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25 Jan 2008 : Column 2348W—continued
Internet Access: Lone Parents
Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of lone parents with internet access, broken down by income decile. [181258]
Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 25 January 2008:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what estimate has been made of the number of lone parents with internet access, broken down by income decile (181258).
Estimates are not available for income deciles due to incomplete responses from those surveyed and an insufficient sample size. The small sample size also means that the estimate provided below has a wide margin of statistical error associated with it and should be used with caution.
With this caveat in mind, the estimated proportion of lone parents in the UK in 2007 with Internet access is 44 per cent.
More detailed information on Internet access is available in the published tables from the 2007 e-Society module of the Integrated Household Survey. The relevant estimates can be found on the National Statistics website at:
The e-Society module is used to collect data in the first quarter of the year using the Integrated Household Survey and is the most comprehensive source of household and individual Internet activity in the UK.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter of 23 November 2007 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. A. Ali. [179333]
Jane Kennedy: The Chancellor has today written to the right hon. Gentleman.
Northern Rock
Mr. Kenneth Clarke:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government’s estimate is of the impact on the measurement of national debt of the latest package of guarantees for Northern Rock plc;
and how it will be accounted for in the published accounts of the national finances. [181989]
Jane Kennedy: Guarantees are contingent liabilities, and will be recorded as such in the Treasury’s accounts. Contingent liabilities only impact on public sector net debt if they become actual liabilities.
Office for National Statistics: Relocation
John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has conducted a sustainability appraisal in respect of the relocation of the Office for National Statistics. [181300]
Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 25 January 2008:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking if a sustainability appraisal has been made in respect of the relocation of the Office for National Statistics. (181300)
The decision to relocate some posts to South Wales was driven by the need to respond positively to the Lyons Report and move posts out of London and the SE. In taking this decision we considered the impact of the additional posts on the infrastructure at our existing Newport site. In London we are vacating a large building and moving the remaining posts to an existing smaller site.
ONS is consistently ranked among the top performing departments in the Sustainable Development Commission’s annual report on progress against government environmental targets. Our policies and efforts are directed towards maintaining, if not improving our position. While there has not been a formal sustainability appraisal in respect of our relocation, we are confident that the decision has no negative environmental impact.
Energy Efficiency
John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether his Department is on course to meet the Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate targets to (a) source at least 10 per cent. of its electricity from renewables by 31 March 2008 and (b) increase recycling figures to 40 per cent. of waste by 2010; [181296]
(2) whether his Department has adopted the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Management Programme; [181297]
(3) whether his Department met the target in the Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate to reverse the then upward trend in carbon emissions by April 2007; [181298]
(4) whether his Department is working towards an accredited certified environmental management system for (a) its whole estate and (b) some of its buildings. [181299]
Mr. Kemp: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to reduce his Department’s carbon dioxide emissions in 2008-09. [181821]
Angela Eagle:
The Treasury sources 100 per cent. of its electricity from renewable sources. The department recycled 49.8 per cent. of the waste it produced as at December 2007. As part of its strategy to reduce carbon emissions, the department has adopted the Carbon Trust Management Programme. The Treasury
has reduced carbon emissions progressively since 1999-2000, achieving a total reduction of 19 per cent. and has achieved certification for its environmental management system which covers the Treasury’s main building, 1 Horse Guards Road. Work is under way to extend this coverage to offices the Treasury occupies in Norwich. The Treasury is currently reviewing with the Carbon Trust the progress we have made in reducing carbon emissions and are looking to identify ways in which further reductions can be made in 2008-09 and beyond.
Revenue and Customs: Data Protection
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of total deliveries of computer discs made on behalf of his Department and its agencies were carried out by mail carriers employed by HM Revenue and Customs in the last 12 months. [169889]
Jane Kennedy [holding answer 3 December 2008]: This information is not gathered by HM Treasury.
Stamp Duties
Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many homes have claimed the zero rate of stamp duty on zero carbon homes in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008 to date; and if he will make a statement; [182306]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of zero carbon houses that will qualify for stamp duty land tax relief which are currently under construction; and if he will make a statement. [182433]
Jane Kennedy: Since the relief has been available in October 2007, the stamp duty land tax relief for new zero carbon homes has been claimed for six transactions. Figures are not yet available for 2008.
The tax relief will help stimulate the market for new highly efficient technologies in homes, both for the fabric of the building and in the use of microgeneration, and sets a gold standard for green homes.
No estimate has been made of the number of houses that will qualify for the stamp duty land tax relief which are currently under construction. But we expect the numbers of qualifying transactions to rise as more properties eligible to claim the relief go on the market.
The Government are committed to conducting an interim review of the relief in 2010 which will examine the effectiveness of the relief in stimulating the innovation necessary to ensure that all new homes are built to a zero-carbon standard from 2016.
Tax Allowances
Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals (a) have and (b) have had in the last 20 years, tax immunity or privileges in the UK as a result of involvement in an international activity. [181911]
Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available.
Taxation: Domicil
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many individuals indicated non-domicile status on a P86 form in the last five years; and how many of those did not submit a self-assessment tax return in the 2005-06 tax year; [181543]
(2) how many individuals filed a DOM1 form with HM Revenue and Customs in the last five years; and how many of those did not submit a self-assessment tax return in the 2005-06 tax year. [181544]
Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available.
VAT: Bingo
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there are plans to zero-rate VAT for bingo establishments. [181981]
Angela Eagle: The Chancellor keeps all taxes under review and decisions about gambling taxation are made at Budget alongside all other tax decisions.
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