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15 Dec 2005 : Column 2274W—continued
Tax Returns
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reduction in costs there was as a result of filing self-assessments electronically in (a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) 2004. [36282]
Dawn Primarolo:
Taxpayers have been able to complete their self-assessment returns electronically since 2000. Online filing reduces costs for both taxpayers and for HMRC, but estimates of the reduction of these
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costs are not available. Greater online filing and use of online services more generally, will enable HMRC to make savings in the long-term. These savings will contribute to the efficiency savings HMRC has committed to deliver.
Taxis
Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent by his Department on taxi travel in the 2005–06 financial year; and what proportion of such travel was undertaken in each nation and region of the UK, including London. [37462]
John Healey: In the first eight months of 2005–06, the Treasury spent £86,000 on taxi travel and courier services. The Treasury has a combined contract for taxi and courier services and it is not feasible to disaggregate the courier element. An analysis of the travel by nation and region could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
VAT (Gravestones)
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will exempt the cost of gravestones from VAT. [37729]
Dawn Primarolo: Under our agreements with our European partners, we are not able to extend our existing VAT zero rates or introduce an exemption from VAT for gravestones.
Wanless Report
Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to revisit (a) the research for and (b) the conclusions of the Wanless report relating to increased NHS spending, with particular reference to the four years after 2008. [37989]
Mr. Des Browne: The Government accepted the recommendations made by Derek Wanless for health spending up until 2007–08. All public expenditure from 2008–09, including health spending, will be decided as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review that I announced in July 2005. No decision has been made to revisit the Wanless Report.
WALES
Administrative Savings
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what administrative savings have been made by his Department in each of the last eight years. [34943]
Mr. Hain: The Wales Office was created on 1 July 1999 and since this time all information relating to gross and net controlled administration costs, is published each year on its departmental annual report. These publications are available via the Wales Office website: www.walesoffice.gov.uk and from the Libraries of the House.
Anti-poverty Strategies
Dr. Francis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet (a) the Secretary of State for International
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Development and (b) the Welsh Assembly Government to discuss Wales' contribution to anti-poverty strategies and policies in developing countries. [38012]
Mr. Hain: I have regular meetings with Cabinet colleagues and the First Minister on a range of issues, including Wales' role in the international community.
The Assembly is in the process of developing an international development strategy to focus on Wales' role in helping strengthen capacity in the developing world, particularly in Africa. This will include an evaluation of the role that Wales can play in the delivery of the Millennium Development Goals. It is expected that a framework document will be published in the next few weeks. In addition, the Department for International Development has set up a cross-departmental working group to co-ordinate an African capacity building programme. Welsh Assembly officials are also involved in this.
Carers' Commissioner
Dr. Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Welsh Assembly Government concerning the recent proposal for a carers' commissioner in Wales. [37910]
Mr. Hain: I understand that the Welsh Assembly Government have noted this suggestion and have sought the views of its Carers Strategy Review Panel.
Carers Special Grant
Dr. Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the (a) Welsh Assembly Government and (b) Secretary of State for Health on distribution of the carers special grant in England and Wales. [37911]
Mr. Hain: The distribution of the carers special grant is devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government. I understand that the Assembly's intention to transfer these grant resources into the local authority revenue support grant settlement was announced in January 2000 and that the decision that the transfer should take place from 2006–07 was taken following advice from the Assembly's Carers Strategy Review Panel. It is my understanding that the distribution of the carer's grant between local authorities is based on the older adults personal social services formula.
Departmental Costs
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the (a) salary bill was and (b) administrative costs were for his Department in (i) Wales and (ii) London in 2004–05. [35879]
Mr. Hain: The Wales Office was established on 1 July 1999.
Statistically data relating to salaries and administrative costing can be found in the Wales Office Annual Departmental Report 2005.
This publication is available on the Wales Office website: www.walesoffice.gov.uk and from the Libraries of the House.
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Departmental Estate
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was paid by his Department in 2004–05 in rent for properties in (a) total, (b) Wales and (c) London. [36009]
Mr. Hain: During the financial year 2004–05, the Wales Office spent the following amounts on rent:
Departmental Expenditure
Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the total value is of (a) catering and (b) entertainment contracts let by his Department; and what value of such contracts has been let in each nation and region of the United Kingdom, including London. [37471]
Mr. Hain: The Wales Office has not let any catering and entertainment contracts.
Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which spending programmes by his Department where the corresponding functions in Scotland are devolved are classified as non-identifiable in the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses; and what the allocated expenditure on each is for the 2005–06 financial year. [37507]
Mr. Hain: All expenditure for the Wales Office is identifiable in the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses.
Departmental Staff
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff in his Department have been relocated into London and the South East in each of the last five years for which records are available. [31735]
Mr. Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives are being taken in his Department to help civil servants with chronic back pain. [34976]
Mr. Hain: The Wales Office does not have any staff that have identified themselves as having chronic back pain.
However, Wales Office staff are supported during times of illness. They can access occupational health and welfare services to assist them in managing such conditions.
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