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7 May 2009 : Column 416W—continued
Bank Services
Kate Hoey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in the UK have (a) a basic bank account, (b) a bank account and (c) no bank account. [273085]
Ian Pearson: The Government are committed to reducing financial exclusion and increasing the number of people who can manage their money by using a bank account.
The Family Resources Survey data for 2006-07, published in June last year, show that the number of adults with a basic bank account was around 2.5 million and that the overall number of adults with access to a bank account was 44.6 million. The data also show that the number of adults without access to a bank account fell from 2.8 million in 2002-03 to 2.1 million in 2006-07.
The Financial Inclusion Taskforce recently published its third annual report on access to banking. The report contains profiles of the number of people in the UK without access to a bank account, including commentary and figures for the take up of basic bank accounts. The report is on the Taskforce's website:
Bank Services: Overseas Residence
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what regulatory restrictions exist on the opening of a bank account in the United Kingdom by non-domiciled British citizens. [272725]
Mr. Timms: There are no statutory legal or regulatory restrictions preventing banks from providing services to non-domiciled, or non-resident, British citizens.
Bradford and Bingley
Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what UK Financial Investment’s role in the preparation of the most recent Bradford and Bingley Business Plan was; and if he will make a statement. [272838]
Mr. Timms: As set out in the Shareholder Relationship Framework Document which governs the relationship between Bradford and Bingley and HM Treasury as shareholder, HM Treasury designed the high level objectives that the Business Plan is designed to achieve and agreed the Business Plan with the Board.
The Shareholder Relationship Framework document is available at:
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/bradford_bingley_shareholder_ framework.pdf
Business: Government Assistance
Peter Luff: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications Capital for Enterprise Ltd. has received from banks to join the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme; and how many such applications (a) have been processed and (b) are outstanding. [259158]
Ian Pearson: In launching the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme (EFG) all the 31 lenders accredited to deliver the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme (SFLG) were approached to participate in the new scheme.
To date, 26 lenders have migrated across, with the remaining five SFLG lenders either undecided or have decided not to participate in the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme.
Departmental Air Conditioning
Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much has been spent by his Department on carrying out inspections of air conditioning systems within departmental buildings in accordance with the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 since the Regulations came into force; [272135]
(2) how many of his Department’s buildings are equipped with air conditioning systems with output greater than 250kW; how many of these systems have been inspected under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 since the Regulations came into force; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each inspection report. [272138]
Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 23 February 2009, Official Report, column 317W, to the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark).
Copies of the Advisory Reports and their associated display energy certificates in respect of each property were placed in the Library at that time. The cost of these reports was £5,400.
Economic and Monetary Union
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each meeting the Euro Steering Committee held in the last 24 months. [272776]
Ian Pearson: The last meeting of the Euro Ministers Steering Group was held on 6 June 2007. The Government's policy on membership of the single currency remains unchanged.
Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to be in a position to (a) set a timetable for the opening of the ex-gratia payments scheme for Equitable Life policyholders to receipt of claims, (b) estimate the length of time to be taken for the determination of claims made under that scheme and (c) establish mechanisms for considering disputed claims made under that scheme. [272726]
Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) on 16 March 2009, Official Report, column 856W.
EU Emissions Trading Scheme
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to allocate future revenues raised through the auctioning of allowances under the (a) second and (b) third phase of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme; and if he will make a statement; [272834]
(2) where revenue raised through the auctioning of allowances from the EU Emissions Trading Scheme is accounted for in (a) the Red Book and (b) general accounts published with the Budget Statement; and if he will make a statement. [272979]
Mr. Timms: Any revenue raised through the use of auctioning is considered as part of general revenue streams, and has already been factored into public finance forecasts. These revenues cannot be allocated as a separate income source without an equivalent reduction to the public finance forecasts. The spending review process ensures that resources are allocated efficiently to deliver Government objectives.
Auction receipts from the EU emissions trading scheme are included in the ‘Other taxes and royalties’ line in Table C6 in Budget 2009, available at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/Budget2009/bud09_ chapterc_463.pdf
and in Table 2.9 of ‘Budget 2009: the economy and public finances—supplementary material’, available at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/Budget2009/bud09_ econfinances_968.pdf
Government Departments: Aviation
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to OGC buying.solutions contract, reference RM645, which company won the contract for the Government Air Programme; and what the (a) monetary value and (b) duration of the contract is. [272777]
Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) on 24 April 2009, Official Report, column 985W.
No company has yet won the Framework Agreement for the Government Air Programme. The planned award is set for June 2009.
The Framework Agreement will be awarded for a two-year period with the option to extend for a third year.
Inheritance Tax: Housing
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what stage in the process of the payment of inheritance tax the Valuation Office Agency undertakes a valuation of the property forming part of the inherited estate. [272778]
Mr. Timms: It is HM Revenue and Customs' standard practice to seek the advice of the Valuation Office Agency about the value of UK land and buildings where inheritance tax is payable. In the great majority of cases this happens shortly after the inheritance tax papers are received in the operational office following the issue of the grant of probate to the personal representatives of the estate.
Mass Media
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what media appearances (a) he and (b) each other Minister in his Department has made since 1 January 2009. [271170]
Angela Eagle: Treasury Ministers undertake a number of visits, interviews and appearances on a wide range of issues.
The information requested is not collected centrally.
Members: Correspondence
Mr. Baron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Billericay of 27 March 2009 on his constituent, Mr. T. Lewer. [272592]
Ian Pearson [holding answer 5 May 2009]: I have replied to the hon. Member.
Mr. Burns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford of 15 December 2008 concerning his constituent, Ms Pippa Cuckson of Great Leighs, Chelmsford. [273480]
Mr. Timms: Due to the large volume of correspondence received on these issues there has been a delay in sending some responses. The Financial Services Secretary hopes to be in a position to reply to the hon. Member shortly.
Pre-Budget Report 2008: Disclosure of Information
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will request the Security Commission to undertake an investigation into the unauthorised disclosure of information relating to taxation measures in the Pre-Budget Report 2008. [272070]
Angela Eagle: It has been the policy of successive Administrations not to comment on the initiation of, content of, or outcome of any such inquiries.
Revenue and Customs: Closures
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the implementation of HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC’s) Workforce Change programme on the average yield per annum brought in by an HMRC compliance officer. [273236]
Mr. Timms: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not collect the information asked for. Annual yield and yield/cost ratio figures are published in the departmental autumn performance report, available at:
The implementation of HMRC’s Workforce Change programme enables business efficiencies by matching HMRC’s staff resources and estate to future business needs. It is one of many factors in HMRC’s reorganisation and strategy that together have resulted in a continuous improvement in yield in each of the last three years for which figures are available.
| £ million | |
Revenue and Customs: Pay
Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff are employed on work contracted out by HM Revenue and Customs in (a) each region of England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland; and what percentage in each case are paid less than £7.45 per hour for that work. [273112]
Mr. Timms: HM Revenue and Customs does not have the information requested.
Royal Mail: VAT
Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications for Royal Mail of the recent European Court of Justice ruling on value added tax liabilities; and if he will make a statement. [273170]
Mr. Timms: The Government welcome the Court’s confirmation that postal services provided by Royal Mail, as the only UK universal service provider, will continue to be exempt from VAT. HM Revenue and Customs are considering the implications of the judgment in detail.
Tax Allowances: Pensions
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of tax relief on pension contributions goes to (a) basic and (b) higher rate taxpayers. [257646]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 23 February 2009]: A break down of tax relief on individual and employee contributions broken down by the individual's marginal tax rate is provided in the following table:
| Marginal income fax rate | Percentage of tax relief |
| Note: This distribution is based on 2006-07 Survey of Personal Incomes data that has been adjusted to account for the 2008-09 tax rates. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5 per cent. | |
It is not possible to provide such a breakdown for employer contributions.
Tax Allowances: Personal Pensions
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much income tax relief was payable in respect of personal pension contributions for income taxed at (a) 40 per cent. and (b) 20 per cent. in 2006-07. [250200]
Mr. Timms
[holding answer 22 January 2009]: The amount of income tax relief at the basic rate in respect of personal pension contributions was estimated to be
£790 million in 2006-07. The amount of income tax relief in respect of those taxed at the higher rate was £2,430 million in 2006-07.
These figures have been rounded to the nearest £10 million and relate to contributions by employees and the self-employed only. They are based on 2006-07 survey data. It is not possible to provide such a breakdown for employer contributions.
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