Tag: Treasury

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 26 May 2004.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, congratulated the UK’s automotive industry on the “vital contribution” it makes to the UK’s economy. The Chancellor paid tribute to the industry during a visit to the Sunday Times Motor Show Live at the NEC in Birmingham today.

The Chancellor said:

“I’m delighted to be visiting Motor Show Live to see at first hand what a great job the UK’s automotive sector is doing and pay tribute to the vital contribution it makes to our national economy.

“And I can tell you today that the ten year science and innovation plan we will announce in the next few weeks will be a major boost for manufacturing strength.  Building on the Manufacturing Advisory Service, capital allowances, corporation tax cuts and the Research and Development tax credit, we will seek to make Britain the best location for new investment and innovation.  And we will raise the level of science funding as a share of national income in the next spending review period.

“The motor industry has risen to the challenges of globalisation and international competition and not just survived, but thrived.

“The UK automotive manufacturing sector contributes some £8.5 billion to the UK economy and accounts for almost 10% of total UK exports of goods.

“Almost 250,000 people across the country are employed in the manufacture of vehicles and components in some 3,200 businesses. Another 544,000 work in the automotive retail sector.

“And the motor industry makes a major contribution not just to employment and exports, but to innovation in our economy – investing £1.2 billion a year in research and development – and to training and skills as well with over 20,000 thousand young apprenticeships.

“The motor industry has won for Britain huge amounts of inward investment with some of the world’s leading manufacturers choosing to locate new plants in the UK.  68% of the vehicles produced in the UK are exported.  And companies in the supply chain trade with customers and suppliers right around Europe.

“That is why our commitment as a Government is that we will make the case for our membership of the European Union – which accounts for 55 per cent of the UK’s trade – for the advantages it brings to Britain, and for Britain being a leader in an enlarged Europe.

“The issue is making the most of our membership in Britain’s interest against those who would, for dogmatic reasons, detach Britain from Europe and put at risk many of the three million jobs that arise from our trade with Europe.

“I am particularly pleased to be able to pay tribute to the contribution the automotive sector makes to our country here in the West Midlands.

“40% of the UK’s income generated by the motor industry is generated here in the West Midlands. The automotive sector provides jobs for around 65,000 employees in the region with many more jobs provided in the supply chain.

“And the successes we celebrate here have helped create 80,000 jobs in the West Midlands alone since 1997.”

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 18 June 2004.

HM Treasury and Financial Services Authority (FSA) today published a joint consultation document on proposals for UK implementation of the EU Market Abuse Directive .

The Directive sets out a common framework for tackling insider dealing and market manipulation in the EU.

Financial Secretary, Ruth Kelly said:

“The Treasury welcomes the Directive’s aim of protecting investors and promoting confidence in financial markets by establishing a framework for the prevention of market abuse.  However, the proposals are complex and it is therefore important that all parties engage in the consultation process.”

This joint consultation document seeks comments on the proposed  legislative and FSA Handbook changes to achieve implementation.  Comments on the proposals generally or any particular aspect of them would be welcomed.

The closing date for responses to the consultation is 10 September 2004.

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 22 June 2004.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has today appointed the Right Honourable Terence Anthony Gordon Davis to be Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern.

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 28 June 2004.

Sir Derek Morris today published a consultation document seeking views from all interested parties on his review of the actuarial profession.

Issues which Sir Derek intends to focus on include:

• the role of the appointed actuary
• standard setting and monitoring
• audit, peer review and scrutiny
• disciplinary procedures
• the role of the Government Actuary’s Department

Sir Derek Morris said:

“I hope that all interested parties will feed in their views on all aspects of the Review, and I look forward to discussing the issues with members of the actuarial profession, their customers and other interested parties.”

The closing date for responses to the consultation is 10 September 2004. Sir Derek Morris will publish an interim assessment in the autumn and will submit the final report, with recommendations for change, to the Government in Spring 2005.

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 4 July 2003.

A £1 billion boost for local government, backing enterprise for the regions, was launched today, as John Prescott and Gordon Brown launched a consultation paper on the new Local Authority Business Growth Scheme at the Local Government Association Conference in Harrogate.

The scheme, which will reward local authorities for encouraging business in their area, will allow councils to retain money from business rates where there is increased economic growth in their area.  It should start in April 2005.

The Deputy Prime Minister said:

“This scheme should give councils a real incentive to work together with business to create enterprising and thriving communities.  We want to create a win-win situation where flourishing businesses will benefit everyone in the community.”

The Chancellor said:

“For the first time, all of us in partnership can each secure financial benefits from creating new businesses. Based on historical data, we estimate that, as a result of this measure, local authorities could gain up to £1 billion over the next three years – showing that the next stage of our employment and growth strategy for Britain can only succeed with greater initiative and engagement by local areas. Further reforms in the Pre-Budget Report will reflect this.”

Responses to the Consultation Paper are invited by the end of October.

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 28 October 2003.

Detailed proposals for the Child Trust Fund (CTF) were published today.  As the Chancellor announced in Budget 2003, each child born on or after 1st September 2002 will receive an initial endowment of £250 rising to £500 for the poorest children – a reform which is progressive and universal, benefiting every child and with more to those who need help most.

Amongst the measures announced today are:

• The Government will make a further payment when children are seven years of age. The amount of this payment will be confirmed at a later date.
• Family and friends will be able to contribute up to £1200 a year between them to the fund.
• It will not be necessary to make a specific claim for the CTF – access will be through the child benefit system.
• Providers will be able to offer a variety of accounts. However all providers must offer a stakeholder account – a low cost risk-controlled equity account.
• All income and capital growth will be tax exempt.
• Special arrangements will be made for children in care.

The fund will help to build up a stock of assets for the young person to reinvest or use when they reach 18 years of age, giving them added security and opportunity in adulthood.  Financial education will also help individuals to make better financial choices throughout their lives.

Commenting on the proposals, Financial Secretary Ruth Kelly said:

“The Child Trust Fund will ensure that children will have assets of their own to help them get a better start to their adult life.  It is a leading example of the Government’s commitment to an active welfare strategy based on the principles of security, opportunity and responsibility for all.

“It will also give young people experience of savings and investment opportunities and help them to manage their finances better in later life.”

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 2 July 2003.

A major review of the organisations dealing with tax policy and administration was announced by Chancellor Gordon Brown today.

The review will report to Treasury Ministers and be chaired by Gus O’Donnell, Permanent Secretary to the Treasury working with the revenue departments and their Chairmen. It will examine the best organisational arrangements to achieve Government’s tax objectives both now and into the future.

Launching the Review, the Chancellor said:

“Since 1997, Inland Revenue and HM Customs & Excise have worked effectively with the Treasury to play a key role in support of this Government’s reforming agenda. Their record is one of success and a tribute to the staff of the revenue departments and to their Chairmen, Sir Nicholas and Sir Richard. The revenue departments do a first rate job and this review is intended to build on their success to ensure we make the best of the resources that we have.

“The primary focus of the review will be making public service delivery more effective and efficient. It will be conducted in discussion with unions and other stakeholders.”

Specific points the review will cover will include:

• ways to enhance service delivery to taxpayers and how these are most effectively ensured.  Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise together deliver some of the most important functions for the Government, for the public, and for the business community.  They have a very large number of customers in common.  The review will have a particular remit to examine whether, through closer working between the revenue departments or through organisational change, costs to honest taxpayers and compliance costs to businesses can be reduced;
• the coherence of administrative systems, including information and efficient use of resources across the broad area of tax administration taking into account future technological developments which will open new avenues for enhanced services;
• how best to ensure consistent and effective enforcement of the law against those who do not pay their fair share, particularly those who make a business out of cheating the tax system.  As part of this review we will examine work being done separately by the Government on the links between tax organisations and the law enforcement agencies;
• the most appropriate structure for delivering policy advice to Ministers.  Currently officials working on strategic tax policy questions are spread across three departments.  A more co-ordinated approach to fiscal policy advice is desirable, and the review will look at how we can best create a focus for tax policy work;
• a new framework for accountability for those working on tax, to set out more clearly the roles and responsibilities of all those involved.  Greater clarity will provide better certainty both for officials and Ministers.  The review currently being conducted by Gus O’Donnell which was announced in the Government’s response to the Fourth Report 2003 of the Treasury Select Committee will form part of this work.

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 7 July 2003.

A review looking into how Government can support regional and national  Museums more effectively was launched today by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Paul Boateng. The review aims to help museums and galleries acquire important works of art that might otherwise be sold abroad.

A consultation paper “Saving Art for the Nation” published today examines the existing taxation and funding arrangements which affect the ability of museums and galleries to acquire and display works of art and culture. The findings of the consultation will contribute to the review.

The Chief Secretary has asked Sir Nicholas Goodison who was until recently Chairman of the National Art Collections fund, to lead the review.

Paul Boateng said:

“The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that important works of art stay in the country so that we can all enjoy and learn from them. We already work closely with the arts world to ensure that where possible museums and galleries are able to display precious works of art. The review aims to ensure that the support on offer is practical, well-targeted and value for money.”

Estelle Morris, Minister for the Arts, supporting the review said:

“I welcome the launch of this review of support for acquisitions. DCMS is working to make progress and is looking forward to finding some practical solutions to prevent the loss of cultural objects that are important to this country.”

Sir Nicholas Goodison, said:

“Acquisitions refresh and enrich the public collections, which are a crucial part of our cultural life. I greatly welcome the Government’s wish to look at these subjects. I look forward to hearing everyone’s views.”

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 7 July 2003.

Further details on the key reviews that will form the backdrop to the next Spending Review were announced in the House of Commons today by Chancellor Gordon Brown.

The terms of reference for three reviews were announced today:

• The Devolving Decision Making Review which will examine how best to achieve decentralised delivery and responsive local and regional services. This will be done in a way that is consistent with equity and efficiency, and against a clear framework of national standards.
• The Childcare Review which will consider whether the long-term projection for childcare and early years education is sufficient to meet the Government’s aims for employment and educational attainment. It will look at how fast the sector can expand and what more needs to be done in particular areas such as childcare for school age children and the role of extended schools.
• The Child Poverty Review will set out what further action is required to halve child poverty by 2010 and eradicate it by 2020.  It aims to ensure the welfare system and the range of public services work together to avoid the waste and poor outcomes which still occur all too often. Among the specific issues it will look at are increasing employment opportunities; improving the effectiveness with which current investment in public services tackles material deprivation; improving life chances; and dealing with the crisis points that families often face, all with an eye to the particular issues facing families in deprived areas.

The Review of the Voluntary and Community Sector will focus specifically on five public service areas: Health and Social Care; Crime and Community Cohesion; Education and Employment; Housing and Homelessness; and Children and Families.  It will build on the foundations laid in last year’s Cross-Cutting Review of the Role of the Voluntary and Community Sector in Service Delivery and will make practical recommendations about specific areas where Government, the voluntary and community sector and social enterprise can work together even more closely to deliver world class public services.

The Chancellor also announced today that the first stage of the Review of Efficiency in Public Services will be completed later this month.  The Review examines new ways of providing Departments, their agencies and other parts of the public sector with incentives to exploit efficiency savings, and so release more resources for front line delivery. It will make proposals for strengthening the drivers of efficiency and offer examples of existing good practice in the wider public sector.  The Review will lay the basis for a continuing programme of work to improve efficiency.

Paymaster General Dawn Primarolo, will lead the Review of Financial Support for 16-19 year olds.  The review is examining the incentives for young people to participate in education and training and the interaction between this support and any new minimum wage for 16 and 17 year olds.  The review will look at ways of improving the system of financial support in order to increase young people’s participation in education and training and at ways to simplify the system radically in the long-term. The Paymaster General will work with children’s groups, the Local Government Association, the Low Pay Commission and in consultation with young people and their parents. It will report in spring 2004.

Sir Michael Lyon’s review on the scope for relocating public sector activities from London and the South East is conducting a public consultation on the impact of previous relocations and the economic effects of decentralization. In parallel Government Departments are preparing proposals for relocating activities and contributing to the Review.

In addition to the reviews that will feed into SR2004, Derek Wanless has been asked to provide an update on the long-term challenges in implementing the “fully engaged” scenario to improve population health as set out in his 2002 report. The terms of reference will be published in due course.

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 9 July 2003.

Raising skills levels will be central to the next Spending Review, announced Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown today.

Speaking at the launch of today’s National Skills Strategy, Gordon Brown said:

“That we have this morning leading industrialists, educationalists and Trades Unionists alongside a dozen Ministers, Cabinet Ministers and MPs is a testimony to the importance, not just of the Skills White Paper Charles Clarke is launching this morning, but a testament to the growing and central importance of education, training and skills to the whole future of the British economy.

“Entrenching stability and tackling excessively high levels of unemployment were the necessary starting points in 1997 of our strategy for growth and prosperity.

“Having made progress in entrenching stability and raising employment our national priority must be to ensure a flexible economy by raising skills levels.

“Only by becoming number one for our skills will our economy become number one for its success.

“Tomorrow, I will present to Parliament further measures for labour market flexibility, which alongside this new Skills Strategy, will aid the push towards our objective of full employment.  But everyone here knows already that skills – particularly in basic and intermediate qualifications – are, today the British Achilles’ heel, the most worrying inflexibility of all within our labour market and this is the first comprehensive strategy for years to tackle the problem.

“Today we find that there are almost 600,000 vacancies in the economy. The North East, which used to have few vacancies, has today over 10,000.

“There are not just vacancies in the South East but in every region. In Wales there are nearly 15,000, in the West Midlands 24,000, in Scotland over 25,000 and in the North West nearly 30,000.

“And in every region we are short of important skills today. While around 25 percent of the UK’s workforce have degree level skills, there are still 8 million men and women with low or no skills – 20 percent of 18 to 24 year olds.

“In some Local Authorities, nearly 100 per cent of 16 year olds are participating in education or training. In others – Salford, Milton Keynes, and Harrow – it is less than 70 per cent.

“Some Local Authority areas in our country have nearly 65 per cent of 16 year olds with 5 A*-C GCSE, others have less than 30 per cent.

“And we also need a step change in the skills of the 80 percent of those in today’s workforce will still be there in 2010.

“So as well as the new measures and the new partnership announced by Charles today:

• Including the entitlement to free training for anyone without a good foundation of employability skills;
• Targeted support for those at higher level skills such as technicians, to get the training they need;
• Better information, advice and guidance on skills, training and qualifications; and
• The new National Skills Alliance and regional devolution of skills budgets,

“We are extending the Employer Training Pilots from six to twelve areas, around a quarter of the country, offering incentives for firms to give their staff paid time off to train towards basic skills and NVQ Level 2.

“And with apprenticeships, which a few years ago were dying, already rising to 220,000, we today offer finance so that by 2004 over a quarter of young people aged between 16 and 22 will enjoy an apprenticeship with even more benefiting by the end of the decade, giving every young person who works hard and tries hard the chance of an apprenticeship or college or university.

“I can say today with certainty that skills are going to be central to the next Spending Review and I look forward to continuing to work closely with Charles Clarke, Andrew Smith and Patricia Hewitt, as well as with all of you here, from CBI, TUC, Small Business Council – central and local government, employers and employees as we take this strategy forward.”