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25 Feb 2009 : Column 894W—continued
Revenue and Customs: Security
Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many breaches of security have occurred at HM Revenue and Customs in the last five years; and what procedures are followed when a breach of security relates to personal data. [250731]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 26 January 2009]: HMRC uses the term ‘security incident’ to relate to a wide range of security breaches, including unlocked cupboards or drawers within a locked building as well as losses, theft, suspicious behaviour and vandalism. These incidents also include near misses, which are monitored to identify potential weaknesses so that they can be put right. HMRC takes every security incident report seriously and deals with each one in accordance with its departmental guidance and procedures.
Since HM Revenue and Customs’ creation in April 2005 there have been a total of 11,266 reported security incidents among approximately 90,000 staff. HMRC has improved centralised control mechanisms and raised staff awareness about the importance of data security and the need to report all incidents.
All incidents relating to personal data are investigated by senior managers within the responsible business area and incidents designated as serious are elevated to director level and to relevant external authorities if this is required. This system was introduced in August 2007, since when only 3.6 per cent. of all security incidents have been classified as serious.
Stamp Duty Land Tax
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the revenue to accrue from stamp duty land tax in 2009-10; on what assumptions this estimate is based; and what estimate he has made of the revenue which would be forgone in offering a stamp duty land tax holiday to first time housebuyers in the next 12 months. [258557]
Ian Pearson: The latest published forecast revenue from stamp duties for 2009-10 was given in table B12 of the PBR 2008. The published figure includes stamp duty land tax, stamp duty reserve tax and stamp duty, and was based on the PBR economic forecast and assumptions.
An estimate of the cost of the current SDLT holiday, covering residential transactions completed between 3 September 2008 and 2 September 2009 with a selling price between £125,000 and £175,000, was also published in the PBR.
No estimate has been made of the cost of the stamp duty holiday described.
Tax Evasion
Derek Twigg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies were employed in tackling tax (a) fraud and (b) evasion in each year since 1997. [257015]
Mr. Timms: HM Revenue and Customs’ compliance activity covers all aspects of compliance behaviour from error through to evasion. As a consequence, it is not possible to provide the information requested.
Derek Twigg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of tax evasion in the last 12 months. [257161]
Mr. Timms: There are no estimates of the revenue lost specifically to tax evasion in the last 12 months. HMRC has published its latest available estimates of tax losses in the 2008 Autumn Performance Report:
While the estimates given in this report include evasion they also encompass other causes of losses, for example, failure to take reasonable care and tax avoidance.
VAT: Construction
Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the revenue effects would be of reducing the rate of value added tax on rebuilding and renovation work to (a) 3 per cent., (b) 4 per cent., (c) 5 per cent., (d) 6 per cent., (e) 7 per cent., (f) 8 per cent. and (g) 9 per cent. [258576]
Mr. Timms: Using data from the Office for National Statistics’ Construction Statistics Annual 2008, and assuming all of this expenditure to have been subject to the standard rate of VAT (17.5 per cent. in 2007) then the following illustrative costs can be estimated for different rates:
| Alternative VAT rate (percentage) | Illustrative revenue impact, (£ million) |
| Note: Under EU laws the minimum permitted reduced rate of VAT is 5 per cent. | |
These estimates are very tentative. The definition of expenditure used in the data covers a wide range of activities, some of which will already be subject to the current 5 per cent. reduced rate of VAT (while complete demolitions and rebuilds of houses are currently zero rated). The estimates also do not factor in behavioural responses, the current 15 per cent. standard rate of VAT, those businesses not registered for VAT or developments in the relevant markets since 2007.
Wales
Departmental Internet
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a copy of his Department’s website accessibility plan. [257226]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The Wales office seeks to make its website accessible and easy to use for everyone, no matter what browser they use.
Wales office website accessibility is guided by the Worldwide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and intends to comply with Level Double-A of the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines by December 2009.
Details on accessibility can be found on the Wales Office website:
Scotland
Railways
Mr. Charles Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will work with the Scottish Executive to secure the (a) replacement of Caledonian sleeper rolling stock and (b) long-term operation of the cross-border service. [257760]
Ann McKechin: My right hon. Friend is happy to work with the Scottish Government and his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport on these matters. Sleeper services are an integral part of the First Scot Rail franchise agreement, which is managed by the Scottish Government. I understand that the recent Franchise Extension Agreement includes an obligation for First Scot Rail to develop additional proposals to improve the sleeper service.
House of Commons Commission
Houses of Parliament: VAT
Mr. Maude: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether the retail ticket prices for the summer opening tours of Parliament will be reduced in line with the reduction in valued added tax. [258380]
Nick Harvey: Yes. The summer opening programme has to break even over a three-year period, during which time prices are held; the current period is 2007-09. Full price adult tickets sold for the 2008 summer opening cost £12. With the reduction in VAT rate, in 2009 these will cost £11.70. Other ticket types will be similarly reduced.
PICT: Electronic Equipment
Rosie Cooper: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission when the trial of use of BlackBerries by PICT staff will be completed. [258577]
Nick Harvey: Parliamentary ICT (PICT) commenced a 60 day trial of Research in Motion’s BlackBerry service using their Blackberry Enterprise Service on 9 February 2009. The trial will be completed by mid-April and will then be evaluated.
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