HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Responsibilites of Treasury Ministers [August 1999]

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 2 August 1999.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, has decided the following allocation of Ministerial responsibilities:

CHIEF SECRETARY, ALAN MILBURN MP

Public expenditure planning and control (including local authorities and nationalised industries finance).
Value for money in the public services, including Public Service Agreements.
Departmental Investment Strategies including Capital Modernisation Fund and Invest to Save budget.
Public/Private Partnerships including Private Finance Initiative.
Procurement policy.
Public sector pay, including parliamentary pay, allowances and superannuation.
Presentation of economic policy and economic briefing.
Welfare reform.
Devolution.
Strategic oversight of banking, financial services and insurance.
PSX (Public services and expenditure), QFL (Forward Legislation), GL (local government), HS (home and social affairs), and EA (economic affairs) committees.
Resource Accounting and Budgeting.

Minister responsible for Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise and the Treasury and with overall responsibility for tax and the Finance Bill.
Personal taxation, NI contributions, tax credits.
Business taxation, including corporation tax.
Capital gains tax.
Inheritance tax.
VAT.
European and International tax issues.

Support to the Chief Secretary on Departmental PSAs.
Growth, with responsibility for the growth unit and productivity agenda.
Small firms and venture capital.
ESOPs.
Science, Research and Development.
Welfare to Work issues.
Competition and deregulation policy.
Export Credit.
Customs and Excise taxes, except VAT.
Environmental issues, including Climate Change levy and other economic instruments.
Taxation of company cars and road fuel; Vehicle Excise Duty.
North Sea Taxation.
Support to the Paymaster General on the Finance Bill.
Parliamentary financial business, PAC, NAO.
LEG Committee (Current Legislation).
Support to the Chief Secretary on the Financial Services Bill.

Banking, financial services and insurance and support to the Chief Secretary on the Financial Services Bill.
Foreign exchange reserves and debt management policy.
Support to the Chancellor on EU and International issues.
EMU business preparations.
Economic reform in Europe.
Responsibility for National Savings, the Debt Management Office, National
Investment and Loans Office, Office of National Statistics, Royal Mint and the
Government Actuary’s Department.
Financial services tax issues (eg ISAs, stamp duty, pensions).
Support to the Paymaster General on the Finance Bill.
Treasury interest in general accountancy issues. Support to the Chief Secretary on Resource Accounting and Budgeting.
Charities and charity taxation.
Womens’ issues.