HC Deb 29 March 2000 vol 347 cc147-8W
Dr. Tonge

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the HIPC II process at the G8 Summit in Okinawa. [116545]

Miss Melanie Johnson

The Chancellor of the Exchequer discusses progress on the HIPC initiative with G7 colleagues on a regular basis, and will do so at the G7 meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors on 15 April, and in the run-up to the Okinawa Summit.

Heads of Government will, at the G8 Summit in Okinawa, discuss progress on implementing the enhanced HIPC initiative agreed at last year's Cologne Summit.

Dr. Tonge

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the World bank and IMF concerning the heavily-indebted poor countries due to qualify for debt cancellation by the end of 2000. [116546]

Percentage
Tax year/description Target set Achieved
1997–98
National Insurance contribution properly recoreded for 80 per cent. of appropriate notifications from employers in respect of Class 1 contributions by 31 December 1998 80 62.2
National Insurance contributions properly recorded for 98 per cent. by 31 March 1999 98 85.9

Dawn Primarolo

The amounts of working families tax credit for 1999–2000 payable to those earning the minimum wage and with two children under 11 are given in the table.

Amount of working families tax credit
£ per week
Couple:
both working full-time 25.13
one working full-time, one working 16 hours per week 56.12
Lone Parent:
working full-time 87.80
working 16 hours per week 92.00

Figures on gross earnings, and earnings after income tax and national insurance contributions were as follows:

Miss Melanie Johnson

The Chancellor and Secretary of State for International Development wrote to the Managing Director of the IMF and the Chairman of the World bank in January. In addition, the Chancellor will be holding discussions with the World bank and IMF during the course of the Spring Meetings next month, in his capacity as chairman of International Monetary and Finance Committee. The Secretary of State for International Development, as a member of the Development Committee, will also be discussing the issue of HIPC and progress on Poverty Reduction Strategies.