§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer against what criteria the ONS was determining the treatment of RenewCo in the national accounts. [18775]
§ Ruth Kelly[holding answer 27 November 20011: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Kidgell to Mrs. Theresa May, dated 4 December 2001:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question concerning against what criteria the ONS was determining the treatment of RenewCo in the national accounts. I am replying in his absence. (18775).The criteria ONS used in determining the national accounts treatment of Renewco are those specified in the international statistical manuals, namely the 1995 European System of Accounts and the 1993 System of National Accounts. Within the European Union, member states' implementation of these guidelines is subject to scrutiny by Eurostat (Commission) and national accountants in other member states.
§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice the ONS gave the Treasury on the treatment of RenewCo in the national accounts. [18774]
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§ Ruth Kelly[holding answer 27 November 2001]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Kidgell to Mrs. Theresa May, dated 4 December 2001:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question concerning what advice the ONS gave the Treasury on the treatment of RenewCo in the national accounts. I am replying in his absence. (18774)
ONS is responsible for the UK's national accounts, and, therefore, for the classifications of institutions and transactions within them. The Treasury applies the same classifications within public sector finances.In the case of RenewCo, the Treasury consulted the ONS, at various times, on how ONS would classify the institution within the national accounts. The ONS provided the following advice, on the following dates.On 3 April 2001 provisional advice was given, based on the provisional information provided to ONS, that RenewCo would be classified as a private sector institution.Following the lifting of confidentiality restrictions the case was examined by the ONS's Public Sector Classification Committee, which on 14 June 2001 confirmed the earlier provisional advice.On 27 July 2001 advice was given that RenewCo's planned receipts from the Strategic Rail Authority would be scored under the National Accounts heading "other capital transfers".On 26 September 2001 advice was given that, based on new information HM Treasury had provided on changes to the contract, the case would need to be re-examined.On 5 October 2001 provisional advice was given, based on the provisional information provided, that borrowing by RenewCo (now referred to as NGCL) would be classified as public sector borrowing.Copies of the letters giving advice are available from the Library of the House.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the involvement of the Office for National Statistics in negotiations between the Strategic Rail Authority, the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions and Railtrack about Renewco. [20416]
§ Ruth KellyThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Kidgell to Chris Grayling, dated 4 December 2001:
The National Statistician has been asked to answer your question about the classification of RenewCo. I am replying in his absence. (20417)I have already given details of the advice given and the dates in my reply to Theresa May MP, which appeared in Hansard.