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G7 Presidency
14. Claire Ward (Watford) (Lab): If he will make a statement on the steps he plans to take during the UK's presidency of the G7 to make further progress towards the millennium development goals. [221079]
The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Stephen Timms): In September, the UN millennium declaration review summit will acknowledge that progress has been too slow. Only two of the 18 goals are on course to be met, so as my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has already said this morning, we will be working in our presidency for an international finance facility to increase aid, for 100 per cent. multilateral debt relief and for a freer and fairer global trade system.
Claire Ward: I was due to speak to the Watford Oxfam and World Development Movement meeting this evening, but owing to the likelihood of business this afternoon, I probably will not get there. I wanted to give them an assurance that we would be working towards achieving those millennium development goals. Can he give me an assurance that I can pass on to them at another time that we will be doing all that we can to ensure that we erase debt and that we can truly make poverty history?
Mr. Timms: Yes, I can give my hon. Friend that assurance, and I pay tribute the work of Oxfam and the World Development Movement in her constituency, her work with those organisations and those organisations' work across the country. The campaigning on the issue has been extremely important in bringing about the progress that we are seeing. We need to double total aid flows from $50 billion to $100 billion a year to deliver the millennium goals. That is what the IFF will allow. Alongside that, we have also announced our timetable to meet the UN target of 0.7 per cent. of gross domestic product going to aid by 2013. As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has already said today, the publication of the Commission for Africa report tomorrow will also be a very important step in our developing world leadership in this area.
Rev. Martin Smyth (Belfast, South)
(UUP): May I congratulate the Minister on the work that is being done, but can we have an assurance that, in a world where we are seeking to help people, we will not encourage Governments to continue to oppress their people and abuse their liberties? On a day when we commemorate the low interest rates of 300 years ago, I should like to think that the liberty and democracy that
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was brought to our country then will be brought to Africa—to Eritrea, Zimbabwe and, in particular, Sudan and Darfur.
Mr. Timms: I completely agree, and I think the hon. Gentleman will welcome the proposals set out in the Commission for Africa report when it is published tomorrow.
Mr. Harry Barnes (North-East Derbyshire) (Lab): Is my hon. Friend aware that emails to Members are flooding in from young people who are galvanised by the "Make Poverty History" campaign? That is probably what led to the incredible number of Members—412—signing early-day motion 9. What can we do as a package during our presidency of the G7 to ensure that serious advances are made towards the objectives of that campaign, which means so much to so many people throughout the world? Thankfully, it means something to the younger generation in this country; they are often said to be uninterested in politics, but they are certainly interested in improving the world.
Mr. Timms: My hon. Friend is absolutely right about the enthusiasm, especially, as he rightly says, of young people. When Nelson Mandela spoke in Trafalgar square the other week, I noticed how excited young people from my constituency and throughout the country were about that event and what it signified.
We are absolutely determined to make progress through our presidency in the three areas that I identified: first, the IFF; secondly, 100 per cent. debt relief on the part of the multilateral organisations; and thirdly, a freer and fairer global trade system. I pay tribute to the work of all those who are campaigning, in particular the faith groups, which have provided a large share of the individual energy that is going into the campaign. "Make Poverty History" is doing a terrific job, and it needs to be continued throughout this year to maintain pressure on all the G7 countries.
First-time Buyers
15. Mr. Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland) (LD): What steps he is taking to help first-time home buyers. [221080]
The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Stephen Timms): Low interest rates and high employment have given more people the confidence to buy their houses. Home ownership has risen by 1.5 million since 1997. Shared ownership and equity stake schemes are already helping first-time buyers, and in "Homes for All" my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has set out plans for further progress.
Mr. Carmichael:
Does the Minister accept that stamp duty is now another barrier against people becoming first-time home owners? In 1993, when the duty was first applied to homes costing more than £60,000, it affected
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only 10 per cent. of first-time buyers, but it currently affects 85 per cent. Does he accept that reconsideration of the threshold and where it is set is long overdue?
Mr. Timms: That is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor in his Budget statement next week. However, I can say that the problem with proposals from the Liberal Democrats is that the numbers simply do not add up. Furthermore, it is worth making the point that at present 20 per cent. of residential purchases are exempt from stamp duty, and house purchases of up to £150,000 in the UK's most deprived wards are also exempt.
Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton, North) (Lab): Will my hon. Friend consider the possibility of providing tax incentives for low-cost and shared equity housing schemes for first-time buyers in the growth areas, which include Northampton? Where a large number of houses are being built there are real opportunities to meet some of the needs of first-time buyers who cannot purchase homes elsewhere.
Mr. Timms:
I had the opportunity of meeting a number of people in my hon. Friend's constituency earlier this week, and we talked about exactly that point. There is extremely good news for her constituents in my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's paper, "Sustainable Communities: Homes for All", especially the commitment to help more than 80,000 more people into home ownership by 2010. It includes new incentive schemes for first-time buyers and key workers, as well as the use of surplus public sector land—one of the particular topics that arose in that discussion.
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Tax
16. Mr. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold) (Con): What percentage of gross domestic product was taken up by taxation in 1997; and what his estimate is for 2007–08. [221081]
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Paul Boateng): The 2004 pre-Budget report set out the Treasury's latest projections for tax receipts. Updated estimates will be published in next week's Budget.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: I thank the Chief Secretary for that very full and very informative answer, but can he tell us why, in that 10-year period, tax as a proportion of GDP has gone up 2.5 per cent. in this country, whereas it has gone down 2.5 per cent. for most of our European competitors? Does not that prove once and for all that the Conservative party will always tax lower than the Labour party?
Mr. Boateng: That is a tired old mantra. The reality is that the figure has never reached the heights that it did under the last Conservative Administration and that the OECD figures show that we have one of the lowest tax burdens in the European Union, as well as a below-average tax burden compared with the OECD as a whole. That fact has been recognised by the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood), who in addressing a Tenon techlocate conference only last year, entitled "Challenges for Regional Development", said:
"Places like Ireland, the UK, the USA, Hong Kong, Singapore attract because their tax rates for business are low."
What better endorsement could we have of Labour policy than that?
Business of the House
12.30 pm
Mr. Oliver Heald (North-East Hertfordshire) (Con): Will the Leader of the House please give us the business for next week?
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