Category: Press Releases

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 29 October 1999.

The Treasury today published guidance on how to assess the long term cost of Private Finance Initiative bids against the estimated cost of alternative services managed by the public sector.

The guidance sets out how the long term cost of PFI bids should be compared with the estimated cost of alternative services managed by the public sector and assuming the use of public sector capital investment.

Welcoming publication of Technical Note 5 “How to construct a Public Sector Comparator” Andrew Smith, Chief Secretary to the Treasury said:

“The new guidance will provide consistency and clarity for everyone involved in the development of schemes to improve front line public services.

“The Government’s purpose in using the PFI route is to improve public services in ways that offer value for money. Where PFI is unlikely to achieve these aims, services will be provided by direct capital investment. The new guidance will ensure greater rigour and consistency in decisions about whether to use PFI.

“Public sector comparators alone are not the basis for assessing value for money. The National Audit Office has always made it clear that PFI deals require a systematic evaluation of all the likely benefits and costs and I recognise their reports on early PFI transactions have helped to clarify the issues on which such guidance was needed.”

Mr Smith said that there were many benefits arising from the use of PFI deals and gave a number of examples. In a hospital, this could include the considerably faster delivery of modern facilities, on a single site, allowing NHS management to focus on the quality clinical services. Similarly in schools, parents would favour the benefits of teachers concentrating on raising educational standards without the distractions of inadequately maintained buildings and the disruption of winter boiler failures.

The new guidance reflects the intensive consultation with departments PFI contractors and the National Audit Office, whose reports on early PFI transaction helped clarify the issues on which such guidance was needed.

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 28 October 1999.

A seven point plan for Britain to lead the next stage of the Internet revolution was put forward today by the Chancellor Gordon Brown at the UK Internet Summit in London.

Building on his proposal to widen access to the Internet to poorer households the Chancellor said that Britain’s strengths in language, communications, education and innovation made Britain a potential world leader in the next stage. Mr Brown outlined the building blocks for Britain winning.

The seven points are:

*Greater economic stability.

The Chancellor said:

“The precondition for all else is, of course, macroeconomic stability so that businesses and individuals are able to plan for the long term.

“I believe that Britain now has a sound and credible platform of stability for which to achieve steady growth.”

*A more competitive environment, including a new Competition Authority

“This Government is reviewing every barrier to competition in the emerging e-commerce market. …In every area we are asking what we can do to enhance competition.

“We must ensure that the price of telephone use is not a barrier to greater Internet use, or lead to a divide between IT-haves and IT-have nots.

* The right legislative framework for e-commerce

“The Internet economy needs the right legislative framework for electronic commerce. We are determined to advance the Internet not just by implementing the best British legal framework but also by pushing for the best European framework to encourage competition, innovation and e-commerce.”

* Fourth, fostering innovation

“The Internet economy will need higher levels of private investment – not least in university science and commercial R&D, and in hi-tech start ups and skills.

“Corporate venturing has been vital in Silicon Valley and elsewhere – providing smaller high tech firms with a strong capital base, better skills and in marketing and management, and a greater market-reach. So, to help the large companies sponsor the development of the small, we are considering new incentives to promote corporate venturing.”

* Fifth, transforming education

“Success in the Internet age depends upon an educated economy. The extra £19 billion our country is now investing in education is designed to give everyone the opportunity to master the skills and technologies of the new information age.

“Next year we will double the money on IT in schools. We can now promise that by 2002 every school – rural and urban, rich and poor, north and south – all of our schools connected to that new world of knowledge. And parts of the National Curriculum will be taught through software accessed on the Internet, motivating all pupils.”

* Sixth, widening access for all

“We must make sure that the opportunities of new technologies are shared by everyone.

“We could have a society divided between information haves and information have nots. A society with a wired up superclass and an information underclass…. But the blessings of new technology give us the means to break down the walls of division, and the barriers of isolation.

“…in the new economy the more individual talent we nurture the more economic growth and prosperity we will achieve.”

* Seventh – modernising government – a public sector willing to innovate

“Businesses and individuals are responding to new technologies and the new challenges of the Internet age. Government must do the same.
“So we are restructuring our public services, from taxation to procurement, from health to our legal systems – organising government in new, innovative and more flexible ways.”

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 28 October 1999.

New research shows charities are losing out on tax benefits. Nearly 70 per cent of the UK population give to charity in a typical month but less than 10 per cent use the tax breaks for charitable giving.

The research published today looks into attitudes to giving to charity. It was carried out by the Inland Revenue, the Charities Aid Foundation and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations as part of the Government’s review of charity taxation.

Also published today was a summary of the 500 responses to the Government’s consultation document on how the tax system could do more to support charities.

Commenting, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Melanie Johnson said:

“The Government is committed to encouraging Britain to become a nation of givers. I believe that the tax system can do more to encourage greater giving to charity. But we need to make the tax incentives more attractive and up to date.

“We also need to raise awareness amongst donors, and the charities they support, about how they can benefit from those incentives. The research published today shows that there is still much to be done.”

Key findings show that only 43 per cent of the population are aware of the tax incentives for charitable giving. 13 per cent did not know how to use them and 11 per cent thought they would be too difficult to use.

There are issues for employers too. Less than 20 per cent said their employer offered a Payroll Giving scheme, even though giving through the pay packet is popular, especially with young people and those on lower incomes. Over 20 per cent of those whose employer did not offer this facility said they would give through their pay packet if they got the chance.

Turning to the Government’s current review of charities taxation, Miss Johnson said:

“I am very encouraged with the level and content of the responses to our consultation on modernising the charity taxation system and feel there is value in publishing a summary of the responses received. We will soon be announcing the changes to be made as a result of our review.”

The responses to the Government’s consultation document indicated a high level of consensus on key issues. There was strong support for proposals to encourage more people to give more to charity, including:

• reducing the maximum limit for Gift Aid donations to make the scheme accessible to more people;
• re-launching the Payroll Giving scheme with a promotional campaign.

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 28 October 1999.

Small companies will find it easier to access capital from ‘business angels’ under new proposals announced by the Chancellor Gordon Brown today.

In the second consultation document on Financial Promotion, under the new Financial Services and Markets Bill, the Government proposes to lighten the touch of regulation where companies are attempting to gain access to funding from sophisticated and high net worth private individuals – so called ‘business angels’.

Announcing the proposals at the UK Internet Summit, the Chancellor said:

“The City of London is one of the largest and highly regarded financial centres in the world. It is vital that we develop a regulatory regime to enable its continued growth and to promote innovation and development in an increasingly technological age.

“This paper demonstrates our commitment to helping start up companies in the information technology and other rapidly growing business sectors gain access to capital.”

The consultation document proposes an exemption for certain promotions to allow capital raising, in the form of shares or debentures, for small companies to individuals with:

• a minimum annual gross income of between £75,000 and £100,000 or;
• or minimum net assets (excluding principal residence) of between £200,000 and £300,000.

The UK has looked at the regulatory regimes in the US and Australia where ‘business angels’ have played an important part in financing business start-ups.

However, to ensure adequate protection for the ‘business angels’ the consultation document proposes that the promoter must disclose a number of important facts to potential investors including:

• an indication that the promotion has not been approved by an authorised person under the Financial Services and Markets Bill;
• the meaning of high net worth;
• a risk warning concerning the maximum amount which the investor could lose; and
• an indication that any investor who has any doubts should consult a suitably qualified adviser.

The Financial Promotion consultation paper proposes legislation which is designed to embrace the technological revolution and to keep up with increasing technological change in financial services, whilst maintaining appropriate levels of consumer protection and facilitating consumer choice. This paper is the second part of a two stage process begun in March this year. Today’s paper includes a draft statutory instrument for comment by interested parties.

The promotion rules proposed by the Government in this paper reflect new opportunities offered by the Internet. By including the exemptions in secondary legislation, the Government will be able to keep them up to date as technology develops, and to respond to EU and wider international developments.

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 26 October 1999.

Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling Launch the Disabled Person’s Tax Credit

Disabled men and women in work received a major boost in their wage packets with the official launch of the Disabled Person’s Tax Credit (DPTC) today by the Chancellor Gordon Brown and Social Security Secretary Alistair Darling.

DPTC will guarantee a minimum income of £230 for a family with someone in full-time work and with one child – at least £80 for couples and £120 for lone parents more than the family would get on benefits.

A family with two young children earning £13,000 will be £2,500 – £45 a week – better off. The introduction of DPTC will not only make work pay but increase employment opportunities for disabled men and women.

Launching DPTC at the Leonard Cheshire Foundation in London, the Chancellor said:

“Today with the introduction of the Disabled Person’s Tax Credit, we are seeking to re-establish the right to work that disabled men and women should have.

“We know that there are one million disabled men and women who want to work.

“DPTC is one of a number of measures that will make work easier and worthwhile for disabled men and women.”

At the launch Social Security Secretary Alistair Darling said:

“The DPTC provides a major boost to those disabled people who in the past have been excluded from the workplace. We are determined to do everything we can to help disabled people who want work to do so – and make sure that it pays to work.

“We are also doing far more to help people who can’t work – helping those who need help most. That’s why we have introduced more help for young severely disabled children and a disability income guarantee. We’re doing more to help people who want to work – and more for those who can’t.”

The DPTC is part of a package of measures that will make work worthwhile and easier. As well as DPTC the package includes:

• the £195 million New Deal for Disabled People which provides personal advice and support to 250,000 disabled people who wish to move into work and £5 million set aside for innovative pilots to test new ways to help;
• through the Job Introduction Scheme, employers can receive a 6 week subsidy (13 weeks in exceptional circumstances) to take on disabled employees. Together with the Access to Work support, this is an additional £30 million package for specialist disability services;
• the linking rule, which allows a disabled man or woman on longer term incapacity benefits to return to the same level of benefit within 12 months if the job does not work out; and
• the setting up of a Disability Rights Commission to work towards the elimination of discrimination against disabled people.

DPTC will be paid through the wage packet from April 2000 and should reduce the stigma of claiming in-work support as well as showing the reward of work over welfare.

From October 2000, there will be a new fast track gateway which will help people who become disabled while working to remain in work, by widening access to DPTC to people who have been sick for 20 weeks, if their condition is likely to last another six months, and their earnings are to be reduced by 20%. People who become disabled while working are most likely to find work with their existing employer, and the longer someone is out of the labour market the less likely they are to return to work.

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 5 October 1999.

Economic Secretary Melanie Johnson today welcomed the European Commission’s proposal for an up-to-date directive on Money Laundering. She said:

“Money laundering is a very serious offence, with the capacity to undermine financial markets and to corrupt professional advisers. While police forces and regulators respect national borders, criminals do not. We therefore support a pan-European approach to crack down on the illicit profits of all serious crime as part of a wider agenda to enforce anti-money laundering standards world-wide.”

The European Commission’s Second Money Laundering Directive aims to strengthen existing rules for financial institutions and other business across the EU in the fight against serious crime. It would extend the current regulations to a wider range of underlying offences, bringing Europe as a whole closer to the UK approach. It also extends the obligation to maintain effective anti-money laundering systems to professionals – such as lawyers and accountants.

Commenting on these proposals, Melanie Johnson said:

“The UK will push for a tough directive to bring Europe more into line with the UK. The Commission’s proposals are an excellent starting point. But in some areas they do not go far enough. We want to see the scope of the directive extended to the proceeds of all serious crimes. And we will work with other member states to ensure that – where money laundering is involved – financial sector professionals cannot hide behind excessive professional secrecy.

“We also welcome this because the new proposal would oblige Member States to combat laundering of the proceeds of organised crime and fraud against the budget of the EU. The 1991 directive applies only to the proceeds of drugs offences.

“We shall be considering the directive carefully over the coming months, and welcome the views of interested parties. We will pay close attention to ensuring that the costs of compliance do not exceed the likely benefits. And we shall be working closely with our European partners to close down opportunities currently exploited by criminals. We will fight to ensure that Europe’s financial markets offer no sanctuary to dirty money.”

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 4 October 1999.

Responsibility for the Competent Authority for Listing, which regulates access to and standards in the public equities markets, will be transferred from the London Stock Exchange to the Financial Services Authority next year the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, announced today.

The decision follows the London Stock Exchange’s proposal to demutualise and turn itself into a commercial company.

Commenting, Gordon Brown said.

“The London Stock Exchange has done a very good job as the UK’s Listing Authority and I would like to express my appreciation to the Exchange and the Listing Department staff for their work.

“But, in the light of its proposal to demutualise and turn itself into a commercial company, the Exchange has suggested that it would no longer be appropriate for it to continue to exercise its Listing Authority function. I share this view and accordingly I am planning that this function should be transferred to the Financial Services Authority.

“We will be bringing forward the necessary amendments to the Financial Services and Markets Bill to effect this transfer of responsibilities. We hope the Bill will be enacted by the Spring and the transfer will be made as soon as possible thereafter.

“The FSA, the London Stock Exchange and the Treasury will all be working together to ensure a smooth and seamless transition. I am confident that the FSA will ensure the Listing Authority responsibilities continue to be carried out efficiently and effectively, meeting the needs of issuers and investors alike.”

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 24 November 1999.

The Government has decided to increase from 6 to 13 the number of cross Departmental spending studies in the forthcoming 2000 Spending Review, the Chief Secretary Andrew Smith announced today. This follows clear evidence that cross Departmental work is making a real difference, allowing service providers to find new and better ways of responding to the needs of local people.

Andrew Smith commented:

“We want to see a step change in the quality of public services. We have shown our commitment already with extra resources for key areas like Health and Education, but we want to go further in ensuring that policies and services are designed and delivered in a more integrated, flexible and customer-centred way. The cross Departmental work in the original Comprehensive Spending Review has proved to be a success. We want to build on this in next year’s Review to ensure a more coherent approach to the delivery of services . I am grateful to Departments for the innovative and practical way they have responded to this initiative.”

The proposed new cross Departmental studies will cover:

• rural and countryside programmes
• young people at risk
• crime reduction
• support for older people
• drugs
• Government intervention in deprived areas
• science and research
• Welfare to Work and ONE
• the criminal justice system
• Sure Start and services for the under 5s
• conflict prevention
• nuclear safety in the former Soviet Union
• Local Government finance

The Government is determined to ensure that public spending is directed to delivering high quality public services. This means:

• raising the standards of front line service delivery
  focussing on outcomes – what counts is what works
• accountability for performance
• effective teamwork to achieve shared goals