Written Ministerial Statements
Thursday 19 July 2007
Treasury
Budget ECOFIN (13 July)
The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Kitty Ussher): On 13 July 2007, I represented the UK at the Budget Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN).
The Council conducted its first reading of the EC’s budget for 2008. The Council adopted a draft budget that was supported by all member states.
During a conciliation meeting between the Council and the European Parliament, five joint statements relating to the budget were agreed. These concerned: structural and cohesion funds and rural development 2007-13 programmes; recruitment in relation to the 2004 and 2007 enlargement; decentralised agencies; executive agencies; and assigned revenues. The Government are supportive of these statements, which call for a greater degree of transparency, sound financial management and budget discipline in the areas they concern.
Landscape Review
The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Kitty Ussher): HM Treasury is today publishing a summary of the findings of a Landscape Review of National Savings and Investments (NS&I), commissioned by HM Treasury Ministers in 2005, copies of which are available in the Libraries of both Houses. This statement sets out the findings of this review. Broadly speaking, the Landscape Review of NS&I concluded that:
Since its last review in 2000 NS&I had performed well. Between 2000 and 2005 it raised £7.8 billion of net finance (contribution to the Government’s stock of debt) and £1.22 billion of value added (savings to Government made by raising debt through the retail market at a lower cost than through wholesale borrowing).
NS&I should therefore retain as its single strategic objective the reduction of the cost to the tax-payer of Government borrowing.
NS&I should prioritise cost-effectiveness to Government over the pursuit of market share. HM Treasury will reflect this when setting NS&I’s net finance and value added targets. As a result, NS&I will not be growing and can be expected to bring in a steady rather than increasing amount of net finance going forward.
Although there are a number of constraints which prevent other savings providers from competing with NS&I on a level playing field, NS&I is not having a significant competitive impact at its current size relative to market. However, the Treasury should take into account the market impact of NS&I’s activities when setting its financing targets.
Although NS&I will not move to being FSA regulated, it should comply fully with FSA requirements where applicable, on a voluntary basis. NS&I has agreed with the FSA that it
will update the FSA biannually on progress against its plans, will monitor and respond to relevant changes in FSA regulations, and will report on progress in its annual report.
The review also recommended that NS&I should develop a revised corporate strategy incorporating the conclusions of this review. This process has been completed, and NS&I’s new five-year strategy “NS&I Adding Value” was launched on 1 April 2007. Further information on the new strategy can be found in NS&I’s 2006-07 annual report and accounts which are also being laid before the House today.
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
European Directives (Accounting and Audit)
The Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Mr. John Hutton): My Department is today publishing the Government’s conclusions following the responses to the consultation on the implementation of the directive on the Statutory Audit of Annual and Consolidated Accounts (Directive 2006/43/EC). Draft regulations for the implementation of the directive are also being published.
My Department is also publishing the Government’s conclusions following the responses to the consultation on the implementation of a Directive (2006/46/EC) which amends EC Accounting Directives, (the 4th and 7th Company Law Directives, Bank Accounts and Insurance Company Accounts Directive) (Directive 2006/46/EC).
These documents will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses and will be available on the BERR website shortly.
Regional Development Agencies
The Minister for Competitiveness (Mr. Stephen Timms): I have decided to re-appoint the following Board Members as detailed for a further one to three years accordingly.
| Board member name | RDA | Length of re-appointment (years) |
The re-appointments will begin on 14 December 2007.
I have placed further details of these re-appointments in the Libraries of both Houses. These re-appointments were made in accordance with the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments,
Defence
Afghanistan Roulement
The Secretary of State for Defence (Des Browne): The next roulement of UK forces in Afghanistan will take place in October 2007. The force package that we currently plan to deploy will see the lead formation, some 12 Mechanised Brigade, replaced by 52 Infantry Brigade, which will provide the majority of the units serving in Afghanistan. The forces deploying include elements of:
52 Infantry Brigade Headquarters and 258 Signal Squadron
846 Naval Air Squadron
Naval Strike Wing
40 Commando Royal Marines
Armoured Support Group, Royal Marines
The Household Cavalry Regiment
1st Battalion Coldstream Guards
2 Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards)
1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles
4th Regiment, Royal Artillery
36 Engineer Regiment
27 Transport Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
5 General Support Medical Regiment
1 Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Elements of The King's Royal Hussars
Elements of The Queen's Royal Lancers
Elements of 5th Regiment, Royal Artillery
Elements of 16th Regiment, Royal Artillery
Elements of 32nd Regiment, Royal Artillery
Elements of 39th Regiment, Royal Artillery
Elements of 47th Regiment, Royal Artillery
Elements of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal)
Elements of 70 Gurkha Field Support Squadron
Headquarters 62 Works Group Royal Engineers, 519 Specialist Team Royal Engineers (Works)
Elements of 10th Signal Regiment, The Royal Corps of Signals
Elements Signal of 14th Regiment (Electronic Warfare), the Royal Corps of Signals
Elements of 21st Signal Regiment (Air Support), the Royal Corps of Signals
Elements of 30th Signal Regiment, the Royal Corps of Signals
Elements of 3 Regiment, Army Air Corps.
Elements of 1 Close Support Company, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Elements of 7th Battalion, The Rifles
Elements of 52nd Lowland, 6 Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland
Elements of 9 Regiment, Army Air Corps.
Headquarters 102 Logistic Brigade
Elements of 9 Supply Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
Elements of 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
Elements of 12 Logistic Support Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
Elements of 13 Air Assault Support Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps (47 Air Dispatch Squadron)
Elements of 24 Postal Courier and Movement Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
Elements of 29 Postal Courier and Movement Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
Elements of 148 Squadron Expeditionary Forces Institute (Volunteers), The Royal Logistic Corps
Hospital Squadron formed from 201 Field Hospital (V) and 243 Field Hospital (V)
Elements of 7 Air Assault Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
101 Provost Company, 5th Provost Regiment, Royal Military Police
Elements of 1 Military Intelligence Brigade
Elements of Joint Civil Military Co-operation (CIMIC) Group
Elements of 90 Signals Unit Royal Air Force
904 Expeditionary Air Wing Royal Air Force
Elements of 1 Air Control Centre Royal Air Force
15 Regiment Field Squadron Royal Air Force
7 Force Protection Wing Headquarters Royal Air Force
Elements of:
18 Squadron Royal Air Force
24 Squadron Royal Air Force
27 Squadron Royal Air Force
30 Squadron Royal Air Force
47 Squadron Royal Air Force
70 Squadron Royal Air Force
Elements of 1 Air Movements Wing Royal Air Force
Elements of 85 (Expeditionary Logistic) Wing Headquarters, Royal Air Force
Elements of 2 Motor Transport Squadron, Royal Air Force
Elements of 5001 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Elements of Mobile Catering Support Unit
Elements of Tactical Medical Wing
Elements of Tactical Armament Squadron
Elements of Tactical Imagery Intelligence Wing
Elements of 151 Transport Regiment (Volunteers) The Royal Logistic Corps
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