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18 Dec 2007 : Column 1486W—continued
Freight: Roads
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the economic prospects for the UK road freight sector, with particular reference to the effects of (a) freight taxes, (b) excise duties and (c) fuel prices. [174137]
Angela Eagle: In taking taxation decisions as part of the Budget process the Government consider all relevant environmental, social and economic factors—including those relating to specific industry sectors—into consideration.
Further to this process, the Haulage Industry Task Group, consisting of Government officials and representatives from the road haulage industry and business sector, published a report in December 2006, designed to better understand the issues raised in 2005 Burns Inquiry into fuel prices, freight taxes and foreign competition. The report is published at:
Gift Aid
Mr. Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will change the gift aid rules under section 3.46.12 of the guidance to include grandparents of minors. [174503]
Jane Kennedy:
Minors (those under the age of 18 who are not married) are the legal responsibility of their parents or legal guardians. Membership subscriptions paid on behalf of minors by their parents
or legal guardians can be regarded as qualifying donations providing the usual Gift Aid conditions are met. There is no scope within the existing legislation to extend this treatment. The Government continue to look at ways of building on the success of the Gift Aid scheme and increasing donations to charity, and is currently considering responses to the recent consultation on Gift Aid to this end.
Government Equalities Office
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Winter Supplementary Estimates (HC 29), (1) if he will break down the Government Equalities Office new estimate provision by subhead in (i) near cash and (ii) non-cash terms; [174999]
(2) if he will break down the (a) Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills, (b) Food Standards Agency and (c) Office of Rail Regulation (i) main estimate and (ii) winter supplementary estimate provision by subhead in (A) near cash and (B) non-cash terms; [175000]
(3) if he will break down the (a) Assets Recovery Agency, (b) Charity Commission and (c) Northern Ireland Court Service (i) main estimate and (ii) winter supplementary estimate provision by subhead in (A) near cash and (B) non-cash terms; [175001]
(4) if he will break down the (a) National Archives, (b) Crown Prosecution Service and (c) Serious Fraud Office (i) main estimate and (ii) winter supplementary estimate provision by subhead in (A) near cash and (B) non-cash terms; [175002]
(5) if he will break down the (a) HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor, (b) Office of Gas and Electricity and (c) Postal Services Commission (i) main estimate and (ii) winter supplementary estimate provision by subhead in (A) near cash and (B) non-cash terms; [175003]
(6) if he will break down the (a) Forestry Commission, (b) HM Revenue and Customs and (c) National Savings and Investments (i) main estimate and (ii) winter supplementary estimate provision by subhead in (A) near cash and (B) non-cash terms; [175004]
(7) if he will break down the (a) Office for National Statistics, (b) National School of Government and (c) Privy Council Office (i) main estimate and (ii) winter supplementary estimate provision by subhead in (A) near cash and (B) non-cash terms. [175005]
Andy Burnham: The breakdown of voted resources in supply estimates is primarily a matter for the Departments concerned. I understand that the right hon. Gentleman has tabled the same question to all Departments directly in separate parliamentary questions.
National Insurance: Data Protection
Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how frequently discs are sent to pension providers containing information on national insurance rebates; how many are sent each year; and how many such discs have gone missing in transit over the last three years. [171494]
Jane Kennedy [holding answer 6 December 2007]: HMRC may only disclose information which it holds in accordance with the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005. Most transfers of data take place under statutory gateways which specify circumstances in which HMRC may disclose such information. All disclosures must be compliant with the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998.
On 20 November, the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC’s data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The interim findings were published yesterday and available in the Library of the House.
Pensioners
Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of the population in (a) England and (b) each parliamentary constituency are over the age of 65; and if he will make a statement. [174293]
Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 18 December 2007:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question asking how many and what percentage of the population in (a) England and (b) each parliamentary constituency are over the age of 65 years. (174293).
The latest population estimates available are for mid-2006. The estimated population in England aged 65 and over is 8,086,000. This is 16 per cent of the total estimated population in England in mid-2006.
ONS does not have population estimates for parliamentary constituencies for the whole of the UK. However mid-2006 estimates for parliamentary constituencies covering England and Wales and Scotland are due to be published early in 2008. Estimates for Northern Ireland are available on the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency website at:
http://www.nisra.gov.uk/demography/default.asp?cmsid=20_21_24&;cms:=demography_population%20statistics_Mid-year+population+estimates&release=
Personation
Martin Horwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 4 December 2007, Official Report, column 1203W, on personation, what risks his Department has identified of identity theft arising from tax-related correspondence between HM Revenue and Customs and members of the public; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce those risks. [173681]
Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the oral statement my right hon. Friend the Chancellor gave to the House on 17 December.
Recycling
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department’s policy is on recycling. [174406]
Angela Eagle: The Treasury is committed to meeting the government's target to increase recycling figures on the office estate to 40 per cent. of waste arisings by 2010 and to 75 per cent. by 2020.
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much and what proportion of its waste his Department recycled in each of the last five years. [174419]
Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 11 December 2007, Official Report, column 365W.
Revenue and Customs: Data Protection
Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what security clearance is required before a member of staff is allowed access to personal information at HM Revenue and Customs. [168468]
Jane Kennedy: Access to any HMRC system is assigned according to user-roles. HMRC seeks to minimise access levels to its systems, restricting access to only those staff who can demonstrate a current defined business need.
All HMRC staff are security cleared to an appropriate level in line with departmental security procedures.
On 20 November the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The interim report was published yesterday and is available in the Library of the House.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which (a) organisations, (b) agencies and (c) individuals have (i) partial and (ii) total access to personal tax or benefit data held by HM Revenue and Customs; under what conditions such access is given; what legislation regulates such access; and if he will make a statement [169529]
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how data are shared between HM Revenue and Customs and the Student Loans Company; and what medium is used to transmit the data; [173555]
(2) what encryption is used when sending data (a) from HM Revenue and Customs to the Student Loans Company and (b) from the Student Loans Company to HM Revenue and Customs. [173556]
Jane Kennedy: HMRC may only disclose information which it holds in accordance with the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005. Most transfers of data take place under statutory gateways which specify circumstances in which HMRC may disclose such information. All disclosures must be compliant with the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998.
On 20 November, the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC’s data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The interim report was published yesterday and is available in the Library of the House.
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what concerns about security at HM Revenue and Customs have been reported by the Departmental Security Officer of (a) his Department and (b) HM Revenue and Customs in the last two years. [169736]
Jane Kennedy: The Departmental Security Officer (DSO) of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) provides HMRC’s Chairman with an Annual Report on Security Incidents. The remit of HM Treasury’s Departmental Security Officer does not cover HMRC, although issues of common concern about shared premises are discussed regularly between the security officials of the two Departments.
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether HM Revenue and Customs uses secure electronic networks to transfer data; and what criteria are used in deciding what methods of data transfer to use. [173679]
Jane Kennedy: HMRC uses a number of secure electronic networks to transfer data, as one of several methods of data transfer.
On 20 November the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC’s data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The interim report was published yesterday and is available in the Library of the House.
I also refer the hon. Member to the remarks I made on 28 November 2007, Official Report, column 344 setting out the key steps all staff in HMRC must now follow for bulk data transfers.
Revenue and Customs: Personal Records
Mr. Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which information the National Audit Office (NAO) is entitled to request from (a) his Department and (b) HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on (i) personal tax and (ii) benefit data; by what mechanisms such information is provided to the NAO by HMRC; and if he will make a statement [169530]
Jane Kennedy: The National Audit Office (NAO) derive their authority from four main Acts of Parliament; these are the Exchequer and Audit Department Acts 1866 and 1921, the National Audit Act 1983 and the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000. Under section 8 of the National Audit Act 1983 the Comptroller and Auditor General has a right of access at all reasonable times to all official documents reasonably required for the purposes of an audit. The mechanisms by which such information is provided to the NAO vary according to the request.
On 13 November HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) initiated immediate increased security with a new process:
transfers will now only take place if they are absolutely necessary
written authorisation for the transfer has to be given by senior HMRC manager; and
a clear instruction has been given regarding the appropriate standard of protection for the transfer.
Where directors decide that a data transfer by disc is unavoidable such media must, in every case, be securely encrypted at the appropriate level.
On 20 November the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC’s data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The interim report was published yesterday and is available in the Library of the House.
Revenue and Customs: Standards
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list each Lean target for staff at HM Revenue and Custom’s office in Washington since December 2005. [173745]
Jane Kennedy: Teams working in HMRC work streams have a range of targets which change regularly. Teams using Lean ways of working typically improve quality and lead times ensuring that customers receive the right amount of child benefit more quickly.
Social Security Benefits: EC Nationals
Andrew Selous: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether birth or adoption certificates are required as proof of entitlement before the payment of family benefits for the children of European Economic Area nationals resident abroad. [174674]
Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 26 November 2007, Official Report, column 48W, to the right hon. Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory).
Tax Credits: Overpayments
Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether previous versions of HM Revenue and Customs Code of Practice (COP) 26 allowed the suspension of the recovery of tax credit overpayments for the whole of the appeal process, including reference to the Adjudicator or Ombudsman; and if he will place in the Library the current edition of COP 26; [173584]
(2) in what circumstances the recovery of tax credit overpayments is suspended while the Adjudicator or Ombudsman considers an appeal. [173585]
Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have been suspending recovery of all tax credit overpayments following receipt of any new dispute, or where new evidence has been provided in support of a dispute, since November 2005.
HMRC will not ask a customer to pay back a tax credit overpayment until they have fully investigated a referral from the offices of the adjudicator or parliamentary ombudsman involving a new dispute or where fresh evidence has been provided.
A new COP 26 will be available and implemented in full from January 2008. Copies will be placed in the Library.
Taxation: Gyms
Mr. Betts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the ways in which employer-provided gym and sports club memberships are treated for tax purposes. [174813]
Jane Kennedy: The Government keep all taxes under review as part of the Budget process.
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