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28 Oct 2008 : Column 884W—continued
Financial Inclusion Team
Mr. Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what publications his Department's Financial Inclusion Team contributed in each of the last 10 years. [230924]
Angela Eagle: HM Treasury's Financial Inclusion Team has published several documents setting out the Government's policy on financial inclusion. The first was 'Promoting Financial Inclusion', in December 2004. In March 2007 HM Treasury published 'Financial Inclusion: The Way Forward' and a 'Review of Christmas Saving Schemes'. The most recent document was 'Financial Inclusion: An Action Plan for 2008-11', published in December 2007, which includes details of how the Government will invest their £130 million Financial Inclusion Fund over the current spending review period.
Mr. Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials were employed in his Department's Financial Inclusion Team (a) on a full-time equivalent basis and (b) on a headcount basis (i) in each of the last 10 years and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available. [230925]
Angela Eagle: HM Treasury has had a Financial Inclusion Team since 2004. The team has included between two and four full-time staff since its inception. As of October 2008 it has three full-time team members.
Government Securities
Mr. Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the value of (a) index linked and (b) conventional gilts planned to be auctioned by the Debt Management Office in each of the next 12 months. [230783]
Ian Pearson: The Government's future issuance plans are published in the Debt and Reserves Management Report 2008-09 and were recently revised on 14 October 2008. The Government do not publish estimates for the amounts that will be auctioned in future calendar months.
Housing: Valuation
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average capital value was of (a) a pre-1919 terraced house (modernised), (b) an inter-war semi-detached house (modernised), (c) a post-1960 semi-detached house, (d) a post-1960 detached house and (e) a post-1960 flat in a three (or more) storey block, according to Valuation Office Agency records in (i) the most recent month for which figures are available, (ii) the same month in 2007 and (iii) the same month in 2006 in (A) England and (B) each local authority area or equivalent area that the Agency uses in England. [230332]
Mr. Timms: The Valuation Office Agency could provide the information requested only at disproportionate cost.
The Agency publishes a bi-annual Property Market Report (PMR) which is available on its website www.voa.gov.uk: this includes a section on housing which provides opinions of the capital value of such properties for certain named towns and cities throughout the United Kingdom.
Icesave
Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with Nordic countries on their reciprocal financial compensation scheme and its application to the Icesave online bank. [226741]
Ian Pearson [holding answer 13 October 2008]: The Government are working closely with the Icelandic authorities to resolve issues of mutual interest related to the financial crisis, including compensation of depositors in Icesave.
Imports: Israel
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many consignments of Israeli goods entered the UK in each of the last three years. [229927]
Mr. Timms: The number of consignments entering the UK in each year since the implementation on 1 February 2005 of the technical arrangement, in which Israeli exporters are bound to indicate the place of production on the proof of origin, are as follows:
| 1 February to 31 January each year | Number |
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many targeted physical examinations have been carried out on goods coming into the UK from Israel in the last three years. [229930]
Mr. Timms: Information for the whole period is unavailable. However, HM Revenue and Customs undertook a specifically targeted exercise of physical examinations from the end of July until the end of September 2008 to identify potential settlement goods incorrectly described as being of Israeli origin. 26 consignments were examined in that period.
Imports: Occupied Territories
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many consignments of goods entered the UK from the occupied Palestinian territory in each of the last three years. [229929]
Mr. Timms: The number of consignments entering the UK in each of the years since the implementation on 1 February 2005 of the technical arrangement, are as follows:
| Number | |
Inflation
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research his Department has undertaken recently into the effect of incomes restraint on inflation. [211403]
Yvette Cooper: The Government regularly monitor developments in public and private sector pay and inflation. Wage pressures are one of the factors considered by the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England when setting interest rates to meet the inflation target.
The Bank of England considers pay restraint across the economy to be key to maintaining low and stable inflation.
Iraq Conflict: Finance
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 21 November 2007, Official Report, column 918W, on the Iraq
conflict, if he will place in the Library a copy of the latest report by his Department into the implications for the Exchequer and the economy of military operations in Iraq. [229448]
Yvette Cooper: Details of the costs of military operations in Iraq and their expected impact on the public finances are published annually in the Ministry of Defence’s Annual Report and Accounts and in the Department’s Parliamentary Supply Estimates.
Landfill Tax: Tax Yields
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the gross revenue from landfill tax in each of the next three years. [230678]
Angela Eagle: Forecast landfill tax receipts for 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 are published in Table A11 of the 2008 Budget Report.
Mentally Ill Staff
Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information his Department has gathered on the effect of its policies and practices on the recruitment, development and retention of employees with mental illnesses within (a) his Department and (b) the public sector bodies for which he has responsibility; and what use has been made of that information. [228546]
Angela Eagle: No specific information has been gathered in regards to employees with mental illnesses. However, the Treasury and other public sector bodies offer confidential staff welfare services, and make reasonable adjustments to any HR policy or process to any employee or applicant with a disability.
Mortgages: Repossession Orders
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will direct those banks which have received funds from the public purse not to repossess any property in cases where the mortgage holder is unable to keep up payments where the property in question is the mortgage holder’s home and solely-owned property. [229840]
Ian Pearson: On 8 October this year, the Government announced a comprehensive package of measures to support stability of the financial system, protect ordinary savers, depositors, businesses and borrowers, and to safeguard the interests of the taxpayer.
As part of their investment, the Government have agreed with the banks supported by the recapitalisation scheme a range of commitments. Details are available at:
Non-domestic Rates: Valuation
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the Valuation Office Agency’s non-domestic rating guidance, RAT IA, as amended to include advice on the smoking ban. [230305]
Mr. Timms: A copy of the Valuation Office Agency’s Rating Instruction and Advice reference 260106, which was updated to include advice on the Smoking Ban in June 2008, has been placed in the Library.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what methodology will be used to calculate the rateable value of (a) micro wind turbines and (b) solar or photovoltaic cells, for the 2010 rates revaluation; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the relevant guidance used by the Valuation Office Agency. [230309]
Mr. Timms: The method of determining the rateable value for the 2010 revaluation of these items will be by reference to cost as at 1 April 2008 (antecedent valuation date) multiplied by the decapitalisation rate applicable from 1 April 2010. For the 2005 rating lists, wind turbines or solar/voltaic cells operating within the microgeneration rules are treated as excepted plant and machinery and attract no rateable value. This will be applicable up to and including 31 March 2010.
The SI 2008 No. 2332 came into force on 1 October 2008 and detailed guidance for VOA staff is in preparation. This will be incorporated into the VOA Rating Manual which is available on the VOA website at www.voa.gov.uk. It is anticipated that the guidance will be published by 30 November 2008.
North Sea Oil
Greg Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of North Sea revenues in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10. [231279]
Angela Eagle: The Government’s most recent forecast for North sea revenues can be found in Tables C6 and C7 of the Budget 2008 document. Our next forecast will be published at PBR 2008.
Northern Rock: Mortgages
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many mortgage repossessions Northern Rock has initiated in each month since it was taken into public ownership. [230138]
Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Carmarthen, East and Dinefwr (Adam Price) on 21 July 2008, Official Report, column 728W.
Overseas Companies: Israel
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether HM Revenue and Customs maintain a list of companies operating in illegal Israeli settlements. [229917]
Mr. Timms: While HM Revenue and Customs does not maintain a full list of companies operating in the illegal settlements, it does keep a record of companies whose goods have been identified as originating in a settlement.
Poverty: Children
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal measures he and his predecessor introduced in each year since 1997 with the aim of reducing childhood poverty. [228233]
Mr. Timms: Since 1997 the Government have introduced a range of measures to make work pay such as tax credits and the national minimum wage, which have increased the minimum income the people can expect on moving into work. As a result of tax and benefit reforms, by October 2008, families with children in the poorest fifth of the population will be on average £4,100 a year better off. The following list outlines those measure that impact exclusively on families with children.
April 1999—Above indexation increase in child benefit introduced
October 1999—Working family tax credit introduced
April 2000—Increase in under-11 working family tax credit child rate
June 2000—Increase in under-16 working family tax credit child rate
October 2000—Increase in under-16 child rates in income support and other income relate benefits
April 2001—Children’s tax credit introduced at £520 a year
June 2001—£5 increase in working family tax credit basic credit
October 2001—£1.50 increase in income support child credits
April 2002—Introduction of under one’s children’s tax credit
June 2002—Increase in working family tax credit basic credit
October 2002—Increase in income support/job seeker’s allowance child credits
April 2003—Introduction of new tax credits
April 2004—Increase in child element of child tax credit by £3.50
September 2004—Introduction of education maintenance allowance
April 2005—working family tax credit increase in child care limits to £175/£300 per week
April 2006—Extension of child benefit and child tax credit to young people in learning.
April 2006—Percentage of child care costs eligible for support through working tax credit increased from 70 per cent. to 80 per cent.
April 2008—Earnings uprating of child element of child tax credit extended to 2009-10.
April 2008—Increase child element of child tax credit by £175 above earnings indexation
April 2009—Eldest child benefit rate increased to £20 per week
April 2009—Increase child element of child tax credit by £50 above indexation
October 2009—Child benefit disregard introduced in housing and council tax benefits
April 2010—Increase child element of child tax credit by £25 above indexation
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