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27 Jun 2006 : Column 367W—continued

Treasury

Company Tax Credit

Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of each company tax credit in each year from 2006-07 to 2010-11; and if he will make a statement. [80594]

Dawn Primarolo: The estimated cost of research and development tax credits, vaccines research relief, land remediation relief and film tax relief are given in the table.

£ million
Research and development tax credits Vaccines research relief Land remediation relief Film tax relief

2006-07

770

20

30

20

2007-08

800

20

30

110

2008-09

850

20

40

110

2009-10

900

20

40

120

2010-11

960

20

40

120

Note: Figures are on a receipts basis and rounded to the nearest £10 million.

Departmental Finance Directors

Chris Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) name, (b) professional and academic qualifications and (c) relevant experience are of the finance director of (i) his Department and (ii) HM Revenue and Customs. [80075]


27 Jun 2006 : Column 368W

John Healey: The information is as follows:

In respect of HM Treasury:

For HM Revenue and Customs:

Doorstep Lending

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps have been taken by the Government to regulate doorstep lending. [79827]

Mr. McCartney: I have been asked to reply.

Home credit providers (or doorstep lenders) are regulated under the Consumer Credit Act (1974). This Act lays down rules covering:

The Act also requires that all traders who make regulated agreements obtain a licence from the Office of Fair Trading.

The Consumer Credit Act (2006) reforms the 1974 Act and (among other things) will provide consumers with tools to challenge unfair lending, and more effective options for resolving disputes. It will also improve the regulation of consumer credit businesses by ensuring fairer practices and through targeted action to drive out rogues. There will also be new regulations covering the post-contractual information given to consumers.

In addition, the Competition Commission is currently conducting a market inquiry into the supply of home credit. Provisional findings and possible remedies were published on 27 April 2006. The statutory deadline for the final report is 19 December 2006.

HM Revenue and Customs

Mr. Clegg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many searches were carried out by customs officials at border checkpoints in each year since 1997. [80408]


27 Jun 2006 : Column 369W

Dawn Primarolo: The number of searches of persons is contained in the Annual Reports for HM Customs and Excise and HM Revenue and Customs. The figures for the year ending 31 March 2006 will be published in the next Annual Report. HM Revenue and Customs do not routinely record the number of other searches they undertake.

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many customs officers are deployed at Northern Ireland’s ports and airports; how many there were in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [80099]

Dawn Primarolo: The number of HMRC frontline staff regularly deployed at Northern Ireland Ports and Airports was:

Number

2003-04

124

2004-05

118

2005-06

111


Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many customs officials are stationed at each (a) port and (b) airport in the UK during each 24 hour period. [80837]

Dawn Primarolo: This information cannot be disclosed as this would provide information of value to those seeking to circumvent HM Revenue and Customs’ controls, thereby prejudicing the prevention and detection of crime.

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of customs officials employed in the UK were deployed (a) at fixed ports and airports and (b) in mobile patrols in each of the last five years. [80840]

Dawn Primarolo: In the last five years the percentage of HM Customs and Excise operational front-line staff regularly deployed to ports and airports was:

As at 1 April each year Percentage

2005

17.3

2004

16.4

2003

16.6

2002

17.5


Mr. Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to improve the speed of response of the customer support office at the HM Revenue and Customs office in Preston. [76253]

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 14 June 2006, Official Report, column 1272W to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws).

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many HM Revenue and Customs officers are located in each office in Wales. [80437]

Dawn Primarolo: At 1 April 2006, HM Revenue and Customs full-time equivalent staff in Wales were located in the following offices:


27 Jun 2006 : Column 370W
Building Town Staff

Crown Building

Aberystwyth

39

Ty Glyn

Bangor

95

Government Building

Brecon

29

Tremains House

Bridgend

58

The Podium, Llanishen

Cardiff

23

Portcullis House

Cardiff

341

Government Buildings

Cardiff

2,429

Government Buildings

Carmarthen

52

Ty-Myrddin

Carmarthen

78

2 Coed Pella Road

Colwyn Bay

54

Government Buildings

Haverfordwest

57

Crown Building

Llanelli

40

Government Building

Merthyr Tidfil

74

Crown Building

Newport

131

Try Felin

Pontypool

40

Taff Vale House

Pontypridd

57

Ty Moelwyn

Porthmadog

34

Llys Anwyl

Rhyl

59

Custom House

Swansea

31

Ty Nant

Swansea

287

Dolanog House

Welshpool

38

Plas Gororall

Wrexham

425

Other locations with less than 20 staff

42

Total

4,515


Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many seizures of (a) illegal firearms, (b) drugs and (c) cigarettes have been made in Wales in each of the last five years. [80438]

Dawn Primarolo: The information is given in the table:

Firearms Drugs Cigarettes

2005-06

2

26

672

2004-05

1

34

643

2003-04

0

27

635

2002-03

0

32

540

2001-02

5

83

1,274


Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many HM Revenue and Customs staff were located in Wales in each of the past five years; which HM Revenue and Customs offices in Wales closed in each of the past five years; and when each closed. [80439]

Dawn Primarolo: The numbers of HM Revenue and Customs (HM Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue prior to 18 April 2005) full-time equivalent staff in Wales was:

Number of full-time equivalent staff

1 April 2002

4,530

1 April 2003

4,851

1 April 2004

4,854

1 April 2005

4,652

1 April 2006

4,515


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