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31 Oct 2005 : Column 731W—continued
Research and Development
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much businesses have received under the research and development tax credits scheme in (a) the UK and (b) Scotland in each year since they were introduced. [22659]
John Healey: The cost of R&D tax credit support claimed by companies in the UK is given in the table. The information requested is not available for Scotland.
| R&D tax credit support claimed (£ million) | |
|---|---|
| 2000–01 | (10)— |
| 2001–02 | 70 |
| 2002–03 | 380 |
| 2003–04 | 560 |
| 2004–05 | 290 |
| 2005–06 | 90 |
| Total | 1,380 |
(10) Negligible
Note:
Figures are on a receipts basis and rounded to the nearest £10 million.
Sustainable Development
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department is on target (a) to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1 per cent., (b) to recycle or recover 50 to 60 per cent. of waste and (c) to reduce water usage to 7.7 cubic metres per person as set out in the Sustainable Development Report and Action Plan 2005. [23390]
John Healey: The Treasury is on target.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer hat plans for energy reduction have been put in place in his Department since the publication of the Sustainable Development Report and Action Plan 2005. [23391]
John Healey: Energy reductions have been made following changes to the operation of the lighting systems in 1 Horse Guards road.
Tax Credits
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures came into effect which allowed tax credit helpline staff to track individual cases in the system. [18256]
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Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 14 October 2005]: Helpline staff have access to the entire tax credit computer system, allowing them to view whether a claim has been accepted for payment, the amount of the entitlement and when the next payment is due.
Notes made on the computer system record contact with claimants, whether in writing, by telephone or in person. These notes provide advisers with a record of the contact history for use when a claimant telephones the Helpline.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of new tax credit (a) claims, (b) renewals and (c) changes of circumstance were processed accurately in (i) 2002–03, (ii) 2003–04, (iii) 2004–05 and (iv) 2005–06 to date; and if he will make a statement. [19283]
Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 11 July 2005, Official Report, column 698W.
HM Revenue and Customs will report against its target for 2004–05 and 2005–06 to decide the number of tax credit new claims, changes of circumstances and renewals accurately in its annual reports for those years in due course.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a draft of the new Tax Credit Award Notices to be sent out from April 2006; and if he will make a statement. [19297]
Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the reply to the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) of 24 October 2005, Official Report, column 53W.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons his estimate of tax credit overpayments in 2003–04 has risen to £2.2 billion; and if he will make a statement. [19857]
Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on the Floor of the House to the hon. Members for St. Albans (Anne Main) and East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton) on 13 October 2005, Official Report, column 428.
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many cases tax credit claimants have been incorrectly (a) awarded and (b) paid the severe disability element of working tax credits due to their being in receipt of the higher mobility rather than the higher care rate of disability living allowance. [21818]
Dawn Primarolo: This information is not available.
HMRC carry out compliance checks on all aspects of tax credit claims, including entitlement to the severe disability element.
Mike Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been overpaid to tax credit recipients in Hemel Hempstead constituency in 2004–05. [23021]
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been overpaid to tax credit recipients (a) in the Strangford constituency and (b) in each Westminster constituency in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months. [22631]
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Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Members to my reply to the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mrs. Dorries) on 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 321W. Estimates of numbers and values of overpayments or underpayments for 2004–05 awards at 5 April 2005 will not be available until after family circumstances and incomes for 2004–05 have been finalised.
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been overpaid to tax credit recipients in the Kettering constituency in each year since tax credits were introduced; and how many tax credit recipients were involved. [23193]
Dawn Primarolo: For figures on tax credits that are repayable for recipients in Kettering constituency I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mrs. Dorries) on the 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 322W.
Estimates for 2003–04 of the numbers of in-work families with tax credits awards are published in Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised Annual Awards 2003–04". This publication and provisional estimates for the number of in-work families with tax credit awards as at selected dates in 2004–05 are available on the HMRC website at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-quarterly-stats.htm
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claimants have made incorrect claims for (a) working tax credits and (b) child tax credits in the Kettering constituency since these tax credits were introduced. [23194]
Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available.
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the savings that will result from the phasing out of payment of tax credits through employers; and how many people will be affected. [23685]
Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the savings and the number of people affected by the phasing out of payment of tax credits via employer can be found in Regulatory Impact Assessment. The abolition of payment of Working Tax Credit via employers". This can be found on the HMRC website at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ria/index.htm.
Taxation Levels (Competitiveness)
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the level of taxation on the competitiveness of British businesses; and if he will make a statement. [22293]
John Healey:
The UK continues to have a relatively lightly taxed economy, with a ratio of tax to GDP that ranks below both the OECD and EU15 averages, including now the lowest rate of corporation tax since its introduction. Furthermore, international studies show that the UK is a good place to do business. A range of factors affect the competitiveness of the business environment, and the Government have introduced a
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range of measures to enhance the five drivers of productivity and growth, such as the R and D tax credits to encourage innovation. The UK also has an impressive record of macroeconomic stability and resilience over the last decade, and some of the most flexible labour and product markets in the developed world.
Youth Unemployment
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of youth unemployment has been in (a) Tamworth constituency, (b) Staffordshire, (c) the West Midlands and (d) the UK in each year since 1997. [22157]
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. Brian Jenkins, dated 31 October 2005:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about youth unemployment. (22157)
Table 1, attached, shows the total numbers of unemployed young people aged 16 to 24 who were resident in the Tamworth Parliamentary Constituency, Staffordshire, the West Midlands region and the UK. The table covers the 12 month periods ending in February each year from 1997 to 2004 and the 12 month period ending in March 2005. These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to sampling variability.
The Office for National Statistics also compiles statistics for local areas of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance. Table 2, attached, shows the annual average number of ISA claimants, aged 18 to 24, resident in the Tamworth constituency, Staffordshire, the West Midlands region and the UK for 1997 to 2004.
(11) Disclosive sample size (less than three).
Note:
The estimates for local areas are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a very high degree of sampling variability. Changes from year to year, especially, should be treated with caution.
Source:
Annual local area Labour Force Survey; Annual Population Survey
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Note:
Computerised claims only. Data rounded to nearest 5 for disclosure control.
Source:
Jobcentre Plus Administrative system
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