| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
17 Jan 2005 : Column 710W—continued
Sniffer Dogs
Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many sniffer dogs have been used by Customs and Excise in each of the last five years; and how many of these animals have died prematurely while in service. [208245]
17 Jan 2005 : Column 711W
Dawn Primarolo: HM Customs and Excise places a high value on the welfare of its detector dogs. Over the last five years, five dogs in total have died. The information requested for each of the years, ending on 31 March is as follows.
Year (ending 31 March) | Total dogs in service | Number of dogs dying |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Not available | 1 |
| 2001 | Not available | 0 |
| 2002 | 54 | 1 |
| 2003 | 51 | 0 |
| 2004 | 54 | 1 |
| 2005 (April to December 2004) | 59 | 2 |
Tax Credits
Miss Begg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what IT errors have led to tax credits overpayments, broken down by type of overpayment; whether the overpayments were discovered in-year; and whether in-year recovery of overpayments has been made. [206259]
Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 30 November 2004, Official Report, column 102W, to the hon. Member for Weston-Super-Mare (Brian Cotter)
Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of overpayment for child and working tax credit there have been for each of the last five calendar years in (a) North Southwark and Bermondsey, (b) Camberwell and Peckham and (c) Dulwich and West Norwood; and if he will make a statement. [207897]
Dawn Primarolo: For working tax credit and child tax credit, I refer the hon. Member to my reply on 15 November 2004, Official Report, columns 946–48W to the hon. Members for Northavon (Mr. Webb) and for Yeovil (Mr. Laws).
For working families' and disabled person's tax credits, I refer the hon. Member to my answer on 12 November 2003, Official Report, column 394W, to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien).
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effect of the withdrawal of the Fareshare funding category of the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [208349]
John Healey: Fareshare has not been withdrawn from the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme, but is no longer eligible for LTCS funding following the reform of the scheme from 2003.
From 1 April 2003, landfill site operators can no longer claim a tax credit for contributions to projects under categories C and CC, which dealt with sustainable waste management. Sustainable waste management projects are now funded through a public expenditure programme (Waste Implementation Programme) administered by Defra to ensure that legally binding targets to significantly reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill are met.
17 Jan 2005 : Column 712W
There has been no recent research commissioned on the impact of removing the C and CC categories from the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. Progress by the Waste implementation programme is demonstrated in improvements on all waste indicators.
Tax Returns
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the latest figures are for the take up of online submission of personal tax returns; and what steps he has taken to evaluate consumer satisfaction with the process. [208486]
Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue received 1,011,183 returns electronically in the period 6 April 2004 to 7 January 2005. 787,978 were received via the internet service and 223,205 via the Electronic Lodgement Service.
Users of the Revenue's own online filing software are asked to provide feedback via an online survey. Current satisfaction rating is running at 91 per cent. with over 96 per cent. of users saying they will use the service again next year.
In addition we have a rolling programme of research with taxpayers on their usage of our online services which will be extended to agents next year. We also continually monitor feedback based on calls received at our online services helpdesk.
Teenage Pregnancy
Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the teenage pregnancy rate in North Southwark and Bermondsey was in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [207899]
Mr. Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Simon Hughes, dated 17 January 2005:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking, what the teenage pregnancy rate in North Southwark and Bermondsey was in each year since 1997. (207899)
The number of teenage conceptions that occurred in 2000 in North Southwark and Bermondsey Parliamentary Constituency was 122. Figures are not available by Parliamentary Constituencies for other years. Figures are available for each year to 2002 for local authority and health authority areas. These can be found on the Office for National Statistics at:
Rates cannot be supplied for 2000, as population estimates by Parliamentary Constituencies are not available for that year.
Aggregates Levy
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when HM Customs and Excise is expected to complete its assessment of the impact of the introduction of the aggregates levy. [209144]
John Healey:
The process of evaluating taxes is a continuing one with regular updates provided as part of the Budget process. As announced at the pre-Budget report, we plan to publish a stock-take of the impact of
17 Jan 2005 : Column 713W
the introduction of all environmental taxes at Budget 2005. The aggregates levy will make up part of this assessment.
Corporation Tax
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much corporation tax has been raised from (a) national governing bodies for sport and (b) international sporting headquarters based in the UK in each year since 1997. [209129]
Dawn Primarolo: The information is not available at the level of detail requested.
Council Tax
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many dwellings in England are in council tax bands (a) A, (b) B, (c) G and (d) H. [208688]
Dawn Primarolo: As at 25 October, the last time national statistics were compiled by the Valuation Office Agency, the number of dwellings in England for the following council tax bands was:
| Council tax band | Number |
|---|---|
| A | 5,569,151 |
| B | 4,203,705 |
| G | 780,128 |
| H | 121,525 |
Mr. Edward Davey: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many properties are listed by the Valuation Office Agency as having a band review pending. [208757]
Dawn Primarolo: As at 31 December 2004 the Valuation Office Agency has 49,361 properties pending a council tax band review.
Debt/Incomes
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average (a) unsecured debt per person and (b) annual income per person was in each year since 1997. [208525]
Mr. Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Dr. Vincent Cable, dated 17 January 2004:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on unsecured debt per person and annual income per person. (208525)
The information requested is shown in the attached table. The data for unsecured debt (households' total financial liabilities other than secured debt) and income (households' gross disposable income) used in the calculations are national accounts series for the combined household and non-profit institutions serving households (NPISH) sectors. The accounts for the household and NPISH sectors are currently combined; separate estimates are not available.
| Annual income per person | Unsecured debt per person | |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 12,420 | 3,540 |
| 1998 | 12,730 | 3,790 |
| 1999 | 13,310 | 4,090 |
| 2000 | 14,200 | 4,460 |
| 2001 | 15,120 | 4,910 |
| 2002 | 15,470 | 5,620 |
| 2003 | 16,050 | 6,100 |
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |