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10 Dec 2008 : Column 193W—continued
Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what changes have been made to alcohol duties in each year since 1997; [241066]
(2) what the level per hectolitre of each type of alcohol duty was in each year since 1997. [241067]
Angela Eagle: All changes to excise duty rates are published at the Budget and where relevant in the pre-Budget report. Historical data on alcohol duty can be found on the UK Trade Information website:
Government Departments: Property
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Government-owned assets have been sold in each year since 1997; and how much each asset was sold for. [241155]
Yvette Cooper: The Treasury does not record which Government-owned assets have been sold in each year. The estimate of annual asset disposal proceeds is made at an aggregate Government level. Details of proceeds raised from the disposal of fixed assets are published in the PBR (Ch. B), Budget (Ch. C) and in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (Ch. 5).
Government Securities
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 28 October 2008, Official Report, column 885W, on Government securities, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Government’s revised future issuance plans. [242319]
Ian Pearson: The Government’s revised issuance plans for 2008-09 can be found in Table B20 of the pre-Budget report 2008. The Government will publish their issuance plans for 2009-10 at Budget 2009.
National Income
Annette Brooke:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes he forecasts in levels of gross
domestic product in the South West Region for each of the next three years; and if he will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the effect of such levels on the South West Regional Spatial Strategy. [241378]
Yvette Cooper: The Government do not produce regional GDP data series and do not forecast regional growth rates in the United Kingdom. The ONS produce regional GVA. In terms of GVA at current basic prices, the latest data show that between 2005-06, the south-west grew at 5.4 per cent. compared to the United Kingdom's average growth rate of 5.1 per cent. Data on regional GVA can be accessed publicly via the following link:
HM Treasury works with Communities and Local Government, where appropriate, to inform regional spatial strategies for every region.
National Insurance
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people who will be earning £10,000 or less per annum and paying (a) national insurance contributions and (b) income tax in 2009-10. [240508]
Ian Pearson [holding answer 8 December 2008]: In 2009-10, an estimated 3.7 million people with incomes of £10,000 or less will pay income tax—a reduction of 58 per cent. compared to the estimated 8.8 million people in 1997-98. The estimated number of employees and self-employed with earnings of £10,000 or less who will pay national insurance contributions in 2009-10 is around 3.5 million.
Estimates for earlier years of the number of taxpayers with incomes below £10,000 can be found in Table 2.5 “Income tax liabilities, by income range” on the HM Revenue and Customs website at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income tax/menu.htm
Non-Domestic Rates
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue has been generated by national non-domestic rates in each of the last five years (a) nationally and (b) in each region. [241468]
Ian Pearson: National outturn figures for total business rates revenues are published in table B13 of each pre- Budget report document, the most recent of which can be found at the address below:
A regional breakdown of business rates collected in England is published in table 2.3e of ‘Local Government Financial Statistics (England) No 18’, which can be found at
This document also (in table 2.3d) sets out the receipts collected each year connected to assets that cannot be allocated by region (e.g. telecommunications networks and oil pipelines).
Business rates in Scotland and Wales and district rates in Northern Ireland are a devolved matter. Data can be obtained from the relevant devolved administration.
Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue has been generated from the abolition of empty property tax relief since April 2008. [241699]
Angela Eagle: Figures for 2008-09 will not be available until after the end of the financial year when local authorities submit their returns to the Communities and Local Government.
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the revenue that will be generated from the abolition of empty property tax relief in this tax year. [241700]
Angela Eagle: The Government published estimates of the revenue generated from the abolition of empty property relief in the 2007 and 2008 Budget reports.
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the average value of tax on empty property paid by businesses since April 2008. [241701]
Angela Eagle: This information is not available. Business rates are collected by reference to the property not by business.
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of empty commercial properties incurring tax demands in each month since April 2007. [241702]
Angela Eagle: This information is not collected by central Government.
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations his Department has received on the removal of empty property tax relief for commercial premises; what assessment he has made of the representations; and if he will make a statement. [241547]
Angela Eagle: Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations from a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of such representations.
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of recent changes to empty property tax relief on the involvement of developers in regeneration schemes; what representations he has received from developers on this matter; and if he will make a statement. [241552]
Angela Eagle: The Department of Communities and Local Government published an impact assessment of the empty property rate relief reforms in May 2007 alongside the primary legislation.
On 26 February this year, my colleague, the Minister for Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (John Healey) laid a further assessment before the House, alongside the regulations.
Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations from a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of such representations.
Public Expenditure
Mr. Meacher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent from the public purse on mitigating the effects of the credit crunch in terms of (a) liquidity provision, (b) loan guarantees, (c) bail-outs, (d) bank recapitalisations, (e) assistance to industry, (f) assistance to the mortgage market, (g) provision for housebuilding, (h) other public works programmes, (i) credit crunch-related tax reductions and (j) other credit crunch-related expenditure; and how much he estimates will be spent on each of these categories in each of the next five years. [242048]
Ian Pearson: Box B3 of the 2008 pre-Budget report discusses the impact on the public finances of the financial stability measures taken by the Government. The Office for National Statistics has yet to rule on how some of the transactions associated with these measures should be classified. Table B5 of the 2008 pre-Budget report sets out the fiscal impact of the measures being taken by the Government to support the economy.
Public Sector: Contracts
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice the Office of Government Commerce has provided on the use of break clauses in Government contracts to allow public sector bodies to leave a contract if there is a change of policy as a consequence of a change in the Government. [241746]
Angela Eagle: OGC recommends, in its contractual guidance available on the OGC website, that Departments include a general break clause in their contracts for goods or services as a precautionary measure. In the event that there was a change of policy, as a consequence of a change of Government, this clause provides them with a facility to terminate a contract early, after giving the contractor a period of notice.
Revenue and Customs: Personnel
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 6 November 2008, Official Report, column 680W, on departmental personnel, how many staff within (a) HM Revenue & Customs and (b) the Valuation Office Agency are classified as pre-surplus. [241937]
Angela Eagle: Pre-surplus status gives staff priority for vacancies in HMRC and in other Government Departments.
On 5 December the number of staff classified as pre-surplus was as follows:
(a) 2,874 HM Revenue and Customs staff, and
(b) No Valuation Office Agency staff.
Royal Mint
Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the alternative funding models being considered for the Royal Mint include the option of privatisation. [240445]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 8 December 2008]: The pre-Budget report (PBR) reference to the asset strand of the Operational Efficiency Programme stated that Gerry Grimstone will be working with Departments, agencies, and the Shareholder Executive to consider the potential for alternative business models, commercialisation, new market opportunities and, where appropriate, alternatives to public ownership for a number of Government assets. With respect to the Royal Mint, the PBR stated that this would entail
“a study to explore the potential benefits of alternative future models for the Royal Mint”.
Scottish Consolidated Fund: Fossil Fuel Levy
Mr. Ingram: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Answer given on 26 November 2008, Official Report, column 1918W, on the Scottish Consolidated Fund: fossil fuel levy, whether the funds drawn down from the fossil fuel surplus to the UK Consolidated Fund are ring-fenced for the promotion of renewable energy; and how much has been transferred to the Scottish Executive as Barnett consequentials. [241415]
Yvette Cooper: The funds drawn down from the fossil fuel surplus to the UK Consolidated Fund are used to fund public spending. Public spending plans are set out in spending reviews and the Scottish Executive receives Barnett consequentials in the normal way, including in respect of the promotion of renewable energy.
Tax Credit
Jenny Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department’s estimate is of the effect on receipts to the Exchequer of increasing the taper rate on tax credits to (a) 46 per cent., (b) 45 per cent., (c) 44 per cent. and (d) 43 per cent. in 2009; what his estimate is of the number of people who would no longer be eligible for tax credits in each case; and if he will make a statement. [240308]
Ian Pearson: The estimated saving, in 2009-10, of increasing the first taper rate of tax credits to the rates requested, is provided in the following table. No account has been taken of possible behavioural effects.
| First taper rate (percentage) | Effect on expenditure (£ million) |
These changes would not affect the number of claimants eligible for tax credits. However, they would increase the number of claimants with awards reduced to zero.
Jenny Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to publish a response to the consultation on the tax credit system; and if he will make a statement. [241940]
Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 5.16 of the pre-Budget report November 2008 Cm 7484 which states, following input from stakeholders, the Government’s intention to trial making child care payments that more closely reflect child care costs at the time they were incurred.
Tax Credit: Applications
Jenny Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new claims for tax credits have been made in each of the last 24 months. [241467]
Angela Eagle: For information up to and including September 2008 I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Wealden (Charles Hendry) on 27 October 2008, Official Report, column 792W. The number of new claims received by household in October and November 2008 was 125,757 and 113,259 respectively.
Tax Credit: Complaints
Jenny Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints about tax credits have been received by the tax credit office in each of the last 24 months, broken down by mode of communication. [241466]
Ian Pearson: For information up to and including September 2008 I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 October 2008, Official Report, column 2367W, and the answer given to the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander) on 1 May 2008, Official Report, column 634W.
Information for October and November 2008 is provided in the following table.
| 2008 | Number of complainants (approximate) |
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