is the responsibility of the private sector. The unitary charge, which is paid to the private sector if the project is delivering the high quality outputs specified in the contract, covers both the provision of services and financing costs.

Information on the costs of the debt raised by the private sector to finance individual projects and the times at which it plans to repay such debt is not held centrally.

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the projected levels of private sector finance are over the next three years. [193805]

Mr. Boateng: Figures for the estimated levels of capital spending by the private sector in the financial years 2004–05 to 2006–07 can be found in the Budget Report 2004. Within the report, table C17 provides departmental estimates of capital spending by the private sector (signed deals). Table C18 provides an estimate of the capital value of projects that are at the preferred bidder stage.

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government are taking to ensure that the contractor takes some risk in private sector finance agreements. [193806]

 
27 Oct 2004 : Column 1297W
 

Mr. Boateng: Private sector contractors always take risk in PFI projects. Examples of risks commonly transferred to the private sector are construction risk, or the risk associated with the design of the building and its appropriateness for providing the required service.

Guidance on how to appropriately evaluate which risks should be shared or transferred is given in the Standardisation of PFI Contracts Version 3 (SoPC 3) and the Treasury's Value for Money Guidance on PFI. Both documents are available on the Treasury website at: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/public private partnerships/key documents/ppp keydocs index.cfm.

Public Services

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average annual cost to (a) local authorities, (b) police authorities, (c) fire authorities and (d) NHS trusts of the (i) withdrawal of advance corporation tax credit on pensions and (ii) increase in national insurance implemented in the 2003 budget has been since their introduction. [193803]

Dawn Primarolo: Data by type of public service are not available.

Red Diesel

Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment the Treasury has made of the increase in revenue the Exchequer would receive if the UK's derogation to the European Energy Products Directive which enables private boat users to purchase red diesel was not extended beyond 2006. [193720]

John Healey: Lack of robust data available means no reliable assessment has to date been made of potential revenue gains for the Exchequer from the loss of the UK's derogation from the European Energy Products Directive, which enables private boat users in the UK to purchase rebated gas oil.

Royal Residences

Mr. Alan Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his reply of 11 October 2004, Official Report, column 73W, what the cost of the lease is; and whether it is paid (a) in advance and (b) on an instalment basis. [191344]

Mr. Timms: The cost and terms of the lease are confidential as it is privately funded. However, commercial valuations were obtained on both sides by independent external valuers.

Mr. Alan Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the current estimate is of the cost of the refurbishment required in the first two years of the lease granted to HRH the Duke of York relating to property in Windsor Great Park. [191345]

Mr. Timms: The lease specifies that the tenant must spend a substantial sum on the restoration and modernisation of the property. However, as this is private expenditure, it will remain confidential.
 
27 Oct 2004 : Column 1298W
 

Mr. Alan Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who bears the cost of maintenance of property and land in Windsor Great Park covered by the recently agreed lease granted to HRH the Duke of York. [191346]

Mr. Timms: The lease granted to HRH The Duke of York stipulates that The Duke of York, as lessee, is responsible for all repairs and maintenance of both the property and grounds.

Mr. Alan Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the property and land recently granted by lease to HRH the Duke of York in Windsor Great Park qualifies for (a) UK and (b) EU (i) agricultural and (ii) environmental grants. [191347]

Mr. Timms: The land held under lease by HRH the Duke of York at Royal Lodge does not qualify for UK or EU agricultural or environmental grants.

---