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29 Nov 2007 : Column 582W—continued
I will write to the hon. Member with the corresponding information for aircraft and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Military Bases: Colchester
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to hand (a) the former Garrison Church, (b) the former Garrison Theatre and (c) the Victorian Gymnasium over to the developers of the Colchester Garrison site. [168886]
Derek Twigg: The former Garrison Church is expected to be handed over to the developers of the Colchester Garrison site on 3 December 2007. The Garrison Theatre, part of Goojerat Barracks, may be handed over at any time after 28 December 2007, in accordance with the contract. The Victorian Gymnasium has already been passed to the developer, subject to a lease back arrangement, pending the provision of new facilities under the terms of the Private Finance Initiative, when the old Gymnasium will no longer be required. The new facilities are expected to be completed by mid 2008.
Patrol Craft
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what agreement has been reached between his Department and Vosper Thorneycroft (UK) Ltd. to supply three river class offshore patrol vessels; and when the lease will end; [168228]
(2) what steps he plans to take at the end of the lease period for the river class offshore patrol vessels; and if he will make a statement. [168245]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The lease arrangement for the three river class offshore patrol vessels currently in place with the VT Group PLC (formerly Vosper Thorneycroft (UK) Ltd.), was let in 2003 for an initial period of five years, with an option to extend for a further five years. The decision was made in December 2006 to exercise this option and the lease arrangement will now expire in 2013. While arrangements for the provision of vessels beyond 2013 will be dependent on the continuing requirement to provide UK Fishery Protection on behalf of DEFRA, contract arrangements would be subject to defence competition policy.
Puma Helicopters
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the RAF Puma helicopter, lost in Iraq on 20 November, first entered service. [167968]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 26 November 2007]: The RAF Puma helicopter ZA938 lost in Iraq on 20 November 2007 entered service on 4 February 1981. The safety record of the Puma has been good, and is comparable with other helicopters operated by the MOD.
Treasury
HM Revenue and Customs
13. Jeremy Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the performance of HM Revenue and Customs over the last two years [169075]
Jane Kennedy: The latest assessments of all Departments' PSA targets are published on the Treasury website.
HMRC's departmental report in May 2007 showed that 17 of the 23 performance measures underpinning their PSA targets have shown improvement since April 2005.
15. Stephen Hammond : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the performance of HM Revenue and Customs over the last two years. [169077]
Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Rugby (Jeremy Wright) (UIN 169075) earlier today.
20. Jessica Morden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in the HM Revenue and Customs work force change programme in Newport; and if he will make a statement. [169082]
Jane Kennedy: HM Revenues Customs consulted widely earlier this year on its initial proposals for reducing its estate in the Cardiff urban centre—Cardiff, Newport and Pontypridd—to match future business requirements. Detailed feasibility work is being carried out taking account of all the consultation feedback received from staff, unions, hon. Members, Assembly members and local authorities. HMRC hopes to announce decisions early next year.
25. Mr. Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the performance of HM Revenue and Customs over the last two years. [169087]
Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Jeremy Wright) (UIN 169075) earlier today.
Carbon-neutral Operations
16. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to make the operations of his Department carbon neutral. [169078]
Angela Eagle: The Treasury is committed to meeting the Government's target to become carbon neutral by 2012, and annually publishes its strategy for reducing its environmental impact.
The Department has reduced carbon emissions from its office estate by 19.5 per cent. since 1999-2000, sources all electricity from renewable sources, and off-sets departmental air travel.
The Treasury will continue to take action to reduce emissions. Opportunities to offset emissions will be explored once levels have been reduced as much as possible
Northern Rock: Debts
Mr. Greenway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value is of subordinated debt owed by Northern Rock to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement. [169079]
Kitty Ussher: The value of subordinated debt owed is a matter for Northern Rock and the Bank of England. We would not comment on any lending from the Bank of England.
International Financial Markets
18. Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has with his international counterparts on the performance of international financial markets. [169080]
Kitty Ussher: The Chancellor regularly meets with his international counterparts to discuss a range of topical issues. More recently, there has been increased focus on financial market developments. In terms of specific meetings where this issue has been discussed, these have included the G7 and G20 Finance Ministers meetings on 19 October and 17-18 November respectively, as well as the meetings of European Finance Ministers in September and October. The Chancellor has also taken part in a range of bilateral meetings with his international counterparts where financial market developments have been discussed.
HM Revenue and Customs: Personal Data
19. Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues and children’s organisations on the implications for child protection of the recent loss of personal data by HM Revenue and Customs. [169081]
Jane Kennedy: The police continue to have no reason to believe that these data have been used for fraudulent purposes or criminal activity. The Government have discussed the broader implications of the incident with a range of organisations, and have considered appropriate steps to manage any risks resulting from the unlikely event that these data fall into the wrong hands.
22. Mr. Bone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who will bear liability arising from any fraudulent use of the personal data relating to child benefit lost by HM Revenue and Customs. [169084]
Jane Kennedy: The police continue to have no reason to believe that these data have found their way into the wrong hands and are not aware of any evidence that they have been used for fraudulent purposes or criminal activity.
Skills Shortages
24. Phil Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the impact on the UK economy of skills shortages. [169086]
Angela Eagle: The independent Leitch Review of Skills found no evidence that skill gaps or shortages have held back economic growth, though it did recommend that the Government raise their ambitions on improving the skills of the work force.
The 2007 National Employer Skills Survey conducted by the Learning and Skills Council highlights falls in the proportion of employers reporting skills gaps and the percentage of all vacancies caused by skills shortages.
The Government are increasing their investment in improving the skills of the population. Expenditure on higher education and adult skills in England will grow by over £2 billion over the next three years.
QinetiQ
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues at the Ministry of Defence on the National Audit Office report on the privatisation of QinetiQ. [169083]
Andy Burnham: The Government accept the recommendations made in the NAO report, and welcome the work undertaken to highlight lessons that can be applied in the future.
Tax Credits
Tom Brake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of administration of the tax credit system. [169085]
Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for South-West Bedfordshire (Andrew Selous) earlier today.
Child Benefit: Personal Records
Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people he estimates will be directly affected by the loss of personal data from the child benefit database in each London borough. [168119]
Jane Kennedy: The missing information contains details of all child benefit recipients, including those in London boroughs.
The acting Chairman of HM Revenue and Customs is writing to all customers affected by the loss of child benefit data.
Information on families receiving child benefit at 31 August 2006 by local authority and parliamentary constituency is published as part of National Statistics and can be found in tables 2 and 3 of Child Benefit Statistics Geographical Analysis which are available on HMRC’s website at:
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many child benefit claimants in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) the London borough of Bexley are affected by the loss of bank account details by HM Revenue and Customs. [168169]
Jane Kennedy: The missing information contains details of all child benefit recipients, including those in Bexleyheath and Crayford and the London borough of Bexley. The acting chairman of HM Revenue and Customs is writing to all customers affected by the loss of child benefit data.
Information on families receiving child benefit at 31 August 2006 by local authority and parliamentary constituency is published as part of National Statistics and can be found in tables 2 and 3 of child benefit statistics geographical analysis which are available on HMRC’s website at:
Mr. Paice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) children and (b) adults in (i) East Cambridgeshire, (ii) South Cambridgeshire, (iii) Cambridgeshire and (iv) the South East Cambridgeshire constituency have had their personal details lost in the recent security breach at HM Revenue and Customs. [168721]
Jane Kennedy: The missing information contains details of all child benefit recipients, including those in East Cambridgeshire, South Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire and the South East Cambridgeshire. The acting chairman of HM Revenue and Customs is writing to all customers affected by the loss of child benefit data.
Information on families receiving child benefit at 31 August 2006 by local authority and parliamentary constituency is published as part of National Statistics and can be found in tables 2 and 3 of child benefit statistics geographical analysis which are available on HMRC’s website at:
Corporate Tax
Mr. Meacher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information his Department holds on the level of corporate tax rates in each of the OECD economies in each year since 1990. [167867]
Jane Kennedy: Data on corporate tax rates in OECD countries are publicly available from the OECD tax database, which can be accessed from the OECD’s public website at http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/26/56/33717459.xls. These data are available from 2000.
Council Tax: Rebates
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of rebating (a) £100, (b) £200, (c) £300 and (d) £400 in council tax to all households with at least one resident (i) over the age of 65, (ii) under the age of seven and (iii) under the age of 11. [166631]
Jane Kennedy: The following table gives the requested information.
| Households containing | |||
| Council tax rebate (£) | A person aged 65 and over (£ million) | Children aged 7 and under (£ million) | Children aged 11 and under (£ million) |
| Notes: 1. Estimated cost for 2007-08, net of council tax benefit expenditure. 2. Estimates for Great Britain. 3. Estimated using HM Treasury tax-benefit simulation model using Family Resources Survey 2005-06 uprated to 2007-08 levels of prices and earnings. 4. Assumes 100 per cent. take-up of benefits. 5. Modelled by reducing original council tax liability before council tax benefit is calculated. | |||
Departmental Documents
Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's (a) policy and (b) practice is on classifying documents as not for National Audit Office eyes. [167622]
Jane Kennedy: There is no such classification.
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