Inland Revenue (Hansard, 20 November 2003)

§ Mr. Gray
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who set the criteria for payment of performance-related pay to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue regarding the duties they have had with respect to Project ASPIRE and its antecedents in the period 1999–2000 to 2002–03. [140447]

§ Dawn Primarolo
Under the pay arrangements common to all members of the Senior Civil Service, the Commissioners of Inland Revenue individually agree their performance criteria with the Chairman. The Chairman agrees his performance criteria with the Permanent Secretaries Remuneration Committee.

§ Mr. Gray
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total budget approved for the market-making exercise in support of Project ASPIRE was in each year from 2000–01 to 2002–03; and what the actual expenditure recorded against budget was in each case. [140448]

§ Dawn Primarolo
Expenditure on the market making exercise fell only in the 2001–02 and 2002–03 financial years. No separate budget was allocated to the Market-making exercise, which was funded as part of the general budget for the ASPIRE project.

§ Mr. Gray
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when Sir Nicholas Montagu KCB took the Chair of the Superintending Group overseeing Project ASPIRE; who Sir Nicholas's predecessors in that role had been since 1997; and when each took office. [140449]

§ Dawn Primarolo
The ASPIRE Project formally commenced on 31 October 2001. The first meeting of the ASPIRE Superintending Group was held on 5 February 2002. Initially, the Superintending Group was chaired by Tim Flesher who was, at that time, the Deputy Chairman of the Inland Revenue. When he moved to a new post in another Government Department, Sir Nicholas Montagu KCB replaced him. Sir Nicholas chaired his first meeting of the ASPIRE Superintending Group on 3 June 2003.

§ Mr. Gray
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the authorised establishment for professional grades was in 2000–01 for Inland Revenue International Division, Business Tax Group broken down by(a) Deputy Director's Office, (b) Policy Team and (c) Advisory/Casework Team; what the corresponding 1328W actual manning by unit was on 31 March 2001; and how many (i) transfers in and (ii) transfers out were recorded by unit in 2000–01. [140450]

§ Dawn Primarolo
It would be inappropriate to disclose the information requested as it would facilitate the identification of individual members of staff of the Inland Revenue. Exemption 8(a) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies in this case.