Corporation Tax: Scotland
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses in (a) Scotland, (b) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency and (c) East Ayrshire will be affected by the proposed reduction in the rate of corporation tax. [50886]
Mr Gauke: The approximate number of UK businesses with lower tax bills as a result of the reductions in the main rate of corporation tax announced in both the June 2010 and March 2011 Budgets, are estimated to be around 30,000 that pay tax at the main rate, and around 40,000 that are taxed at the main rate but who benefit from marginal relief.
These estimates were published in an impact assessment of the reductions in the main rate of corporation tax announced in the June 2010 Budget, but the number of UK businesses affected are unchanged from those previously published, following the further reductions announced in the March 2011 Budget.
A link to the document is given here;
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/corporation_tax_charge_and_main_rate_for_financial_year_2012.pdf
HMRC do not routinely estimate the number of businesses affected or the fiscal impact of business tax changes at regional or constituency level.
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Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the savings to businesses in (a) Scotland, (b) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency and (c) East Ayrshire as a result of the reduction in the rate of corporation tax in each of the next four years. [50887]
Mr Gauke: The UK-wide fiscal impact of the reductions in the main rate of corporation tax announced in the March 2011 Budget, and the previously announced reductions in the June 2010 Budget, were shown in Table 2.1 (page 42) and Table 2.2 (page 44) respectively of the “Budget 2011” document published by HM Treasury on 23 March 2011.
A link to the full document is given here:
http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_complete.pdf
HMRC do not routinely estimate the number of businesses affected or fiscal impact of business tax changes at regional or constituency level.
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the number of businesses in (a) Scotland, (b) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency and (c) East Ayrshire which will be affected by the increase of the small and medium-sized enterprise rate of research and development tax credits; [50888]
(2) what estimate he has made of the monetary value to businesses in (a) Scotland, (b) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency and (c) East Ayrshire of the increase in the small and medium-sized enterprise rate of research and development tax credits in each of the next four years. [50889]
Mr Gauke: The information requested is not available. Estimates of the number of businesses affected and the fiscal impact of changes to the rate of relief are not broken down by geographical region.
Debts
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely effect of the measures in the 2011 Budget on (a) household debt as a proportion of gross disposable income and (b) total household debt in each of the next four years. [51910]
Justine Greening: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) was formed in May 2010 to make an independent assessment of the public finances and the economy.
In March, the OBR published forecasts of the UK economy which took into account the impact of the measures in the 2011 Budget. In the ‘Economic and Fiscal Outlook’ (Cm 8036, paragraph 2.44, page 35), the OBR stated, that aside from inflation, there is no significant adjustment to their economic forecast as a result of the measures announced in the Budget.
Departmental Accountancy
Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any ministerial directions have been issued to the accounting officers of his Department since his appointment. [51996]
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Justine Greening: There have been no ministerial directions issued since the Chancellor of the Exchequer's appointment.
Departmental Manpower
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what public sector job reduction targets have been set for his Department and its non-departmental public bodies for each of the next 24 months; and what steps he plans to take to meet such targets. [51517]
Justine Greening: The Government have not set targets for a reduction in the number of posts in HM Treasury or its non-departmental public bodies. Workforce implications of the spending review settlement will depend on internal budget allocations and subsequent management decisions.
Departmental Retirement
Mr Crausby: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of his Department's staff have taken early retirement in each of the last five years; and what the cost to his Department was in each such year. [50841]
Justine Greening: Under the Principal Civil Service Pension scheme (PCSPS), staff can resign their employment and take their pension early on reduced terms if they meet the critieria laid down in the PCSPS rules at no cost to the Department. These staff, are not included in the following table.
Similarly, those taking early retirement on medical grounds are also excluded.
The following table therefore only gives details of staff retiring early and where the Department has incurred costs.
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Number of staff | Cost £000 |
Due to the low numbers of staff leaving on early retirement the years have been amalgamated to avoid identification of individuals.
Departmental Vacancies
Mike Freer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the staff vacancy rate in his Department was in 2010-11; and what vacancy rate has been assumed in his Department's budget for 2011-12. [51388]
Justine Greening: The staff vacancy rate in HM Treasury during 2010-11 was around 5%. No vacancy rate has been assumed in the Department's budget for 2011-12 due to the fluidity of the staffing levels of HM Treasury.
Diesel Vehicles: Snow and Ice
John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will issue guidance to parish councils on agreements with farmers on the use of red diesel in vehicles used to clear heavy snow from roads; and if he will make a statement. [51856]
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Justine Greening: Farmers can use tractors running on red diesel to clear heavy snow from roads. Full guidance on this can be found in Notice 75—Fuel for road vehicles which is available on the HMRC website at:
www.hmrc.gov.uk
Energy: Subsidies
John Cryer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the name is of each subsidy and levy programme in the energy sector which (a) does and (b) does not count against public expenditure limits. [52539]
Justine Greening: The renewables obligation, feed-in tariffs and warm home discount are classified as levy-funded spending programmes, in line with the Office for National Statistics' guidance, including their 2006 classification decision on the renewables obligation:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/economic_trends/ET635Gazely.pdf
There are a number of conventional spending programmes aimed at the energy sector that are funded from within DECC’s budget. This includes support for the first carbon capture and storage project and for the offshore wind infrastructure fund. The renewable heat incentive is also conventional spending, funded from general taxation, and budgeted for through annually managed expenditure.
Energy suppliers are subject to a range of regulatory instruments that are not currently classified as public expenditure. Examples include the carbon emissions reduction target, environmental permitting regulations implementing the large combustion plant directive and the regulations governing the introduction of smart meters.
Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of agricultural businesses likely to participate in the Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme; and what estimate he has made of the average annual monetary value of the scheme to such businesses. [50813]
Justine Greening: The Government does not collect information to the level of detail required to estimate the number of agricultural businesses that currently participate in the Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme or the average annual worth of the scheme to this sector. The tax savings for all types of businesses arising from the Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme for energy and water saving technologies is estimated to be £65 million for 2011-12.
Enterprise Zones
John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the likely effects of enterprise zones on levels of (a) revenue from corporation tax and (b) economic growth (i) within enterprise zones and (ii) nationally. [51784]
Justine Greening: The Government are working with Local Enterprise Partnerships to maximise the economic impact of Enterprise Zones by supporting opportunities for real growth identified by local partners.
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The costing for the Enterprise Zones measure is set out at page 20 of “Budget 2011 policy costings”, published alongside the Budget:
http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_policycostings.pdf
Chapter 1 of the document explains which effects are included in the policy costings and how the costings fit into the Office of Budget Responsibility forecasts.
Mr Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what dates prior to the 2011 Budget Statement (a) he and (b) officials in his Department discussed with (i) local authorities and (ii) local enterprise partnerships designation of areas as an enterprise zone. [51951]
Justine Greening: Treasury officials began discussions with local authorities and local enterprise partnerships about the possible location of enterprise zones in March 2011. This followed decisions by the Chancellor about the criteria that would be used to select local enterprise partnership areas, within which the initial round of enterprise zones would be located.
Entrepreneurs: Scotland
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the number of businesses in Scotland which will be affected by the change in the lifetime limit for entrepreneurs’ relief; [50890]
(2) what estimate he has made of the monetary value to businesses in Scotland of the change in the lifetime limit for entrepreneurs' relief in each of the next four years. [50891]
Mr Gauke: No such estimate has been made. However, the Government have published further information about the impact of Budget announcements in the Tax Information and Impact notes.
EU Budget
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid by his Department (a) to the EU budget gross, (b) to the EU budget net of expenditure which returned to the UK, (c) to all EU institutions gross and (d) to all EU institutions net of expenditure which returned to the UK in (i) 2008, (ii) 2009 and (iii) 2010. [51754]
Justine Greening: Details of the UK’s gross and net contributions to the EU Budget in the years 2008 and 2009, together with an estimate for 2010 can be found in Table 3.1 (page21) of European Union Finances 2010 (Cm 7978) which is available in the House Library. Other payments, e.g. UK contributions to the European Development Fund (EDF) are paid direct by Departments. The Department for International Development makes payments in the case of EDF, and not HM Treasury.
Excise Duties: Fuels
Nick Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his evidential basis was for setting the base oil price for the return of the fuel duty escalator at $75 per barrel. [51369]
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Justine Greening: The Government believe that the increased rate of Supplementary Charge should prevail when the oil price is high, given increased profitability of UK oil and gas production at such times. The Government will set out the final level of the trigger price mechanism after seeking the views of oil and gas companies and motoring groups, but suggest that $75 per barrel would be appropriate.
Exports: Forecasts
Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely change in the level of UK exports directly attributable to measures in the 2011 Budget in each year from 2011-12 to 2015-16. [51604]
Justine Greening: The Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) was formed in May 2010 to make an independent assessment of the public finances and the economy. On 23 March 2011, the OBR released its official forecast for trade, which incorporates the effect of all the measures announced in the Budget. As the OBR sets out in table 3.7, page 79 of its “March 2011 Economic and Fiscal Outlook (Cm 8036)”, it expects exports to grow by 7.9% in 2011, 6.5% in 2012, 6.2% in 2013, 5.7% in 2014 and 5.6% in 2015.
Faster Payments System
Michael Fallon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans HM Revenue and Customs has to introduce the Faster Payments system; and what cost-benefit analysis of the system has been conducted. [51335]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 5 April 2011]: HMRC plan to introduce the capability to accept Faster Payments during 2012 driven largely by the requirements of an EC Payment Services Directive (PSD) which will have an impact on all banks within the EU.
The costs and benefits of introducing Faster Payments in HMRC will be analysed as part of the project that has been established to manage its implementation.
Financial Services
Mr Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that financial services companies which operate in the UK and are not covered by the Project Merlin agreement make a greater contribution to regional economies. [50122]
Mr Hoban: The Government’s response to the Green Paper ‘Financing a Private Sector Recovery’, published in 2010, set out a comprehensive package of Government and industry-led measures to support small businesses. These include:
Additional support for the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) over the next four years to enable over £2 billion of lending to viable small businesses that lack collateral or track record; and
increased equity finance, through a £1.5 billion bank-led ‘Business Growth Fund’ (since increased by a further £1 billion) and through £200 million of additional funding for the ‘Enterprise Capital Funds programme’, both of which could unlock further debt finance for small and medium-sized businesses, including those in the regions.
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In response to the Government’s Green Paper on business finance, the British Bankers’ Association published the outcomes of their Business Finance Taskforce, which was written in conjunction with the six major UK banks. The Taskforce banks have committed to improving customer relationships through a new Lending Code, ensuring better access to finance and promoting better understanding.
Food: Prices
Mr Donohoe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the effects on food prices of speculation on commodities without regulation; and if he will make a statement. [51950]
Justine Greening: Food supply and prices are affected by a number of factors including global energy prices, global stock levels, the size of harvests, changes in exchange rates and national agricultural trade and marketing policies. On balance the Government are sceptical about the degree to which speculation has played a significant causal role. The Government continue to monitor relevant research in this area with interest.
Foreign Companies
Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the monetary value to each industrial sector of (a) reform of the controlled foreign company rules, (b) reform of taxation of foreign branches, (c) interim changes to controlled foreign company rules and (d) reform of corporate capital gains simplification. [51555]
Mr Gauke: The CFC rules potentially affect all UK companies with overseas subsidiaries. The changes introduced are designed to make the current CFC rules easier to operate, more competitive internationally, and to benefit as many businesses as possible.
The sector profile of the exemption of foreign branches owned by UK companies indicated that certain UK groups with significant overseas operations will be the most immediate beneficiaries of the rule changes.
The simplification of the rules covering corporate capital gains are expected to benefit any corporate groups who undertake the relevant transactions.
Foreign Currency Reserves
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he consulted the Governor of the Bank of England before announcing his decision to increase the UK’s holdings of foreign currency reserves; [50810]
(2) what advice on foreign currency holdings he received from the (a) Debt Management Office and (b) Bank of England prior to taking the decision to increase UK holdings in foreign currency reserves. [50833]
Mr Hoban: As set out in the Debt Management Office (DMO) Executive Agency Framework document, Treasury Ministers set the annual financing remit for gilts, including any sterling financing for the reserves, having regard to advice from the chief executive of the DMO. The Framework document is published on the DMO’s website at:
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http://www.dmo.gov.uk/documentview.aspx? docname=publications/corpgovernance/fwork040405.pdf&page
In its role as HM Treasury’s agent for the Official Reserves, the Bank of England provided advice to HM Treasury on the financing of the reserves.
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to purchase overseas bonds as part of his policy to increase holdings of foreign currency reserves in any of the next four financial years. [50831]
Mr Hoban: The funds of the Exchange Equalisation Account are predominantly invested in securities issued, or guaranteed, by the national Governments of the United States, euro-area countries and Japan.
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the effects on (a) levels of trade, (b) financial stability and (c) economic growth of an increase in the UK's foreign currency reserves. [50832]
Mr Hoban: The direct effects of the plans for the UK's foreign currency reserves on trade, financial stability and economic growth are negligible. However, the additional financing will meet potential calls from the International Monetary Fund, helping to ensure the stability of the global monetary system.
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the effects on the value of sterling of increasing levels of UK holdings of foreign currencies. [50834]
Mr Hoban: As in the previous financial year, the Government plan to hedge most of the foreign exchange exposure for assets purchased using new sterling financing. This means the Government plans no net selling of sterling when undertaking these purchases and expects no material impact on the value of sterling.
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the interest which would accrue to the Exchequer from increasing holdings in foreign currency (a) cash reserves and (b) bonds by £18 billion in the next four financial years. [50835]
Mr Hoban: As set out in the Debt and Reserves Management Report 2011 the Government will raise £6 billion of sterling financing for the Official Reserves in 2011-12. The Government envisages sterling financing for the Official Reserves being held at a similar level on average over the three years up to, and including, 2014-15; making £24 billion in total. The full report is available at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_debtreserves.htm
Any increase in foreign currency holdings arising from this financing will depend upon calls from the International Monetary Fund and exchange rate movements. In accordance with the service level agreement, the Bank manages the official reserves so as to ensure adherence to Treasury policy aims and thereby maintain their liquidity and security, and subject to that, maximise the return from holding reserves.
The actual interest received on increased foreign currency holdings will depend on the asset allocation chosen and
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market interest rates over the next four years. Interest received on the reserves is recorded in the annual accounts available at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ukecon_eea_index.htm
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has for the level of the UK’s foreign currency reserve holdings of (a) euros, (b) US dollars and (c) yen in each of the next four financial years; [50989]
(2) what plans he has for the level of the UK’s foreign currency reserves in each of the next four financial years. [50990]
Mr Hoban: As at end February 2011, the gross reserves stood at $85.4 billion (£52.5 billion) of which $47.6 billion (£29.3 billion) was foreign currency.
As set out in the Debt and Reserves Management Report 2011, the Government will raise £6 billion of sterling financing for the Official Reserves in 2011-12. The Government envisages sterling financing for the Official Reserves being held at a similar level on average over the three years up to, and including, 2014-15; making £24 billion in total. This sterling financing will be sufficient to meet potential calls on the Official Reserves from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The full report is available at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_debtreserves.htm
The overall level of the UK’s foreign currency reserves over the next four years will depend on actual calls from the International Monetary Fund, exchange rate movements and changes in the value of assets held. The level of the reserves is reported on a monthly basis on the HM Treasury website at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_notices_index.htm
In addition to the factors above, the levels of individual currency holdings within the Official Reserves will depend on asset allocation decisions made over the next four years.
The current currency breakdown of the reserves is available on the Bank of England website at:
http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/statistics/reserves/index.htm
The framework within which these asset allocation decisions are currently made is available on HM Treasury’s website at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/management_official_reserves.pdf
Fuels: Prices
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely increase in fuel bills attributable to the tax on carbon proposed in the 2011 Budget in each year from 2013-14 to 2019-20. [51817]
Justine Greening: An explanation of the impact of the carbon price floor on wholesale electricity prices and the likely average bill impact is given in HMRC's Tax Information and Impact Note published alongside the Budget. This is available online at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2011/tiin6111.pdf
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Gift Aid
Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that changes to the gift aid scheme announced in the 2011 Budget will bring maximum benefit to genuine charities; and what steps he plans to take to prevent diverting resources away from genuine charities. [51536]
Justine Greening: The changes to the Gift Aid scheme announced in the 2011 Budget will benefit a wide range of donors and charities by increasing the income of charities while reducing their administrative burdens. Many of the changes were recommended by the Gift Aid Forum and, following implementation, these changes will be kept under review.
Charities may only benefit from Gift Aid if they meet the definition of a charity for tax purposes in Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010. Under that legislation HMRC applies a number of checks to help ensure that only genuine charities benefit from Gift Aid and other tax reliefs.
Government: Assets
Luciana Berger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 31 March 2011, Official Report, column 474W, on Urenco, which publicly-owned assets the Government is considering for sale; and if he will make a statement. [51860]
Justine Greening: We publish statements on assets we intend to dispose of at appropriate moments from time to time. The latest was at Budget 2011. Where decisions are made to use proceeds from such disposals for the Green Investment Bank, we will also announce this.
The Government intend to continue their policy of only announcing sales or commercialisations where the major policy decisions have been reached, for example the terms of a sale, and where we are confident that a transaction could take place within 12 months.
Green Investment Bank
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to paragraph 1.112 of the Budget Red Book, March 2011, whether his Department made an estimate prior to the 2011 Budget of the amount of money the Green Investment Bank could leverage if it were allowed to borrow in (a) 2012, (b) 2013, (c) 2014 and (d) 2015; and if he will make a statement. [52496]
Justine Greening: The Budget announced that the Green Investment Bank (GIB) will be given borrowing powers from 2015-16 and once public sector net debt is falling as percentage of GDP. The amount of borrowing that it will be possible to leverage will be dependent on the model taken forward, including the mechanism for borrowing and the risk profile of the institution's investment portfolio.
The £3 billion initial capitalisation for the GIB announced at the Budget will be used to leverage significant additional private investment into green infrastructure, such that there could be in the region of £18 billion of investment by 2014-15 as a result of the GIB.
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High-Risk Corporate Programme
Mr David Davis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases have been dealt with under HM Revenue and Customs' high-risk corporate programme in each year since its inception. [49960]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 30 March 2011]: The number of cases dealt with under HM Revenue and Custom's High Risk Corporates Programme is as follows:
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Settled | Opened |
Import Duties and VAT
Alun Cairns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of customs duty and value added tax foregone on the contents of packages inbound to the UK identified as containing gifts which did not contain gifts in the latest period for which figures are available. [52240]
Mr Gauke: It is not possible to provide such an estimate. Information is not gathered at a level of detail that would allow such estimates to be made.
Income Tax
Ed Balls: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate (a) the number of people who would pay less tax as a result of and (b) the cost to the Exchequer arising from increasing the income tax personal allowance to £8,205 immediately and then in £100 increments to £10,005 in 2013-14 with the same threshold levels in 2014-15 and 2015-16. [52143]
Mr Gauke: The Exchequer costs of increasing the personal allowance can be approximated from Table 1.6 “Direct effects of illustrative tax changes”, available on the HM Revenue and Custom’s website at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tax_expenditures/table1-6.pdf
Budget 2011 announced that the personal allowance for under 65s will increase by a further £630 to £8,105 in 2012-13, reducing income tax for 25 million individuals. A similar number of individuals would benefit from further increases in the personal allowance, consistent with the Government’s objective to support lower and middle income earners by raising the personal allowance to £10,000, with real terms progress towards that goal every year.
Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the likely yield from the 50 pence rate of income tax in each of the next four financial years. [51067]
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Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of revenue which was raised by the 50 pence rate of income tax in 2010-11. [51556]
Mr Gauke: These estimates are available in the March Budget 2010 report, (table A11 on page 140), available at:
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100407010852/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/budget2010_annexa.pdf
The Government believe the 50% rate could do lasting damage to the UK economy if it were to become permanent. The Chancellor has asked HMRC to assess the revenue raised by this measure after self-assessment data for the 2010-11 tax year are available.
Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the terms of reference are for the HM Revenue and Customs review of the 50 pence rate of income tax. [51557]
Mr Gauke: The Chancellor has asked HMRC to assess the revenue raised by the 50% rate using relevant self-assessment data.
Income Tax: Tax Yields
Mr Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much tax was collected from taxpayers paying the higher rate of income tax in 1988-89; [51769]
(2) what proportion of income tax was paid by the top 1% of taxpayers in 1988-89. [51883]
Mr Gauke: Taxpayers were liable to pay an estimated £46.5 billion of total income tax in 1988-89. Taxpayers paying at 40% were liable for an estimated £15.6 billion.
The top 1% of taxpayers by total income in 1988-89 were liable for 15% of total income tax liabilities.
The figures provided are estimates of income tax liabilities based on the 1988-89 Survey of Personal Incomes. Married couples were treated as one taxpaying unit in 1988-89.
Individual Savings Accounts: Children
Chris Leslie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much additional saving by individuals the Government expects to arise from the introduction of Junior ISAs; [51796]
(2) how many savers in Junior ISAs he expects to have household incomes between (a) 0 and £10,000, (b) £10,000 and £20,000, (c) £20,000 and £30,000, (d) £30,000 and £40,000 and (e) £50,000 and over; and how much he expects to be saved by households in each income band. [51797]
Mr Hoban: The Government believe that Junior ISAs will create the conditions for families to save more for their children than would otherwise happen.
For the purposes of estimating the Exchequer impacts we have estimated that 20% of eligible children will have a Junior ISA. However, this is not a target.
The Government have made no estimates of the take-up levels of Junior ISA accounts among the income groups specified by the hon. Member. This is a voluntary
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scheme, but the Government hope that parents across all income groups will choose to save for their child’s future through Junior ISA accounts and are encouraging providers to set low minimum payments to help facilitate this.
Land Registry
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Exchequer has received from Land Registry operations in each of the last 10 years. [51321]
Danny Alexander [holding answer 5 April 2011]: In the past 10 years, the following amounts have been paid into the Exchequer, representing the cost of capital charge on the public dividend capital vested in the Land Registry when it became a trading fund.
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£000 |
In addition, the Exchequer received £114.188 million in 2003-04 from the Land Registry as an equity withdrawal in respect of its accumulated reserves and cash balances.
Loans: Foreign Nationals
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether his Department has underwritten any bank loans given to foreign nationals residing in the UK since 2006; [52363]
(2) what discussions his Department has had with banks on the repayment of bank loans given to foreign nationals residing in the UK. [52364]
Mr Hoban: Decisions about whether to lend to specific individuals or businesses remain commercial decisions for banks and building societies. It would be inappropriate for the Government to intervene in these decisions.
Members: Correspondence
Mr Donohoe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Central Ayrshire (Mr Donohoe) of 17 November 2010, 16 December 2010 and 13 January 2011, on mortgage regulation. [51612]
Mr Hoban: I wrote to all hon. Members on 10 December 2010 to set out the Government’s overall position on the Mortgage Market Review. This letter was in response to any outstanding correspondence that hon. Members may have raised.
Mr Donohoe:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Central Ayrshire of 15 October 2010,
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26 November 2010, 12 January 2011 and 10 February 2011, on Crown Currency Exchange. [51613]
Mr Hoban: I wrote to all hon. Members on 18 November 2010 to set out the Government’s overall position on Crown Currency Exchange. This letter was in response to any outstanding correspondence that hon. Members may have raised.
Mr Donohoe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Central Ayrshire of 16 September 2010, 26 October 2010, 25 November 2010, 11 January 2011 and 10 February 2011, on deregulated commodity speculation. [51614]
Mr Hoban: I wrote to all hon. Members on 1 December 2010 to set out the Government's overall position on agricultural derivates markets. This letter was in response to any outstanding correspondence that hon. Members may have raised.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mrs Moon) of 3 February 2011 on bank mortgage interest rates. [51673]
Mr Hoban: I have replied to the hon. Member.
National Insurance: Income Tax
Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has set a timetable for decision-making on his proposed merger of the national insurance and taxation systems. [51919]
Mr Gauke: The Government believes that integrating the operation of income tax and national insurance contributions (NICs) can remove distortions, reduce burdens on business and improve fairness for individuals. However, it recognises that any change will be complex and involve a wide range of policy and implementation issues.
An initial consultation document will be published later this year to consult on the options, stages and timing of reform. Responses to the consultation will inform future decisions on the timing of any subsequent reforms.
National Savings
Mr Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of the provision of tax exempt National Savings and Investment products in the last year for which figures are available. [51749]
Justine Greening: The following table sets out the total tax foregone for NS&I tax free products, for 2009-10, as the most recent published information.
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£ |
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Offshore Industry
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he received from representatives of the UK oil and gas industry between the June 2010 Budget and the 2011 Budget; and on what dates. [51564]
Justine Greening: The Government have ongoing meetings and engagement with the oil and gas industry.
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the likely effect on investment in oil and gas production in the North Sea of the announcements made in the 2011 Budget. [51615]
Justine Greening: The Government do not expect a significant impact on investment or production in the forecast period as a consequence of this measure.
As set out in the Budget, in cases where the tax change has made previously commercial new projects uncommercial, the Government will consider with the industry the case for introducing a new category of qualifying field for field allowance to support marginal fields.
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultation he undertook with the oil and gas industries on the increase in the North Sea oil supplementary charge; and on what dates such consultation took place. [51616]
Justine Greening: It is not the current (or previous) Government’s policy to consult on tax rate changes in advance of Budget announcements.
PAYE
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Chief Executive of HM Revenue and Customs about members of the public receiving an incorrect tax coding; and if he will make a statement. [52057]
Mr Gauke: Treasury Ministers and officials meet representatives from a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and implementation. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of all such meetings.
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PAYE: Social Enterprises
Ian Austin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on proposals to extend the Simplified PAYE Deduction Scheme to include non-profit community member organisations; and what assessment he has made of such representations. [51137]
Mr Gauke: We are not aware of any representations in respect of this issue.
Pensions: Uprating
Nick Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has undertaken research on the effects of using the consumer price index when uprating benefits for army invalid pensioners and war widows under pensionable age. [51368]
Mr Robathan: I have been asked to reply.
No specific research has been undertaken on the effect of the change on this benefit group. The Treasury took the decision to change from retail price index to consumer price index (CPI) across all areas of the public service. Calculations and research were not carried out within this Department.
The Ministry of Defence calculates war pensions benefits programme costs and produces annual forecasts and estimates. The estimate for financial year 2011-12 prepared in January 2010 was reduced by 2.8% to £938 million in January 2011. However, this takes into account a number of changed assumptions including revised mortality rates in the number of claimants or potential claimants and the use of CPI as the basis for indexation.
Public Expenditure
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the distributional impact on households by 2014-15 of each measure announced in (a) the March 2010 Budget, (b) the June 2010 Budget, (c) the comprehensive spending review and (d) the 2011 Budget as a proportion of net income in 2010-11, including benefits in kind from public services; [52159]
(2) what estimate he has made of the distributional impact of each (a) tax, (b) tax credit and (c) benefit measure announced in (i) the March 2010 Budget, (ii) the June 2010 Budget, (iii) the comprehensive spending review and (iv) the 2011 Budget as a proportion of net expenditure in each expenditure decile in 2012-13; [52160]
(3) what estimate he has made of the distributional impact of each (a) tax, (b) tax credit and (c) benefit measure announced in (i) the March 2010 Budget, (ii) the June 2010 Budget, (iii) the comprehensive spending review and (iv) the 2011 Budget (A) as a proportion of net income in each income decile, (B) in cash terms in each expenditure decile and (C) in cash terms in each income decile in 2012-13. [51989]
Mr Gauke:
The Government have gone further than any previous Government in publishing detailed distributional analysis of tax, tax credit and benefit decisions. This analysis was first published at the June Budget 2010, and was expanded at the spending review
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2010 to include the distributional impact of public spending decisions. The analysis was most recently updated at Budget 2011.
It shows the cumulative impact of tax, tax credit and benefit measures announced by this Government along with changes announced in the March Budget 2010 or earlier (such as changes to national insurance contributions) on which the Government have introduced or will be introducing legislation. The data sources document, available from the HM Treasury website, contains a full list of the measures it has been possible to capture.
Chart A.2 shows the impact of all tax, tax credit and benefit measures in cash terms by income decile in 2012-13 while chart A3 shows this information as a proportion of income.
Chart A.4 shows the impact of all tax, tax credit and benefit measures in cash terms by expenditure decile in 2012-13 while chart A.5 shows this information as a proportion of expenditure.
Chart A.6 shows the overall impact of the consolidation on households in 2014-15 as a per cent of 2010-11 net income, including households' benefits in kind from public services.
Public Finance
Mr Tom Harris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the Government deficit at May 2010 he has attributed to (a) spending and (b) reduced tax revenues. [51971]
Mr Gauke: The Office for Budget Responsibility published their pre-Budget forecast in June 2010. This contained projections to 2015-16 of Public Sector Current Receipts and Total Managed Expenditure.
Public Sector: Pensions
Michael Fallon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was (a) received in contributions and (b) paid out by each public sector pension scheme in each year since 1981. [47157]
Danny Alexander: [holding answer 16 March 2011]: Expenditure on public service pensions reflects the pensions promises made to public servants over the last few decades and is dependent on a range of factors including the number of pensions in payment, the size of these pensions and also annual inflation.
Contribution receipts reflect the promises being made to today’s public servants and are dependent on the number of individuals accruing a pension and the salaries they earn.
Receipts and expenditure are not expected to balance. For example, the level of receipts can exceed expenditure when a work force is growing. This is a separate issue to the long-term sustainability of a scheme, which is to do with the ability of the scheme to meet liabilities as they fall due.
Detailed information and data, including past levels of expenditure and receipts, for individual public service pension schemes are available from the relevant Government Department, and for many of the schemes are published in annual resource accounts, copies of which are placed in the House Library.
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For the year 2001-02 onwards, the aggregate level of contribution receipts and expenditure for all the centrally administered unfunded public service schemes is published annually in the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses, copies of which are placed in the House Library and available online at the following address:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pespub_pesa10.htm
Aggregate levels of expenditure and receipts for all unfunded schemes (except the locally administered police and fire pension schemes) as published are shown in the following table.
| £ million | ||
|
|
Expenditure | Contribution receipts |
In 2001, the methodology for charging and accounting for unfunded public service pensions was revised and comparable information from before this date is not available centrally.
The Office of Budget Responsibility forecasts levels of expenditure and receipts for all the unfunded schemes going forward.
Information on the funded local government pension scheme is presented in chapter 7 of the Local Government Finance Statistics England, a summary is shown in the following table and the document is available online at the following address:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/financialstatistics202010
| £ million | ||
|
|
Expenditure | Contribution receipts |
Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the potential effects of excluding feed-in tariff businesses from the Enterprise Investment scheme and Venture Capital Trusts on the Government's capacity to encourage community-owned renewable energy schemes. [52189]
Mr Gauke:
Legislation will be introduce in the Finance Bill 2012 providing that companies whose trade consists wholly or substantially in the receipt of feed-in tariffs will only be eligible for the Enterprise Investment scheme
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or Venture Capital Trusts where commercial electricity generation commences before 6 April 2012. The change will not apply to any shares issued before 23 March 2011.
This change is designed to improve the focus of the schemes on smaller, higher risk companies. Draft legislation will be published for consultation before it is implemented.
Stamp Duty Land Tax: Tax Avoidance
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the level of avoidance of stamp duty on the purchase of homes through the use of companies, partnerships, or limited liability partnerships in (a) each of the last four financial years and (b) the next four financial years. [51068]
Justine Greening: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) keeps tax revenues for all taxes under review. HMRC intends to include further details about the avoidance risk to stamp duty land tax later in the year, in the ‘Measuring Tax Gaps’ publication for 2011.
Sterling: Valuation
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Governor of the Bank of England on the short and medium-term valuation of Sterling. [51535]
Mr Hoban: The Chancellor has frequent discussions with the Governor of the Bank of England on a wide range of issues including prospects for the UK economy.
Tax Allowances
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 28 March 2011, Official Report, column 38W, on tax allowances, what information his Department holds on the distributional effect of tax reliefs and allowances relating to (a) pensions and (b) individual savings accounts. [51605]
Mr Hoban: The available information on the distributional aspect of pensions and individual savings accounts as published by HM Revenue and Customs on their website can be found at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/pensions/table7-10-may10.pdf
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/isa/table9-7-07-08.pdf
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/isa/table9-10-07-08.pdf
Tax Avoidance
Chris Bryant: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what representations he has received from Lord Lawson of Blaby on tax loopholes operated through the Channel Islands; [51167]
(2) what advice he has received on closing tax loopholes used by British companies in the Channel Islands to avoid paying tax in the UK. [51168]
Mr Gauke
[holding answer 5 April 2011]: Treasury Ministers receive advice from HM Treasury and HMRC officials on the range of tax policy issues. This includes advice on risks to the Exchequer from tax avoidance
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and how they might be addressed. Ministers also receive representations from representative bodies, businesses, trade associations and individuals.
As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he made of the level of attrition into new avoidance schemes in calculating the revenue he estimates will accrue from the disguised remuneration avoidance measure announced in the 2011 Budget for each year from 2011-12 to 2015-16. [51538]
Mr Gauke: The assumptions and methodologies underlying the costing for the disguised remuneration measure are set out at page 46 of Budget 2011 policy costings, published alongside the Budget:
http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_policycostings.pdf
Tax Credits
Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the likely change in the level of research and development activity which will result from the tax credit rate increase for small and medium-sized enterprises announced in the 2011 Budget. [51545]
Mr Gauke: The policy costing published at Budget assumed that for every pound of tax revenue foregone, caused by raising the rate of research and development (R&D) tax relief for small and medium-sized enterprises, one extra pound would be spent on R&D. The increase in R&D expenditure is expected to be around £20 million to £30 million per annum.
Budget policy costings are available at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/2011budget_policycostings.pdf
Tax Credits: Business
Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the deadweight cost of the change in the rate of the research and development tax credit for small and medium-sized enterprises announced in the 2011 Budget. [51539]
Mr Gauke: Estimates of the Exchequer impact of raising the rate of research and development (R&D) tax relief for small and medium-sized enterprises were published at Budget in the policy costings’ document available at
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/2011budget_policycostings.pdf
The published static costing is the Exchequer impact with no increase in the forecasted expenditure on R&D as a result of the measure.
Taxation
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to paragraph 2.195 of the 2011 Budget, if he will make it his policy not to bring within the scope of the taxation system incapacitated persons who are not taxed at present. [51829]
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Mr Gauke: As announced at Budget, we are about to consult formally on modernising the definition of incapacitated persons used for direct tax purposes. This definition is used mainly to identify who is responsible for meeting tax obligations under the income tax self assessment system where a person is mentally incapable of doing so. This consultation proposes changes to the language that defines how those persons are defined for this purpose, while keeping the scope of those covered by the definition the same as now. The document will not propose any changes to the scope of taxation itself.
Taxation: Domicile
Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of revenue which will accrue to the Exchequer from changes in non-domiciled taxation announced in the 2011 Budget. [51541]
Mr Gauke: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the “Taxation of Non-Domiciles” section of the Budget 2011 Policy Costings document which is published on the HM Treasury website at the following address
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_policycostings.htm
Taxation: Environment Protection
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely change in the level of carbon dioxide emissions attributable to the tax on carbon proposed in the 2011 Budget in each year from 2013-14 to 2019-20. [51983]
Justine Greening: The impact of the carbon price floor on the level of carbon dioxide emissions in the UK is set out in the Tax Information and Impact Note published alongside the Budget. This is available online at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2011/tiin6111.pdf
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportion of his proposed carbon tax which will be passed on to (a) electricity consumers, (b) electricity generating businesses and (c) other groups. [52145]
Justine Greening: An explanation of the impact of the carbon price floor on wholesale electricity prices is set out in HMRC's Tax Information and Impact Note published alongside the Budget. This is available online at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2011/tiin6111.pdf
Taxation: Fuels
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the effects of the differential in price between diesel and unleaded petrol on the economic growth potential of the UK; and if he will consider the merits of using the tax and duty regime to equalise the price at the pump of diesel and unleaded petrol. [50870]
Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 30 March 2011, Official Report, column 365W, to the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr Hamilton).
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The price difference between petrol and diesel varies over time and is determined by market forces. A neutral excise duty treatment of diesel and petrol supports market transparency. The Chancellor keeps all taxes under review.
Taxation: Pensions
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department’s most recent estimate is of the likely cost to the public purse of pensions tax relief in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15. [52252]
Mr Gauke: There are a number of ways in which pensions tax relief can be received, including from contributions and investment income of funds.
The estimated cost of the various tax reliefs relating to pensions are published by HM Revenue and Customs on their website and can be found at
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/pensions/table7-9.pdf
The estimated cost of each of these reliefs in future years is not available.
Unemployment
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on the level of unemployment in (a) the UK, (b) each region of England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales and (e) Northern Ireland of the increases in duty under the beer duty escalator. [51547]
Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Shipley (Philip Davies) on 16 March 2011, Official Report, column 379-81W.
Unpaid Taxes
Mr Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, (b) the London borough of Bexley and (c) London have received demands for unpaid tax from HM Revenue and Customs in the last 12 months. [50399]
Mr Gauke: The information is not available at constituency or regional level.
VAT
Tessa Munt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the application of HM Revenue and Customs rules to value added tax on bartering transactions in respect of the gifting of energy provided from photovoltaic installations; and if he will make a statement. [50711]
Mr Gauke: The Government have received no representations on this matter. HM Revenue and Customs has already issued guidance on the treatment for VAT purposes of income received by property owners through the generation and export tariffs, and it is discussing with various interested parties the position where this income instead accrues to companies installing photovoltaic panels.
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VAT: Sports Clubs
Ian Austin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on ending the charging of value added tax on payments of Government grants to sports clubs; and what assessment he has made of such representations. [51211]
Mr Gauke: The Government have not received any representations on this matter. In general Government grants do not represent payment for any services supplied to the Government and thus no VAT is due on them.
Grant income may, of course, be used to purchase goods and services on which VAT is borne. The expectation is that the bid for the grant will reflect this.
Ian Austin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on exempting community amateur sports clubs from value added tax on capital expenditure. [51220]
Mr Gauke: The Government have not received any representations on this matter. Many amateur sports clubs have been able to register with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) as Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) and benefit from a range of tax reliefs, similar to the tax reliefs normally given to charities. These reliefs include exemption from corporation tax on interest, on trading income and income from property (within limits) and capital gains tax on disposals of assets. There are a number of specific VAT reliefs for charities including the construction of certain buildings. Unfortunately, there are no equivalent VAT reliefs for CASCs. The application of VAT reliefs is governed by European agreements that have been signed by successive governments. Under these agreements, we cannot extend or introduce new zero rates to cover supplies to CASCs.
VAT: Construction
Ian Austin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on measures to end the charging of value added tax on construction costs for all schools which open sports facilities out of hours; and what assessment he has made of such representations. [51212]
Mr Gauke: The Government have not received any representations on this matter. The construction of school buildings can qualify for the zero rate of VAT if they are intended to be used by charities at least 95% for non business purposes.
Water Charges
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer over what period he plans the funds he provided in the 2011 Budget to apply to reduce water charges in the South West to be disbursed to South West water bill payers. [50463]
Richard Benyon: I have been asked to reply.
The Government pledged in the Budget that we will consult on proposals to support households which face water affordability pressures, and those in areas with particularly high water bills, such as the south-west.
We will provide more details on the support that will be provided following this consultation.
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Winter Fuel Allowance
Mr Crausby: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what factors he took into account when making the decision to reduce the level of winter fuel allowance paid to those over 75 years; [50440]
(2) for what reasons the annual winter fuel payment for people over 80 is to be reduced from £400 to £300; and if he will make a statement. [50685]
Justine Greening: As set out in the spending review, winter fuel payments will continue as budgeted for by the previous Government. Winter fuel payments from winter 2011-12 will be worth £200 for pensioner households, or £300 for households with someone aged over 80.
The spending review also announced that cold weather payments have been permanently increased to £25 a week during periods of very cold weather. The lowest income pensioner households will also be among those benefiting from the warm home discount on their electricity bill.
Helen Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what savings he expects to accrue to the Exchequer as a result of his decision to reduce the level of winter fuel allowance in each of the next five years. [50986]
Steve Webb: I have been asked to reply.
Winter fuel payments for winter 2011-12 will be £200 for households with someone who has reached women’s state pension age and is under 80 and £300 for households with someone aged 80 or over. This return to the standard rates of winter fuel payment is exactly as budgeted for by the previous Government. It does not, therefore, represent a saving to the Exchequer.
An additional temporary amount of winter fuel payment was paid for the last three winters, taking the rates to £250 for households with someone who had reached women’s state pension age and was under 80 and £400 for households with someone aged 80 or over.
Figures in the following table show the estimated difference between forecasted expenditure of winter fuel payments at the standard rates compared to if they were continued at the higher temporary rates over the next five years. As noted above, this difference is not a saving to the Exchequer, compared with previous plans.
| £ million, cash terms | |||||
|
|
2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 |
| Notes: 1. Figures are in cash terms rounded to the nearest £10 million. 2. Difference is estimated based on unrounded figures and then rounded to the nearest £10 million. Therefore they may differ from the difference between the rounded figures available in the table. 3. Figures include winter fuel payments made to eligible recipients now resident in European economic area countries or Switzerland. | |||||
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Home Department
Forensic Science Service: Contracts
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contracts the Forensic Science Service has been awarded in each of the last three years. [50011]
James Brokenshire: The Forensic Science Service (FSS) have provided details of contracts they have been awarded in the last three years.
1. South West, North West and Wales region all services tender—all services:
The SW, NW and Wales contract was for initial three years and has since been extended to 31 March 2013. The FSS was awarded part of this tender alongside five other providers.
The FSS won the drugs, fingerprints and tachographs work. Three year contract.
3. National Forensic Framework Agreement (NFFA)—all services:
FSS was awarded a place on the framework for each of the 14 lots.
4. Thames Valley and Surrey—SOS services:
2008 contract was initially awarded to another supplier but later awarded to the FSS. Contract was signed for six months in March 2009, but still ongoing.
5. West Midlands Region (West Midlands, Staffordshire, West Mercia and Warwickshire)—DNA and Drugs:
Awarded March 2009 DNA Contract. Three year contract.
6. Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC)—Homicide and Violent:
Awarded May 2009 Lot 7 of the National Framework for Homicide and Violent Crime.
7. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)—Specialist DNA services:
Awarded October 2009 for initial period of one year to be extended in periods of one year.
8. NPIA—Environmental Monitoring of CAS Sample Preparation Room:
Awarded December 2009
9. West Yorkshire police—mobile phones:
Awarded December 2009.
10. East Midlands Region (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire)—all services:
Awarded May 2010 to supply all services for region relating to NFFA Lot 8 Sexual Offences and Lot 11—Road Traffic Investigation.
11. Metropolitan Police Service—mobile phones:
Awarded place on E-Forensics Framework December 2010 along with multiple other suppliers—awaiting contracts.
Forensic Science Service: Research
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Forensic Science Service spent on research and development in each of the last three years. [50010]
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James Brokenshire: Information provided by the Forensic Science Service (FSS) suggests that operating costs of their Research and Development Group were £4.01 million and £4.11 million for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 financial years respectively. The most recent estimate received from the company for the 2010-11 financial year shows operating costs for the Research and Development Group of £3.3 million.
Alcoholic Drinks: Prices
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the average annual number of deaths which will be avoided through implementation of her proposals for a minimum price for alcohol. [51312]
James Brokenshire: The Home Office is currently analysing the impact of the ban on the sale of alcohol below the cost of duty plus VAT. This analysis seeks to incorporate recent HM Revenue and Customs estimates of the responsiveness of demand to price and the Sheffield Alcohol Policy Model analysis of the associated social harms. It will inform an estimate on the average annual number of deaths avoided. These data will be published as part of an impact assessment to accompany legislation on the ban.
Mr Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what legal advice she has received on the introduction of a minimum unit price for alcohol within a local authority area. [52156]
James Brokenshire: The Secretary of State for the Home Department has received legal advice on a range of issues pertaining to alcohol pricing, including the effect of introducing a minimum price per unit of alcohol within a local authority area. The content of legal advice is subject to legal professional privilege and it is not appropriate to set it out at this stage other than in terms of the areas to which it relates.
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Animal Experiments
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the use of monkeys for experimental purposes in laboratories. [52027]
Lynne Featherstone: The Government recognizes that many people have a particular concern about the use of non-human primates. Under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 they, together with some other species, are given special protection and can only be used where animals of no other species are suitable.
Antisocial Behaviour: Prosecutions
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 there have been in respect of (a) noise, (b) graffiti and fly posting and (c) waste and litter in each (i) local authority and (ii) police authority basic command unit in each region of England and Wales since January 2008. [52387]
Mr Blunt: I have been asked to reply.
Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for criminal offences of waste disposal, littering and noise, are likely to be proceeded against under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Noise Act 1996. The number of defendants proceeded against under these statutes, by Government office region and police force area, England and Wales 2008 and 2009 (latest available) can be viewed in tables 1 and 2. It is not possible to identify separately offences of graffiti and fly-posting from other criminal damage offences.
Court proceedings data held centrally are not available at local authority or police authority basic command unit level.
Court proceedings data for 2010 are planned for publication on 26 May 2011.
| Table 1: The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for waste disposal, littering and noise offences, by Government office region and police force area, England and Wales, 2008 (1,2,3,4) | |||||
| 2008 | |||||
| Area | Environmental Protection Act 1990 s .33(8) | Environmental Protection Act 1990 s .33(9) | Env ironmental Protection Act 1990 s .33(6) | Env ironmental Protection Act 1990 s.87, 93 and 94 | Noise Act 1996 |
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| (1) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Corresponding offence descriptions for statutes are as follows: Environmental Protection Act 1990: s.33(8) Depositing, causing the deposition or permitting the deposition, treating, keeping or disposing of controlled (but not special) waste in or on land without a licence; s.33(9) Depositing, causing the deposition or permitting the deposition of controlled special waste in or on land without a licence; s.33(6) Contravening conditions of a waste management licence; s.87 Deposit litter; s.93 and 94 Failure to comply with Street Litter Control Notice. Noise Act 1996: Responsible for noise exceeding prescribed level from premises after service of notice. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice. | |||||