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24 Jun 2008 : Column 249W—continued
Departmental Assets
Mr. Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer over what period his Department depreciates the asset value of its (a) vehicles, (b) computer hardware, (c) bespoke computer software, (d) standard computer software, (e) furniture and (f) telecommunications equipment. [213223]
Angela Eagle: The accounting policy regarding depreciation is disclosed in note 1.4 of the Treasury's Annual Report and Accounts 2006-07 (HC 518). Copies of this document are available in the Library of the House and can also be found at:
hm-treasury.gov.uk/about/departmental_reports/annual_report07.cfm
These policies remain in force for 2007-08.
Departmental Buildings
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) new builds and (b) major refurbishments were completed by his Department for a cost in excess of £0.5 million in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08 to which the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method or equivalent was applied; how many such buildings were assessed as (A) pass, (B) good, (C) very good and (D) excellent; and if he will make a statement. [213688]
Angela Eagle: No new builds or refurbishments were undertaken by the Treasury during the last three years.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) new builds and (b) major refurbishments for a cost in excess of £0.5 million were completed by his Department in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08. [213712]
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2008, Official Report, column 351W, on ministerial policy advisers, which former special advisers have (a) received approval from and (b) been refused permission by his Department to take up an outside appointment on leaving their post since May 2005. [210919]
Angela Eagle: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 19 June 2008, Official Report, columns 1190-91W.
Departmental Voluntary Work
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 25 March 2008, Official Report, column 50W, on voluntary pay, if he will list the organisations for which members of his Departments have volunteered while on special leave. [211893]
Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to him on 21 April 2008, Official Report, column 1691W.
Excise Duties: Fuels
Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission research on the experience of other EU member states in operating fuel duty derogations in rural areas. [212381]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 19 June 2008 ]: The Government recognises that high fuel prices—caused by conditions in the global oil market—are having an impact on business and families around the UK. For this reason, the Chancellor deferred the planned fuel duty increase of 2p per litre at Budget.
The Treasury keeps all taxes under review and the Chancellor will consider the case for the planned 2p per litre increase on 1 October at that time. The Government are aware of the fuel duty derogations that operate in other EU member states.
Expenditure: Health
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what expenditure on health has been as a proportion of gross domestic product in each year since 1997-98; and what estimate he has made of that proportion for each year to 2010-11. [213493]
Yvette Cooper: There has been an unprecedented investment in health services since 1997. The NHS budget has increased from £35 billion in 1997-08 to £96 billion in 2008-09 and is forecast to increase to £109.8 billion by 2010-11.
Expenditure on health as a proportion of gross domestic product for 1997-98 to 2006-2007 is given in the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) for 2008, as well as an estimate for 2007-08. The Comprehensive Spending Review did not include projections of future health expenditure as a proportion of gross domestic product.
Income Tax: Tax Allowances
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of raising the personal income tax allowance by (a) £1,000, (b) £2,000 and (c) £4,000 with a basic rate tax band of (i) 0 to £36,000, (ii) 0 to £35,000, (iii) 0 to £34,000 and (iv) 0 to £32,000; and if he will make a statement. [212716]
Jane Kennedy: Approximate Exchequer effects of increasing the income tax personal allowance and changing the basic rate limit can be derived from table 1.6 “Direct effects of illustrative tax changes” on the HM Revenue and Customs website at:
Members: Correspondence
Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will respond to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 29 April, on the charity ATE, PO Ref 1/56922/2008. [209695]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 9 June 2008]: I have replied to the hon. Member.
Revenue and Customs: Closures
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many members of staff affected by the proposed closure of Truro tax office are to be (a) relocated, (b) re-trained and (c) made redundant. [212595]
Jane Kennedy:
A decision has not yet been taken on the future of the HMRC office in Truro. HMRC is reviewing all its accommodation to match it to future business needs. On 11 June, it issued proposals for all its offices in Cornwall, including the offices in St. Austell
and Truro, both of which are in the hon. Member’s constituency. At present, there is a proposal to withdraw from Truro, with the exception of the inquiry centre services which will be maintained in the locality, but no decision has been made to close it.
Consultation on these proposals runs until 6 August, and it is hoped that decisions will be announced before the end of the year.
Staff relocation and other options will be examined in more detail during the feasibility stage of the consultation.
Revenue and Customs: Operating Costs
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average operating cost of tax offices in England was in the last period for which figures are available. [212597]
Jane Kennedy: The average fixed accommodation cash running cost in 2007-08 for HMRC offices in England was £205 (net of VAT) per square metre.
This cost is made up of the PFI unitary charge for the provision of the serviced accommodation in PFI properties, rent and landlord service charge for non-PFI properties, facilities management costs (the provision of soft services, e.g. security and cleaning), business rates and utilities.
Revenue and Customs: Scotland
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff were located at each HM Revenue and Customs office in Scotland in each of the last five years. [212914]
Jane Kennedy: The following tables show the location of HM Revenue and Customs (and joint numbers of Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise) staff recorded as being in offices in Scotland on the 1 April for each of the previous five years (full time equivalent (FTE) and actual headcount).
| 1 April 2004 | |||
| Town/city | Building | FTE | Headcount |
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