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Royal Air Force
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving (a) engineers and (b) medical personnel there are in the Royal Air Force; and what the requirement is for each category. [85752]
Mr. Watson: The most recent available figures are:
| Requirement | Trained strength | |
| Notes:
1. As at 6 March 2006. 2. All figures have been rounded to
the nearest 5. 3. Figures include officers and
non-commissioned personnel. 4. Medical figures exclude
dentists and dental
trades. | ||
Strathmore Estates
Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what payments have been made to the Strathmore Estates for training use of their land within the Warcop byelawed area in each year since 2001. [85384]
Mr. Watson: Payments are made by this Department to the Strathmore Estate according to the licence agreement, and reviewed every three years. I am unable to provide the amounts as this would prejudice our position commercially with other landowners in the area with whom we have similar agreements.
UK Bases
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rules govern the use of UK bases at (a) Diego Garcia and (b) RAF Fairford by the United States to launch military action against a sovereign state. [85506]
Des Browne: The presence of the United States Air Force at RAF Fairford is, as with all bases made available to United States visiting forces in the United Kingdom, governed by the NATO Status of Forces Agreement 1951 and additional confidential arrangements.
Her Majesty's Government have to be fully consulted and agree before any UK-based US forces are deployed operationally. The Joint Churchill-Truman Communiqué of January 1952 stated:
“Under arrangements made for the common defence, the United States has the use of certain bases in the United Kingdom. We reaffirm the understanding that the use of these bases in an emergency would be a matter for joint decision by H. M. Government and the U.S. Government in the light of the circumstances prevailing at the time.”
The use of the US military facility at Diego Garcia is governed by an Exchange of Notes between the US and UK which requires the US to seek prior approval for any operations that they wish to undertake from Diego Garcia.
Veterans
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government regarding housing for veterans; and what plans he has to improve access to housing for (a) single veterans and (b) veterans with families. [84830]
Mr.
Watson: There have been no recent discussions with the
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government about housing
for veterans. However,
frequent contact is maintained between officials from the Ministry of
Defence and the Department for Communities and Local Government
regarding veterans housing matters. Our main focus is on improving
access to housing for Service personnel while they are still serving or
are at the point of leaving the Service. This applies to both single
Service personnel and those with families, and is intended to
facilitate a smooth transition to civilian life. Measures already in
place to assist all personnel leaving the Services include the
provision of comprehensive information and advice on housing options
and the MOD Nominations Scheme, which facilitates access for Service
leavers to housing with 43 registered social landlords and councils
across the UK. In recognition of their specific needs, the Single
Persons Accommodation Centre for the Ex-Services provides an advice and
placement service for single Service
leavers.
Through the Veterans Agency helpline and website, liaison with the ex-Service charities and other agencies, and various communications initiatives, we aim to increase awareness among veterans of the support available and improve access to help on housing and other matters. We also support a number of initiatives to prevent and tackle homelessness among existing veterans.
Treasury
Bank Account
Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of adults in (a) Beverley and Holderness and (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire who do not have access to a bank account are over the age of 65; and if he will make a statement. [86333]
Ed Balls: The most recent data available that allow assessment to be made of the number of households with no access to a bank account are to be found in the Family Resources Survey from 2002-03. This indicates that 8 per cent. of households in the United Kingdom had no bank account of any kind. This equated to 1.9 million households containing around 2.8 million adults. The data are broken down to Government office regional level. This shows 9 per cent. of households in Yorkshire and the Humber were unbanked. The data can also be broken down by the age of the household reference person (the owner of the household or the one with the highest income). This shows that 27 per cent. of unbanked households had a household reference person over the age of 65.
In December 2004, the Government and the banks agreed to work together towards the goal of halving the number of adults in households with no access to a bank account of any kind and of making significant progress within two years. The Financial Inclusion Taskforce has been asked to monitor progress. The taskforce recently made its first annual report, which concluded that steady progress has been made towards the goal but also encouraged banks to continue to address the difficulties faced in opening a bank account.
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of people living in Scotland had a bank account in each of the last five years; what steps he is taking to increase the number of people with bank accounts; and if he will make a statement. [86408]
Ed Balls: The most recent data available that allows assessment to be made of the number of households with no access to a bank account are to be found in the Family Resources Survey from 2002-03. This indicates that 8 per cent. of households in the United Kingdom had no bank account of any kind. This equated to 1.9 million households containing around 2.8 million adults. The data are broken down to Government office regional level. This shows 8 per cent. of households in Scotland were unbanked. The figures for previous years are: 2001-02—9 per cent.; 2000-01—14 per cent.; 1999-2000—13 per cent.; 1998-99—14 per cent.
In December 2004, the Government and the banks agreed to work together towards the goal of halving the number of adults in households with no access to a bank account of any kind and of making significant progress within two years. The Financial Inclusion Taskforce has been asked to monitor progress. The taskforce recently made its first annual report, which concluded that steady progress has been made towards the goal but also encouraged banks to continue to address the difficulties faced in opening a bank account.
Benefit Fraud
Mr. Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the conclusions were of the Taskforce on Benefit Fraud announced in the 1999 Pre-Budget Report; what the recommended plan of action consisted of; and what progress has been made with its implementation. [84819]
Mr. Plaskitt: I have been asked to reply
In 1999, Lord Grabiner QC, was asked to chair a task force bringing together the Treasury, the Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise, the Department of Social Security and the Employment Service to conduct an investigation into the informal or hidden economy. His report, "The Informal Economy—A Report by Lord Grabiner QC", was published in March 2000 and is available in the Library. DWP has successfully acted on all the key recommendations applicable to this Department.
Business Secondment (Schools)
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees of businesses have been seconded to schools in each year since 1997; and how much tax relief employers claimed in respect of such secondments in each year. [85554]
Jim Knight: I have been asked to reply.
No information is available on employees of businesses who have been seconded to schools and on the tax relief claimed by employers in respect of employees seconded to schools.
We welcome links between schools and businesses and the Government make available £25 million a year through the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to promote closer links between schools and business.
Child Benefits
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether copies of birth certificates are valid for parents registering for child tax credit and child benefit. [85721]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 14 July 2006]: Child benefit office and tax credit office will accept copies of birth certificates only if the original has been seen and the copy certified as a true copy by two officers of HM Revenue and Customs, or the Department of Work and Pension or the Department for Social Development.
Disabled People
Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the overall approach to reinvestment of future savings in the benefits budgets and growth in revenue resulting from increased participation of disabled people in the workforce; what agreements have been reached in principle; and if he will make a statement. [84349]
Mr. Timms: We expect the Pathways to Work programme to generate significant long-term benefit savings.
As the savings and effectiveness of the Pathways to Work programme are demonstrated, we will consider additional funding for the Department for Work and Pensions for further welfare reform measures. Any such funding will be allocated in the light of potential value for money, including future Exchequer benefits.
ECOFIN
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 6 July 2006, Official Report, column 1283W, on the ECOFIN meeting, on what date his diary secretary was informed that he would be attending the ECOFIN meeting on 7 June. [85906]
John Healey: Dates for ECOFIN meetings are confirmed seven months in advance of each presidency.
Education and Training Expenditure
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what cash figures were used to calculate spending on education and training as a percentage of GDP in Table 3.4 of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2005 for (a) schools, (b) tertiary education and (c) other training programmes for England. [86433]
Mr.
Timms: Table 3.6 of Public Expenditure Statistical
Analyses (PESA) 2005 presents UK Total Expenditure on Services (TES) by
sub-function for 1999-2000 to 2004-05, consistent with Table 3.4. The
sub-functions presented include schools, tertiary
education and training spending. For earlier years we do not hold a
consistent series with Table 3.4 at the detailed sub-function level and
so the information is not available. The methodology used to produce
the high-level functional series back years in Table 3.4 is available
on the HMT website
at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/777/D4/historical_funtion_series_method_note.pdf
Total Expenditure on Services by country and region is available in chapter 8 of PESA 2005 (chapter 7 of PESA 2006). These regional spending statistics use the concept of ‘identifiable’ spending where Government spending is allocated to the region or country that benefits from the spending. Some spending cannot be allocated to a region or country as it is for the benefit of the UK as a whole (e.g. defence spending). Tables 8.5 to 8.10 present England spending on Education and Training for 1999-2000 to 2004-05 on this identifiable, who benefits, basis. We do not currently produce these regional analyses at a sub-function level, although it is something we are considering for the future. Paragraph 3.59 of the response to the PESA reader consultation published this year sets this out:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic_data_and_tools/finance_spending_statistics/pes_publications/pespub_consult.cfm
The GDP figures used to produce Table 3.4 are as stated in footnote 1 to the table.
Inheritance Tax
Mr. Byers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the effect on income from inheritance tax would be if the threshold for payment was raised to (a) £500,000, (b) £1 million and (c) £2.5 million. [85375]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 14 July 2006]: Raising the inheritance tax threshold with effect from 2007-08 would have the following effect on forecast revenue:
| £ billion | |||
| Reduction in receipts from raising threshold to | |||
| (a) £500,000 | (b) £1 million | (c) £2.5 million | |
Local Government
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions are planned between officials of the Office for National Statistics and those of the Department for Communities and Local Government on the local government financial settlement for 2007-08, in relation to population changes caused by immigration from EU accession countries; and if he will make a statement. [85007]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 18 July 2006:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what discussions are planned between officials of the Office for National Statistics and those of the Department for Communities and Local Government on the local government financial settlement for 2007-08, in relation to population changes caused by immigration from EU accession countries. (85007)
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and ONS are in regular contact at a working level to discuss a range of statistical issues around population. None of these discussions will be about the local government financial settlement which is the responsibility of DCLG and not a matter for ONS. In addition the ONS’ National Statistics Centre for Demography hosts the Central and Local Government Information Partnership (CLiP) Population Subgroup. This is the forum ONS uses to discuss statistical issues pertaining to the estimation of population with central and local government. DCLG are represented on this group.
ONS produces the mid year population estimates on a consistent basis, for all local authorities in England and Wales. These are the best available estimates at the time of their publication. They are based on the UN definition of a long term migrant i.e someone who changes their country of usual residence for a period of at least a year. The 2005 Mid Year Estimates, due to be published on 24 August 2006, will include an estimate of the number of long term immigrants from the EU accession countries.
Network Banking Scheme
Mr. Paice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which banks have signed up to be part of the network banking scheme with the Post Office. [85137]
Jim Fitzpatrick: I have been asked to reply.
Network banking constitutes commercial arrangements between Post Office Ltd and high street banks allowing their current account customers to access their accounts at post office branches. Currently customers of Alliance and Leicester, Bank of Ireland, Barclays (England and Wales only), Clydesdale Bank, The Co-operative Bank, Lloyds TSB (England, Scotland and Wales only) and Nationwide Building Society can access their current accounts at post offices. Current accounts of the Internet banks Cahoot, First Direct (Scotland only) and Smile are also accessible at post offices.
In addition to the commercial network banking arrangements, universal banking services at post offices were introduced on 1 April 2003 to enable those who wish to do so to continue to access cash and benefits at post office counters following the migration from order books to direct payment. Under these arrangements, The Abbey, Alliance and Leicester, Bank of Ireland, Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Clydesdale Bank, The Co-operative Bank, First Trust Bank, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds-TSB, Nationwide Building Society, Natwest, Northern Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland, Ulster Bank and Yorkshire Bank each have a basic bank account product accessible at post offices.
Registration On-line Computer System
Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to date has been of the purchase and installation of the Registration on-line computer system at registry offices. [86034]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Registrar General, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 18 July 2006:
As Registrar General for England and Wales, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the cost to date of the purchase and installation of the Registration ON-line computer system at registration offices. (86034)
Central government expenditure on the purchase and installation of the Registration ON-line computer system for the period to the end of June 2006 is £5,108,000.
Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Government have to extend the implementation of the Registration on-line computer system at registry offices across England and Wales. [86035]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Registrar General, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 18 July 2006:
As Registrar General for England and Wales, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary question asking what plans the Government have to extend the implementation of the Registration ON-line computer system at registry offices across England and Wales. (86035)
The Registration ON line (RON) system currently used by registrars in England and Wales to record civil partnership registrations will be extended later this year to include birth and death registrations. RON will first be piloted in four registration districts in November, and then extended to a further nine areas in December. Subject to both pilot phases proceeding successfully, RON for births and deaths will be rolled out across England and Wales in February 2007. The roll-out of the marriages module will follow as soon as possible thereafter.
Sunglasses
Lorely Burt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the Treasury would be of reducing the rate of VAT to (a) 5 per cent. and (b) 0 per cent. on (i) children’s sunglasses and (ii) all sunglasses. [85969]
Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs does not have sufficient data to estimate the cost of a reduced or zero rate of VAT for these products.
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