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2 Feb 2009 : Column 893W—continued
Tony Blair
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the Government has contributed towards the salary of Tony Blair for his work for the Quartet in the Middle East. [248083]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 15 January 2009]: Mr. Blair does not draw a salary in his role as Quartet Representative. The Government do support the team for Mr. Blair through a £400,000 contribution to the UN Development Trust Fund, which supports the Quartet Representative’s office in Jerusalem. The Government also provides four secondees and funding for a political analyst.
Turkey: Christianity
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations about reported attacks on the title and practice of the Christian Syriac Orthodox Church in Turkey to that country's government; and if he will make a statement. [246694]
Caroline Flint: We are aware of ongoing difficulties faced by all Christian groups in Turkey, including the Syriac Orthodox Church which faces particular difficulties as it is not recognised as a minority under the Lausanne Treaty (1923) and thus not formally recognised as such by the Turkish Government. As part of our ongoing bilateral dialogue we encourage Turkey to create an atmosphere of tolerance of religious difference and, where necessary, to make legislative changes to assist these groups.
We are particularly concerned about recent legal judgments relating to property claimed by the Syriac Orthodox Church in south-eastern Turkey, which are under appeal. EU representatives have attended court hearings and the EU has also raised these cases with the Turkish authorities.
Zimbabwe: Politics and Government
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken with international partners to seek to secure a settlement based on the rule of law and on democratic principles in Zimbabwe. [251857]
Gillian Merron [holding answer 29 January 2009]: We, with our international partners, are committed to supporting the establishment of a truly representative government that reflects the democratic will of the Zimbabwean people as expressed in the election of March 2008. Ministers are in regular contact with EU and UN counterparts to discuss the political and humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe. On 26 January, EU Foreign Ministers agreed to extend the list of individuals and entities subject to targeted measures. We have also been in regular contact with African leaders to encourage a sustainable resolution to the crisis.
Treasury
Child Benefit
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average time taken to process a child benefit claim has been in each year since 1997. [253118]
Mr. Timms: For the periods 2007-08 and 2008-09 I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 22 October 2008, Official Report, column 356W.
In 2006-07, 68.3 per cent. of claims were processed in five working days and 94.9 per cent. in 36 working days.
For 2003-04 to 2005-06 the information requested can be found in the annual reports published on HM Revenue and Customs’ website at
For 1997-98 to 2002-03 child benefit was administered by the Department for Work and Pensions. The information requested for this period will have been published in the Department for Work and Pensions’ departmental annual reports. HM Revenue and Customs no longer holds this information.
Child Tax Credit: EU Law
Mr. Gale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis it was determined that child tax credit is not a family allowance for the purpose of Article 77 of EU Regulations 1408/71. [252781]
Mr. Timms: The purpose of the child tax credit is to support families in the UK. It is only given to families outside the UK in limited circumstances and to meet our obligations under EC Regulation 1408/71.
The term “family allowances” is defined in the regulation as benefits payable exclusively by reference to the number and, where appropriate, age of the children in the family. However, the child tax credit is based on the number of children and on annual household income. On that basis, HM Revenue and Customs has received legal advice that the child tax credit is not a “family allowance” and is therefore not payable under article 77 of the regulation.
Child Trust Funds
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what types of child trust funds each provider offers; and under what brand names each provider offers each type. [253376]
Ian Pearson: A table of the types of child trust fund offered by each provider can be found on the child trust fund website at the following address:
The names of the child trust funds offered by each provider can be found on the relevant provider websites links to which are available on the child trust fund website at the following address:
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) which child trust fund (a) type and (b) provider has had (i) the largest return in percentage terms since being established and (ii) the largest increase in value in a single year; [253377]
(2) which child trust fund (a) type and (b) provider has had (i) the lowest return in percentage terms since being established and (ii) the lowest increase in value in a single year; [253378]
(3) what plans he has to assess the child trust funds available from each provider in respect of their comparative performance; and if he will publish the increase made in value by each fund in each year; [253379]
(4) how many and what proportion of child trust funds have been transferred under (a) section 7(a) and (b) section 7(b) of the Child Trust Fund Act 2004 in each year since their inception; and if he will make a statement. [253381]
Ian Pearson: HM Revenue and Customs does not hold this information.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the economic downturn on the likely performance of child trust funds; and if he will make a statement. [253380]
Ian Pearson: Child trust funds are a long-term investment over an 18-year period, with the first accounts reaching maturity in 2020. Parents can choose which type of CTF account their child’s money is invested in, and can transfer between account types at any time. Three types of child trust fund accounts are available. Stakeholder accounts and shares accounts invest in stocks and shares, while the savings account does not. Although shares can go down as well as up in value, particularly in the short-term, the historical evidence is that they tend to provide a better return than cash for long-term investments. Also, with CTF stakeholder accounts, the level of exposure to shares will decrease over time as money in the account is gradually moved into more cash-like investments after the child turns 13. This ‘lifestyling’ element will help to reduce risk before maturity.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of child trust funds opened under (a) section 5 and (b) section 6 of the Child Trust Fund Act 2004 in each year since their inception; and if he will make a statement. [253382]
Ian Pearson: This information is available in table 2 of the Child Trust Fund Statistical Report 2008 which can be found at the following address:
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the number and percentage of eligible children who have not had a child trust fund opened on their behalf in each year since their inception; and if he will make a statement. [253383]
Ian Pearson: Every eligible child has had a Child Trust Fund account opened for them. If the account opening voucher is not used by the child’s parents then the Government set up an account on behalf of the child.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the total monetary value was of all child trust funds in each year since their inception; and how many such funds there were in each year; [253385]
(2) how many and what percentage of child trust funds have received contributions and subscriptions other than (a) those specified in sections 8 to 10 of the Child Trust Fund Act 2004 and (b) those resulting from the growth in value of the child trust fund. [253384]
Ian Pearson: This information is available in table 3 of each year’s Child Trust Fund Statistical Report which can all be found at the following address:
Council Tax: Valuation
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 15 July 2008, Official Report, column 228W, on council tax: valuation, what payments from the public purse have been made to (a) CapGemini, (b) SAS and (c) Cole Layer Trumbie/Tyler Technologies for work on the council tax banding support tool. [252354]
Mr. Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 6 October 2008, Official Report, column 370W.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what use the Valuation Office Agency’s automated valuation model makes of locality adjustment factors for council tax valuations in England. [252394]
Mr. Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave the hon. Member on 19 March 2008, Official Report, column 1218W.
Deflation
Mr. Rob Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to reduce the risk of deflation in the economy. [251914]
Ian Pearson: The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has full operational independence in meeting the Government's inflation target. The remit of the MPC sets a symmetric inflation target.
Departmental Buildings
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on works and refurbishment to offices allocated to Ministers in departmental buildings in the last 12 months. [252365]
Departmental Data Protection
Mr. Vara: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the IT systems in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies are fully accredited to the Government’s security standards. [245393]
Angela Eagle: HM Treasury and the Treasury Group maintain a range of secure information systems on the Government’s secure networks, and has always strived to ensure the that these systems are secure. Prior to June 2008, these were assured using a risk management approach in line with central Government guidance applicable at the time. Since the final report of the Cabinet Office’s “Data Handling Procedures in Government”, the Treasury has established a revised programme of assurance to ensure that all systems comply with the new accreditation standards going forward. In accordance with the recommendations of that review, progress will be reported in the Statement on Internal Control in the Treasury Group’s consolidated resource accounts for 2008-09 and future years.
Departmental Pensions
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to advise staff of pension options available to them in relation to added years or additional voluntary contributions. [253274]
Angela Eagle: HM Treasury has taken a dual approach to advise staff of pension options available. These are as follows: First, the provision of information regarding additional voluntary contributions and added year’s are available on HM Treasury’s intranet site; and secondly, the holding of pensions ‘surgeries’ at which options are outlined.
Departmental Training
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which external organisations his Department has engaged to provide training for fast stream civil service staff in the last three years; and how many civil servants in his Department have participated in provision of training for external organisations in that period. [252231]
Angela Eagle: HM Treasury does not distinguish between fast stream civil service staff and other colleagues who enter the organisation at the same grade. In the last three years, training courses have been provided to HM Treasury by the following external providers, of which fast stream civil service staff in post at HM Treasury, were eligible to attend:
PA Consulting
Dynamic Learning Solutions
National School of Government
Parity
Oxford Development Partnership
Bray Leino
Angel Scott Associates (now Global Economics)
Management Development Partnership
Birkbeck College
Oasis Consulting (now Senan Solutions)
Praesta
Oxford Group
Cedar
Jarrolds
HM Treasury does not hold central training records on training that staff might provide to external organisations.
Departmental Video Recordings
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 14 July 2008, Official Report, columns 5150-51W, on the Valuation Office: video recordings, what training videos or digital equivalents for council tax valuation work his Department uses. [252353]
Mr. Timms: Training videos or digital equivalents are not used within the VOA’s programmes of structured learning for council tax valuation work.
Departmental Written Questions
Mr. Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy where an answer refers to material published on his Department’s website to ensure that (a) a copy will be made available to the hon. Member who tabled the question and (b) place a copy of the material will be placed in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [253019]
Angela Eagle: It has been the practice of successive Administrations to refer Members to publications and other source documents from which information they are seeking can be extracted.
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