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2 Dec 2005 : Column 807W—continued
Tax Yields
Chris Huhne:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will estimate the extra annual yield in 2005–06
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had the (a) landfill tax, (b) vehicle excise duty, (c) air passenger duty and (d) fuel duty been raised in line with (i) the GDP deflator and (ii) GDP, (A) since its introduction and (B) since 1996–97; and what the (1)rate would be and (2) percentage difference between that rate and the current rate is in each case; [33123]
(2) if he will estimate the extra annual yield in 2005–06 had the (a) climate change levy and (b) aggregates tax been raised in line with (i) the GDP deflator and (ii)GDP since its introduction; and what the (A) rate would be and (B) percentage difference between that rate and the current rate is in each case. [33124]
John Healey: Reliable estimates of the extra yield or rates in 2005–06 are not available for vehicle excise duty, air passenger duty and fuel duty due to changes in the structure of these rates from their introduction and again from 1996–97. Reliable estimates of the extra yield in 2005–06 are not available for landfill tax because the actual standard rate of landfill tax differs markedly from the scenarios outlined in the question and disentangling behavioural effects would be very difficult and highly uncertain. Estimates for climate change levy and aggregates levy are shown in the following tables.
Note:
Includes behavioural effects.
(1)Source:
HM Treasury.
(2)Source: HM Treasury.
(3)Liquefied Petroleum Gas.
Information on the rates of landfill tax, air passenger duty, fuel duty, climate change levy and aggregates levy is available at the UK Trade Info website: www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=statindex
Information on the rates of vehicle excise duty is available at the DVLA website: www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/taxation.htm
Information on the GDP deflator and GDP is available at HM Treasury's website: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic_data_and_tools/data_index.cfm
Venture Capital Trusts
Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of (a) the number and (b) the total asset size of venture capital trusts. [34399]
Mr. Ivan Lewis:
There were 98 venture capital trusts managing funds as at September 2005, as published on the National Statistics pages of the HMRC Website (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/venture/8_6_sep05.pdf).
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Venture capital trusts have raised a total of over £2.2billion since the scheme's inception but we do not have an estimate for the current value of total assets for these funds.
WORK AND PENSIONS
Correspondence
Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State forWork and Pensions when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 26 September. [34240]
Mrs. McGuire: I replied to the hon. Member on 11 October 2005. I am arranging for a copy to be sent to him.
Pensioner Poverty
Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners have been assessed as living in poverty in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the United Kingdom in each year since 1997. [33279]
Mr. Timms: The seventh annual 'Opportunity for all' report (Cm 6673) sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and reports progress against a range of indicators.
Information on the number of pensioners in low income is not available below regional level. The following table gives estimates for the number of pensioners in relative low income and absolute low income in the North East and in Great Britain.
Notes:
1.Figures for the North East are provided using a three-year rolled average, as single-year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year-on-year changes. Figures are therefore not the same as previously published single-year estimates and there may be differences in changes over time. Due to this, the absolute and relative figures in 1996–97 to 1998–99 will not necessarily match. In circumstances such as a change in trend, rolled averages will show less variation than single year estimates.
2.Regional three-year rolled average figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000.
3.The estimates use the same income measures as the Department for Work and Pensions publication 'Households Below Average Income' (HBAI). Income is net of income tax and council tax, and adjusted for household size and composition.
Source:
Family Resources Survey (FRS)
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TRANSPORT
Driving (Sleep Disorders)
Mrs. Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what research his Department has undertaken into the medical status of individuals involved in sleep-related traffic accidents; [32573]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of road accidents caused by excessive sleepiness due to (a) obstructive sleep apnoea and (b) other sleep disorders in each of the last three years; [32578]
(3) what estimate he has made of the number of adults with (a) diagnosed and (b) undiagnosed obstructive sleep disorder who hold a driving licence. [32579]
Dr. Ladyman: The Department has not undertaken research into the medical status of individuals involved in sleep-related traffic accidents. However it held an expert workshop into the medical causes of daytime sleepiness in 2002. Following that event, it has strengthened advice provided to doctors. A question on sleep disorders is now included in the medical report form that must accompany any application, and re-application (from the age of 45 years), for a vocational (i.e. heavy goods vehicle or bus/coach) driving licence.
There is no information on the number of accidents resulting from specific sleep disorders and we have no estimate of the number of adults with sleep disorders who hold a driving licence. Research for the Department for Transport has established that sleepiness is a principal factor in 10 per cent. of all road accidents and 15–20 per cent. of all accidents on motorways.
Mrs. Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department provides to (a) licensing category Group 1 drivers and (b) licensing category Group 2 drivers to increase drivers' awareness of obstructive sleep apnoea (i) at the time of initial applications for a driving licence and (ii) on renewal of a licence. [32575]
Dr. Ladyman:
The Group 1 and Group 2 driving licence application forms require applicants to declare a history of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and this is reiterated in DVLA's information booklet on forms completion. Following normal medical investigations, drivers who are issued a licence, in the knowledge of OSA syndrome, are sent information pointing out the
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dangers of driving while drowsy and the need to report any deterioration to DVLA. Information is also provided to their general practitioner. This process is repeated at licence renewal.
DVLA has produced an information leaflet about the danger of tiredness and driving for use in sleep clinics.
All medical practitioners have access to the DVLA handbook At a Glance Guide to the Current Medical Standards of Fitness to Drive". The most up-to-date version can be found on DVLA's website at www.dvla.gov.uk and includes information on obstructive sleep apnoea.
Mrs. Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many doctors have approached the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency on behalf of patients with diagnosed symptomatic sleep disorders in the last five years. [32576]
Dr. Ladyman: These data are not available.
Mrs. Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many drivers have informed the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency of diagnosed symptomatic sleep disorders in the last five years. [32577]
Dr. Ladyman: Data are available only in relation to the number of DVLA inquiries about Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA). The following figures show separately the number of cases where OSA was the only medical condition, and where OSA combined with another relevant medical condition was declared.
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