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23 Apr 2007 : Column 998W—continued
VAT: Sunscreens
Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent consideration he has given to the removal of VAT from sun care products; and what estimate he has made of the long term effects of such a measure on NHS costs. [132581]
Dawn Primarolo: Under the VAT agreements with our European partners, signed by successive Governments, we can retain our existing VAT zero rates, but we may not extend them or introduce new ones. It is therefore not possible to remove VAT entirely from sun care products. The same European VAT agreements do allow for a reduced rate of VAT of not less than 5 per cent to be applied to sun care items that are ‘pharmaceutical products’, and the case for such a VAT reduction for sun care products was. carefully considered as part of the Budget process.
To date we have been sparing in our use of reduced rates of VAT and have only introduced them where we are convinced they offer the best targeted and most cost-effective support for our objectives, when considered against alternative policy instruments. We consider that the most effective approach is the promotion of the broad range of precautions necessary for sun protection, not just sun care products, for example through Government support for the ‘Sunsmart’ advice and awareness raising campaign.
Welfare Tax Credits
Mr. David Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason able-bodied people under the age of 25 years without children are not able to claim any tax credits regardless of their income levels. [132934]
Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 16 April to my hon. Friend the Member for Dundee West (Mr. McGovern), Official Report, column. 422W.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to publish the (a) 2005-06 child and working tax credits finalised annual awards statistics and the (b) 2005-06 child and working tax credits finalised annual awards, supplement on payments statistics. [133419]
Dawn Primarolo: The HMRC publications referred to will be published on 22 May 2007.
Working Tax Credit
Mr. Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increases in take-up of working tax credit he expects in each of the next three years. [132038]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 18 April 2007]: The Government do not make forward projections for take-up rates.
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are receiving working tax credit who do not have any children. [132049]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 18 April 2007]: Provisional estimates for the number of in-work families with working tax credit awards that do not have any children, as at December 2006, are published in “Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. December 2006”. This is available on the HMRC website at:
Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change his policy on the eligibility for working tax credits of those aged under 25 years who are without children and not disabled. [132243]
Dawn Primarolo: The Government currently have no plans to change the eligibility criteria for working tax credits.
Working Tax Credit: Prisoners
Mr. Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people serving custodial sentences in the UK received working tax credits in each of the last three years; and what the cost was of such payments. [133247]
Dawn Primarolo: This information is not available. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 19 December 2006, Official Report, column 1741W.
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