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16 Dec 2008 : Column 636W—continued
Excise Duties: Gaming Machines
Mr. Betts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reference HM Revenue and Customs makes to the Gambling Commission's requirements and technical standards for gaming machines when determining for taxation purposes whether particular machines have an element of chance. [244105]
Angela Eagle: It is not the practice of HMRC to refer to the Gambling Commission's technical standards for gaming machines to determine whether any particular machine has an element of chance. The Commission's technical standards for gaming machines are not designed for the purpose of determining whether any particular machine has an element of chance.
Financial Services Authority: Secondment
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Financial Services Authority (FSA) staff are on secondment from (a) HSBC, (b) Lloyds TSB, (c) HBOS, (d) Northern Rock, (e) Bradford and Bingley and (f) the Royal Bank of Scotland; who pays the salaries for secondees to the FSA; and what proportion of FSA staff is made up of secondees. [244228]
Ian Pearson: The matters raised in this question are the responsibility of the Financial Services Authority, whose day to day operations are independent from Government control and influence.
Financial Services: EU Action
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's policy is in relation to the work of the EU high-level group on regulation of financial services chaired by M. de Larosiere, established in October 2008. [244308]
Ian Pearson: The Commission has established a 'High Level group' led by Jacques de Larosiere to advise it on supervision, financial stability oversight cooperation, early warning mechanisms and crisis management, and how national supervisors in the EU should cooperate globally. It will report in the spring. Although an internal group established by the Commission, the Government will contribute fully to the group's work.
Lloyds TSB: Pay
Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he expects to be consulted on the size of any stock bonuses awarded to Lloyds TSB directors during (a) 2008 and (b) 2009. [240442]
Ian Pearson [holding answer 8 December 2008]: The Government have set up UK Financial Investments (UKFI) to manage the stakes they take in financial institutions including Lloyds TSB. Part of UKFI's remit is to ensure appropriate implementation of the terms of the recapitalisation agreements with the banks, including those relating to directors' bonuses.
Mental Illness
Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the recommendations relevant to his Department's policy responsibilities made in the Foresight report on Mental Capacity and Well-Being; and if he will make a statement. [244027]
Angela Eagle: HM Treasury has welcomed the report, published on 21 October 2008, which provides a useful insight into the future implications of mental capital and wellbeing for the economy and society as a whole.
The Treasury recognises the importance of encouraging and enabling everyone to fulfil their potential. We have developed a range of public service agreements to drive improvements and coordinate Government action in this area, for example on maximising employment opportunities for all, promoting better health and wellbeing, tackling social exclusion and meeting the challenges of ageing. We also continue to work closely across Government to respond to emerging policy recommendations on mental capital and wellbeing, such as Dame Carol Black's review on health, work and wellbeing.
Royal Family: Official Gifts
Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what record is kept by his Department of gifts given to the monarch and other members of the Royal Family; and how such gifts are managed. [243000]
Taxation: Overpayments
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the merits of requiring HM Revenue and Customs to pay an equivalent amount of interest on tax over-demanded and subsequently refunded to that which they charge on overdue tax. [243055]
Mr. Timms: All interest rates charged and paid out by HMRC are determined by reference to formulae set out in legislation. For most taxes and duties the rates applied on overpayments are lower than that applied on underpayments of tax and this is in line with commercial practice.
HMRC has been consulting on a new regime for charging and paying interest, based on the principles of recompense, fairness and simplicity
Ulster Bank
Mark Durkan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer further to his contribution on 26 November 2008, Official Report, column 752, on the legally binding agreements with the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, Lloyds TSB and Halifax Bank of Scotland, whether he expects these agreements to extend to Ulster Bank. [242772]
Ian Pearson: The recapitalisation agreement is between the Treasury and the RBS holding company. Ulster Bank is part of the RBS holding company.
Unemployment
Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what modelling he has undertaken on predicted levels of unemployment in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11 for formulation of his Department's policy. [244469]
Angela Eagle: For the purposes of the public finance projections the Treasury uses an assumption for the level of the UK claimant count in each year of the forecast horizon. This assumption is based on an average of independent external forecasts and audited by the National Audit Office.
For pre-Budget report 2008, details of the assumed level of claimant count unemployment can be found in box B1, in Annex B on the public finances, in the pre-Budget report 2008 document (Cm 7484).
Duchy of Lancaster
10 Downing Street
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Fareham of 13 October 2008, Official Report, columns 942-43W, on 10 Downing Street, how many desk spaces are allocated to the Downing Street Political Office; [241901]
(2) with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Fareham of 28 October 2008, Official Report, column 795W, on Departmental Staff, how many staff work in the Downing Street Political Office according to records held by the Downing Street switchboard. [242043]
Mr. Watson: As has been the practice under successive Governments, staffing and associated costs for the Political Office are met from party funds.
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Fareham of 13 October 2008, Official Report, columns 942-3W, on 10 Downing Street, whether the table showing the 87 members of staff working in the Cabinet Office who were not employed by the Civil Service includes those in the Downing Street Political Office. [241903]
Mr. Watson: The 87 members of staff did not include Political Office staff. As has been the practice under successive Governments, staffing and associated costs for the Political Office are met from party funds.
10 Downing Street: Catering
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the answer of 11 November 2008, Official Report, column 1130W, on 10 Downing Street: catering, whether the Cabinet Office support for the public sector food procurement initiatives entails that genetically modified ingredients are used or not used in food served in the Downing Street canteen. [242042]
Kevin Brennan: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 11 November 2008, Official Report, column 1130W.
10 Downing Street: Manpower
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) of 1 May 2008, Official Report, column 624W, on departmental manpower, whether the figure of 189 staff on the No. 10 payroll includes the staff in the Downing Street Political Office. [242045]
Mr. Watson: No. As has been the practice under successive Governments, staffing and associated costs for the Political Office are met from party funds.
British National Party: Civil Servants
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance is provided to civil servants on the compatibility of British National Party activism with holding senior positions of authority. [241772]
Mr. Watson: Civil servants are required to act in accordance with the requirements of the “Civil Service Code” and the restrictions on political activities as set out in Section 4.4 of the “Civil Service Management Code” copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House or can be accessed on line at
Charities: Investment
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the list of financial institutions that charities could place investments and deposits in which was approved by the Charity Commission and in effect in September 2008. [241596]
Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission. I have asked the Commission to reply.
As the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, I have been asked to respond to your written Parliamentary Question on whether the Charity Commission, prior to the Icelandic banking crisis, approved and issued a list of financial institutions suitable for use by charities.
Our role as the Regulator of Charities is to offer general advice and support to trustees on their duty to control and manage a charity's finances and investments. We do not recommend, promote or endorse any banks or financial services to charities, and we have neither approved or issued a list of financial services where charities could place investments and deposits.
We offer advice, guidance and support to charities but are not able to act in their administration except in certain cases involving misconduct or mismanagement.
Immediately following the Icelandic banking crash, we issued information on our website specifically for charities that were affected. This may be the source of the misunderstanding which has arisen regarding the advice we have given. The main aim of this guidance was to help charities identify which were likely to be eligible to claim compensation for their lost deposits through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). The guidance will be updated with any new or additional information that might be of help to these charities.
I hope this is helpful.
Civil Servants: Conferences
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance has been produced on civil servants attending political party conferences. [241747]
Mr. Watson: The rules on civil servants’ involvement in political activities is set out in section 4.4 of the “Civil Service Management Code”, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House or can be accessed online at:
In advance of the annual party conference season, the Cabinet Secretary issues guidance to Departments reminding them of civil servants’ involvement in such conferences.
Civil Servants: Pay
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance has been produced on the relationship between the salary of senior civil servants and the number of staff they manage. [241754]
Mr. Watson: The information on job evaluation for senior posts has been placed in the Library.
Civil Service Bill
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the anticipated timetable is for the (a) publication and (b) parliamentary passage of the Civil Service Bill. [242027]
Mr. Watson: I refer the hon. Member to the Queen's Speech of 3 December 2008 which set out the Government's legislative programme for this Session.
Departmental Higher Education
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many staff in his Department undertook courses funded by the Department for (a) undergraduate degrees, (b) postgraduate degrees or diplomas, (c) Masters degrees, (d) MBA degrees and (e) PhD degrees in the last 12 months, broken down by pay band. [242141]
Mr. Watson: Cabinet Office is committed to life-long learning for all its employees and supports individuals who want to study for recognised qualifications. Individual management units decide on levels of support for their staff who undertake study for qualifications.
Information on the number of staff who are funded is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the answer of 6 November 2008, Official Report, column 741W, on Wilf Stevenson, on what date Wilf Stevenson was appointed as a special adviser. [241672]
Kevin Brennan: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 6 November 2008, Official Report, column 741W.
Departmental Video Recordings
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the answer of 13 October 2008, Official Report, column 949W, on departmental recordings, if he will publish the title, description and date submitted of each video on the departmental intranet based on the data held in the intranet database. [241897]
Mr. Watson: I have nothing further to add to the answers I gave to the right hon. Member on 13 October 2008, Official Report, column 949W and 4 June 2008, Official Report, column 1046W.
Employment
Mr. Vara: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of the change in number of people in employment in (a) England, (b) the East of England, (c) Cambridgeshire, (d) Peterborough and (e) North West Cambridgeshire in the last 12 months. [242875]
Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated December 2008:
As National Statistician. I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question requesting what estimate has been made of the change in number of people in employment in (a) England (b) East of England (c) Cambridgeshire (d) Peterborough and (e) North West Cambridgeshire in the last 12 months. (242875)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles employment statistics for National and regional level using the Labour Force Survey (LPS) and for smaller areas using the Annual Population Survey (APS), following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
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