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11 Jul 2005 : Column 688W—continued

Bedfordshire (Statistics)

Mrs. Dorries: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised from personal taxation in the constituency of Mid-Bedfordshire in the last financial year for which figures are available. [11010]

Dawn Primarolo: The information on revenue raised from personal taxation by parliamentary constituency is not available therefore I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member Reading, East (Mr. Wilson) on 21 June 2005, Official Report, column 940W.

Conferences

David T.C. Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Department has spent on organising or sponsoring conferences in each of the last five years. [10245]

John Healey: Records of the cost of activities such as conferences are not held centrally and so the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Corporation Taxes

Chris Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the potential mobility of corporations on the yield of corporation taxes to the Exchequer. [11041]

Dawn Primarolo: The Government are committed to maintaining a modern, fair and competitive corporation tax system. The UK compares favourably to other major economic partners and tax is only one factor in businesses' location decisions.

Corruption (Procurement)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the definition is of general interest as used by his Department in the draft regulations to implement Article 45 of the EU procurement directive 2004/18/EC; and if he will make a statement on the overriding requirements through which a contracting authority can disregard the duty not to select an economic operator that has been convicted of corruption or bribery as described in that directive. [10081]


 
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John Healey: The Government believes that Article 45 of the new procurement directive is very helpful in the fight against fraud and corruption by requiring, for the first time under the EU procurement rules, contracting authorities to exclude suppliers convicted of such offences. At present, such exclusions are voluntary. The article only enables member states to derogate from this requirement for overriding requirements in the general interest", which is designed to cover exceptional circumstances of national emergency, for example related to the protection of life and security. Our proposed guidance on this article will cover these matters and will provide additional advice to authorities on when the derogation should be invoked. This guidance will be informed by the current consultation exercise on the regulations to implement the new directive.

Electoral Registration

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people of voting age were (a) registered to vote and (b) resident in each ward in each constituency in each region in 2001. [10941]

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 11 July 2005:

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Flexible Service Delivery Programme

Mark Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make a statement on the implications of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs flexible service delivery programme for employment levels within the Department; [10340]

(2) what account is being taken of rurality issues within Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs flexible service delivery programme. [10341]

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs is preparing business plans to meet its efficiency savings target for 2005–08. The Department's targets are to reduce the number of its staff by 12,500 net of re-deployments. The Department is also developing its plans to meet its targets under 'Lyons' to move 1,950 posts from London and the South East by 2008 and a further 2,300 by 2010.

In developing its plans HM Revenue and Customs is assessing and taking account of their potential social and economic impact in the local area.

Fuel Duty

Mr. Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the impact of increases in fuel duty on those (a) on low incomes and (b) without access to alternative modes of transport; [10393]

(2) what research his Department has evaluated on the effects of rises in fuel duty on the growth of carbon dioxide emissions; and if he will place in the Library copies of such research; [10394]

(3) what research his Department has evaluated on the effects of the cost of petrol on use of vehicles; and if he will place in the Library copies of such research. [10417]

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.

When taking decisions on fuel duty rates, the Chancellor of the Exchequer takes account of all relevant economic, environmental and social considerations.
 
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No specific research has been published on the impact of increases of fuel prices on those on low incomes; however, some reports have been published by the Department for Transport analysing the relationship between fuel costs, vehicle use and carbon emissions, which are relevant. These are:

These reports are all available on the Department's website (www.dft.gov.uk) and copies have been placed in the House.


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