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31 Mar 2008 : Column 663W—continued
Northern Rock: Nationalisation
Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the likely effect of nationalisation of Northern Rock on holders of Northern Rock's callable debt securities. [188188]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 22 February 2008]: The Government have assessed the likely effect of temporary public ownership of Northern Rock on holders all of Northern Rock's debt securities. Northern Rock has no public debt securities which are callable by holders in the ordinary course.
Mrs. May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when he first received a draft of the Banking (Special Provisions) Bill; [188406]
(2) when HM Treasury first consulted (a) the Bank of England and (b) the Financial Services Authority on the proposals for the Banking (Special Provisions) Bill; what subsequent consultations took place; on what dates consultations took place; and when each institution was first sent a draft of the Bill; [188408]
(3) on what date HM Treasury officials commissioned drafting of the Banking (Special Provisions) Bill from Parliamentary Counsel. [188409]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 22 February 2008]: Treasury officials undertook a range of contingency planning work in response to the events of September 2007 concerning Northern Rock, which included the development of possible legislative options. The Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority were involved in that work, including preparation of contingency legislation, and the Chancellor was kept informed throughout.
Mr. Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the extent and scope of his responsibilities and accountability to Parliament in relation to the activity of Northern Rock once the team responsible for day-to-day management of the bank under temporary public ownership of the bank is in place; what guidance he has issued to the Northern Rock management team on responding to correspondence from hon. Members; and on what matters relating to the policy, administration and operations of Northern Rock he will (a) answer parliamentary questions and (b) refer such questions to the Chief Executive of Northern Rock to respond (i) by a letter published in an answer in the Official Report and (ii) directly to hon. Members. [190568]
Angela Eagle: During this period of temporary public ownership, Northern Rock is managed by its board at arm's length from Government on commercial principles.
As the Chancellor said in a statement to Parliament on 18 February 2008, the framework agreement on the relationship between the Government and Northern Rock will be published shortly.
Operation Airbridge
John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the budget is for Operation (a) Airbridge and (b) Wentbridge. [197458]
Jane Kennedy: The current budget for Operation Airbridge, which is solely funded by HM Revenue and Customs, is £250,000 per year. The current budget for Operation Westbridge, which is jointly funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Home Office is also £250,000. Neither budget includes the cost of the salaries of the staff deployed overseas, or support staff in the UK.
Personal Care Services
Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of (a) hairdressers and (b) beauty salons in England. [197588]
Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Jil Matheson, dated 31 March 2008:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what estimate has been made of the number of (a) hairdressers and (b) beauty salons in England. I am replying in her absence. (197588)
The Office for National Statistics publishes estimates of numbers of enterprises that are VAT traders based on the UK Standard Industrial Classification (2003 revision), which combines hairdressers and beauty salons within a single heading (9302: Hairdressing and other beauty treatment). Estimates are not available separately for hairdressers and beauty salons.
The total number of enterprises in England in 2007 that were VAT traders and classified to hairdressing and beauty treatment was 11,780. Enterprises not registered for VAT are excluded from this estimate.
Poverty: Children
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to paragraph 4.16 in the Budget document, Ending child poverty: everybody’s business, what (a) high and (b) low estimates have been made for the financial value of the unemployment trap; and in what circumstances these transpire. [197766]
Angela Eagle: The Treasury has not undertaken any work to estimate the financial value of the ‘unemployment trap’. This is because the precise point at which an individual feels that moving into work is worthwhile will depend on their circumstances and preferences, including their attitude to claiming benefits and the nature of the job itself. The same gain to work may therefore be sufficient to encourage one individual into work where another would choose to remain out of work.
Press
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total annual cost of the press offices of (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies were in each year since 1996-97; what the cost was in each quarter since 1 April 2007; and if he will make a statement. [189755]
Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 20 June 2007, Official Report, column 1879W by the former Financial Secretary (John Healey).
The administration costs of the Treasury and the Office of Government Commerce are published in the annual report and accounts each year, copies of which are available in the Library and at:
The Government Actuary’s Department does not have a Press Office. Figures for HM Revenue and Customs, National Savings and Investments and the Office for National Statistics figures are given as follows:
| £000 | |||
| HMRC | NS and I | ONS | |
Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Betts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many private finance initiative projects have included (a) a leisure component and (b) a library. [196756]
Mr. Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) had been allocated private finance initiative (PFI) credits in previous comprehensive spending reviews to invest in our sectors. To this end, DCMS support (a) 11 leisure centre projects and (b) seven library projects.
Mr. Betts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the performance of private finance initiative projects that have included a leisure component. [196757]
Mr. Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has not made an assessment of the performance of private finance initiative (PFI) leisure centre projects that it has awarded credits. The local authorities, who are awarded the PFI credits, will manage and assess individual project performance.
Public Expenditure
Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the needs assessment that preceded the introduction of the Barnett formula that the Prime Minister referred to in his oral answer to the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley (Graham Stringer) on 19 March 2008, Official Report, column 921. [196522]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 26 March 2008]: The Treasury published in December 1979 a “Needs Assessment Study—Report”, an inter-departmental study co-ordinated by HM Treasury on the relative public expenditure needs in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. A copy is being deposited in the Library. The system for determining changes in public spending by the devolved administrations is set out in the Statement of Funding Policy published by the Treasury in October 2007.
Research and Development Tax Credit: Video Games
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many UK video games development companies received the research and development tax credit in each year since its inception. [196975]
Angela Eagle: Information on claims for R and D tax credits by UK video games developers is not available because the data are broken down by industry sector using the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities (SIC), and the computer and video games industry is not identified as a separate sector in this classification.
However, a breakdown is available for the National Statistics published on the total number of claims made for R and D tax credits and total cost of support claimed. This shows that companies in the computer and related services sector accounted for over a fifth of the total 6,180 claims made for R and D tax credits in 2005-06. While many companies involved in the computer and video games industry may appear in this industry sector, some may have other classifications.
Revenue and Customs: Appeals
Mr. Harper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of appeals against seizure of excise goods by HM Revenue and Custom officers resulted in the restoration of goods to importers in the most recent period for which figures are available. [196986]
Jane Kennedy: Between 1 April 2007 and 31 January 2008 HMRC made a total of 88,015 seizures.
Appeals against the legality of these seizures are heard by magistrates courts and information on the outcome of these appeals could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Appeals against refusals to restore goods are initially made to HMRC's impartial reviewing officers. During this period 1,883 appeals were received and 237 were successful, around 0.27 per cent. of all seizures made.
Revenue and Customs: Boats
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many boats HM Revenue and Customs has; how much each cost to (a) purchase and (b) run in 2007-08; and what they are used for. [197119]
Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs has five offshore vessels, each costing an average of £4.5 million when first built. The overall budget for the maritime operation is £2.5 million per year. The primary role of these vessels is to prevent smuggling by ships and pleasure craft.
Revenue and Customs: Data Protection
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2008, Official Report, column 1017W, on Revenue and Customs: data protection, how many hours per week data guardians are expected to spend on their work in that role. [197453]
Jane Kennedy: The time required to be spent on the data guardian role varies in line with the differing data handling and processing requirements of each HMRC business unit.
Schools: Uniforms
Mr. Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2008, Official Report, column 371W, on VAT: uniforms, what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on the introduction of a reduced VAT rate for those items of school uniform that are not already VAT zero-rated. [197916]
Angela Eagle: The Government have not recently discussed this issue with European counterparts. A new legislative proposal on reduced VAT rates, and further EU discussions of them, are expected later this year.
Smuggling: Fuels
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of revenue lost due to fuel smuggling into Northern Ireland in the last 12 months. [197915]
Angela Eagle: Estimates of the revenue lost through the illegal consumption of diesel and petrol in Northern Ireland are not available because it is not yet possible to split revenue losses between those resulting from the illicit market and those from legitimate cross-border shopping. However, estimates of the total non-UK duty paid consumption are available, and are reported in ‘Measuring Indirect Tax Losses—2007’ which is published alongside the PBR and can be found in the House of Commons Library.
Unemployment: Greater London
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the (a) male and (b) female population of each London borough were (i) unemployed and (ii) economically inactive in each year since 2000. [196514]
Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Jil Matheson dated 31 March 2008:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on the percentage of the (a) male and (b) female population of each London borough who were (i) unemployed and (ii) economically inactive in each year since 2000. I am replying in her absence. (196514)
The Office for National Statistics compiles estimates of unemployment and inactivity for local areas for women and men from the Annual Population Survey (APS) and its predecessor the annual Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
Tables 1 and 2 attached, show the percentage of males and females aged 16 and over, resident in each London borough, who were unemployed. Tables 3 and 4 attached, show the percentage of males and females, of working age, resident in each London borough who was economically inactive. Estimates are obtained from the annual LFS for each 12 month period from 2001 to 2004. For time series comparisons, the APS estimates from 2005 to 2007 are provided covering the 12 month periods ending in March, but the most recently released estimates are also included, which cover the 12 month period ending in June 2007.
These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty. Changes in the estimates from year to year should be treated with particular caution.
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