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Mr. Nelson [holding answer 23 March 1994] : I regret that information going back beyond 1991 can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The table gives the number and value of consultancy contracts awarded by HM Treasury by financial year from 1991-92 to date. Some information is only available from August 1991. In addition, the Department has also incurred expenditure on professional fees in connection with the privatisation programme. These are shown separately.
Column 48
Consultancy Privatisation
contracts contracts
Year |Number of |Value |Number of |Value
|contracts |(excluding|contracts |(excluding
|VAT) (£) |VAT) (£)
------------------------------------------------------------------
1991-92 |14 |<1>258,010|10 |8,860,632
1992-93 |92 |1,028,812 |14 |1,401,593
<2>1993-94 |70 |1,404,476 |12 |4,592,295
<1> August to March.
<2> To date.
Civil Servants
Ms Armstrong : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each civil service grade in his Departments the number of (a) male and (b) female, (i) full-time and (ii) part-time employees.
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 28 March 1994] : The information requested is set out in the tables for each of the Chancellor's Departments.
Column 47
Her Majesty's Treasury
Staff in post Of which
Grade |Male |Female |Full-time|Part-time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 |1 |- |1 |-
1a |3 |- |3 |-
2 |6 |- |6 |-
Chief Accountancy Adviser |1 |- |1 |-
3 |21 |3 |23 |<1>1
4 |3 |- |3 |-
5 |59 |9 |67 |<1>1
6 |23 |- |23 |-
7 |157 |37 |184 |<2>10
Senior Executive Officer |61 |24 |77 |<1>8
Senior Scientific Officer |1 |- |1 |-
Senior Information Officer |1 |- |1 |-
Senior Librarian |- |1 |1 |-
Higher Executive Officer (D) |8 |5 |13 |-
Senior Economic Assistant |24 |3 |27 |-
Senior Assistant Statistician |5 |- |5 |-
Higher Scientific Officer |- |2 |2 |-
Higher Executive Officer |81 |41 |121 |<1>1
Librarian |- |4 |4 |-
Administrative Trainee |9 |3 |12 |-
Economic Assistant |12 |4 |16 |-
Assistant Statistician |3 |1 |4 |-
Information Officer |- |1 |1 |-
Graduate Trainee |1 |- |1 |-
Executive Officer |108 |55 |157 |<3>6
Assistant Librarian |3 |2 |5 |-
Administrative Officer |102 |106 |192 |<4>16
Administrative Assistant |37 |57 |89 |<1>5
Chief Typing Manager |- |2 |2 |-
Senior Personal Secretary |- |16 |15 |<1>1
Typing Manager |- |3 |3 |-
Personal Secretary |2 |109 |97 |<1>14
Typist |4 |45 |38 |<1>11
Support Manager Band 1 |1 |- |- |-
Support Manager Band 2 |2 |2 |4 |-
Support Manager Band 3 |5 |2 |7 |-
Support Grade Band 1 |38 |15 |53 |-
Support Grade Band 2 |77 |36 |113 |-
<1>Female.
<2>Eight female, two male.
<3>Five female, one male.
<4>15 female, one male.
Column 47
Customs and Excise
Staff in post Of Which
Grade |Male |Female |Full-time|Part-time
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 |- |1 |1 |-
2 |3 |- |3 |-
3 |6 |1 |7 |-
4 |1 |- |1 |-
5 |59 |3 |62 |-
Assistant Solicitor |13 |3 |16 |-
6 |89 |2 |91 |-
6/Legal |18 |10 |26 |<1>2
6/Scientific Officer |1 |- |1 |-
7 |381 |30 |410 |<1>1
7/Legal |26 |16 |41 |<1>1
Statistician |- |1 |1 |-
7/Scientific Officer |- |2 |2 |-
Economic Adviser |1 |- |1 |-
Senior Executive Officer |1,434 |155 |1,582 |<1>7
Senior Economic Assistant |1 |- |1 |-
Senior Scientific Officer |2 |2 |4 |-
Senior Information Officer |2 |- |2 |-
Senior Legal Assistant |- |1 |1 |-
Higher Executive Officer |4,088 |1,315 |5,235 |<2>-
Higher Executive Officer (D) |7 |4 |11 |-
Higher Scientific Officer |4 |2 |6 |-
Higher Professional and Technology Officer |3 |- |1 |-
Higher Telecom Technical Officer |1 |- |1 |-
Librarian |1 |1 |2 |-
Information Officer |3 |- |3 |-
Chief Typing Manager |- |2 |2 |-
Legal Officer |6 |6 |12 |-
Sandwich Course Student |3 |- |3 |-
Executive Officer |5,562 |3,341 |8,494 |<3>-
Assistant Statistician |1 |1 |2 |-
Economic Assistant |- |1 |1 |-
Senior Personal Secretary |1 |9 |10 |-
Scientific Officer |- |1 |1 |-
Photographer |4 |- |4 |-
Assistant Information Officer |1 |1 |2 |-
Assistant Librarian |3 |5 |8 |-
Legal Trainee |2 |1 |3 |-
Administrative Trainee |2 |1 |3 |-
Professional and Technical Officer |5 |- |5 |-
Typing Manager |- |23 |23 |-
Support Manager 2 |- |1 |1 |-
Support Manager 3 |3 |7 |10 |-
Personal Secretary |- |110 |106 |4
Trainee Typist |- |3 |3 |-
Typist |3 |420 |315 |<1>108
Administrative Officer |2,412 |3,223 |5,192 |<4>-
Administrative Officer Data Processor |14 |34 |46 |<1>2
Support Grade Band 1 |80 |76 |149 |<5>-
Administrative Assistant |1,175 |1,979 |2,885 |<6>-
Administrative Assistant Data Processor |20 |144 |133 |<1>31
Support Grade Band 2 |378 |246 |503 |<7>-
Support Grade 2 |1 |9 |- |<8>-
<1> Female.
<2> 155 (Female), 13 (Male).
<3> 388 (Female), 21 (Male).
<4> 432 (Female), 11 (Male).
<5> 9 (Female), 1 (Male).
<6> 245 (Female), 24 (Male).
<7> 105 (Female), 16 (Male).
<8> 9 (Female), 1 (Male).
Column 49
Government Actuary's Department
Staff in post Of which
Grade |Male |Female |Full-time|Part-time
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Government Actuary |1 |- |1 |-
Directing Actuary |3 |- |3 |-
Chief Actuary |7 |- |7 |-
Actuary |20 |3 |18 |<1>5
Trainee Actuary |11 |5 |16 |-
Grade 6 |1 |- |1 |-
Grade 7 |1 |- |1 |-
Senior Executive Officer |- |3 |3 |-
Higher Executive Officer |4 |- |4 |-
Executive Officer |2 |2 |4 |-
Administrative Officer |2 |4 |5 |<2>1
Administrative Assistant |1 |- |1 |-
Senior Personal Secretary |- |1 |1 |-
Personal Secretary |- |3 |3 |-
Typist |- |1 |1 |-
Support Grade Band 1 |1 |- |1 |-
Support Grade Band 2 |2 |- |2 |-
<1>Four male, 1 female.
<2>Female.
Column 51
Inland Revenue
Equivalent Of which
Civil Service grade |Inland |Male |Female |Full-time |Part-time
|Revenue
|pay grade
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 |- |1 |- |1 |-
2 |- |3 |- |3 |-
3 |- |17 |- |17 |-
4 |Band A1 |32 |1 |33 |-
5 |Band A2 |200 |15 |213 |<1>2
6 |Band B1 |741 |75 |809 |<2>7
7 |Band B2 |1,503 |409 |1,844 |<3>68
Higher Executive Officer (D) |Band B3 |265 |135 |391 |<1>9
Senior Executive Officer |Band C1 |1,534 |265 |1,763 |<4>36
Higher Executive Officer |Band C2 |4,167 |2,082 |5,956 |<5>293
Executive Officer |Band D |6,363 |7,845 |12,426 |<6>1,782
Administrative Officer |Band E1 |5,366 |15,054 |16,780 |<7>3,640
Administrative Assistant/Typist |Band E2 |4,416 |13,130 |14,188 |<8>3,358
<1> Female.
<2>One male, six female.
<3>Eight male, 60 female.
<4>Four male, 32 female.
<5>23 male, 270 female.
<6>43 male, 1,739 female.
<7>73 male, 3,567 female.
<8>88 male, 3,270 female.
Column 51
Central Statistical Office
Staff in post Of which
Grade |Male |Female |Full-time|Part-time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1A |1 |- |1 |-
2 |1 |- |1 |-
3 |3 |- |3 |-
4 |1 |- |1 |-
5 |17 |4 |21 |-
6 |8 |- |8 |-
7 |62 |16 |72 |<1>6
Senior Executive Officer |31 |16 |47 |-
Senior Assistant Statistician |16 |10 |25 |<2>1
Assistant Statistician |8 |6 |14 |-
Higher Executive Officer |103 |72 |157 |<3>18
Executive Officer |175 |179 |327 |<4>27
Administrative Officer |162 |316 |418 |<5>60
Administrative Assistant |31 |66 |87 |<6>10
Senior Personal Secretary |- |3 |3 |-
Personal Secretary |- |28 |25 |<6>3
Other |17 |37 |47 |<6>7
<1>Two male, four female.
<2>Male.
<3>Two male, 16 female.
<4>Two male, 25 female.
<5>1 male, 59 female.
<6>Female.
Column 51
National investment and loans office
Of which
Grade |Male |Female |Full-time|Part-time
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 |1 |- |1 |-
7 |1 |1 |2 |-
Senior Executive Officer |1 |1 |2 |-
Higher Executive Officer |5 |1 |6 |-
Executive Officer |8 |4 |12 |-
Administrative Officer |2 |6 |8 |-
Administrative Assistant |- |2 |1 |<1>1
Personal Secretary |- |1 |1 |-
Typist |- |1 |1 |-
Support Grade Band 1 |- |1 |1 |-
Support Grade Band 2 |- |2 |2 |-
<1>Female.
Column 53
Registry of friendly societies
Of which
Grade |Male |Female |Full-time|Part-time
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 |- |1 |1 |-
3 |1 |- |1 |-
4 |3 |- |3 |-
5 |7 |- |6 |<1>1
6 |5 |1 |6 |-
7 |13 |8 |21 |-
Senior Executive Officer |14 |3 |17 |-
Higher Executive Officer |18 |9 |27 |-
Executive Officer |21 |16 |34 |<2>3
Administrative Officer |11 |21 |30 |-
Administrative Assistant |6 |5 |11 |-
Senior Personal Secretary |- |3 |3 |-
Personal Secretary |- |8 |8 |-
Specialist Typist |- |4 |4 |-
Support Manager 3 |- |1 |1 |-
Support Grade Band 1 |2 |- |2 |-
Support Grade Band 2 |11 |- |11 |-
<1>Male.
<2>One male, two female.
<3>Female.
Column 53
Office of the Paymaster General
Of which
Grade |Male |Female |Full time|Part time
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 |1 |- |1 |-
6 |3 |- |3 |-
7 |7 |2 |9 |-
Senior Executive Officer |23 |6 |29 |-
Higher Executive Officer |52 |47 |91 |<1>8
Executive Officer |57 |103 |139 |<2>21
Administrative Officer |77 |298 |279 |<3>96
Administrative Assistant |22 |142 |93 |<4>71
Typing Manager |- |1 |1 |-
Typist |- |9 |3 |<5>6
PS |- |2 |2 |-
Support Manager 3 |- |1 |1 |-
Support Grade Band 1 |2 |9 |8 |<5>3
Support Grade Band 2 |10 |13 |17 |<5>6
<1> 1 Male, 7 Female
<2> 2 Male, 19 Female
<3> 4 Male, 92 Female
<4> 1 Male, 70 Female
<5> Female
Department for National Savings
Of which
Grade |Male |Female |Full-time|Part-time
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 |2 |- |2 |-
5 |5 |1 |5 |<1>1
6 |8 |- |8 |-
7 |38 |3 |41 |-
Senior Executive
Officer |101 |17 |118 |-
Higher Executive
Officer |200 |122 |319 |<2>3
Executive Officer |375 |478 |803 |<3>50
Administrative Officer |604 |2,097 |2,206 |<4>495
Administrative
Assistant |648 |1,626 |1,894 |<5>380
Other |126 |60 |- |-
<1> Female.
<2> 1 Male, 2 Female.
<3> 1 Male, 49 Female.
<4> 10 Male, 485 Female.
<5> 8 Male, 372 Female.
Column 55
Royal Mint
Of which
Grade |Male |Female |Full-time|Part-time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grade 3 |1 |- |1 |-
Grade 4 |1 |- |1 |-
Grade 5 |2 |- |2 |-
Grade 6 |2 |- |2 |-
Grade 7 |11 |- |11 |-
Senior Executive Officer (equivalent) |11 |3 |14 |-
Higher Executive Officer |14 |5 |19 |-
Curator Grade F |1 |- |1 |-
Executive Officer |26 |20 |46 |<1>3
Administrative Officer |31 |56 |87 |<1>11
Administrative Assistant |- |11 |11 |<1>2
Senior Personal Secretary |- |1 |1 |-
Personal Secretary |- |5 |5 |-
Typing Manager |- |1 |1 |-
Typists |- |8 |8 |-
Higher Photographic Officer |1 |- |1 |-
Photographic Officer |1 |- |1 |-
Laboratory Assistant |- |1 |- |<1>1
Senior Messenger |2 |- |2 |-
Messenger |1 |3 |4 |<1>3
Car Drivers |2 |1 |3 |-
Telephonists |- |- |- |<1>2
Cleaners |- |2 |2 |<1>5
Senior Professional and Technical Officer
(equivalent) |9 |- |9 |-
Higher Professional and Technical Officer |21 |- |21 |-
Professional and Technical Officer |72 |2 |74 |-
Technical Grade 1 |1 |- |1 |-
Process and General Supervisory Grade D |2 |- |2 |-
Senior Scientific Officer |2 |- |2 |-
Higher Scientific Officer |2 |- |2 |<1>1
Scientific Officer |15 |1 |16 |-
Engraver I |1 |- |1 |-
Trainee Engraver |1 |- |1 |-
Engraver II |5 |- |5 |-
<1> Female
Accommodation (Tax)
Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the amount of the deduction or the market rental value of the accommodation is used to calculate the tax due when assessing the value for tax purposes of accommodation provided as part of salary.
Mr. Dorrell [holding answer 29 March 1994] : Employees who choose to spend part of the wages to which they are entitled on accommodation from their employer remain taxable on their full wages.
Employees who have living accommodation provided by reason of their employment are liable to tax on the value of the accommodation, subject to certain statutory exemptions. The value of the accommodation for tax purposes is the annual value of the property or the rent paid for it if that is greater. Annual value is defined in the same way as the annual value which was formerly used for rating purposes and the figures taken for income tax purposes is usually the same as the gross value last used for rating purposes. There is an additional charge for certain properties which cost more than £75, 000.
The basis of valuation of living accommodation provided by reason of an employment is currently being reviewed to find a practical replacement for figures from rating lists.
Column 56
Inflation
Sir John Stanley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current annual rate of inflation ; and in which year inflation was last lower.
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 31 March 1994] : In February the RPI excluding mortgage interest payments was 2.8 per cent. higher than a year earlier. Other than in November and December 1993 the inflation rate was last lower in January 1968, when it was 2.6 per cent.
International Monetary Fund (Russia)
Sir Thomas Arnold : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the full terms of the latest agreement between the International Monetary Fund and Russia ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 31 March 1994] : A joint communique was issued on 22 March by the managing director of the IMF and the Russian Prime Minister announcing that agreement would soon be reached on the terms for the disbursement of the second tranche of the systemic transformation facility--$1.5 billion. Those terms were to be outlined in a Russian Government memorandum of economic policy to be presented to the IMF. As yet, that memorandum has not been finalised.
I very much welcome the progress made towards agreement between the Russian Government and the IMF.
Column 57
Income Statistics
Sir John Stanley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage change in real disposable income between February 1974 and May 1979 ; and what it has been since May 1979.
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 31 March 1994] : Figures for real personal disposable income are available only quarterly. The total increase in RPDI between the first quarter of 1974 and the second quarter of 1979 was nearly 11 per cent. The total increase in RPDI between the second quarter of 1979 and the fourth quarter of 1993 was 42 per cent.
Forward Catering
Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what price was paid for Forward Catering ; and what provision was made in the sale agreement for financial responsibility for redundancies.
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 31 March 1994] : I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter) on 15 February, column 703. The sale agreement provided for the purchaser to indemnify the Treasury from all costs arising from the termination of employment of employees after the transfer date.
Bank Rate
Sir John Stanley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current bank rate of interest ; and in which year it was last lower.
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 31 March 1994] : Base rates now stand at 5 per cent. Base rates have not been lower since 1972.
EU Growth Rate
Sir John Stanley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the growth rate in each EU country in the latest year for which figures are available ; and what are the estimated growth rates for 1994.
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 31 March 1994] : Estimates for 1993 are available in table 2 of the annual economic report of the European Commission. The most recent country-by-country Commission forecasts for 1994 were published in table 10 of "European Economy", edition No. 55. These figures show that the United Kingdom had the fastest growth rate in the Community in 1993 and is expected to grow faster than any other major EC country in 1994.
EMPLOYMENT
Building Projects
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what major building projects valued at over £1 million are being or have been wholly or partly financed since 1989 in (a) Doncaster, (b) Barnsley, (c) Rotherham and (d) Wakefield by his Department ; and what was the cost of each project to his Department.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : None so far as the Department, the Health and Safety Executive and the Advisory,
Column 58
Conciliation and Arbitration Service are concerned. In the case of the Employment Service agency, responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.Letter from Mr. A. G. Johnson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 12 April 1994 :
The Minister of State for Employment has asked me to reply to your question about major building projects valued at over £1m which are being, or have been, wholly or partly financed by the Employment Service since 1989 at Doncaster, Barnsley, Rotherham and Wakefield. I am replying in the Chief Executive's absence.
The Employment Service (ES) has commissioned three projects which meet the criteria set out in your question. The details are : a. Doncaster--No projects.
b. Barnsley--A private developer built the ES Jobcentre to our specification and it was subsequently rented. ES expenditure on fitting out the building was £423,000. The total value of the building is estimated at £2.25 million. The building was occupied on 5 October 1992.
c. Rotherham--A private developer constructed a building housing three ES Jobcentres to our specification and it was subsequently purchased. The total cost of the project was £2,706,000 wholly funded by the ES. The building was occupied on 26 June 1992.
d. Wakefield--A private developer built the ES Jobcentre to our specification and it was subsequently rented. ES expenditure on fitting out the building was £440,000. The total value of the building is estimated at £2.25 million. The building was occupied on 19 July 1993.
I hope this is helpful.
Unemployment Benefit
Ms Armstrong : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in each region were in receipt of unemployment benefit only (a) in total and (b) who had been unemployed for more than six months at the latest available date.
Miss Widdecombe : Information is not available, by region, on the numbers of people claiming unemployment benefit only.
The available information relates to the numbers of people claiming all unemployment-related benefits--that is, unemployment benefit, income support and national insurance credits. Unadjusted information by duration for the months of January, April, July and October can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library.
Employment Schemes
Mr. Robert Ainsworth : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was (a) the total money spent, (b) the percentage of that money allocated according to decisions made by Ministers on competitive bids and (c) the percentage of that money allocated according to some statistical measure of need in the last available operational year of (i) Employment Service programme development fund, (ii) education business partnerships, (iii) teacher placement scheme, (iv) compacts, (v) business start-up scheme, (vi) local initiative fund and (vii) TEC Challenge.
Miss Widdecombe : Money spent on these programmes in the last available operational year--1992-93--was :
Column 59
|£ million
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) |Programme Development Fund |4.710
(ii) |Education Business Partnerships|1.980
(iii) |Teacher Placement Scheme |3.413
(iv) |Compacts |5.356
(v) |Business Start-up Scheme |62.018
(vi) |Local Initiative Fund |49.700
Expenditure for (i) was for Great Britain ; expenditure for (ii) to (iv) was for England. Funding for TEC Challenge was not available in the 1992-93 operational year.
Budgets for the programme development fund were allocated with the regional level of long-term unemployment as a key consideration. Budgets for TEC challenge were allocated in 1993-94 on the basis of competitive bids.
Budgets for the remaining programmes were allocated on the basis of proposals by training and enterprise councils in their business plans, taking into account commitments arising from previously approved programmes, performance against previous plans, for the business start-up scheme and the local initiative fund, the size of working population in different areas, and for the teacher placement service, the number of teachers.
Productivity Rewards
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 11 March, Official Report , column 433 , concerning rewards for productivity, to what extent the statistical series referred to have changed since 1979.
Miss Widdecombe : The following changes in classification have taken place to the new earnings survey since 1979 :
1983
Employees were classified by industry according to the 1980 Standard Industrial Classification, SIC 1980. The 1982 survey was classified by both the SIC, 1968, and SIC, 1980, versions and earlier surveys were classified by SIC, 1968 ;
1984
Employees were classified as to whether they were paid adult or non-adult rates. In previous surveys employees were classified as being adults if they were males aged 21 or over or females aged 18 or over. The 1983 survey was classified on both bases in 1983. 1991
The occupations of employees were coded using the Standard Occupational Classification, SOC. Previously classification has been to the list of Key Occupations for Statistical Purposes, KOS. The survey was classified on both bases in 1990. Note : employees in the survey are classified as either manual or non-manual by their occupation.
Employees are classified to either the public or private sector in the following way : (a) those reported to be affected by a major collective agreement : to the sector in which the agreement mainly operates ; (b) other employees : to the public sector--central Government, local government or public corporations--or to the private sector in accordance with the industrial classification of the firm. During the period mentioned in the question there were compositional changes to these sectors due to the movement of businesses from the public to the private sector.
Column 60
There have been no substantive changes in the method of calculating the statistical series referred to, although the output series used in the calculation of productivity in manufacturing have been revised slightly in 1980 and 1992 to reflect revised SIC definitions of manufacturing industry.Labour Statistics
Mr. Kevin Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the number of unfilled vacancies in Thorne and Doncaster jobcentres from 8 January.
Miss Widdecombe : In February 1994 the number of unfilled vacancies in Thorne and Doncaster jobcentres were 66 and 426 respectively.
Mr. Kevin Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people apply for each vacancy advertised in United Kingdom jobcentres.
Miss Widdecombe : The information is not available.
Unemployment (Doncaster)
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in the Doncaster area have been unemployed for more than two years ; and what percentage of the unemployed in Doncaster this represents.
Miss Widdecombe : In the Doncaster travel-to-work area the number of people who had been claimant unemployed for over two years in January 1994 was 3,436 or 22.3 per cent. of the total number of unemployed claimants in the area. These figures are on the unadjusted basis.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were placed into employment by jobcentres in the Doncaster area in each month since April 1992 ; and what percentage of the unemployed in the Doncaster area this represents.
Miss Widdecombe [pursuant to her reply, 17 March 1994] : I regret that due to a printing error, part of my original reply of 17 March 1994, Official Report, column 809, related to census of employment figures rather than the claimant unemployment figures for the Doncaster area. The correct reply follows :
Information on monthly jobcentre placings and monthly claimant unemployment levels can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library. However, it is not meaningful to compare flow
figures--placings--with stock figures--unemployment levels.
Moreover, jobcentre placements represent only a quarter of all placings made nationally, and this proportion is likely to vary between different regions, different skills and different occupations. Furthermore, within any one area, there is not necessarily a strong match between the skills of the unemployed and the nature of the vacancies available.
During 1993, jobcentres in the Doncaster area placed more than 400 people into employment each month.
Local Government Legislation
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the Acts of Parliament and Consolidation Acts that affect local government that have been introduced by his Department since 1990.
Column 61
Mr. Michael Forsyth : One aspect of employment legislation since 1990 has been identified as having an effect on local government. The Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act 1993, sections 45 and 46, amend the Employment and Training Act 1973 on the provision of the Careers Service.
May Day Holiday
Mr. Gunnell : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) with what organisation he consulted in his 1993 discussions on the future of the May day holiday ;
(2) how may individuals or organisation not otherwise consulted wrote to him on the future of the May day holiday during his 1993 consideration of this issue.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The Department consulted a wide range of organisations. These included organisations in the manufacturing and service industries, tourism and education sectors.
A total of 1,557 copies of the consultation document were issued, 1,407 to organisations and 150 to individuals. Some 552 organisations and 433 individuals wrote to the Department in response to the consultation.
Mr. Gunnell : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the staffing costs of his 1993 consultation on the future of the May day holiday.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Earnings
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 11 March, Official Report, column 433, concerning rewards for productivity, whether he will publish in Economic Trends and its annual supplement figures matching those in table 23 showing as in index the increase in real wages of manual and non-manual workers broken down as between the public sector, private sector services and private sector manufacturing.
Mr. Nelson : I have been asked to reply.
Increases in real wages can be calculated by taking the average earnings index and adjusting it to take account of the retail prices index, both of which are published in Economic Trends.
Monthly data on average earnings are not available for manual and non- manual workers in the public sector, private sector services and private sector manufacturing.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Roads
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last discussed with the Republic of Ireland the improvement of the road network within the Republic to facilitate access to the ports of Belfast and Larne in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Tim Smith : There are regular exchanges at official level with the Republic of Ireland about cross-border road issues. There have been no recent discussions at ministerial level.
Column 62
Transport Links
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last discussed transport links with (a) the Scottish Office and (b) the Republic of Ireland ; and if he will make a statement about transport communications from Northern Ireland to both Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.
Mr. Tim Smith : There are frequent contacts at official level with the Scottish Office and the Republic of Ireland authorities about transport links with Scotland and the Republic of Ireland respectively. The intergovernmental conference last discussed north-south transport issues on 27 April 1992. Transport links with Scotland have not involved recent ministerial contact.
Income Support
Mr. Maginnis : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to what extent active involvement of over 12 hours per week during normal working hours in the organisation and running of a political party is taken as sufficient ground for refusing an unemployed claimant income support on the basis that the person is not actively seeking work or available for work.
Mr. Ancram : Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alec Wylie. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from A. Wylie to Mr. Ken Maginnis, dated 30 March 1994 : I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the effect which active involvement in the work of a political party has on an unemployed person's entitlement to Income Support. Firstly, I should explain that entitlement to Income Support depends on the facts surrounding the individual's circumstances, decisions on which are taken by Adjudication Officers who are independent of the Department of Health and Social Services. Active involvement of over 12 hours a week in the organisation and running of a political party is not of itself sufficient grounds for refusing benefit. Much would depend on the individual's particular circumstances as to whether he or she fully satisfied the availability and actively seeking work conditions.
I hope this explains the position for you.
Society of Local Authorities
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions, in the past two years, the Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State for the Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland) has met the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives ; and what matters were discussed.
Mr. Tim Smith : Once. Following a recent invitation from the chairman of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives, I met the society for a wide-ranging discussion on local government issues.
GP Fundholders
Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many budget-holding practices there are in Northern Ireland ; and what percentage this is of the total number of GP practices.
Column 63
Mr. Ancram : There are 43 GP fundholding groups in Northern Ireland, comprising 61 GP practices. This represents 17 per cent. of the total number of practices.
Company Records
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the company records of SRC Composites Ltd. and Camira Technical Corporation Ltd. are available in Companies House, Belfast.
Mr. Tim Smith : These company records are available at the Registry of Companies, Department of Economic Development, IDB house, 64 Chichester street, Belfast, BT1 4JX.
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