§ 17. Mr. Derek TwiggTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current level of receipts from the windfall levy for spending on the welfare-to-work programme. [32509]
§ Mr. Geoffrey RobinsonThe first tranche of the windfall tax was paid on time and in line with our forecast of some £2.6 billion, on 1 December. We are grateful to the companies for their co-operation.
35. Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with his European Union counterparts on his policy to spend the windfall levy on a welfare-to-work programme. [32527]
§ Mr. Gordon BrownI have discussed the Government's Welfare to Work programme on many occasions with other European Union Finance Ministers, including at ECOFIN. My Ministerial counterparts have been very interested to learn about how the Government is turning its plans into action. I will continue to use the UK's Presidency of the EU to advocate policies such as the Welfare to Work programme which ensure that all young people across the Community are equipped with the skills they need to find and keep work.