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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 12 December 1991
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Courts (Sunday Working)
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Attorney-General whether he has any proposals to have the law courts work on Sundays to expedite cases.
The Attorney-General : The Government have no plans for the courts to open on Sundays.
Radioactive Substances
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Attorney-General when he expects to publish the radioactive substances consolidation Bill.
The Attorney-General : The Lord Chancellor intends to introduce a Bill to consolidate the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 (as amended) on 16 December 1991. It is expected that the Bill will be published shortly afterwards.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Maxwell Companies (Pension Funds)
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek the removal of the current trustees of (a) the Mirror Group pension fund and (b) the Maxwell Communication Corporation pension fund and their replacement by independent trustees.
Mr. Maude : The removal or appointment of trustees is a matter for determination under the trust deeds of the pension schemes in question.
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the financial period of the most recent accounts of the pension funds of Mirror Group Newspapers plc and Maxwell Communication Corporation plc filed with the superannuations fund office of the Inland Revenue.
Mr. Maude : Information about the tax affairs of particular taxpayers is confidential.
Volunteer Drivers
Ms. Walley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reconsider the 4,000 mile threshold on his proposed taxation of voluntary drivers' mileage allowance in rural areas.
Mr. Maude : The position in law is that motor mileage allowances paid to individuals, whether employees or volunteer drivers, are liable to tax, but tax is payable only to the extent that the allowances exceed the costs of running and maintaining a car for work or for voluntary driving and so result in a profit.
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When working out these costs, volunteer drivers may use simplified administrative arrangements which are known as the fixed profit car scheme and are also available to employees. Under these arrangements "tax-free" rates, calculated by the Inland Revenue to reflect typical costs of running and maintaining a car for different engine sizes and different annual mileages, can be set against motor mileage allowances in order to calculate the taxable profit element. There are different "tax-free" rates above and below 4,000 miles. The breakpoint ensures that standing costs such as road tax, insurance and depreciation-- are properly spread over the total mileage driven (both private and non- private) and that the tax relief is confined to the non-private proportion of motoring costs. If volunteer drivers consider that the "tax-free" rates do not fully reflect their tax allowable motoring costs, they can keep detailed records of actual motoring expenses incurred, and private and voluntary driving, in order to make a claim based on their actual expenses.Ms. Walley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his assessment of the implications of his proposed voluntary drivers' mileage allowance for volunteer bureau transport services.
Mr. Maude : The position in law is that motor mileage allowances paid to individuals, whether employees or volunteer drivers, are liable to tax to the extent that they exceed the costs of running and maintaining a car for work or for voluntary driving and so result in a profit.
I am aware that concern has been expressed about the possible impact on the availability of volunteer drivers of the arrangements which have recently been introduced for taxing motor mileage allowances paid to volunteers. In response to that concern, it has been decided to phase in the introduction of the new arrangements. For the period from 6 October 1991 to 5 April 1993 one quarter of the net profit will be taxed ; for the tax year 1993-94 one half of the net profit will be taxed ; for the tax year 1994-95 three quarters of the net profit will be taxed. Tax will not be payable on the full profit element until 1995-96.
I hope that the phasing in of the charge to tax will meet the concern which has been expressed.
Mr. Bill Michie : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will raise the threshold of the exemption from taxation of the volunteer drivers' mileage allowance.
Mr. Maude [holding answer 11 December 1991] : The position in law is that motor mileage allowances paid to individuals, whether employees or volunteer drivers, are liable to tax to the extent that they exceed the costs of running and maintaining a car for work or for voluntary driving and so result in a profit.
When working out these costs, volunteer drivers may use simplified administrative arrangements available for employees (known as the fixed profit car scheme) under which "tax-free" rates calculated by the Inland Revenue to reflect typical costs of running and maintaining a car for different engine sizes and different annual mileages can be set against motor mileage allowances in order to calculate the taxable profit element. These arrangments are an alternative to keeping detailed records of actual motoring expenses incurred, and private and voluntary driving, and making a claim based on actual expenses.
As the hon. Member may be aware, it has been decided to phase in the introduction of the arrangments for
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collecting tax on allowances paid to volunteers. For the period from 6 October 1991 to 5 April 1993, one quarter of the net profit will be taxed ; for the tax year 1993-94 one half of the net profit will be taxed ; for the tax year 1994-95 three quarters of the net profit will be taxed. Tax will not be payable on the full profit element until 1995-96.Mr. Bill Michie : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding the volunteer drivers' mileage allowance.
Mr. Maude [holding answer 11 December 1991] : I have received a number of representations from organisations and individuals following the Inland Revenue's introduction of arrangements for collecting any income tax which may be due on motor mileage allowances paid to volunteer drivers. The representations have expressed concern about the possible impact of the new arrangements on volunteers' willingness to continue driving.
In replying to these representations, I have pointed out that tax is chargeable only if the allowances exceed the costs of running and maintaining a car for voluntary driving and so result in a profit ; and that it has been decided to phase in the new arrangements gradually over a period.
I am very much aware of the important and valuable service these drivers provide, and hope that the phasing-in arrangements will meet the concern that has been expressed.
Voluntary Tax Contributions
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people sent voluntary extra tax contributions to the Treasury last year ; what was the total amount of such contributions ; and what the corresponding totals were (a) five years and (b) 10 years ago.
Mr. Maude : The number and amounts of voluntary extra tax contributions received by the Inland Revenue were as follows :
|Number |Total amount
|(£)
-------------------------------------------------------
31 October 1981 |90 |129,334.98
31 October 1986 |87 |27,356.45
31 October 1991 |53 |147,012.95
Council Tax
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the level of charges per property by the private sector for the purposes of council tax valuation.
Mr. Maude : Following a competitive tendering exercise, the successful tenders by the private sector produce an average price of £1.58 per domestic property for the valuation bandings for the council tax.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a list of all those organisations which have been authorised to undertake council tax valuations ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maude : As a result of a competitive tendering exercise for the award of contracts for the valuation banding of domestic properties in England and Wales ready for the introduction of the new council tax on 1
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April 1993, 512 contracts have now been awarded to 337 private sector firms covering some 12 million properties divided between 1, 052 geographical lots. The Valuation Office Agency will undertake the valuation banding of the remaining 9 million properties.The total value of the contracts placed is £19.1 million. This represents excellent value for money for the Government and enables the work to commence on this straight away.
A list of the successful firms will be placed in the Library.
Early Retirement
Mr. Gould : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current position with regard to the taxation of local authority enhancements of voluntary early retirement schemes ; when the position was last changed ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maude : Payments under the Local Government (Compensation for Premature Retirement) Regulations 1982 are, for tax purposes, regarded as compensation for loss of office. They qualify under the "golden handshake" rules for exemption from tax on the first £30,000. Regular payments made as additions to pensions are chargeable to income tax on the full amount. This tax treatment has not changed since the regulations were introduced. Different rules might apply to payments under other retirement arrangements.
Car Tax
Mr. Roger King : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the present United Kingdom special car tax will be payable from 1 January 1993 on a car purchased and imported directly into the United Kingdom from another EC country.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : From 1 Janury 1993, car tax will be payable, as at present, on chargeable vehicles obtained in the EC and brought permanently into the United Kingdom.
Government Expenditure
Mr. Salmond : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish tables showing, for each year from 1989-90 to date, identifiable Government expenditure by function in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, expressed (a) in cash terms, (b) as a percentage of the United Kingdom total identifiable general Government expenditure, (c) as an amount per capita and (d) as an amount per capita expressed as an index, United Kingdom identifiable general Government expenditure=100.
Mr. Mellor [holding answer 11 December 1991] : Information on identifiable general Government expenditure by function and territory in 1989-90 is given in tables E5a and E5b of the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement (Cm. 1520). Information for 1990-91 and updated figures for 1989-90 will be published in the statistical supplement to the 1991 autumn statement, which is scheduled for publication at the end of January.
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Mortgage Interest Tax Relief
Mr. Salmond : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax relief goes on mortgage tax relief (a) at basic rate and (b) in excess of the basic rate in 1990-91 and 1991-92.
Mr. Maude [holding answer 11 December 1991] : The latest estimates are in the table. The estimate for 1991-92 is based on the standard assumption that interest rates remain at their current levels for the rest of 1991-92.
Cost of mortgage
interest relief
(£ billion)
|1990-91|1991-92
----------------------------------------------------
At the basic rate |7.2 |6.1
In excess of the basic rate |0.5 |-
|-- |--
Total |7.7 |6.1
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Mr. Salmond : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many individuals in Scotland are currently receiving mortgage interest relief ;
(2) if he will provide estimates of the regional distribution of mortgagors and mortgage interest relief in each year from 1988 to date ;
(2) what is the current cost to the Exchequer of paying mortgage interest relief in Scotland.
Mr. Maude [holding answer 11 December 1991] : Broad estimates based on the regional distribution of mortgage interest relief, from an analysis of the family expenditure surveys for the years 1988, 1989 and 1990, are shown in the table :
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Mortgage Interest Relief
1988-89 1989-90 1990-91<1> 1991-92<1><2>
Region |Number of |Cost |Number of |Cost |Number of |Cost |Number of |Cost
|mortgagors |(£ million)|mortgagors |(£ million)|mortgagors |(£ million)|mortgagors |(£ million)
|(thou- |(thou- |(thou- |(thou-
|sands) |sands) |sands) |sands)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |520 |250 |540 |310 |550 |350 |550 |310
Yorkshire |770 |370 |780 |450 |780 |510 |790 |450
North West |1,110 |530 |1,140 |680 |1,140 |770 |1,160 |640
East Midlands |660 |340 |670 |420 |680 |480 |680 |410
West Midlands |860 |430 |870 |540 |880 |620 |890 |510
East Anglia |350 |220 |360 |260 |370 |300 |370 |250
Greater London |1,010 |780 |1,020 |970 |1,030 |1,100 |1,040 |710
Other South East |1,930 |1,350 |1,970 |1,730 |1,990 |1,940 |2,030 |1,510
South West |840 |520 |850 |650 |860 |730 |870 |570
Wales |390 |180 |400 |240 |410 |270 |410 |230
Scotland |640 |370 |660 |460 |670 |530 |670 |420
Northern Ireland |120 |60 |140 |90 |140 |100 |140 |90
United Kingdom |9,200 |5,400 |9,400 |6,800 |9,500 |7,700 |9,600 |6,100
PRIME MINISTER
East Timor
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to ensure the enforcement upon the Indonesian Government of resolutions 384 and 389 of the United Nations on the Indonesian invasion of East Timor.
The Prime Minister : Since 1982, the United Kingdom has supported the UN Secretary-General in his efforts to promote contacts between Indonesia and Portugal to reach a settlement satisfactory to both sides, as called for in a resolution of that year's UN General Assembly.
Arms Control
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister if he will seek to initiate with President Bush an emergency meeting of the two remaining depository states of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty to discuss the status of commitments made to the treaty by the Government of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, following the declaration of an independent commonwealth of slavic states by the leadership of the Ukrainian, Byelorussian and Russian republics on 8 December.
The Prime Minister : We have already had discussions with the United States and our other NATO allies about the Soviet Union's commitments and obligation under all
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international treaties including NPT. I also discussed it with President Mitterrand at the European Council and NATO Foreign Ministers will discuss the matter on19 December. We have made it clear to the republics that their readiness to honour such commitments will be a major factor in developing our relations with them.Prime Minister's Office (Report)
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to publish a report on the operations of the Prime Minister's Office.
Iraq (Petrochemical Programme)
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister when Her Majesty's Government first learned of the petrochemical-3 (PC-3) programme in Iraq ; and what steps were taken to establish the extent of involvement by United Kingdom companies or organisations in that PC-3 programme.
The Prime Minister : We first learned of the PC3 programme in Iraq at the time the UN inspections were starting.
We have asked the UN special commission and the IAEA to let us have details of any evidence of involvement by British companies in Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programmes which may come to their
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attention. Any indication of wrongdoing will be urgently investigated. If strategic export controls have been breached, it will be a matter for the courts.Engagements
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Ministerif he will list his official engagements for Thursday12 December.
The Prime Minister : This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
HEALTH
Hospital Waiting Lists
Mr. Robin Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give for the six-month period April to September 1987 and for each subsequent six-month
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period, (a) the numbers of people admitted from waiting lists to hospital for in-patient treatment, (b) the numbers of people removed from in-patient waiting lists for reasons other than treatment, (c) the numbers of people admitted from waiting lists for day case treatment and (d) the numbers of people removed from day case waiting lists for reasons other than treatment.Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The information available centrally is given in the table. Total admissions from waiting lists have increased by more than 6 per cent. since March 1988.
It is important that health authorities actively manage their waiting lists to ensure that these contain only the names of people who need and want treatment. The regular validation of lists is now accepted management practice. People may come off waiting lists for reasons other than treatment if, for example, they have moved away, responded to an alternative treatment regime or have repeatedly not turned up or not replied to letters inviting them to get in touch with the hospital.
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Removals from elective waiting lists, NHS hospitals England
6 months Number of patients admitted from waiNumber of patients removed from waiting lists f
reasons other than admission
ending |In-patients|Day cases |Total |In-patients|Day cases |Total
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 1987 |n.a. |n.a. |n.a. |n.a. |n.a. |n.a.
March 1988 |947,854 |353,301 |1,301,155 |n.a. |n.a. |n.a.
September 1988 |941,863 |359,213 |1,301,076 |72,131 |18,419 |90,550
March 1989 |938,864 |392,646 |1,331,510 |86,256 |23,871 |110,127
September 1989 |939,516 |420,536 |1,360,052 |92,715 |26,784 |119,499
March 1990 |934,164 |454,266 |1,388,430 |102,963 |31,041 |134,004
September 1990 |910,557 |465,603 |1,376,160 |101,572 |36,409 |137,981
March 1991 |888,291 |496,554 |1,384,845 |125,408 |43,510 |168,918
Executive Agencies
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the new forms of alternative working patterns introduced into each of his Department's executive agencies since their establishment and give a breakdown by grade of the numbers of staff taking up each new working pattern for each new agency ;
(2) if he will list the post, grade and maximum salary payable, including performance-related element in each case where appointments from the private sector have been made to his Department's executive agencies at grade 7 or above since their establishment ;
(3) when the last annual report for each of his Department's executive agencies was published ; and when the next one is due ; (4) whether a group bonus scheme is in operation in each of his Department's executive agencies ;
(5) if he will list those new facilities for staff nurseries and health care schemes which have been introduced in each of his Department's executive agencies since their establishment ; (6) how many staff were in post on the date that each of his Department's executive agencies were established ; and how many staff are in post now, in each case ;
(7) how much was spent on events and publicity surrounding the launch of each of his Department's executive agencies ; and whether the cost was borne by the parent Department or the new agency.
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Mr. Dorrell : These are matters for the chief executives of the NHS Estate Management and Health Building Agency and the Medicines Control Agency. I have asked them to write to the hon. Member direct.
Schizophrenia
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the level of staffing required to meet the needs of schizophrenic patients within the community care programme.
Mr. Dorrell : It is for individual health and local authorities to determine their own manpower levels and requirements. In drawing up their community care plans, health and local authorities should agree a local framework for ensuring the availability of services and also the resources each authority will provide to obtain such services.
Hospitals (Parking)
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health which regions routinely charge for parking at hospitals.
Mr. Dorrell : This information is not collected centrally.
Dead Foetuses (Disposal)
Mr. Burt : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice is given to hospital authorities about the disposal of dead foetuses ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The NHS management executive will be issuing an executive letter to all general managers and chief executives in the NHS about the disposal of dead foetuses. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.Some hospitals are known to deal with these matters with understanding and sensitivity. The Government want all hospitals to apply standards of good practice, acceptable both to those personally involved, such as the parents, and to the hospital staff. The ethical position guiding the Government's thinking is the acknowledgement that there is a respect due to the dead foetus which is based upon its lost potential for development into a fully formed human being. That respect is due no matter what the circumstances of loss--stillbirth, miscarriage or termination of pregnancy. That respect needs to be reflected, as far as is practicable, in the arrangements for the disposal of the dead foetus.
The NHS management executive will be asking hospital managers to satisfy themselves that current arrangements are acceptable. It is important that, as far as possible, account is taken of any personal wishes which have been expressed about disposal. Subject to that, incineration of the dead foetus is the usual method of disposal. Where no special arrangements are called for, it will, in any event, be a basic requirement that separate containers are used for foetal tissue, and that the containers are delivered to the incinerator separately from any other material requiring incineration and are separately loaded into the incinerator.
Some concern has been expressed about the position of ancillary staff in relation to the handling of foetuses and foetal tissue following the termination of pregnancy. Such staff are not covered by the provisions of section 4 of the Abortion Act 1967--the "conscience clause"--which acknowledges conscientious objection to participation in treatment authorised by the Act. However, the Government believe that hospital managers will wish to ensure that the same principle is applied to any ancillary staff who express a conscientious objection to the handling of foetuses or foetal material. The issues covered in this statement will form the basis of the executive letter to general managers and chief executives. Copies will also go to relevant private hospitals.
National Disability Information Project
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the pilot sites selected for the national disability information project, the project team selected to manage the project, and the membership of the steering group.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Since the announcement of the national disability information project on 25 March 1991, Official Report, Volume 188, column 325, there has been considerable public interest in the project.
During June and July, applications were sought from groups of local disability information providers to become pilot sites for the project, to develop ways of improving information services to people with disabilities, their carers and service providers. Over 600 application packs were sent out, and 101 applications returned. The standard of applications was very high. The following 12 sites have been selected as representative of a range of approaches to developing information services and will take this work forward over the next three years :
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Berkshire Disability Information GroupBirmingham Information Federation
Devon Disablement Information and Advice Federation
East Yorkshire Information Service
Gateshead Disability Information Project
Gloucestershire--GUIDE
Kent Information Federation
Manchester Disability Information Service
Norfolk Disability Information Federation
Oldham Disability Alliance
The Southwark Disability Information Project
Walsall Information Federation
Tenders for the role of the project team to manage and co-ordinate the project were invited from nine organisations and the Policy Studies Institute was selected to perform this function.
A steering group, chaired by the Department of Health, has also been set up to provide general oversight and direction to the project. The non- departmental members of the steering group are :
Dr. R Blunden-Programme Director, Community Living Development Team, King's Fund Centre for Health Services Development.
Mr. J. Evans-Former Chair of the British Council of Organisations of Disabled People.
Mr. P. Ferns-Training Consultant, specialising in equality of opportunity.
Ms. S. Haffenden-Barking and Havering Family Health Services Authority, with project experience with Carers National Association. Mr. M. Laverman- Director of Social Services, Cleveland. Mrs. S. Richards-Chairman, College of Occupational Therapists. Mrs. D. Twitchin-Director of Living Options in Practice. Dr. T. Vincent, MBE-The Open University, Deputy Director and Head of the Centre for Information Technology in Education.
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