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London Inland Revenue
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many inquiries the London Inland Revenue Mobile Advice Centre has handled; and if he will make a statement. [74550]
Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue Mobile Advice Centre has handled 1,984 inquiries since it was brought into service on 21 October 1998.
Shipping Tax
Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce a tonnage-based tax regime for UK shipping. [75523]
Dawn Primarolo: The Chancellor has announced that Lord Alexander of Weedon will conduct an independent study of the national and international issues.
Computers for the Blind
Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to zero-rate for VAT computers fitted with screen readers and voice synthesisers for blind people. [74628]
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Dawn Primarolo:
People who are blind can already purchase at the zero-rate of VAT goods which are designed solely for use by a handicapped person. This includes specialised software and hardware for use with computers.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the impact of the operation of tapers on working families tax credit benefits; [69936]
(3) what assessment he has made of the impact on poorer income groups of the change from the family credit programme to the working families tax credit programme. [70276]
Dawn Primarolo:
The Working Families Tax Credit, which builds on Family Credit, will have a higher withdrawal threshold and a flatter taper. These improvements will ease the poverty trap by allowing people to keep more of what they earn as they increase their earnings.
(2) what factors underlay the setting of the maximum credit limit on working families tax credit; [69688]
Minister for Science
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to his answer of 26 February 1999, Official Report, column 455, concerning meetings on genetically modified foods and crops, for what reason the Minister for Science left the meeting. [75541]
Dr. Jack Cunningham [holding answer 9 March 1999]: My noble Friend the Minister for Science set out his reasons for withdrawing from Government decisions or discussions relating to genetically modified food and crop policy in his statement of 16 February. This stated:
- "At the time I became a Minister I stated in the press statement I issued that while all my shares in J. Sainsbury plc would be placed in a blind trust, the size of my shareholding in the Company meant that it was likely that I would retain a beneficial interest in the Company via the blind trust. I therefore said that I would stand aside from decisions or discussions having any specific effect on the company."
Electronic Red Boxes
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will name the Ministers in his Department who are regular users of electronic Red Boxes. [76173]
Mr. Kilfoyle: The original electronic red box was essentially a laptop computer built into the traditional red box casing. It provided a useful symbol and demonstration to raise the profile of information-age government.
Experimentation with this device showed its useful facility was the secure connection that allowed non-sensitive documents and information to be emailed between the Private Office and the Minister. However, development of the Government Secure Intranet and other
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research, is examining alternative ways to provide this capacity.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list those Ministers in his Department
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who were present at the recent Brit awards in an official capacity, indicating the organisation acting as their sponsor or host. [76648]
Dr. Jack Cunningham
[holding answer 15 March 1999]: No Ministers in my Department attended the recent Brit awards.