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17 July 2006 : Column 152W—continued
The attached table shows the percentages requested for each age group and area, based on the latest available figures for these areas.
| Percentage of population in selected age groups for UK, Peterborough Unitary Authority and Peterborough Parliamentary Constituency, Mid-2004 Population Estimates, Census 2001 | |||
| Age Group | UK | Peterborough Unitary Authority | Peterborough Parliamentary Constituency |
| Source: Office for National Statistics. | |||
ECOFIN
Mr. Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many ECOFIN council meetings were attended by each Minister in his Department in each year since May 1997. [83510]
Ed Balls: Ministerial attendance and the outcome of each ECOFIN have been reported either by written ministerial statement, written answer or, occasionally, by letter to the Chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee.
Enterprise Insight
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his oral statement of 15 June 2006, Official Report, column 886, on Enterprise Insight, how many new businesses have been set up in Northern Ireland as a result of Enterprise Insight; and when he last met the chief executive of Enterprise Insight. [85685]
John Healey: Enterprise Insight was created in 1999 to promote a culture of enterprise in the UK by running a national campaign promoting the spirit of enterprise to young people and those who influence them. It is funded by the Small Business Service to cover activities in England only and it does not provide business support services for enterprises based in Northern Ireland. Treasury Ministers regularly meet a wide range of individuals and organisations in the course of policy development. As is the case with previous administrations, it is not the practice of the Government to provide details of these meetings.
EU Budget
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken to reduce UK contributions to the EU budget since 1997; what reductions have been made in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [84294]
Ed Balls:
The UK’s contributions to the EU budget are determined in accordance with the Own Resources Decision, details of which can be found at paragraph 2.15 of the “European Community Finances” White Paper (Cm 6770, page 7). The level of these contributions is also dependent in negotiation of the annual EU budget and HM Treasury plays an active
role in these discussions, see below. The UK’s contributions fluctuate from year to year as can be seen in Tables 31 and 3.2 of the “European Community Finances” White Paper (Cm 6770, page 15 and 17). These fluctuations occur for a variety of reasons, as explained in paragraph 3.6 of the “European Community Finances” White Paper (Cm 6770, page 15).
The Government also participate in Council negotiations on the setting of the annual budget, where we seek to control budget growth in line with genuine needs and implementation capacity, and to focus spending where it adds most value and is most cost effective. This budget disciplined approach helps restrict the growth in UK contributions.
Of course most of the annual budget is pre-set by treaty obligations and multi-annual spending programmes. Furthermore the UK is but one of 25 member states. Decisions in the Council on the annual budget are taken by Qualified Majority, and the final budget must be agreed with the European Parliament. Nevertheless by working effectively with like-minded member states, the Government are able to influence the outcome.
In the last five years Council/EP negotiations have amended the Commission’s preliminary draft budget (PDB) proposal and these figures are published annually in the “European Community Finances” White Paper.
Illegal Food Imports
Mr. Paice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of passengers entering the UK each year with prohibited (a) products of animal origin and (b) fruit, vegetables and plant products in their luggage; [85612]
(2) what estimate his Department has made of the amount of (a) meat and (b) fruit, vegetables and plant products entering the UK illegally in each of the last three years; [85613]
(3) how many seizures of prohibited (a) products of animal origin and (b) fruit, vegetables and plant products there were at UK ports and airports in each of the last six years, broken down by product type; and what weight of each type of product was seized in each year; [85614]
(4) what proportion of passengers searched by HM Revenue and Customs at UK ports and airports in each of the last six years were found to be carrying prohibited (a) products of animal origin and (b) fruit, vegetables and plant products in their luggage. [85615]
Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs’ central records for POAO, fruit and vegetable and plant products seized by customs officers at ports and airports in Great Britain for the past three financial years are as follows:
| Types of POAO seizures | |||
| 2003-04 | 2004-05 | January to December 2005 | |
Information on POAO seizures made prior to April 2003 can be found in DEFRA's Annual Review of Controls on Imports of Animal Products last published in July 2005.
HMRC do not produce estimates on the amount of illegal meat imported into the UK. Such estimates are held by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA).
HMRC make no estimates of the proportion of passengers entering the UK each year with POAO and fruit, vegetables and plant products in their luggage.
Income Tax
Mr. Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much income tax was paid on average per household in each of the last three financial years; and what estimate he has made of the average amount of tax which will be paid in 2006-07. [85394]
Dawn Primarolo: Information can be found on the Office for National Statistics (ONS) website in table 14, “Average incomes, taxes and benefits by decile groups of all households” in the article “The effects of taxes and benefits on household income” from the ONS’ Economic Trends publications.
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/economic_trends/ET_May_Francis_Jones.pdf
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/nojournal/taxesbenefits200304/taxesbenefits200304.pdf
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/economic_trends/ET607Lakin.pdf
Similar information for 2005-06 and 2006-07 is not yet available.
Malawi
Mr. Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions he has visited Malawi since 1997; and what the outcome was of each visit. [82306]
John Healey [holding answer 4 July 2006]: I understand that the Chancellor has never visited Malawi.
Modern Apprenticeship Taskforce
Mr. Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times the Modern Apprenticeship Taskforce announced in the 2002 pre-Budget has convened. [84808]
John Healey: The Apprenticeship Task Force (ATF) met for the first time in April 2003 and subsequently seven times with the final meeting in May 2005. In April 2006, the Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network (AAN) was established to continue the work of the ATF.
National Lottery
Kate Hoey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the tax yield to the Treasury on national lottery ticket sales has been in each year since it was launched. [84981]
John Healey: The information requested is publicly available on the UK Trade Info website (http://www.uktradeinfo.com).
Kate Hoey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether VAT is charged on the construction of sports facilities funded by the national lottery. [84982]
John Healey: Under European agreements we may keep our zero rates, but may not extend them or introduce new ones.
VAT is chargeable on the construction of all new non-residential buildings, other than those that will be used at least 90 per cent. for a relevant charitable purpose—such as free-of-charge activities provided by a charity, a village hall or similar.
Where VAT is chargeable on construction and is not reclaimable through the VAT system, it is reasonable to expect this cost to be taken into account when an organisation makes a bid for national lottery funding.
Kate Hoey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether athletes funded by the national lottery are exempt from tax and national insurance contributions on the grants awarded to them. [84983]
John Healey:
Whether an athlete is liable for income tax and national insurance contributions on a National Lottery Sports Fund grant will depend on whether he or she is earning an income as a self-employed person from competing in any sport (including any associated activities such as sponsorship or journalism). That is a question of fact to be determined in individual cases. Detailed guidance on these issues is provided in the
HMRC Business Income Manual (beginning at page BIM50650), available on the HMRC website at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/bimmanual/BIM50650.htm
Online Tax Reduction Claims
Mr. Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many small companies have gone online and claimed a special tax reduction in each year since 2000. [84817]
John Healey: The number of small companies that have submitted their Employer’s Annual Returns online and a “special tax reduction” has been made as follows:
| Return for year to 5 April: | |
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