Oil Prices
Q:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what oil price his Department predicts for each of the next 10 years. (John Hemming)
A:The Treasury does not make detailed predictions of future prices. In projecting the public finances, the Treasury adopts an oil price assumption based on the average of independent forecasts, which is set out in PBR and Budget documents. This assumption was audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General in December 2005, when he concluded that:
"There is no clearly better method available for use in the future, though large uncertainties in predicted oil prices remain"
(http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/F5D/46/pbr05_nao_508.pdf).
(John Healey, Financial Secretary, HM Treasury)
Single Status Agreement
Q:To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will ensure that there is no aggregate national cash limit to the capitalisation of back payments due to local authority staff arising from the single status agreement. (John Hemming)
A:Revised guidance on the policy and procedures for capitalisation directions was issued on 26 June. This is available from the Department for Communities and Local Government website at:
http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/capital/cappolpro.pdf
(Phil Woolas, Minister of State (Local Government), Department for Communities and Local Government)
Q:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what oil price his Department predicts for each of the next 10 years. (John Hemming)
A:The Treasury does not make detailed predictions of future prices. In projecting the public finances, the Treasury adopts an oil price assumption based on the average of independent forecasts, which is set out in PBR and Budget documents. This assumption was audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General in December 2005, when he concluded that:
"There is no clearly better method available for use in the future, though large uncertainties in predicted oil prices remain"
(http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/F5D/46/pbr05_nao_508.pdf).
(John Healey, Financial Secretary, HM Treasury)
Single Status Agreement
Q:To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will ensure that there is no aggregate national cash limit to the capitalisation of back payments due to local authority staff arising from the single status agreement. (John Hemming)
A:Revised guidance on the policy and procedures for capitalisation directions was issued on 26 June. This is available from the Department for Communities and Local Government website at:
http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/capital/cappolpro.pdf
(Phil Woolas, Minister of State (Local Government), Department for Communities and Local Government)
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