HC Deb 08 November 1995 vol 265 cc909-10W
Mr. Betts

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list by type of project(a) how many schemes have been approved to date under the private finance initiative, (b) what is the value of those schemes and (c) what public sector contribution will be required both initially and as revenue support during the lifetime of the schemes. [41745]

Mr. Jack

[holding answer 7 November 1995]: By the end of 1995–96, I expect projects to a value of some £5 billion to have been agreed. Fuller details of the major projects concerned were published in the Treasury press notice 136/94 of 29 November 1994. Within this total, there is a large number and variety of projects, which are being taken forward by a number of public sector bodies, including those outside central Government. Detailed information of the kind requested by the hon. Gentleman is not held centrally.

Mr. Bayley

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will estimate for the latest year available the number of married couples in the United Kingdom, including those couples that are dependent on benefits, who have(a) insufficient income and (b) sufficient income to use the married couple's allowance in full to offset against tax; [42288]

(2) what is the number of taxpayers who are entitled to (a) the married couple's allowance, (b) the additional personal allowance (c) neither of these allowances because their partner is claiming the allowance, (d) neither of these because they are unmarried and do not have dependent children and (e) the widow's bereavement allowance. [42286]

Mr. Jack

I cannot answer substantively before Parliament is prorogued. I will, however, write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Rowlands

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has of the number and proportion of income taxpayers in(a) Wales, (b) Mid Glamorgan and (c) Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney who pay no higher than the 20 per cent. rate; [41608]

(2) what estimate he has of the number of people in employment in (a) Wales, (b) Mid Glamorgan and (c) Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney who earn enough to pay income tax. [41609]

Mr. Jack

The table provides estimates for those resident in Wales, Mid Glamorgan and Merthyr Tydfil or Rhymney Valley districts. Figures are given for 1993–94, the latest year in which information can be provided below the United Kingdom level.

Financial arrangements for projects under the private finance initiative fall into a number of categories. These include financially free-standing projects where public sector involvement is limited to enabling the project to go ahead; services sold to the public sector where the cost is met wholly or mainly by charges from the private sector supplier to the public sector; and joint ventures, where the cost of the project is met partly from public funds and partly from other sources of income.