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16 Jul 2004 : Column WA161
Written Answers
Friday, 16 July 2004.
House of Lords: Smoking
Baroness Wilkins asked the Chairman of Committees:
What requests have been made by representatives of the GMB, the Public and Commercial Services and the Prospect trade unions, on behalf of staff employed in the House of Lords, to ban smoking in areas where staff are working. [HL3857]
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Brabazon of Tara): The GMB, the Public and Commercial Services and the Prospect trade unions have recently written a joint letter to the Head of Human Resources to raise concerns that smoking is permitted in parts of the House of Lords where their members work. In particular, they requested that proposals should be brought forward to ban smoking in areas where staff are working. A meeting is being arranged with the unions to discuss this matter further.
Baroness Wilkins asked the Chairman of Committees:
Whether any of the House of Lords domestic committees have discussed the dangers of secondary or passive smoking as it affects staff employed in the House of Lords. [HL3858]
The Chairman of Committees: The House of Lords Offices Committee, following consultation with its sub-committees, discussed smoking policy in March 2001. These discussions took note of the effect of secondary or passive smoking on staff. The resulting policy was agreed by the House on 21 March 2001.
Following recent representations by Members, it is expected that smoking policy, including the effect of passive smoking on staff, will be discussed at the next meeting of the Administration and Works Committee. The Refreshment Committee briefly discussed the sale of cigarettes in relation to smoking policy in Refreshment Department outlets at its meeting on 14 July, but deferred any decisions pending further discussion of the House-wide smoking policy.
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
In light of the annual report of the Chief Surveillance Commissioner, whether they intend to review or amend the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Directed Surveillance and Covert Human Intelligence Sources) Order 2003. [HL3583]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The recommendations made by the Chief Surveillance Commissioner in his latest
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annual report on the operation of the provisions in Part II of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 are currently being considered in consultation with relevant public authorities.
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress is being made towards implementation of Part III of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. [HL3584]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government are keeping under review the need to implement Part III of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. Consultation with law enforcement and intelligence agencies has not, to date, indicated a pressing operational need for these provisions to be implemented.
Civil Partnership
Lord Tebbit asked Her Majesty's Government:
In what respects, other than its availability to persons of the same sex, a civil partnership as envisaged in the Civil Partnership Bill differs from a civil marriage. [HL3625]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: There are a number of differences between civil partnership and civil marriage; for example, a civil partnership is formed when the second civil partner signs the civil partnership document, a civil marriage is formed when the couple exchange spoken words.
In relation to the rights and responsibilities that flow from the formation of a civil marriage, the Government have aimed to provide parity of treatment between civil partners and spouses.
Schools: PFI Projects
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay asked Her Majesty's Government:
In which private finance initiative and public/private partnership projects in education Jarvis plc or any of its subsidiaries is:
(b) a member of a contracting consortium (showing in each case the percentage share of Jarvis plc or its subsidiaries) and
for each project, what is the contract period and total value. [HL3615]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): The department publishes a document called the project list which lists all the schools private finance initiative (PFI) projects that are currently in procurement, under construction or operational. The projects are listed by local educational authority area,
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the nature of the project and, where the contract has been signed, details of the contractor, the value of the contract in terms of PFI credits and the completion date. This list is updated on a regular basis and can be accessed via the website www.teachernet.gov.uk/pfi.
European Union: Taxation
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
In respect of each of the 25 member states of the European Union, what is:
(a) the top rate of inheritance tax between unconnected persons;
(b) the top rate of capital gains tax on (i) shares and (ii) other assets; and
(c) the top level of annual wealth tax;
and, for each member state, what is the threshold (expressed in both sterling and euros) at which the top rate applies. [HL3679]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord McIntosh of Haringey): In the United Kingdom, the rate of inheritance tax is 40 per cent on the value of an estate over £263,000 (394,500 euros).
Capital gains tax on both shares and other assets is charged at an individual's marginal rate of income tax on gains over £8,200 (12,300 euros). Higher rate tax of 40 per cent starts to be paid at £36,145 (54,218 euros) of gross income. But business asset taper relief can reduce this rate to an effective rate of 10 per cent for higher rate taxpayers.
The United Kingdom has no wealth tax.
Her Majesty's Government have no responsibility for the tax systems of the other 24 member states of the European Union and it would therefore be inappropriate to provide the information sought for those countries.
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
In respect of each of the 25 member states of the European Union, what is the standard rate of corporation tax. [HL3681]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: In the United Kingdom, the main rate of corporation tax is 30 per cent.
Her Majesty's Government have no responsibility for the tax systems of the other 24 member states of the European Union and it would therefore be inappropriate to provide the information sought for those countries.
British Transport Police
Lord Elton asked Her Majesty's Government:
16 Jul 2004 : Column WA164Lord Davies of Oldham: The British Transport Police has three main sources of income:
Police service agreements held with the rail industry (train operating companies, freight operating companies, Network Rail and London Underground Limited) for the provision of core policing services.
Grants from the Government for specific projects including: Airwave (the national police radio system); Street Crime Initiative; and anti-terrorist vehicles and equipment.
Ad hoc income from the rail industry and other bodies, to include the Royal Train, cost recovery (for example, Home Office DNA expansion programme), and other incidental income (for example, secondment reimbursement).
Lord Elton asked Her Majesty's Government:
In the most recent financial year for which figures are available, what percentage of the income due to the British Transport Police was received respectively (a) more than three months; (b) more than six months; and (c) more than 12 months; after the due date. [HL3605]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The following information has been provided by the British Transport Police:
during 2003–04, 2.5 per cent of income was received after the due date for payment of invoices;
the breakdown requested at (a), (b) and (c) could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
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