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14 Nov 2005 : Column 882W—continued
Tax Credits
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the analysis of the household survey data for 2003–04 to provide an estimate of families in West Lancashire eligible for, but not claiming, child tax credits. [27708]
Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West (John Barrett) on the 25 October 2005, Official Report, column 318W. Due to sample size constraints, it will not be possible to produce estimates at parliamentary constituency level.
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many people in West Lancashire have received tax credits in 2005 to date; [27709]
(2) what his latest estimate is of the number of tax credit overpayments in 2004–05 in West Lancashire; what their total value is; and if he will make a statement; [27748]
(3) how many people in West Lancashire local authority area are in receipt of (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit; [27751]
(4) if he will make a statement on the National Audit Office Report on the Accounts of the Inland Revenue 2004–05, with particular reference to tax credit overpayments in 2004–05 in West Lancashire. [27752]
Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for West Dunbartonshire (Mr. McFall) on the 28 June 2005, Official Report, column 1429W.
Travel (Economic Value)
Mr. Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the economic value of (a) EU-based and (b) non-EU based travel into the UK in each of the last eight years was; and what his Department's estimate is for the next financial year. [27054]
John Healey: Spending by overseas residents in the UK is described as 'earnings' (by UK residents) rather than 'expenditure' (by overseas residents). The figures for the last eight years are shown in the following table.
HM Treasury provide forecasts for volumes of exports of goods and services, but do not make forecasts for individual components of these exports.
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Valuation Office Agency
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment the Valuation Office Agency has made of the effect on a property's notional valuation if that property is assigned a value significance code of US (utility: adj. radio mast, sub-station, pylon, etc). [26935]
Dawn Primarolo: When assigning dwellings to council tax bands, the Valuation Office Agency have to consider the characteristics of each property, which may affect value. The agency have sought to capture information about proximity to radio masts etc under one of the value significant codes " as a characteristic that may affect value. Whether the value is affected, and to what extent, depends on the circumstances of individual case.
VAT
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate the Government have made of the cost of exempting (a) homes built on previously developed land and (b) property conversions from value-added tax. [26936]
Dawn Primarolo: No estimates have been made specifically of the cost of a VAT exemption for homes built on previously developed land and property conversions.
However, estimates have been made for existing VAT reliefs. The cost of the zero rate for construction of new dwellings is estimated at around £6.7 billion in 2004–05 and the reduced rate for certain residential conversions at £150 million. These estimates are published by HM Revenue and Customs in the VAT Factsheet which can be found at www.uktradeinfo.co.uk.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue to be raised from imposing value-added tax on new housing at (a) 5 per cent. and (b) 7 per cent. [26937]
Dawn Primarolo: A 5 per cent. rate of VAT on new housing might raise up to £1.9 billion.
A 7 per cent. rate of VAT on new housing might raise up to £2.7 billion.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Electricity
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of an average electricity bill covers the costs of electricity generated but subsequently lost in (a) production, (b) transmission, (c) distribution and (d) energy inefficiency within the household. [27851]
Malcolm Wicks: The price of electricity varies over time. The value of losses will be dependent on the value of electricity at the time the losses occurred. This means it is very difficult to determine an accurate value of the level of losses in England and Wales.
A certain amount of electricity is used by generators to operate their businesses. Generators have strong financial incentives to restrict their losses as any
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electricity lost means they have less to sell. Approximately 1.5 per cent. of the electricity put on to the transmission network is lost. This represents approximately 0.6 per cent. of the average standard credit electricity bill. The level of electricity lost on the distribution networks varies from network to network. The simple average of losses on distribution networks is 6.3 per cent. This equates to about 2.4 per cent. of the average standard credit electricity bill. There are no figures available to answer the fourth part of this question. Energy inefficiency in the household is being tackled and the Government support the Energy Savings Trust's save 20 per cent. campaign.
Energy Efficiency
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Sustainable Energy Policy Network last discussed household energy efficiency; and what the outcome of those discussions was. [26964]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 10 November 2005]: The Sustainable Energy Policy Network frequently discusses energy efficiency, particularly in the context of the forthcoming Climate Change Programme Review. On a monthly basis the SEPN Programme Board discusses progress against all Energy White Paper commitments including energy efficiency. The outcome of these discussions is to exchange information between Departments about progress and effectiveness of policies and to ensure that approaches are properly co-ordinated.
Additionally the Sustainable Energy Policy Advisory Board discussed energy efficiency at its meeting in June and the minutes of that meeting are available on the Department's website.
Liquid Natural Gas Importation Facilities
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what liquid natural gas importation facilities there are in the UK; and what sites are under consideration for development. [27199]
Malcolm Wicks: A new liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility on the Isle of Grain was commissioned this summer. Two new LNG import terminals are under construction at Milford Haven, South Wales. Sites for LNG import terminals are under consideration at Canvey Island and Anglesey. Development of further import sites is a commercial matter for the market.
Low Carbon Buildings Programme
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to be able to announce the start date for the low carbon buildings programme. [25604]
Malcolm Wicks: I made an announcement about the new programme on Wednesday 2 November, Official Report, column 47WS.
The new programme will begin in April 2006, subject to EU state aids approval.
Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to announce (a) the outcome of the consultation on the Low Carbon Buildings Programmes and (b) the start date of the new programme. [23851]
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Malcolm Wicks: Officials are currently working up plans for the Low Carbon Buildings programme and this will take account of the consultation exercise, which closed 23 September 2005. We will consult industry further on developments later this year before finalising details of the new programme early next year.
We aim to start the programme in April 2006, subject to EU State Aids clearance and I recently announced a budget of £30 million over three years.
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