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5 Feb 2008 : Column 1060W—continued
Taxation
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of level of compliance with tax regulations in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement. [183306]
Angela Eagle: There is no current assessment of the level of compliance with all tax regulations.
to file returns on time; and
to submit correct returns and pay the right amount of tax.
The percentage of self-assessment returns filed on time is published in HMRC’s annual reports, which are available at:
For corporation tax returns, no figures are available prior to 2003-04, and the 2006-07 figure is not yet finalised.
HMRC have made estimates of the level of indirect tax losses since 2001. The most recent estimates are available in “Measuring Indirect Tax Losses 2007”, published alongside pre-Budget report 2007. These cover VAT losses for 2001-02 to 2006-07, and excise losses from 2001-02 to 2005-06. HMRC also published “Developing Methodologies for Measuring Direct Tax
Losses” at this time. This includes estimates of direct tax losses for individuals subject to income tax self-assessment (2001-02 to 2002-03), small and medium-sized companies (2001-02 to 2003-04) and small and medium-sized employers (2003-04).
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many errors were made in processing tax returns in each of the last five years. [183829]
Angela Eagle: The following table sets out the number of taxpayers whose self assessment tax returns were subject to processing errors during the past five years. The table also details the percentage accuracy of self assessment tax bills during the same period.
| Taxpayers with errors | Accuracy of SA tax bills (percentage) | |
Taxation: Gambling
John Hemming: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which gambling products are subject to more than one ad valorem tax rate; and for what reasons in each case. [181698]
Angela Eagle: Gambling products are subject to a range of different taxes. In some circumstances, bingo is subject to more than one ad valorem tax. Bingo in a licensed premises is subject to bingo duty at 15 per cent. on gross profits and most participation fees for such bingo are subject to VAT at the standard rate. All gambling industries are also subject to the usual taxes imposed on business. The average effective tax rate on bingo is not out of line with rates on other forms of gambling.
The Government consider all relevant factors when establishing and maintaining fair regimes for the gambling taxes.
Working Tax Credit
Mrs. Maria Miller: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much was (a) budgeted for and (b) spent on the childcare element of the working tax credit in each quarter of the last five years for which data are available; and if he will make a statement; [184928]
(2) what the average level of award made to families of the childcare element of the working tax credit was in each quarter of the last five years for which data are available; and if he will make a statement. [184929]
Angela Eagle: HMRC do not produce forecasts for the individual elements of the child and working tax credits.
Table 2.4 of the HMRC publications ‘Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised Awards’ for 2003-04 and 2004-05 and 2005-06, provides information
on the estimated expenditure on the child care element, for 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06. This is shown in the following table.
The same table contains estimates of the average help with child care costs these families received in each relevant year. This information is not available on a quarterly basis.
| Childcare element expenditure (£ million) | Av erage help with child care cost per week (£) | |
Mrs. Maria Miller: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families were (a) eligible for and (b) receiving the childcare element of the working tax credit in each quarter of the last five years for which data are available; and if he will make a statement. [184930]
Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member on 21 November 2007, Official Report, column 916W.
Health
NHS Constitution
11. Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to establish a constitution for the NHS. [184153]
Alan Johnson: As I announced on 4 July, in the ministerial statement, Official Report, column 961, and as outlined in the interim report of the NHS Next Stage Review, published in October 2007, the Government are considering the case for a new national health service constitution to enshrine the principles and values of the NHS and increase local accountability to patients and the public. As part of this we are engaging extensively with patients, staff and the public.
Human Trafficking
12. Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of trafficked women and children who were refused secondary healthcare in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [184154]
Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not held centrally. However, we have always made clear that no one in need of immediately necessary treatment should ever be denied that treatment because of concerns about their immigration status.
Fertility Services
13. Lynda Waltho: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve access to fertility services. [184155]
Dawn Primarolo: We are working with the patient support organisation Infertility Network UK to help primary care trusts identify and share best practice in the provision of fertility services, and to establish standardised access criteria. To support this work, and develop tools to help primary care trusts improve their provision, we are establishing an expert group which will include commissioners.
Midwives
14. Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwives are employed by the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [184156]
Ann Keen: The September 2006 NHS census showed there were 24,500 midwives employed in the national health service, an increase of over 9 per cent. since 1997.
21. Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of trends in the number of midwives recruited by the NHS over the last 10 years. [184163]
Ann Keen: Over the last 10 years there has been steady growth in the number of midwives working in the national health service. The NHS now employs over 2,000 more midwives than in 1997, an increase of over nine per cent.
Patient Satisfaction
15. Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research he has commissioned on patient satisfaction with treatment in NHS hospitals. [184157]
Ann Keen: The Government have one of the world’s most comprehensive programmes of patient experience surveys, including the national patient survey programme and Choice survey. This research tells us what people think about the care and treatment they have experienced, and is an essential part of improving services.
Prescription Drugs: Internet Sales
16. Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to curtail sales from overseas of prescription drugs via the internet; and if he will make a statement. [184158]
Dawn Primarolo: Prescription medicines purchased from overseas internet websites cannot be guaranteed for their safety, quality and efficacy.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regularly issues warnings about the potential risks involved and, although overseas websites fall outside UK jurisdiction, will take action against illegal sites hosted in the UK.
Frenchay Hospital
17. Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on journey times to accident and emergency departments for South Gloucestershire residents of the proposed changes at Frenchay Hospital. [184159]
Mr. Bradshaw: Decisions about the services are best taken locally. The Bristol changes have been supported by all of the local health trusts. Three separate assessments of journey times have been undertaken locally in the area, and these have been taken into account by the local health service in making its decision.
Sexually-transmitted Diseases
18. Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of the incidence of sexually-transmitted diseases among under 18-year-olds. [184160]
Dawn Primarolo: There were 48,389 new diagnoses of the five main sexually-transmitted infections in those aged 19 and under (the age band recorded by the Health Protection Agency) in genito-urinary medicine (GUM) in England in 2006. Reasons for this are complex but include behavioural and biological risk factors.
Tackling the prevalence of sexually-transmitted infections is a top priority. We are making excellent progress towards offering people an appointment at a GUM clinic within 48 hours, established the national chlamydia screening programme, and launched an innovative media campaign aimed at those at highest risk.
Social Care
19. Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the findings of the review of Social Care Funding Group. [184161]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Commission for Social Care Inspection published its annual report on 30 January 2008; a copy has been placed in the Library. The report expressed concerns about the way in which local authorities were reducing care to older and disabled people who they had deemed not eligible for support. In my response to this report, which I set before Parliament in the written ministerial statement of 30 January 2008, Official Report, column 15WS, I requested the Commission to undertake a fundamental review of the content and application of eligibility criteria. The Commission have agreed to report back to me by the autumn of this year.
Health Visitors
20. Mr. Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health visitors there are in (a) Enfield Southgate and (b) England; and if he will make a statement. [184162]
Ann Keen: The September 2006 census showed that there were 50 health visitors working in Enfield PCT and over 12,000 working in England.
The Government are committed to supporting and promoting the role of health visitors.
Health Services: Thames Gateway
22. Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to make provision for health services in the Thames Gateway area; and if he will make a statement. [184164]
Mr. Bradshaw: Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in the Thames Gateway area are responsible for developing strategies for the provision of health services for existing and new populations in the region. PCT revenue allocations include an adjustment to target allocations for designated Department for Communities and Local Government growth areas, including the Thames Gateway.
NHS Dentistry
23. Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on access to NHS dental services. [184165]
Ann Keen: The most recent data show 27.9 million people in England saw an NHS dentist during the two years ending 30 June 2007.
We are committed to improving access to NHS services. We have increased central funding by 11 per cent. for 2008-09, and are requiring the NHS, through the operating framework, to increase the number of patients able to access NHS dentistry year on year.
Coeliac Disease
24. Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is provided to GPs to assist in the diagnosis of coeliac disease; and if he will make a statement. [184166]
Ann Keen: The Clinical Knowledge Summaries website contains detailed information on the diagnosis and treatment of coeliac disease in a form suitable for both health professionals and patients. A copy is available at:
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