To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the tourism industry on the impact of the level of the pound against the euro since 1997. [35752]

The Chancellor and other Treasury Ministers receive regular representations from across the business community on many issues and we value their insights. The Government fully appreciate that the weakness of the euro, together with a sharp slowdown in the world economy last year, has made conditions difficult for tourism and other exporting industries.The Government's commitment to helping the tourism industry has been underlined by Monday's announcement of the unique package of match funding with the industry for promotion of the UK overseas. This £20 million package means than an extra £38 million has now been granted from the reserve, in support of tourism promotion, since the start of foot and mouth. This is at a time of great economic pressure.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the performance of the euro since 1 January. [35761]

It is not appropriate for the Government to comment on day-to-day developments in the foreign exchange market. The Government are pleased that the euro area is experiencing a broadly smooth changeover.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with his German counterpart on the European single currency. [35774]

The Chancellor has frequent discussions on a wide range of issues with his European counterparts.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in the north-west are receiving working family tax credit. [35753]

There are currently more than 181,000 families in the north-west benefiting from WFTC.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to support the voluntary and community sectors. [35754]

We value greatly the contribution of the voluntary and community sectors and have provided extensive support through a variety of fiscal and other measures.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on policy measures he intends to take by way of taxation to improve the competitiveness of the UK economy. [35756]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal measures he is taking in relation to the productivity gap between Britain and her main European competitors. [35765]

This Government have made significant progress in creating a modern corporate tax regime, providing long-term stability and the best possible environment for investment. The UK now has its lowest ever corporation tax rate, and the lowest rate of any major industrialised nation.The Pre-Budget Report announced new measures to further encourage growth and improve competitiveness, including: further reduction in the CGT rate for business assets; an R&D tax credit for large companies; and a doubling of the size limit for the Enterprise Management Incentives employee share option scheme.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the impact of productivity on the UK's competitiveness. [35757]

The Government recognise the importance of productivity for competitiveness and is raising the sustainable rate of productivity growth through both macroeconomic stability and measures to promote competition, enterprise, skills and investment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact that changes in regulation have had on the competitiveness of UK industry since 1997. [35766]

The Government have not made an aggregated assessment of the impact of regulation since 1997. Establishing such an assessment would undoubtedly involve significant practical difficulties.The impact of changes to a single regulation is considered at the policy development stage. A Regulatory Impact Assessment is completed for regulatory proposals unless the regulation has no or negligible costs. A RIA sets out the impact, in terms of costs, benefits and risks of the proposed regulation which could affect businesses, charities or the voluntary sector. This process helps policy makers to think through the consequences of proposals, improving the quality of advice to Ministers and encouraging informed public debate.Where Ministers choose a regulatory option, they must be satisfied that the benefits justify the costs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the heavily indebted poor countries' debt relief process in delivering a sustainable exit from debt for eligible countries. [35759]

The UK continues to work hard to ensure that the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative delivers an exit from unsustainable debt for eligible countries. We also call on other countries to follow our leads on bilateral policies, such as 100 per cent. relief at decision point, and in holding payments in trust for those countries yet to receive debt relief. Already 25 countries have qualified for debt relief, and they will benefit from over $60 billion in debt reduction, which will bring their debts to below the developing countries average.Indeed, just last week Ghana reached decision point qualifying for $3.7 billion of debt relief from the international community, and the UK is playing its part writing off over £200 million of debt owed by Ghana.At their meetings in November last year, both the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) and the IMF and Development Committee of the World Bank and the IMF, recognised that lower global growth prospects and declining terms of trade are likely to adversely affect many low-income countries. The IMFC, chaired by the Chancellor, called on the IMF, in close collaboration with the World Bank, to respond flexibly and proactively to the needs of Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs), including through additional concessional financing and debt relief where appropriate.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to discuss the reform of the HIPC initiative to ensure that debt sustainability is consistent with achieving the 2015 development goals at the Financing for Development Conference in Mexico in March. [39254]

The UK Government continue to work hard to ensure that the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative is a success and that it delivers a robust exit from unsustainable debt for eligible countries. The UK has been pushing to ensure that both donor countries and the international financial institutions respond flexibly and proactively to the needs of HIPCs in the current economic climate, and help those HIPCs that have yet to benefit from debt relief (such as those in conflict). In addition, the UK has pressed for all countries participating in the Financing for Development Conference in Monterrey, Mexico in March, to agree that future reviews of debt sustainability should also bear in mind the impact of debt relief on progress towards the achievement of the development goals contained in the Millennium Declaration (as can be seen from the draft Monterrey Consensus outcomes document, available at http://www.un.org/esa/ffd/).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to discuss greater and faster debt relief with (a) the International Monetary Fund, (b) the World Bank and (c) the regional development banks. [39253]

The UK Government have consistently been at the forefront of the international debate on debt relief issues, and have repeatedly pushed for the process to be speeded up.Out of 42 HIPCs in total, the UK Government are pleased that 25 have already reached decision point. However, most of the remaining countries are in conflict or have governance problems. For this reason the UK Government argued strongly last year for the creation of an International Monetary Fund post-conflict assistance account, and the UK is the first country to make a contribution.This account will help these countries to make progress towards peace, good governance and a sound economic framework so that they can secure the full benefits of debt relief under the HIPC initiative.Moreover, in November last year, in his role as chair to the International Monetary and Financial Committee of the International Monetary Fund, the Chancellor urged the World Bank and IMF to update their debt sustainability analyses in light of the global economic slowdown and declines in terms of trade. We should be proactive and flexible in order to supply additional debt relief at completion point for HIPCs, to ensure that the initiative delivers a robust exit from unsustainable debt.The United Nations Financing for Development Conference in Monterrey, Mexico in March and the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in April will provide an opportunity for the UK Government to discuss greater and faster debt relief with international financial institutions.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to discuss his proposal to hold the debt repayments of those countries without agreed poverty reduction strategy papers in a trust until a PRSP is agreed with other donor countries at the Financing for Development Conference in Mexico in March. [39255]

The UK Government continue to use international meetings to push other donor countries to follow the UK's lead on its "hold in trust" policy, and hold all debt payments in trust for the day they can be returned to fund poverty reduction for all countries still to secure debt relief under the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative because of civil wars, external conflict or the absence of a poverty reduction programme. We also urge other countries to continue to help those heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs) that have yet to benefit from debt relief by providing them both technical and financial assistance on concessional terms and this year, we have spent £130 million on technical advice and capacity building, to support the PRSP process.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to discuss the reform of poverty reduction strategy papers to take account of the financial resources required to achieve the 2015 development goals at the Financing for Development Conference in Mexico in March. [39256]

The UK Government have been at the forefront of pressing for the development of Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers as a key element of the HIPC debt relief process. PRSPs already provide an excellent framework for countries to set out their own spending priorities and needs, in order to achieve country owned goals, including the Millennium Development Goals.However, so far only 10 full PRSPs have been prepared although more than another 30 are under preparation. At the Financing for Development Conference the UK Government will continue to press for the development of well designed and costed PRSPs in all eligible countries. The UK Government will also continue to be calling for a substantial increase in development assistance in order to provide the financing required to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what response he has made to the Financial Services Authority's proposals to end polarisation in financial advice. [35760]

I am pleased that the FSA have been able to take forward work on the polarisation regime by publishing consultation paper 121, setting out the options for reform. And I am sure there will be a lively debate about the FSA's proposals.In principle, these proposals could represent a significant move in the direction of deregulation while maintaining and enhancing consumer protection. But they are of course subject to consultation and I would encourage all those with views to look at the consultation paper and supporting research reports, and let the FSA have their views by 19 April.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he is taking to increase the take-home pay of those in low paid work. [35763]

Over the last Parliament this Government introduced the following measures to make work pay: national minimum wage; working families tax credit and childcare tax credit; the 10 pence and 22 pence rates of income tax; and reforms to national insurance contributions.As a result of these measures families with children in the poorest fifth of the population are on average £1,700 a year better off in real terms.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the additional public debt would be as a percentage of GDP if all capital expenditure agreed under private finance and private partnership initiatives were included. [35764]

In my answer to my hon Friend the Member for Eccles (Ian Stewart) on 7 February 2002, Official Report, columns 1144–46W, I set out the estimated level of capital spend by the private sector in projects taken forward under the private finance initiative.It is not possible to calculate accurately the increased level of public debt that would be created if these projects were funded instead by the public sector. That would depend on the way in which the project was taken forward. Since the abolition of universal testing, public authorities choose the method of procurement which is best suited to individual projects.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the measures he announced in the pre-Budget report to support families. [35768]

The Government have received a number of representations regarding measures announced in the PBR to support families and have held discussions with a wide range of organisations both within and outside of Government. These are being considered ahead of Budget and Spending Review 2002.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his forecasts are for the impact of productivity on UK economic growth over the next three years. [35770]

Table A4 of the November 2001 pre-Budget Report (Cm 5318) shows the assumed contribution of trend labour productivity growth to trend output growth in the Government's latest economic forecast. In the neutral case, growth of trend labour productivity is assumed to contribute 1.9 percentage points to annual trend output growth during the pre-Budget report forecast period.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal steps he is taking to encourage investment by British business: [35771]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given earlier today to the hon. Member for Poole (Mr. Syms) at column 1424W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his plans for investment in public services in London. [35772]

Plans for expenditure on public services across the UK for the next three years will be set out in the summer, following the Spending Review.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he intends to fund improvements in local authority public services; and if he will make a statement. [35769]

The Government are making additional investment in public services. Local authorities are no exception. Government grant increased by 7.5 per cent. in the 2002–03 local government finance settlement, with provision for spending on education up 8.8 per cent. and social services up 6.2 per cent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will allocate additional resources for renewable energy in the comprehensive spending review. [35773]

Spending plans and outcome targets for Departments will be set as part of the 2002 spending review. The aim of the review will be to determine how best Departments' programmes can contribute to the Government's priorities.The 2002 spending review will roll forward existing spending plans and set budgets and outcome targets for Departments up to 2005–06. The aim of the review will be to determine how best Departments' programmes can contribute to the Government's priorities.The review, which will conclude by the summer of 2002, will take a thorough look at all programmes to ensure that the new plans fully reflect the Government's priorities and the scope for greater efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery. Each Department has been asked to produce a sustainable development report, which will assist in the consideration of the social, economic and environmental implications of their plans.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the climate change levy on the combined heat and power industry. [35775]

The climate change levy package has delivered significant benefits to the combined heat and power (CHP) industry.Fuel used by CHP, heat produced by CHP and electricity sold direct from CHP are all free of the levy. CHP plant can also benefit from 100 per cent. Capital Allowances. Nevertheless, as announced in the Pre-Budget Report, the Government will consider the environmental case for providing even more favourable treatment for CHP.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on recent measures he has taken to improve levels of employment. [35776]

Figures recently announced show that the employment level is at 28,232 million, and the claimant unemployment level stands at 951,000. Claimant unemployment in Ealing, South all is down by 27 per cent. since 1997. The new deal has been a contributing factor to these levels of unemployment.In particular new deal for young people has been successful in its four years of operation; it has placed over 340,000 18-24-year-olds into work. The new deal for 25 plus and the enhanced programme (since April 2001) has also helped over 92,000 long-term unemployed people into work.To build on this performance, the Government have introduced further measures to increase the effectiveness of the new deal and other employment programmes, including: piloting greater flexibility in the Options section of NDYP from November 2001 to give personal advisers more freedom to tailor the provision of support to meet the needs of the individuals, local employers and local labour markets; establishing a pilot mentoring scheme from January 2002 to assess how mentoring can best be used to improve employment chances and job retention under the new deal; step-up a new programme of transitional employment pilots will target our hardest to help clients who have not been able to find a job through the new deal. People who take up these jobs will receive individual support so that they can eventually make the transition to unsupported jobs in the open labour market; the Government are allocating additional resources to strengthen the Job Transition Service over the next two years, this is to support those communities affected by large-scale redundancies; and the working families' tax credit (WFTC) helps to make work pay for low to middle income families with children. Nearly 1.3 million families with children are currently receiving the WFTC, around 400,000 more than received its predecessor, Family Credit. On average these families are receiving £35 a week more on WFTC than under Family Credit.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the operations of the Office for National Statistics. [35777]

The Office for National Statistics operates in accordance with its three year business plan and reports performance in its annual report and accounts. Copies of these documents are available in the House of Commons Library and on the National Statistics website.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on how the new integrated tax credits will affect families with children in Lancashire. [35778]

The new child tax credit, to be introduced in April 2003, will be a single, seamless system of support for families with children. It will build on the foundation of universal child benefit, bringing together all income related payments for children into a single strand of support paid to the main carer.The child tax credit will be complemented by the new working tax credit and rates and thresholds for these two new tax credits will be set in Budget 2002. As decisions on rates and thresholds have not yet been taken, it is not possible to assess the impact of the tax credits on particular families.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the estimate his Department has made of the proportion of the work force who are unemployed and economically inactive, broken down by region. [35779]

The Government's aim is employment opportunity for all, moving towards our long-term ambition that, by the end of the decade, there will be a higher proportion of people in work than ever before.The number of jobs has increased by over 1.25 million since the 1997 election, with employment rising and unemployment falling in every region and country of the UK.The monthly National Statistics First Release "Labour Market Statistics" reports labour market data for the regions and countries of the UK. The regional labour market summary in Table 18(1) includes figures on unemployment and economic activity on the basis requested. This publication is available in the Library of the House of Commons.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the aggregate debt is authorised through PFI projects by the Government sine 1997. [35780]

The annual Financial Statement and Budget Report sets out the estimated level of payments under PFI contracts for the next 25 years. In my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Eccles (Ian Stewart) on 7 February 2002, Official Report, columns 1144–46W, I updated this table.These figures represent expected payments for services delivered under PFI contracts. Such payments are conditional on the delivery of services to the agreed standard and may be terminated or abated in the event of failure to do so.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress in international efforts to relieve world poverty. [35781]

In recent decades, global development progress has taken place at historically unprecedented rates. Over the last 40 years life expectancy at birth in developing countries has increased by a remarkable 20 years. Over the past 30 years, the illiteracy rate in the developing world has been cut by nearly half, from 47 per cent. to 25 per cent. of all adults. The number of people subsisting on less than $1 per day rose steadily for nearly two centuries, but over the past 20 years it has begun to fall. Thanks to better economic policies in many countries—most importantly in China and India—the number of poor people worldwide has fallen by up to 200 million, even as the world's population rose by 1.6 billion since 1980.But progress has not been even. Sub-Saharan Africa saw no increase in its per capita incomes between 1965 and 1999, even with improved performance in the late 1990s. Despite progress in education and health indicators, the AIDS epidemic has sharply reversed progress on life expectancy in this region. Many of the transition economics of Eastern Europe and Central Asia suffered deep declines in living standards and sharp rises in inequality during the 1990s.The UK fully supports the Millennium Development Goals agreed by the United Nations, including that by 2015: instead of 110 million children denied primary education, every child will have the chance of schooling; instead of seven million avoidable deaths each year from preventable diseases, child mortality will be reduced by two thirds; and instead of one billion living in absolute poverty, the proportion of people living in poverty will be halved by 2015.These are challenging targets. But with the right policies in developing countries and developed countries, supported by the right amount and effective use of resources, most of the goals are achievable. For globalisation to be managed well, we need effective and transparent global institutions which address the challenges in the poorest countries. Trade, investment and development assistance are essential building blocks for poverty reduction.The Government have increased the budget of the Department for International Development (DfID) to £3.6 billion—a 45 per cent. increase in real terms between 1997–98 and 2003–04. We will significantly raise the amount of our development aid, and also raise its share in national income, in our next spending round covering the years up to 2005–06. The Government are also promoting a significant increase in development aid from all donor countries and international institutions to build capacity and address the long-term causes of poverty in the poorest countries. The Government have proposed an International Development Trust Fund to pool contributions and build on the work of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the regional development banks.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the 30 largest contracts awarded by his Department from (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999, (c) May 1999 to April 2000, (d) May 2000 to April 2001 and (e) May 2001 to the latest date, indicating in each case the values of the contracts and the companies with which the contracts were placed; [38728](2) which non-accounting and non-information technology external organisations which previously held contracts with his Department

This information could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2002, Official Report, column 1037W, if he will place a copy of the strategic marketing review in the Library. [39035]

It would not be appropriate to place the strategic marketing review in the Library as it contains material that is commercially sensitive.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2002, Official Report, column 1037W, what action the Office of National Savings has taken, pursuant to the conclusion of the strategic marketing review that it should develop the relationship with Post Office. [39034]

We have set up a governance structure at a strategic and tactical level between National Savings and Investments and Post Office Limited, working jointly on projects to achieve positive outcomes and increased value for both organisations. This has led to a deeper understanding of each organisation's primary objectives and business environment, and consequently a much greater degree of commercial and operational alignment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many small businesses have accepted the offer of a detailed health check of their payroll systems. [38515]

The information is as follows:

• Year ended 31 March 2001^*—1,075
• 1 April 2001 to 31 January 2002—627
• ^* First year health check service offered.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the trends in the number of income tax payers between (a) 1997–98 and (b) 2001–02. [38518]

I refer the hon. Member to "Inland Revenue Statistics" table 2.1, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. The latest version can be accessed on the Inland Revenue website http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/income—tax/it—t01—1.htm.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his plans to reduce poverty in the United Kingdom. [35758]

This Government are committed to abolishing child poverty within a generation and halving it by 2010. A strategy document entitled "Tackling child poverty: giving every child the best possible start in life" was published in December 2001. This document will inform the Budget and Spending Review 2002.As a result of personal tax and benefit changes announced in the last Parliament, there are now 1.2 million fewer children in poverty than there would otherwise have been. A new tax credit for families with children—the child tax credit—will be introduced for children from April 2003 building on the foundation of universal child benefit. But child poverty is not only about incomes, it is also about inadequate service provision. The Government have made substantial new investments in this area. From 2000–01—2003–04, average real-terms annual growth in spending on education and training in England will be over 5.5 per cent. In addition, extra funds have been made available for Sure Start, Neighbourhood Renewal and the Children's Fund.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been allocated from the contingency fund to finance the military action in Afghanistan. [35767]

The Contingencies Fund is not part of the Government's budgetary arrangements. It allows for cash advances to departments for expenditure on urgent services in anticipation of parliamentary approval.MOD are seeking an advance pending Spring Supplementary Estimates approval for £1.6 billion, to be repaid once the Estimate is approved. This relates to a range of additional resources for MOD, including Afghanistan.I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given by the Minister of State for the Armed Forces on 26 February 2002,

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason he selected Arthur Andersen to take the lead role in his value for money report on PFI; and how many PFI contracts have been given to (a) Arthur Andersen and (b) Accenture since that report was completed. [33283]

Through a competition under established procurement procedures, a report on Value for Money Drivers in the Private Finance Initiative was commissioned in 1999 by the Treasury Taskforce. Three firms bid for the work including Arthur Andersen, which was selected because it offered best value for money.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many contracts were let by his Department and agencies for which he is responsible to (a) PWC Consulting or PricewaterhouseCoopers,

The following information and tables provide the information required in the form in which the Chancellor's Departments and agencies have been able to compile it, without having to incur disproportionate costs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the process by which members of the Royal Mint shareholder panel were chosen; and if he will place the terms of reference for the posts in the Library. [38258]

In addition to civil servants, the shareholder panel's three private sector members were appointed using the principles set out in the Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. This involved seeking nominations from approximately 130 private and public sector bodies, selection by a panel including an independent assessor and public announcement of the appointments.The terms of reference for the posts have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what outstanding liabilities there are to the United Kingdom of lend-lease loan facilities arranged during the Second World War; [38441](2) what total payments have been made to meet World War II debts owed to the United Kingdom by other countries; what debts remain unpaid; and what the schedule is of future payments to the UK; [38425](3) what the level is of First World War debt owed by the United Kingdom to the United States of America; in what year repayments were last made to the USA; and what plans he has to

The information is as follows.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for increasing Britain's contributions towards education in foreign countries in the next three years. [38815]

The Government are strongly committed to achieving the Millennium Development Goals of universal primary education (UPE) in all countries by the year 2015 and gender equity in primary and secondary schooling by 2005.Since May 1997 the Department for International Development has committed over £600 million to education. In addition, we will be launching the Commonwealth Education Fund on 12 March. The Fund will support the achievement of universal primary education (UPE) in the poorest Commonwealth countries. The Government have pledged £10 million to kickstart the Fund, and will match donations from business and individuals pound for pound including tax relief.Education will continue to be given high priority under our development assistance programme because it is a precondition of development and poverty reduction.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects all countries eligible for assistance with debt relief under the HIPC initiative to receive debt relief; and what plans he has to raise this at the Financing for Development Conference in Mexico in March. [39252]

The UK Government have consistently been at the forefront of the international debate on debt relief issues, and have repeatedly pushed for the process to be speeded up.To be eligible for assistance with debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative countries must show a commitment to poverty reduction and have an interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). Out of 42 HIPCs in total, the UK Government are pleased that 25 have already reached decision point.However, of the remaining countries most are in conflict or have governance problems. For this reason the UK Government argued strongly last year for the creation of an International Monetary Fund post-conflict assistance account. This account will help these countries to make progress towards peace, good governance and a sound economic framework so that they can secure the full benefits of debt relief under the HIPC initiative.The UK raised these issues at the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank last year, and will continue to do so in all appropriate international forums, including the Financing for Development Conference in Mexico in March.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the mathematical formula he uses to decide net change to spending for devolved administrations. [38822]

The formula was published by the Treasury in the Statement of Funding Policy in July 2000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 700W, on special advisers, if he will state the purpose of advising departmental heads of information of contacts with the media; and if he will make a statement. [39109]

The purpose is set out in clause 9 of the code of conduct on special advisers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 14 February 2002, Official Report, column 579W, on small enterprise allowances, what use has been made of these allowances. [38660]

While the Inland Revenue are looking at how businesses use the scheme, it is not currently possible to draw any conclusions.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what computer software complies with the Inland Revenue's payroll software standards. [38516]

There are currently 13 software packages which have been tested and proven to comply with the Inland Revenue payroll standard.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the changes in Inland Revenue staff numbers between 1 January 2000 and 1 January 2002. [38519]

The changes in Inland Revenue staff numbers between 1 January 2000 and 1 January 2002—given in the Official Report, 4 February 2002, column 695W—are due to the net effect of various new initiatives including support for new businesses, the extension of child tax credit and the collection of student loans and in response to the Grabiner report into the informal economy. They are consistent with figures of planned annual staff usage published in the Government's Expenditure Plans, 2001–04, a copy of which is held in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the work of the Inland Revenue Business Support Team. [38514]

The published Inland Revenue Annual Report for the year ending 31 March 2000 (pages 12 to 13) contains full details of the work of Inland Revenue Business Support Teams.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the economic impact of the Enterprise Investment Scheme and Venture Capital Trust schemes. [38512]

An independent contractor is currently undertaking research, for the Inland Revenue, into the economic effects of the EIS and VCT schemes. This work is expected to be completed in the summer.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies with fewer than (a) 16 and (b) seven employees took advantage of enterprise management incentives in 2000–01. [38517]

Enterprise management incentives (EMI) were introduced in Finance Act 2000 as part of the Government's productivity and enterprise agenda. They are targeted, tax-advantaged share option incentives to help small companies recruit and retain the staff they need to grow. Until Finance Act 2001 there was a limit of 15 on the number of employees in a company that could be granted EMI options. In Finance Act 2001 that limit was removed and replaced with an overall limit on the value of options granted of £3 million per company.In January 2002 the gross asset limit, which defines the size of company that can qualify for EMI, was doubled from £15 million to £30 million. The number of people employed by a company is not relevant to the decision on whether it qualifies to grant EMI options and the information requested is not available. However, between 6 April 2000 and 5 April 2001 4,540 options were granted by 807 companies, an average of 5.6 options per company.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the report and recommendations of the Review Body on Senior Salaries. [40338]

The 2002 report of the Review Body on Senior Salaries, which makes recommendations about the pay of the senior civil service, senior military personnel and the judiciary, together with the annual uprating of Parliamentary salaries, is being published today. Copies are in the Vote Office and the Library of the House. I am grateful to the Chairman and members of the Review Body for their work.The main recommendations of the Review Body are: Senior Civil Service (SCS): an increase from 1 April 2002 of 2.5 per cent. to the Government's final indicative rates for the minima, target rates and maxima for each pay band and a new band for Permanent Secretaries; a minimum bonus payment of 3 per cent. or £2,000, whichever is the higher, for those making the greatest contribution; and a sum equivalent to 0.4 per cent. of the total SCS pay bill to be made available for use by departments to address anomalies; Senior military: an increase from 1 April 2002 of 2.5 per cent. in the value of all points on the new incremental pay scales; and Judiciary: an increase from 1 April 2002 of 8 per cent.The Government have decided to accept these recommendations in full for the senior civil service and senior military. The award for the judiciary will be staged, with 3.6 per cent. payable from 1 April 2002, and the remaining 4.4 per cent. payable from 1 April 2003.The cost of all the awards will be met within existing departmental expenditure limits.Pay increases for Members of Parliament and Ministers are linked automatically to the increase in pay bands for the senior civil service. Their pay entitlement will therefore increase from 1 April 2002 by 2.5 per cent. In addition they will receive the second and final instalment of £2,000 recommended by the Review Body on Senior Salaries in its forty eighth report of March 2001.

To ask the Prime Minister in respect of (a) the flat above No. 10 Downing Street, (b) the flat above No. 11 Downing Street, (c) the flat in 1 Carlton Gardens, (d) Flat 1 in Admiralty House, (e) Flat 2 in Admiralty House, (f) Flat 3 in Admiralty House and (g) Government House in Pimlico (i) who the present occupants are, (ii) how much has been spent on (A) routine maintenance and (B) other building works in each year since 1995 and (iii) which have their council tax liabilities met by the inhabitants. [34369]

[holding answer 7 February 2002.]: The flats above numbers 10 and 11 Downing Street have traditionally been the residences of the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The flat in 1 Carlton Gardens is currently occupied by the President of the Council. The flats in Admiralty House and the Government House in Pimlico, which in the past have been assigned to a variety of Ministers, are currently occupied by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Home Secretary. One flat in Admiralty House is currently unoccupied.Payment for routine maintenance and other building works is the responsibility of the occupying Minister's department. Expenditure on work to the flat above No. 11 Downing Street is as follows:

To ask the Prime Minister how many receptions have been held at No. 10 Downing Street since 1 May 1997; and if he will list (a) the date, (b) the purpose, (c) the host, (d) the estimated number in attendance and (e) the cost to public funds of each reception. [34439]

[holding answer 7 February 2002]: The programme of events at No. 10 is designed to give access to as many people as possible and includes regular children's tea parties and receptions for a wide cross-section of the community.Over 280 official and charity receptions have been held at 10 Downing Street since 1 May 1997. I have placed a list in the Library.