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4 May 2006 : Column 1743W—continued

Overseas Aid

David T.C. Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the target of 0.7 per cent. of gross domestic product to be allocated to overseas aid will include the £8.5 billion for education in Africa and Asia announced by the Chancellor in April 2006. [67693]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: In 2005 the international community, under the leadership of the UK presidency of the G8, made substantial promises to increase the amount of aid. The £8.5 billion announced for education is part of the UK's commitment to delivering these aid promises, which means that it will be included in our target of 0.7 per cent. of GDP for overseas aid.

Pensions

Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment the Government Actuary has made of contingent public sector liabilities in respect of employee pension funds of privatised companies. [67630]

Mr. Des Browne: The Government Actuary has not been asked to make any assessment of these liabilities.

Plastic Bags

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make it his policy to introduce a tax on plastic carrier bags; and if he will make a statement; [67880]

(2) what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Republic of Ireland on the operation of their plastic bag tax. [67881]

John Healey: The Chancellor continues to keep all taxes under review. The Government currently has no plans for a plastic bag tax.
 
4 May 2006 : Column 1744W
 

The Treasury carried out an assessment of the Irish plastic bag tax following its introduction in 2002. A copy of this assessment is available in the Library of the House.

Poverty Reduction (Developing Countries)

Mark Hunter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress was made at the recent International Monetary Fund/World bank meeting in Washington towards poverty reduction in developing countries; and if he will make a statement. [68117]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: At the spring meetings the World bank governors confirmed the 100 per cent. debt cancellation for the heavily indebted poor countries, matching the debt relief which the IMF has been providing since January. The Development Committee of Board of Governors of the bank and fund called on all donors to fully implement the commitments they have made for substantial increases in aid volumes. The Committee emphasised the importance of universal access to primary education and sustained support for good quality education plans, and the key role the education for all—fast track initiative could play in all qualifying low income countries. The Development Committee also called on donors to fill the current financing gap. The UK has announced that it will provide an extra £100 million to the fast track initiative over the next two years which represents a downpayment to meet our share of the current financing gap.

Public Sector Charges/Fees

Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on the competitiveness of the United Kingdom economy of higher than inflation increases in public sector charges and fees to private sector businesses. [66913]

John Healey: None.

Suggestion Schemes

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what suggestion schemes are available for employees of HM Revenue and Customs to pass on their ideas; and what rewards are given for suggestions implemented. [64817]

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have established a Recognition Bonus Scheme(RBS) to recognise and reward work-related suggestions, which was launched in March 2006. This replaces a number of schemes previously used in the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise.

The RBS specifically recognises an individual or team contribution to the promotion and delivery of innovation in working arrangements. Payments made under the RBS can range from £100 to £1,000 gross, depending on the value and impact of the suggestion.

HMRC is also developing a new scheme to encourage ideas for small changes, which will help people to develop them and see them through to completion, and enable decisions about them to be made quickly. Financial recognition within this scheme will also be supported by the RBS.
 
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Tax Credits

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many cases in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05 where HM Revenue and Customs contacted child care providers to verify the details that had been provided by the claimant, the child care element of child tax credit was (i) reduced and (ii)stopped. [48439]

Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 6 February 2006]: Irefer the right hon. Member to my response of 28 February 2005, Official Report, column 946W, which gave the number of child care providers HMRC contacted. As a result of this work 9,541 adjustments were made to tax credit claims in 2003–04 and 18,274 in 2004–05. All adjustments reduced the amount of tax credits paid, but it is not possible to say how many of these were stopped.

Valuation Office Agency

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the presentation or handouts produced by Valuation Office Agency staff for its session at the Integrating GIS and CAMA Conference held from 19 to 22 February in Disney's Coronado Springs Convention Center, Orlando, Florida. [56193]

Dawn Primarolo: A copy of the Valuation Office Agency's presentation for the Integrating CIS and CAMA 2006 Conference entitled improving Efficiency by Estimating the Confidence in Property Valuations" has been placed in the Library.

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the presentation or handouts produced by Valuation Office Agency staff for its session at the International Property Tax Institute conference between 6 and 7 February in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. [56194]

Dawn Primarolo: A copy of the Valuation Office Agency's presentations and handouts for the International Property Tax Institute conference between 6 and 7 February 2006 entitled Training in the valuation of specialised properties in the UK" and Valuation for Taxation Public Infrastructure" have been placed in the Library.

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the presentation or handouts produced by Valuation Office Agency staff for its session at the 8th International Conference of the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation which took place from 22 to 25 February 2005 in Alicante, Spain. [56212]

Dawn Primarolo: A copy of the Valuation Office Agency's presentation for the 8th International Conference of the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation entitled Valuation Specialist Properties for Rating" has been placed in the Library. This was part of a joint presentation on Valuing Specialist Properties".
 
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TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Nuclear Fusion Plants

1. Mr. Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will increase future investment in the development of nuclear fusion plants. [67722]

Alan Johnson: The UK is making a significant investment in fusion through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) totalling around £56 million over four years from 2004. This is in addition to the very significant EU investment in fusion research through participation in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) which will have a construction cost of around €5 billion.

Manufacturing (South Wales)

14. Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to help manufacturing industry in South Wales. [67737]

Alun Michael: Manufacturing is vital to the UK economy and Government are taking action through the Manufacturing Strategy to help manufacturers in all parts of the UK to move to high value added production through the application of science and innovation, best practice and skills development. We work closely with colleagues at the Welsh Assembly on these matters. For example, we have set up the Manufacturing Advisory Service which has generated £213 million of added value throughout the UK, including £15 million in Wales.

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