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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 5 December 2005
CHURCH COMMISSIONERS
Residential Housing Units
Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what steps the Commissioners are taking to ensure that their non-fair rent tenants are not adversely affected by the introduction of market rents by new owners of properties sold by the Commissioners. [33409]
Sir Stuart Bell: Sales are, generally, of the freeholds only; existing tenancy arrangements are not changed. Future tenancy arrangements and rental policies are for new owners to determine.
Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners if he will list the names and addresses of the estates on which the Commissioners have owned residential housing units over the past five years, excluding those used by the clergy for homes. [33410]
Sir Stuart Bell: The Commissioners have owned residential housing units over the past five years, excluding those used by the clergy for homes, on their rural estates in the following areas:
Many of these are farmed rural estates including smaller amounts of ancillary housing; the ownership of substantial blocks of largely residential accommodation has been and is focused in London.
Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners if he will break down the residential housing units sold by the Commissioners since 2001 by number of bedrooms per unit. [33411]
Sir Stuart Bell: This information cannot be provided without consulting a wide range of sources (as demonstrated by my answer to question 33410) thus involving a disproportionate amount of staff time.
Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what personal information on Church Commissioners' tenants is passed to the buyers of Church Commissioners' residential properties; and what measures are taken to ensure that the information is correct. [33450]
Sir Stuart Bell: Hard copy and computer tenancy files containing customary business information are passed to new owners to enable them to continue to manage the properties sold. This information will often have been supplied by the residents themselves.
The accuracy of these data is verified and controlled in the course of ongoing business management.
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TREASURY
£5 Notes
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many £5 notes were in circulation in each of the last 10 years; [34436]
(2) what assessment his Department has made of themerits of replacing the £5 note with a (a) plastic coated note and (b) £5 coin; and if he will make a statement. [34437]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The following table provides information on the value of £5 notes in circulation as at end-February in each year over the last ten years and as published in the Bank of England's Annual Report and Accounts.
| £ billion | |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1.055 |
| 2004 | 1.025 |
| 2003 | 1.051 |
| 2002 | 1.044 |
| 2001 | 1.041 |
| 2000 | 1.045 |
| 1999 | 1.111 |
| 1998 | 1.034 |
| 1997 | 1.047 |
| 1996 | 1.067 |
The current £5 note in issue (featuring Elizabeth Fry) is printed on heavier weight paper than the previous £5note design and is also the first Bank of England note to be coated with a varnish. This was done to improve the durability of the £5 note, recognising that it is subject to more wear and tear than other denominations.
The Bank of England is continually investigating ways to improve the quality and quantity of £5 notes in circulation. One option could be to introduce a £5 note printed on a more durable substrate, such as polymer (a type of plastic). A number of factors need to be considered in the selection of an alternative substrate, in particular that it provides acceptable protection against current and likely future counterfeiting threats. At present, the Bank has no plans to change the substrate.
The Royal Mint, which is responsible for producing and issuing UK coins on behalf of HM Treasury, reviews from time to time the structure of the UK coinage. At present, there is little evidence of any significant public interest for introducing a new £5 circulating coin.
100 Parliament Street
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the disposal of antique fixtures and fittings in 100 Parliament street. [34348]
Dawn Primarolo: In accordance with standard Government procedures, a comprehensive asset register is maintained which includes any antique fixtures and fittings.
Following the successful refurbishment of 100 Parliament street an audit has been undertaken to reconcile the asset register to the items that have been
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reinstated in the newly refurbished premises. Most of the antique fixtures and fittings have been reinstalled in the building. Some items on the asset register have been disposed of following discussions with English Heritage. Other low value loose items have been disposed of as these were inappropriate for the refurbished building. No items remain in store at 100 Parliament street.
Air Passenger Duty
Mr. Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to reduce air passenger duty. [34589]
Dawn Primarolo: The Chancellor considers relevant social, economic and environmental factors when deciding taxation policy. Any changes are announced in the context of the Budget.
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