| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
6 Mar 2007 : Column 1812W—continued
Aluminium and steel were not separately identified in the compositional analysis.
Estimates of total commercial and industrial waste are available from the Environment Agency's (EA) Commercial and Industrial Waste Survey 2002-03, copies of which I am placing in the House Libraries.
The amount of waste from household sources that was sent for recycling in 2005-06 by material type is shown in the following table:
| Tonnes (000) | |
| Source: WasteDataFlow | |
Estimates of commercial waste materials recycled are available from the EA's Commercial and Industrial Waste Survey 2002-03, copies of which I have placed in the Libraries of the House.
A Defra commissioned research study conducted by ERM in association with Golder Associates entitled “Carbon Balances and Energy Impacts of the Management of UK Wastes” will be published on the Defra website shortly. This peer reviewed study report details a macro-level investigation of the carbon flows, energy and greenhouse gas benefits and impacts associated with alternative management routes for the predominant waste materials arising in the UK. The research examines the scale of benefits and impacts resulting from different process and recovery routes, traces carbon flows through alternative systems and identifies the most significant wastes and management methods.
Treasury
Agriculture: Subsidies
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he was informed by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that contingent liabilities for provisions for disallowance arising from Common Agricultural Policy schemes, notably the single farm payment, and the possible financial correction the European Commission may apply would be (a) £131 million and (b) £305 million; and if he will make a statement. [124335]
John Healey: The estimate of potential disallowances is reviewed continually by Defra and RPA officials. Provisions for potential disallowances, totalling £116 million (in respect on England only), were made in Defra accounts for 2005-06 (covering SPS 2005 and predating historic CAP schemes).
On 20 February 2007, Defra's spring supplementary estimate included a claim on the Reserve of £305 million for 2006-07. The claim provides estimate cover for provisions in respect of potential financial corrections to EC reimbursements for SPS 2005, any new provisions for
SPS 2006 payments to farmers and other CAP schemes. Final figures for provisions will be provided in Defra's 2006-07 accounts.
Allowances: Electric Vehicles
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider making the advisory fuel rates for the private use of petrol hybrid company cars the same as those for the company use of those cars. [124683]
John Healey: Company car drivers are entitled to tax relief for the actual cost of fuel used for business mileage, but to make life easier for all, HMRC sets advisory fuel rates which it will accept as, on average, reflecting fuel costs without giving rise to a tax or NICs liability. The same rates apply where an employee makes good the cost of any fuel he or she has used for private mileage.
Census
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2007, Official Report, columns 1131W, on the census, what the most recent date was when the Office for National Statistics rejected an application for an extract from the 1921 Census for England and Wales on the grounds that Exemption 41 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 applied to the records. [124113]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 6 March 2007:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the most recent date was when the Office for National Statistics (ONS) rejected an application for an extract from the 1921 Census for England and Wales on the grounds that Exemption 41 of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 applied to the records. (124113)
The last time ONS rejected an application for an extract from the 1921 Census for England and Wales on the grounds that Section 41 of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 applied, was on 15 December 2006.
Charitable Donations
Mr. Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the effectiveness of Gift Aid tax relief in promoting charitable giving. [125731]
Dawn Primarolo: Since 2003, HMRC has commissioned the following research projects on charitable giving:
Individuals' Donations to Charities and their Use of Tax Relief;
Research on Charities;
Companies' Donations to Charities; and
Qualitative Research with High Net Worth Individuals.
The research on Individuals' Donations to Charities and their Use of Tax Relief is of most direct relevance. A copy of the research report is available at:
www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/rep9-main.pdf
Children's Centres: Finance
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on children's centres funding. [125463]
Ed Balls: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 March 2007, Official Report, column 1488W.
Debts: Developing Countries
Mr. David Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to stop vulture funds from profiting from the debts of developing nations. [122754]
Ed Balls: I share the hon. Member’s concern about the actions of vulture funds. The UK wants all creditors to join the multilateral debt workouts and urges all creditors of heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs) to offer at least the debt relief agreed under the HIPC Initiative. The UK has been actively involved in assisting HIPCs to fight aggressive creditors though a number of channels. The UK has:
supported the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) Debt Reduction Facility, which provides funds for countries to buy off commercial debts at significant discount, thereby reducing the potential for litigation (since its establishment, this facility has provided support to extinguish around $8 billion of debt in low-income countries, including $3.8 billion of external commercial debt principal owned by HIPCs);
provided bilateral technical support and including financial support for legal services to the Zambian authorities through the Zambia Task Force of Corruption, to help them fight their recent court case;
provided around £4.5 million (and pledged further funds) to fund capacity building for debt management in developing countries, which will help to avoid these problems in the future;
encouraged the African Development Bank to develop a Legal Assistance Facility, which would—among other things—offer advice to HIPC countries facing litigation;
worked with our international partners to ensure that the IMF and World Bank raise public awareness of this problem by tracking and releasing data on lawsuits, litigations and settlements;
agreed, with our G20 partners, a set of Principles on Fair Debt Restructuring, which ensuring greater co-ordination between sovereign and commercial creditors and focus on transparency, sharing of information, good faith actions and fair treatment.
Mr. David Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of vulture funds on the effectiveness of international aid to assist debt relief. [122755]
Ed Balls:
By depleting the resources of developing countries’ governments, these companies reduce the funds available for poverty-reducing expenditures on services such as health and education. The British Government have led the way in helping to cancel the debts of heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs). We have exceeded our commitments under HIPC, cancelling 100 per cent. of debts owed to the UK. However, the success of international debt relief
initiatives depends on the participation of all creditors providing the debt relief these countries need.
The IMF publication “Initiative for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI)—Status of Implementation” published in August 2006 and available at
http://www.imf.org/external/pp/longres.aspx?id=3887
provides the most up to date analysis of the scale of litigation.
Defence: Finance
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the defence budget in 2006-07 is as a proportion of the gross domestic product (a) inclusive and (b) exclusive of the cost of current conflicts. [125681]
Mr. Timms: Forecast of outturn figures for the Defence budget were published at spring supplementary estimates. Annual GDP deflators can be found on the Treasury's website at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic_data_and_tools/gdp_deflators/data_gdp_fig.cfm.
The latest forecast figures for the Defence budget 2006/07 will be published at Budget. Final figures will be available in the MOD's annual report and accounts that will be published following the end of the financial year, and will set out the level of the Defence budget as well as the additional cost of military operations.
Departments: Air Pollution
Mrs. May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate has been made of the carbon footprint of his Department. [124517]
John Healey: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 7 February 2007, Official Report, column 1027W.
Departments: Equal Opportunities
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has (a) a gender strategy and (b) a gender equality action plan in place. [125500]
John Healey: Building on its existing strategy to promote diversity, HM Treasury will have a Gender Equality Action Plan in place by 30 April 2007.
Departments: Publications
James Duddridge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's involvement was in the Department for International Development's publication ‘The World Classroom’. [125496]
Ed Balls: ‘The World Classroom’ sets out the Government's support for schools' partnerships projects, and places this in the context of the Government's wider policies to encourage access to education in developing countries. These are policies which the Chancellor strongly supports and which he has helped to promote nationally and internationally.
The publication was prepared by officials from the Department for International Development, working closely with HM Treasury officials.
Excise Duties: Biofuels
Chris Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase the duty on bio-diesel for leisure boat use; and if he will make a statement. [124704]
John Healey: The derogation under the Energy Products Directive that permitted a reduced rate of duty on fuel used in private pleasure craft expired at 31 December 2006. Primary legislation will be required to end this concession, and until the law changes private pleasure craft users will continue to be eligible for partial repayment relief on 100 per cent. bio-diesel.
HMRC: Boat Interceptions
Robert Key: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will direct HM Revenue and Customs to record interceptions of yachts and pleasure craft entering UK waters for collation by his Department. [105086]
Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs do not systematically intercept yachts and pleasure craft entering UK waters, and therefore there is no record to be kept.
Money Laundering
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he interpreted the requirements set out in Article 16(1)(a) and (b) of the Third Money Laundering Directive to apply to (a) institutions and persons listed in Article 2 and (b) institutions and persons situated in third countries for the purposes of drafting the Money Laundering Regulations 2007; [125090]
(2) for what reasons the exemption from the requirement to report information received in professionally privileged circumstances in Regulation 7 of the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 is not included in the Draft Money Laundering Regulations 2007; [125098]
(3) if he will amend the draft Money Laundering Regulations 2007 to include rules to be followed (a) for calculating the 25 per cent. share of the beneficial interest in property held under a trust, as provided for in Article 3(6)(b)(i), and (b) in determining whether a person exercises control over 25 per cent. of trust property within the meaning of Article 3(6)(b)(iii) of the Third Money Laundering Directive; [125100]
(4) if he will amend Regulation 12 of the Draft Money Laundering Regulations 2007 to make explicit that regulated parties may rely on regulated persons situated in other member states for customer due diligence checks including where documents or data are different in form to those required in the UK. [125101]
Ed Balls:
The Government are currently consulting on draft Money Laundering Regulations 2007. The consultation closes on 2 April. The Government will make final decisions, including in relation to the
definition of beneficial owner and the provisions contained in regulation 12, once they have considered all consultation responses.
The Government consider that the requirements set out in article 16(1)(a) and (b) of the Third Money Laundering Directive apply to institutions and persons listed in article 2 and equivalent institutions and persons situated in third countries.
The exemption for legal professional privilege in regulation 7 of the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 is based on the exemption in part 7 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The draft Money Laundering Regulations 2007, unlike the 2003 regulations, provide for internal reporting procedures in respect of the requirements of part 7 of the Act, and therefore it is unnecessary to set out this exemption or other provisions set out in part 7.
Research and Development Tax Credit: Bexley
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many projects in the London borough of Bexley received research and development tax credits in each of the last five years. [124198]
John Healey: The information requested is not available.
For information generally on the take-up of research and development tax credits, I refer the hon. Member to the National Statistics published in December 2006 on the HM Revenue and Customs website at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate_tax/randdtcmenu.htm.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |