§ Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to assess the proportion of private sector employees who received computers as a result of employer-provided home computer initiatives in each year since 1997; [157204]
(2) if he will assess the impact of the £500 annual exemption from the taxable benefit on loaned computers introduced in the Finance Act 1999. [157205]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThe Office for National Statistics have included extra questions in their quarterly internet access survey to assess consumer awareness and take up of Home Computing Initiatives (HCI) which use the annual tax exemption on loaned computers. Industry partners are also conducting tracking which the Office of the e-Envoy and the Department of Trade and Industry will use as part of their overall assessment. The impact of HCI schemes on levels of home computer penetration and internet access will also be monitored on an ongoing basis.