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10 Oct 2005 : Column 306W—continued
Tax Credits
Mrs. Dorries: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit claimants there have been in the parliamentary constituency of Mid-Bedfordshire since the scheme began broken down by those (a) underpaid, (b) overpaid and (c) paid the correct amount. [16626]
Dawn Primarolo: Estimates for 2003–04 of the numbers of in-work families with tax credits awards, including information on overpayments and underpayments by constituency, based on final family circumstances and incomes for 2003–04 are published in Child and Working Tax Credits. Finalised Awards 2003–04 Geographical Analysis." This publication and provisional estimates for the number of in-work families by constituency with tax credit awards as at selected dates in 2004–05 are available on the HMRC website at:
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has instructed HM Revenue and Customs to suspend efforts to reclaim overpayment of tax credits until the families involved have been able to make representations to Inland Revenue officials. [10215]
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the oral statement of 12 July 2005, Official Report, column 720, on tax credits (1) what the process is for suspending the recovery of a tax credit overpayment in disputed cases; whether the award will be paid at the new rate of entitlement but not further reduced to recover the overpayment in circumstances where the overpayment arises as a result of (a) official
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error, (b) a change of circumstances and (c) a rise in income above the disregard; whether the amount of the overpayment will increase in value as a result of (i)interest charged by Revenue and Customs and (ii) the award of additional tax credits if the dispute is resolved in Revenue and Customs' favour; and when this process will begin; [13840]
(2) if he will list the options for suspension of the recovery of tax credit overpayments being tested. [13841]
Dawn Primarolo: The commitment is that in cases of genuine hardship where the recovery of overpayments is disputed, recovery is suspended while the dispute resolved. HMRC are considering technical options which will allow them to meet this commitment.
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value was of tax credit payments made to people with awards whose incomes were in excess of (a) £50,000, (b) £52,000, (c) £55,000 and (d) £57,500 in (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05. [13925]
Dawn Primarolo: The aggregate 2003–04 entitlement for in-work families with such incomes were as follows. These figures have been prepared on the same basis as those given in my reply to the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne) on 14 July 2005, Official Report, columns 1172–73W.
Figures for 2004–05 will not be available until all the awards are finalised.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1)how many hours of overtime have been worked by staff in the tax credit office in each of the last four years; and what the cost of this overtime was; [14342]
(2) how many people (a) left Inland Revenue's tax credit office and (b) were recruited to permanent posts in the tax credit office in each of the last four years; what proportion of tax credit staff are employed on a temporary basis or on contracts of less than a year; and what the average pay is for staff working in (i) the tax credit office and (ii) HM Revenue and Customs as a whole. [14343]
Dawn Primarolo: The number of hours of overtime worked by staff in the Tax Credit Office (TCO) and the cost of that overtime, in each of the last four years, was:
| Hours | Cost (£ million) | |
|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 98,351 | 2.66 |
| 2002–03 | 104,551 | 2.375 |
| 2003–04 | 95,836 | 2.34 |
| 2004–05 | 78,255 | 1.693 |
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For the numbers of permanent staff leaving the TCO and the number recruited to permanent posts in the last four years:
| (a) Leavers | (b) Entrants | |
|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 189 | 461 |
| 2002–03 | 195 | 154 |
| 2003–04 | 171 | 46 |
| 2004–05 | 53 | 53 |
Around 7 per cent. of TCO staff are on fixed term appointments.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost per minute is to callers using the Inland Revenue tax credits telephone helpline; what payment is made to Revenue and Customs by British Telecommunications in respect of revenue sharing for the income from the helpline call costs; and if he will make a statement. [15725]
Dawn Primarolo: The tax credits Helpline number is an 0845 number charged at local rates or Lo call. Information is not available on the cost per minute to callers using the tax credits Helpline—they will vary depending upon their service provider.
HMRC do not receive any payments from any service provider in respect of this service.
Mr. Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to reply to the letter dated 22 June 2005 from the hon. Member for Nottingham, North regarding the overpayment of tax credits to Mrs. L. and Mr. K. Bennett of Barn Close, Nottingham; and if he will make a statement. [16356]
Dawn Primarolo: I did so on 23 September 2005.
Teenage Pregnancy
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many instances of teenage pregnancy there have been in Suffolk in each of the last eight years, broken down by local authority area. [15124]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. David Ruffley, dated 10 October 2005:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many instances of teenage pregnancy there have been in Suffolk in each of the last eight years, broken down by local authority area. (15124)
The latest year for which information is available is 2003. Figures for local authority areas in Suffolk from 1996 to 2003 are shown in the attached table.
(96)Figures for 2003 are provisional.
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Timber
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans his Department has to fund the maintenance of the Central Point of Expertise on Timber. [15793]
John Healey: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Minister of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs today.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether his Department's procurement policy includes timber used on and in the construction of departmental building projects; and if he will make a statement; [15795]
(2) what assessment is made (a) of the environmental impact and (b) against sustainable development criteria of bids made for contracts awarded by his Department; who makes such assessments; and whether these assessments are published. [15796]
John Healey: The procurement policy of HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Custom's, covers timber used on and in the construction of departmental building projects. HMRC and HMT's procurement policy pays proper regard to environmental issues while still securing best value for money. Assessments of environmental impact and against sustainable development criteria are made by the Departments' procurement staff, who consider environmental issues at the start of a procurement. Details of any environmental requirements that suppliers need to be aware of will always be included in our invitation to tender documents. To support the general greening Government policy, we would expect a potential supplier to have environmental management systems in place on the lines of ISO 14001, which is increasingly being adopted by the more responsible sections of industry.
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