Category: Press Releases

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 7 March 2002.

The International Monetary Fund has “commended” the UK Government “for the impressive performance of the UK economy”.

According to the latest assessment by experts at the IMF, “a strong policy framework, sound macroeconomic policies and sustained structural reform were key to this remarkable performance”.

At a discussion in Washington on 4 March, the IMF Board of Directors noted that the outlook for the UK economy is subject to risks, but agreed “the current slowdown is likely to be relatively brief”. They judged the UK’s economic policies to be appropriate in the present economic climate and noted that “fiscal credibility earned from a strict adherence to a sound policy framework has greatly improved the UK’s flexibility to respond to new challenges”.

The Directors welcomed “plans to increase public investments in education and infrastructure” and “recent measures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public services”, and endorsed the Government’s objective of “raising productivity through targeted reforms aimed at identifiable market failures”, including measures introduced to strengthen the competition regime.

Commenting on the IMF’s report, the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, said:

“I welcome the IMF’s endorsement of the Government’s economic policy which provides clear support for the new framework for monetary and fiscal policy. Greater global instability means that we must not relax our fiscal disciplines and continue to work within the tough fiscal rules that we set out in 1997 and have stuck to throughout.

I also welcome recognition of the importance of the Government’s commitment to raising productivity, strengthening competition and to tackling low skills and child poverty.”

As in the previous two years, at the request of the UK Government the IMF is today publishing its Article IV staff report on the UK economy in full, along with the record of the IMF board discussion, and the UK’s statement in the board meeting.

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 25 April 2002.

Paul Boateng, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, today announced further details about the Government’s plans to modernise the taxation of the haulage industry.

At a meeting with representatives from the haulage industry and environmental, motoring and business organisations, Paul Boateng said:

“The Government is committed to ensuring that hauliers from overseas pay their fair share for using UK roads. Following consultation and Chancellor Gordon Brown’s recent Budget announcement, we are today publishing more details about how we intend to deliver this commitment.

“We have decided to introduce a new lorry road-user charge that will be related to the distance travelled on UK roads and will apply to lorry operators using UK roads regardless of their nationality. However, we recognise that the UK haulage industry already pays towards the costs it imposes in the UK. We will therefore ensure that the UK haulage industry does not pay any more as a result of this charge by introducing offsetting tax reductions when the charge is introduced. We aim to introduce this new charge in 2005 or 2006.

“Our decision to modernise the tax system in this way follows intensive consultation. I am delighted that this policy has been backed by the haulage industry, environmental organisations and other stakeholders. It shows how – through working together – we can achieve real reforms that bring together our concern for the environment with the needs of the haulage industry.”

John Spellar, Minister for Transport, said:

“This is an important day for the haulage industry. It demonstrates the Government’s commitment to modern, competitive and environmentally-responsible haulage, building on other recent announcements such as the reforms to lorry vehicle excise duty and the £100m Haulage Modernisation Fund.

“The progress report we are publishing today sets out more details about why we have chosen to introduce a distance-based rather than time-based charge, our preliminary thoughts about how the charge will work and the next steps in implementing this policy. It will help to ensure that foreign hauliers pay their fair share.”

The report, Modernising the taxation of the haulage industry – progress report one, outlines:

why the Government has chosen to introduce a distance-based rather than time-based lorry road-user charge – drawing on the responses to a consultation exercise and further analysis; some preliminary thoughts about the nature of the charge – for example, the Government is considering applying the charge to all roads and varying the charge according to the weight and axle structure of lorries; and the key next steps.

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 17 April 2002.

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Paul Boateng, and the Environment Minister, Michael Meacher, today launched a consultation on possible changes to the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme (LTCS).

The consultation paper seeks views on the priorities for funding as well as potential funding mechanisms for the scheme, ranging from retaining it in its current form to replacing it with a public spending programme.

Paul Boateng said:

“Consulting on the landfill tax credit scheme allows us to benefit from the views and experiences of the waste industry, environmental groups, local people and other interested stakeholders. The Government is very interested in hearing the views of all who have an interest in this scheme. We are seeking views on what the priorities for funding should be from the revenue currently going through the scheme. These could include sustainable waste management, local community projects or other wider Government objectives. We also want opinions on the best way of delivering these objectives.”

Mr Meacher said:

“The landfill tax credit scheme has funded local environmental projects as well as work on sustainable waste management.  This consultation seeks views on how we can enhance the environmental benefits of this funding still further.”

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 17 April 2002.

Derek Wanless today published his Final Report – ‘Securing Our Future Health: Taking A Long-Term View’.  This is the first ever evidence-based assessment of the long-term resource requirements for the health service in the UK.

The Report builds on the Review’s Interim Report published on 27 November 2001, which set out the main trends affecting health care over the next 20 years and was followed by a period of consultation in both the UK and around the world.

Announcing publication of the Final Report, Mr Wanless said:

“If our health services are to meet people’s expectations and deliver the high standards over the next 20 years, we need to devote a significantly larger share of our national income to health care.  But money on its own is not enough and provides no guarantee of success – it is essential that resources are efficiently and effectively used.

Resources and reform must go hand in hand – both are vital. Neither will deliver without the other.”

The Final Report describes the Review’s vision of a high quality health service in 2022.  Patients are at its heart, demanding and receiving safe, high quality treatment, fast access and comfortable accommodation services.  This is an ambitious goal for the present health service and a huge challenge to deliver.

The Report sets out the Review’s projections of resources required over the next 20 years to deliver a high quality health service, recognising a range of possibilities for the future in three scenarios.  The projections show the UK spending between 10.6 and 12.5 per cent of GDP on health care by 2022-23, compared to 7.7 per cent today.  The average annual real terms growth rate in UK NHS spending is between 4.2 and 5.1 per cent over the 20 year period.

The projections are in five year blocks. These show the highest growth in spending in the early part of the Review period – an average of between 7.1 and 7.3 per cent a year in real terms over the first five years.  This reflects the need for significant investment to allow the NHS to ‘catch up’ to standards elsewhere and to create the capacity essential to expand choice in future.  The Report stresses that the pace of growth must be considered within the context of the service’s capacity. The Review notes that its projections are therefore at the upper end of what should be sensibly spent.

Mr Wanless said:

“I believe that it is right that there should be substantial investment quickly: there is an unacceptable gap in performance between the reality of the NHS today and what will be expected and needed in the future. But this investment must not be more than can be sensibly spent. My projections reflect this balance, but represent a very considerable management challenge.”

Growth moderates during the second decade as the NHS increasingly “catches up”, so that in one of the scenarios health spending at the end of the 20 year period is growing broadly in line with GDP.

The Report also makes a number of observations about the effective use of resources.  Mr Wanless said:

“The right incentives must be in place to ensure money is spent at the right time, in the right place and in the right way. There must be clear standards of quality, greater local flexibility in delivery and independent audit of all spending.

We must also encourage greater public engagement in the service in order to increase levels of health awareness and to establish a more effective partnership between the public and the health system.”

The Report also stresses the need for a “whole systems” approach to care – and in particular the importance of integrating thinking about investment in social care with health care.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. Budget 2001 announced that Derek Wanless, former Group Chief Executive of NatWest Group, would undertake a review of the technological, demographic and medical trends over the next two decades that will affect the health service.

2. The terms of reference for the Review were:

(1)      To examine the technological, demographic and medical trends over the next two decades that may affect the health service in the UK as a whole.

(2)      In the light of (1), to identify the key factors which will determine the financial and other resources required to ensure that the NHS can provide a publicly funded, comprehensive, high quality service available on the basis of clinical need and not ability to pay.

(3)      To report to the Chancellor by April 2002, to allow him to consider the possible implications of this analysis for the Government’s wider fiscal and economic strategies in the medium term; and to inform decisions in the next public spending review in 2002.

The report will take account of the devolved nature of health spending in the UK and the devolved administrations will be invited to participate in the review.

3. The Interim Report on Derek Wanless’ Review was published on 27 November 2001, together with the proceedings of a Health Trends Conference held in London on 18-19 October 2001.

4. Mr Wanless’ Final Report is published today, together with an international comparative study, “Health care systems in eight countries: trends and challenges”, commissioned by the Review.

5. All four documents are available on the Review’s website.

6. The Final Report, in the light of consultation responses, confirms the main trends that will affect health care over the next 20 years, first set out in the Interim Report:

• rising patient and public expectations;
• delivering a ‘world-class’, high quality service;
• changing health needs of the population (including demography);
• technological and medical advance; and
• use of the workforce and other productivity changes.

The Final Report considers the impact each of these will have on resource requirements.

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 15 April 2002.

Britain must encourage more young people to study science and engineering or face a future skills shortfall, according to a new report published today.

The Roberts Report, commissioned by the Treasury, Department of Education and Skills, and the Department of Trade and Industry examines the supply of scientists and engineers in the UK.

It finds emerging shortages in the supply of high-level mathematics, physics, chemistry and engineering skills – due to increasing demand by employers for these skills and due to fewer students choosing to take these subjects at A level, and also later at university.

Sir Gareth Roberts, President of the Science Council, also identifies particular issues in schools, further and higher education, and in the attractiveness of jobs in research and development that are contributing to these shortages.

Handing over the report to the Government today, Sir Gareth said:

“The UK has a strong scientific tradition. In the past it has not always translated this into economic benefit. To do this effectively we need highly skilled scientists and engineers capable of matching the best in the world. My recommendations are designed to ensure that we achieve this. They constitute a serious challenge to all with an interest in science, engineering and innovation, especially the Government, employers and those in the education system.”

Welcoming the report on behalf of the Government, Lord Sainsbury, Minister for Science and Innovation, said:

“We are making steady progress in turning our world-class science into innovation which benefits our economy and quality of life.  It is essential that this progress is not held back by a shortage of science and engineering skills.  This means that we must attract and train more world-class scientists and engineers.  I welcome this report, which will help us to understand the challenges we and others face in ensuring a strong supply of such scientific and technical talent.”

Margaret Hodge, Minister for Lifelong Learning and Higher Education, said:

“We are committed to promoting better opportunities for young people – including the chance to develop the up to date science and engineering skills that this report shows are in demand.

We will look to build on our progress so far in tackling the challenges posed by Sir Gareth’s report but our work to improve and promote science education has been acknowledged. Standards of achievement are rising. We have introduced golden hellos and training bursaries to recruit the teachers we need. Science Year is helping to spread awareness of the opportunities available in science and engineering and we are working to widen access to higher education to make the most of the nation’s talents.”

Paul Boateng, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, added:

“The Government has done much to foster innovation and science in the UK, including increased investment in university research and tax breaks for businesses carrying out research and development. Sir Gareth’s report is important in identifying further ways of boosting the contribution science can make to improving productivity and growth. The Government will consider Sir Gareth’s recommendations in the context of the forthcoming Spending Review.”

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 20 May 2002.

The Government is considering amending the Money Laundering Regulations 2001 in order to:

• Require firms that are regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to inform them if they carry on Money Service Business activity; and
• Require all money remitters to include originator information – the name, address (and, where applicable, the account number) of the customer – on all money transfers sent from the UK, both abroad and within the UK.

These proposed changes will affect banks, money remitters, some bureaux de change and informal remitters such as hawala.  The Government is keen to receive views from all interested parties.