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30 Nov 2004 : Column 99W—continued
Sikhs
Mr. Plaskitt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is discussing with the Office for National Statistics changes to the 2011 Census forms which would recognise Sikhs as an ethnic group. [200041]
Mr. Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. James Plaskitt, dated 30 November 2004:
The National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking about changes to the 2011 Census forms which would recognise Sikhs as an ethnic group. I am replying in his absence. (200041)
In planning for a census in 2011, arrangements will be put in place for consultation with a wide range of users on the form and content of the questions to be included, using similar criteria that were adopted in designing the 2001 Census form. The criteria used for 2001 were:
the questions should be shown, in tests, to have no significantly adverse effect on the Census as a whole, particularly the level of public response; and that
practicable questions can be devised to collect data that are sufficiently accurate to meet users' requirements.
We recognise that ethnicity is an ever-changing concept and we want to reflect the contemporary nature of British society. However, comparability over time remains a very important issue. Because ethnicity is multifaceted, the current National Statistics practice is to collect as much information as possible on associated factors. For example, the Labour Force Survey (LFS) has questions on national identity, ethnic group, religious affiliation, country of birth, and nationality.
It is also our view that we should test questions for the 2011 Census (when they are determined) before they are asked in the Census itself. In the meantime National Statistics guidelines on the measurement and collection of ethnicity data were published on the Office for National Statistics (ONS) website earlier this year.
They reflect the need for a balance between the prime requirement for comparability with the 2001 Census while, at the same time, acknowledging the fact that classifications are never set in stone.
The ethnicity question will be reviewed as part of the general preparations for the 2011 Census. A paper entitled 'Strategic issues surrounding the 2011 Census questionnaire Content' was presented to the Census Advisory Groups earlier this month. ONS will begin its formal external user consultation on 2011 Census topics with the production of a consultation document, which will be published in spring 2005. This will be available via the ONS website and circulated to key users through the formal Census Advisory Groups mechanism. This document will set out ONS'
- current views on user requirements for outputs, along with information on the quality of 2001 Census responses and the key alternative sources for the information, and will seek responses by late summer 2005.
You may like to know that the British Sikh Federation are represented on the newly convened Special Populations Advisory Group which covers the interests of special and minority population groups.
Tax Credits
Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he plans to take to assist those families who are having to repay money to the Inland Revenue as a result of tax credit overpayments caused by administrative failures. [199769]
Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue's Code of Practice 'What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?' sets out their approach to handling overpayments of tax credits.
Overpayments are collected from continuing awards wherever possible, subject to automatic limits on how much they collect.
The Inland Revenue will accept that an overpayment should not be recovered if it arose because of their mistake and the person could reasonably have thought their award was right.
Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he plans to take to simplify the application (a) process and (b) forms for those families wishing to apply for the (i) working tax credit and (ii) child tax credit. [199771]
Dawn Primarolo: Claimants have to complete a claim form only once to get into the tax credits system. Thereafter, when they renew their claims each year, there are only two pages of a renewals form that need to be completed and returned. There is a straightforward step-by-step guide in every claim and renewals pack, as well as detailed guidance notes.
The Inland Revenue continually look to improve the process for people claiming tax credits, either using the claim form or online.
Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he is making available about the process for repayment to families who are having to repay money to the Inland Revenue as a result of tax credit overpayments caused by administrative failures. [199777]
Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue's Code of Practice 26 'What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?' sets out their approach to handling overpayments of tax credits.
The Code of Practice is available on the Inland Revenue website or from the tax credits helpline.
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the processing of completed application forms for (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit takes place in the UK. [200900]
30 Nov 2004 : Column 102W
Dawn Primarolo: Claimants send their completed tax credits claim forms to the Inland Revenue's office in Netherton, Merseyside, where they are processed. People can, of course, also claim online.
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of tax credit overpayments for 2003–04; how many such overpayments have been accepted as the fault of the Inland Revenue; and how many such overpayments will be written off. [200925]
Dawn Primarolo: I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary on 17 November 2004, Official Report, column 1511W.
Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of what caused the Inland Revenue error that led to the overpayment of tax credit payments; and what action he is taking to ensure that such an error will not occur again in the future. [199768]
Dawn Primarolo: Details are in the Inland Revenue's Annual Report for 2003–04, published on 21 October 2004, at page 42 and at page 104 of the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General attached to it.
A software error in April and May 2003 caused incorrect payments of tax credits; the error was corrected for June 2003 onwards.
Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average length of time is that the Inland Revenue is taking to inform individual families that have received tax credit overpayments; and what period of notice is given before repayments of overpayments are requested. [199772]
Dawn Primarolo: Overpayments are established after the end of the tax year when an award has been finalised. When awards are finalised, claimants receive a final award notice setting out any overpayment that has arisen. Where there is a continuing entitlement to tax credits, overpayments are generally collected from future awards. But where that is not possible, the amount overpaid may be collected directly from the claimant. Information on the average length of time taken from identification of an overpayment and notifying the claimant of it is not available.
The approach the Revenue takes to overpayments is contained in their Code of Practice 26 'What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?'(a copy of which has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
Tobacco Tax
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value was of revenue from taxation on tobacco products in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [199610]
John Healey: Excise duty receipts for tobacco are included in the HM Customs and Excise Tobacco Bulletin', which can be found on a HM Customs and Excise website address at:
The estimated Value Added Tax (VAT) receipts for tobacco for the financial year 2003–04 are not available, as information on VAT for individual products is not routinely collected.
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