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17 May 2006 : Column 1081W—continued
National Insurance Contributions
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when he expects HM Revenue and Customs tohave recorded national insurance contributions for (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05 and (c) 2005-06; [70228]
(2) what targets he has set HM Revenue and Customs to record national insurance contributions in each of the last three years; and whether these targets have been met. [70232]
Dawn Primarolo: HMRC achieved its PSA target to record 98 per cent. of relevant national insurance data contained in Employer’s Annual Returns for both the 2002-03 and 2003-04 tax years by 31 March 2004 and 31 March 2005 respectively.
The same target applied for the 2004-05 tax year and was achieved on 30 April 2006, one month late.
For 2005-06 tax year the target is to record 100 per cent. of relevant national insurance data contained in Employer’s Annual Returns by 31 March 2007 and we expect that this target will be met.
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to speed up the recording by HM Revenue and Customs of national insurance contributions. [70229]
Dawn Primarolo: Last year HMRC implemented the Modernising PAYE Processes for Customers (MPPC) Programme to facilitate and encourage the filing of Employer’s Annual Returns electronically. As a result the target to record relevant national insurance data contained in 2005-06 Employer’s Annual Returns has been increased to 99 per cent. by 31 December 2006 and 100 per cent. by 31 March 2007.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average age was at which individuals began to pay national insurance contributions in each of the last 10 years. [70057]
Dawn Primarolo: The most common ages for individuals to pay national insurance contributions for the first time are 16, 17 and 18. However, later starters leads to a higher arithmetic average (mean) of around 20 to 22 years of age as shown in the following table.
| Average age of individuals who started to pay national insurance contributions in each year | |||
| Male | Female | All | |
| Notes: 1. The table shows the average age of individuals at the start (6 April) of the year for which they make their first national insurance contributions (Classes 1, 2 or 3). 2. Based on the 1 per cent. Lifetime Labour Market Database extract from the National Insurance Recording System in May 2005. 3. Latest available year is 2003-04, and recent years are subject to revision. 4. Since 1999, Class 1 NICs are only payable above the personal threshold although they are treated as paid on earnings between the lower earnings limit and the threshold. The figures above look only at individuals paying contributions and determine the earliest year for which they had made such a payment. 5. Average age has been rounded to the nearest year. |
Personal Income Tax Allowance
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of raising the personal income tax allowance to £7,500, abolishing the 10p starting rate of income tax, raising the basic rate limit to £42,500 and abolishing age-related allowances. [71206]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 16 May 2006]: Introducing the proposed tax changes simultaneously would cost about £11 billion in 2006-07.
a universal personal allowance of £7,500,
absorbing the starting rate band on earnings and savings in the basic rate band, with tax rates on dividends unchanged,
increasing the basic rate limit to £42,500,
and abolishing the married couples allowances available for couples aged 72 and over.
The estimates are based on the 2003-04 Survey of Personal Incomes projected forward to 2006-07 in line with Budget 2006 assumptions.
The figure excludes any estimate of behavioural response to the tax changes which could be significant given the scale of the changes.
Private Office Staff
David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been paid in (a) salary, (b) travelling expenses, (c) subsistence allowance and (d) removal expenses to special advisers in his private office in each of the last three years. [69064]
John Healey: Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the names and overall cost of special advisers and the number in each pay band. For information relating to the last financial year I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 July 2005, Official Report, columns 158-61WS.
Information on special advisers for this financial year is currently being collected and will be published in the normal way when it is ready.
In relation to special advisers’ travel and subsistence expenses, I refer to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Keith Vaz) on 16 March 2006, Official Report, column 2411W. All official travel by special advisers is undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.
There have been no special advisers’ removal expenses in the last three financial years.
Rice Imports
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue was raised in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005 from imports into the UK of rice (combined nomenclature 1006) from (i) Egypt, (ii) Guyana, (iii) India, (iv) Pakistan, (v) Thailand and (vi) the United States. [71500]
Dawn Primarolo: The customs duty declared in respect of rice imported into the UK is in the following table.
| £ | ||
| 2004 | 2005 | |
Student Loans
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of people affected by problems with in-tax year changes in employer and consequent effects on student loan repayments; and if he will make a statement. [71099]
Dawn Primarolo: Approximately 13 million employees moved between jobs in the 2004-05 tax year but only a small proportion of these would be likely to be repaying a student loan. No information is available to provide the estimate requested.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many students have contacted HM Revenue and Customs in each year since 2002 with queries relating to student loans where the problem has arisen because of a change in employer during the tax year; and if he will make a statement. [71100]
Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available.
Tamworth
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many residents of Tamworth worked outside the constituency in (a) 1981, (b) 1991, (c) 2001 and (d) the most recent year for which figures are available. [71242]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 17 May 2006.
I am replying as National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales to your recent question asking the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many residents of Tamworth worked outside of the constituency in (a) 1981, (b) 1991 and (c) 2001 and (d) the most recent year for which figures are available. (71242)
As Tamworth Parliamentary Constituency did not exist in 1981 no data are available for this year. Data from the 2001 census are the most recent figures available.
Tax Credits
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit claims have been terminated due to the ending of a joint claim by a married couple or partners in each month since April 2003; and if he will make a statement. [70258]
Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member on 10 May 2006, Official Report, column 289W.
Information on the number of joint tax credit claims terminated in each month since April 2003 is not available except at disproportionate cost.
Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken (a) to identify and (b) to combat tax credit fraud; and how much was spent on such steps in the last year for which figures are available. [64821]
Dawn Primarolo: HMRC takes fraud very seriously and as part of its everyday activity, continually examines its approach to tackling fraud—introducing new measures and initiatives where necessary. It would be inappropriate to give specific details of these as it could aid those seeking to gain through fraud.
The operating costs for directly tackling tax credit fraud in 2005-06 was approximately £39.5 million.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much financial assistance was provided by HM Revenue and Customs to voluntary organisations to assist the public on tax credit issues in each year such assistance has been provided, broken down by (a) organisation and (b) region. [69840]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 12 May 2006]: HMRC has provided financial assistance to voluntary organisations on tax credits issues since new tax credits were introduced in 2003. The sum of the financial support provided in each of the financial years since then is:
| £ | |
National Organisations in receipt of funding
Citizens Advice (2002-06)
Child Poverty Action Group (2002-06)
Maternity Alliance (2002-06)
TaxAid (2002-06)
Daycare Trust (2002-04; 2005-06)
One Parent Families (2002-03; 2004-06)
The Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations (2003-04)
Contact a Family (2003-06)
Disability Alliance (2003-06)
Gingerbread (2003-06)
CEMVO (2004-06)
RNIB (2004-05)
Locally based organisations in receipt of funding
Advice Service Alliance (Northern Ireland) (2003-04; 2005-06)
Citizens Advice Motherwell (2005-06)
Citizens Advice Dalkeith (2005-06)
Citizens Advice Brighton (2005-06)
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