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24 Nov 2008 : Column 960W—continued
HMRC is unable to provide the data requested on the number of secondees who have worked in the Department since 1 January 2005.
Revenue and Customs: Standards
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what national processing performance targets were set for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) offices in 2007-08; and what the performance of HMRC offices in Devon was against those targets in that year. [237940]
Mr. Timms: Processing has a range of targets. The main ones for the PAYE/SA business are:
| Activity | Targe t (percentage) |
Separate figures are not reported for individual offices.
Tax Credit
Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit cases are awaiting a decision by the Adjudicator’s Office; what the target time for a decision to be made is; what the (a) length of the longest time and (b) average time taken to reach a decision has been in each year since its inception; and if he will make a statement. [238339]
Mr. Timms: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer my predecessor gave my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 25 June 2008, Official Report, column 388W, and the answer I gave the hon. Member for North Thanet (Mr. Gale) on 30 October 2008, Official Report; column 1196W.
Taxation: Companies
Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate his Department has made of the number of (a) limited liability companies, (b) partnerships and (c) self-employed individuals that were liable for late payment interest charges levied by HM Revenue and Customs in each of the last four years in respect of (i) main rate corporation tax, (ii) marginal small company rate corporation tax, (iii) small companies' rate corporation tax, (iv) VAT, (v) income tax and (vi) national insurance contributions; and what the projected figures for (A) 2008-09 and (B) 2009-10 are; [238834]
(2) what estimate his Department has made of the monetary value of late payment interest charges levied by HM Revenue and Customs on (a) limited liability companies, (b) partnerships and (c) self-employed individuals in each of the last four years in respect of (i) main rate corporation tax, (ii) marginal small company rate corporation tax, (iii) small companies’ rate corporation tax, (iv) VAT, (v) income tax and (vi) national insurance contributions; and what the projected figures for (A) 2008-09 and (B) 2009-10 are; [238835]
(3) what estimate his Department has made of the number of late payment interest charges levied by HM Revenue and Customs on (a) limited liability companies, (b) partnerships and (c) self-employed individuals in each of the last four years in respect of (i) main rate corporation tax, (ii) marginal small company rate corporation tax, (iii) small companies’ rate corporation tax, (iv) VAT, (v) income tax and (vi) national insurance contributions; and what the projected figures for (A) 2008-09 and (B) 2009-10 are. [238836]
Mr. Timms: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Taxation: Pensioners
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensioners not eligible for pension credit have experienced a net reduction in their income following the removal of the 10 per cent. tax band and the subsequent increase of the tax-free allowance. [237946]
Mr. Timms: A breakdown of the 1.1 million households that experienced a net reduction in their income from the personal tax measures is provided in the Treasury's memorandum to the Treasury Select Committee as part of their inquiry into "Budget measures and low income households".
Taxation: Prisoners
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Prison Service ruling that prisoners may not be employed and pay tax applies to prisoners in open prisons. [237296]
Mr. Timms: Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs takes the view that because prisoners working inside prisons, whatever the category of prison, are working under prison rules, they cannot be treated as employees for tax and NICs purposes.
Taxation: Rehabilitation
Mr. Harper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the tax revenue received from taxation of rehabilitation services provided by employers to employees where the injury was sustained outside the workplace in the last financial year; [238789]
(2) what the tax treatment is of rehabilitation services for employees provided by employers for (a) the employer and (b) the employee in (i) cases where the injury is sustained in the workplace and (ii) cases where the injury is sustained outside the workplace. [238790]
Mr. Timms: No estimate has been made of the tax revenue received from the taxation of payments made by employers to cover costs of injuries suffered by their employees outside the workplace. Employers are not required to report to HMRC the reason for providing their employees with taxable private medical treatment.
Where an injury or condition derives directly from an employee carrying out his or her duties or in the case of other accidents or conditions that derive solely from the employee carrying out his or her job, the cost of the treatment paid for by their employer, including rehabilitation services, would not be subject to tax or national insurance contributions.
But where the injury or condition does not directly arise from the employee performing the duties of the job, the cost of treatment paid for by the employer will be subject to tax and to employer’s class 1A national insurance contributions.
Taxation: Self-assessment
Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on which dates since September 2008 the HM Revenue and Customs online self-assessment tax pages have not had a full service available; for how long on each occasion; and if he will make a statement. [236799]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 18 November 2008]: HMRC's online services—including the Self Assessment service—are not available when HMRC and/or the Government Gateway need to upgrade their online systems. The Self Assessment service was not available on the following dates since September 2008:
1-2 September from 20:00 to 05.15, a total of nine hours and 15 minutes.
5-8 September from 19.30 to 06.00, a total of 58 hours and 30 minutes.
10 September from 0.00 to 06.00, a total of six hours.
6 October from 02.00 to 05.00, a total of three hours.
9 October from 22.04 to 22.18, a total of 14 minutes
17-18 October from 20.00 to 01.33, a total of five hours and 33 minutes
24-27 October from 06.00 to 6.00, a total of 72 hours.
30 October from 22.00 to 23.30, a total of one hour and 30 minutes.
1 November from 02.00 to 22.00, a total of 20 hours
6-7 November from 23.53 to 8.20, a total of eight hours and 27 minutes.
10 November from 06.30 to 10.15, a total of three hours and 45 minutes
11-12 November from 22.00 to 04.20, a total of six hours and 20 minutes.
The majority of downtime is scheduled to minimise impact on customers, for example overnight, and to avoid peak times such as the lead up to the online Self Assessment filing deadline. HMRC warns its customers in advance of such downtime.
Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many upgrades of the HM Revenue and Customs online self-assessment tax form have been made to the system since September 2008; when such upgrades were made; for how long the online form was unavailable as a result of the upgrades; and if he will make a statement. [236800]
Mr. Timms: Since September 2008 there have been two upgrades to the HM Revenue and Customs online Self Assessment service which have resulted in the service being temporarily unavailable.
The first took place on 1-2 of September and totalled nine hours and 15 minutes. The second occurred on 24-27 October and totalled 72 hours.
HMRC’s customers are informed in advance of the downtime caused by upgrades; it is scheduled to minimise impact on customers, for example overnight, and to avoid peak times such as the lead up to the online Self Assessment filing deadline.
Valuation Office: Databases
Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 6 November 2008, Official Report, column 684W, on Valuation Office: databases, if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance given to staff on how the database alignment exercise should be conducted. [236020]
Mr. Timms: The database alignment exercise is being undertaken by Ordnance Survey.
Valuation Office: Geographical Information Systems
Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 4 November 2008, Official Report, column 314W, on the Valuation Office, what the go live date is for the geographical information system; and whether it will cover (a) England and (b) Wales. [236030]
Mr. Timms: The specification for the Valuation Office Agency’s GIS will not be finalised until December 2009. The go live date will be determined during the specification process. The VOA’s GIS will cover England and Wales.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 4 November 2008, Official Report, column 314W, on the Valuation Office, if he will place in the Library a copy of the invitation to tender with commercially sensitive elements redacted. [236032]
Mr. Timms: It would be inappropriate to do so as Aspire have conducted the tender process.
Valuation Office: Handbooks
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 18 October 2007, Official Report, column 1279W, on the Valuation Office: manuals, if he will publish an updated list of the titles of each of the Valuation Office Agency’s learning manuals. [235015]
Mr. Timms: The following learning documents are currently available to Valuation Office Agency staff.
Rating Support Application (RSA) training support materials;
RSA: Introduction to Rating Workbook;
RSA: Induction Workbook;
IT Services Division (ITSD) IT Training Information;
District Valuer Services (DVS) Caseworker Support IT training support materials;
Defence Support Package Guides and Workbooks;
CRAC, MILO, 1990 Rating Enquiries IT application work aids and trainer notes;
Digital Mapping User Guide;
Digital Photography User Guide;
Microsoft Applications IT trainer notes;
VOA Management Development guides and workbooks;
NDR Referencers Manual;
CT Referencers Manual;
Zoning of shops handbook;
Introduction to Rating;
The role of the Referencer;
Introduction to Inspections;
Introduction to Industrials;
Introduction to Offices;
Inspection of Shops;
Principles of Rating;
Material Date, Effective Dates and Transition;
Introduction to Commercial Landlord and Tenant;
Rentals Approach to Rating valuation;
Introduction to Masts;
Mast Valuations;
CT Valuation Modules 1 to 4;
Business Awareness;
Customer Service;
Data Security Workbook;
CT Caseworker Support (Introduction to Council Tax Workbook); and
CT Caseworker Support, IT Training Support Materials.
Valuation Office: Northern Ireland Land and Property Services
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 7 July 2008, Official Report, column 1266W, on the Valuation Office: Northern Ireland Land and Property Services, if he will place in the Library copies of the minutes of the Steering Committee on Harmonisation in respect of each of the meetings listed in the answer. [222896]
Mr. Timms: A copy of the minutes of the 45th and 46th meetings of the Steering Committee on Harmonisation (Practice and Procedure) England Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland held on 8-9 May 2007 in Belfast and 6-7 November 2007 in London have been placed in the Library. There were no minutes from the other meetings.
Valuation Office: Rightmove
Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Valuation Office Agency, or HM Revenue and Customs on its behalf, will pay to rightmove.co.uk plc in respect of 2008-09. [236183]
Mr. Timms: Terms for an extension to the contract with Rightmove are being finalised. Payments to third parties will be published in the Valuation Office Agency’s Report and Accounts in due course.
Valuation Office: Standards
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what national targets have been set for the Valuation Office Agency (VOA); and what the performance of VOA offices in the South West Region against these targets was in 2007-08. [237935]
Mr. Timms: Within the South West Region, the Valuation Office Agency’s structure during 2007-08 comprised the South West and Western Groups covering local taxation work, and the South West District Valuer Services Unit covering other work. The national targets set by my right hon. Friend the former Paymaster General for 2007-08 and announced to the House on 26 March 2007 together with the audited results (which are available on the Agency’s website at: www.voa.gov.uk) are shown as follows alongside the individual outturns for the South West Region.
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