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Savings

Lady Olga Maitland: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the annual savings from his social security reforms (a) at the end of the century and (b) in 2030. [19721]

Mr. Lilley: The reforms I have announced to date are expected to reduce public spending by £5 billion a year in today's prices by the turn of the century. By 2030 this will rise to £15 billion a year.

TREASURY

ECOFIN

Mr. Matthew Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the recent Council meeting of the Economic and Finance Ministers of the European Union. [20892]

Mr. Kenneth Clarke: I represented the UK at the Economic and Finance Council of the European Union in Brussels on 11 March.

ECOFIN adopted the Council's recommendation to the European Parliament for the discharge of the 1994 budget and considered the European Court of Auditors' annual report and the first statement of assurance on the 1994 budget. I noted that although the court's reports showed that there were still unacceptable levels of error, poor management and lack of financial control there were significant improvements in comparison with the previous year. In particular, I was encouraged by the steps taken by the Commission to address criticisms in earlier reports and to improve its internal financial management through the SEM 2000 programme. I announced that the UK would shortly be writing to the court responding to its detailed observations on UK management of Community funds, in line with the Madrid European Council conclusions, and that I hoped other member states would do the same. I also underlined the importance of the Madrid European Council's request that the Council and Commission should consider extending the system of fines for the misapplication of funds in the agriculture sector to other sectors of the budget and hoped that this would be taken forward as quickly as possible.

The Council endorsed the Commission's 1996 work programme for the fight against fraud and expressed support for its four major themes, stronger presence on the ground, strengthening the partnership between the Community and member states, improving the Community's legislative framework and compatibility between national laws.

In accordance with the June 1995 ECOFIN conclusions, the Commission gave its biannual presentation on the situation in categories 3 and 4 of the

26 Mar 1996 : Column: 564

financial perspective. Germany tabled a declaration that any proposal to amend the financial perspective would be unacceptable. This was supported by France, Netherlands, Sweden and Austria as well as by the UK.

The Council took note of my reservations as well as those expressed by Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands on the Commission proposals for the creation of an audiovisual guarantee fund to be managed by the European investment fund.

The Council agreed a proposal for up to 15 mecu of macro-financial lending to Moldova. The Council did not reach agreement on the proposal for extending the mandate for European investment bank--EIB--lending to Asia and Latin America, which expired at the end of 1995.

The Council mandated COREPER to continue work on the Commission proposals to allow member states to apply a reduced VAT rate to flowers and other horticultural and forestry products. The Council also invited the Commission to come forward with new proposals for common parameters within which member states which wished to do so could introduce carbon/energy taxes.

In the afternoon, ECOFIN had its fifth meeting with the central and east European Finance Ministers and discussed the macro-economic challenges faced by the countries preparing for accession.

Department Staff (Working Hours)

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons in his Department worked in excess of 48 hours per week in any of the last 52 weeks; and what percentage of the staff employed this represents. [21586]

Mrs. Angela Knight: The number of staff recorded as being paid for overtime which took their hours worked to over 48 hours in a week is 278, which represents 24 per cent. of the Department's staff.

No records are held centrally of the hours worked either by senior staff not eligible for paid overtime or by those on flexible working schemes.

Earnings

Ms Rachel Squire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the average weekly earnings (i) including and (ii) excluding overtime for part-time workers in (a) Great Britain, (b) Scotland and (c) each region of Scotland, broken down for men and women (1) in manual employment, (2) in non-manual employment and (3) in other employment. [22059]

Mrs. Angela Knight: Available information from the New Earnings Survey, April 1995, is shown in the table.

26 Mar 1996 : Column: 563

Average weekly earnings, of part-time employees on adult rates, whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence(22)
£

Including overtime Excluding overtime
ManualNon-manualAllManualNon-manualAll
Great Britain
Males98.09149.75126.2986.35143.99117.82
Females76.60114.19101.6372.24109.3396.95
Scotland
Males------------
Females78.17116.60101.4172.88111.1896.04
Grampian
Males------------
Females--120.61102.6472.97--98.10
Lothian
Males------------
Females--120.19107.3274.97114.25101.58
Strathclyde
Males------------
Females81.42121.05105.0574.55115.4398.93

(22) Data are not available for Borders, Central, Dunfries and Galloway, Fife, Highlands and Tayside due to limited sample sizes.

(23) Result not available due to limited sample size.

Source:

New Earnings Survey, April 1995 (GB).


26 Mar 1996 : Column: 565

26 Mar 1996 : Column: 565

Mr. Prescott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the average hourly earnings of (a) full-time and (b) part-time employees in England (i) including and (ii) excluding employees covered by national agreements.[22248]

Mrs. Knight [holding answer 22 March 1996]: Information available from the new earnings survey, April 1995 shows that the average hourly earnings of full-time employees in England were £8.42 and £8.32 including and excluding employees covered by national agreements respectively. Corresponding figures for part-time employees were £5.62 and £5.19.

Parliamentary Questions

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average cost of answering an (a) oral and (b) written parliamentary question from (i) Opposition and (ii) Conservative hon. Members in each Session since 1989-90. [21814]

Mrs. Angela Knight: The Treasury calculates the annual average cost of answering written and oral questions. These are Government-wide averages and the party allegiance of questioners is not recorded. The figures for April of each year since 1989--data are not maintained by parliamentary Session--are given in the table.

£

Written PQOral
198975174
199081188
199187202
199294218
199397225
199499230
1995105244


26 Mar 1996 : Column: 566

Unemployment-related Benefits

Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of Exchequer what was the average duration of claims for unemployment-related benefits in (a) each standard region of England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland for each major group of the standard occupational classification for each year since 1982; and what proportion each represents of that section of the work force. [21870]

Mrs. Angela Knight: The available information in contained in the following table. Occupational data for the claimant unemployed are not available prior to January 1995. In addition, no information is available on the proportion of the work force that these figures represent.

Average duration of claims for unemployment-related benefits by occupation 1995

Mean duration of claims (weeks)
Usual occupationAll
SOC Major Group 1--Managers and administrators
South East31
East Anglia28
South West26
West Midlands29
East Midlands25
Yorkshire and Humberside26
North West25
North24
Wales26
Scotland28
SOC Major Group 2--Professional occupations
South East27
East Anglia24
South West26
West Midlands26
East Midlands20
Yorkshire and Humberside25
North West21
North23
Wales24
Scotland20 SOC Major Group 3--Associate professional and technical occupations
South East32
East Anglia25
South West33
West Midlands35
East Midlands30
Yorkshire and Humberside27
North West29
North 27
Wales27
Scotland25
SOC Major Group 4--Clerical and secretarial occupations
South East31
East Anglia25
South West27
West Midlands32
East Midlands26
Yorkshire and Humberside27
North West28
North33
Wales30
Scotland27
SOC Major Group 5--Craft and related occupations
South East43
East Anglia29
South West33
West Midlands44
East Midlands35
Yorkshire and Humberside30
North West33
North 25
Wales32
Scotland27
SOC Major Group 6--Personal and protective service occupations
South East31
East Anglia24
South West25
West Midlands33
East Midlands27
Yorkshire and Humberside25
North West29
North28
Wales25
Scotland26
SOC Major Group 7--Sales occupations
South East34
East Anglia27
South West28
West Midlands32
East Midlands31
Yorkshire and Humberside31
North West31
North35
Wales28
Scotland29
SOC Major Group 8--Plant and machine operatives
South East45
East Anglia32
South West33
West Midlands43
East Midlands36
Yorkshire and Humberside34
North West41
North32
Wales34
Scotland32
SOC Major Group 9--Other occupations
South East45
East Anglia34
South West38
West Midlands50
East Midlands45
Yorkshire and Humberside41
North West52
North46
Wales44
Scotland47
No previous occupation
South East31
East Anglia26
South West24
West Midlands33
East Midlands27
Yorkshire and Humberside25
North West27
North28
Wales25
Scotland25

26 Mar 1996 : Column: 568

Mr. Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average duration of claims for unemployment-related benefits for (a) men aged 20 years and over and (b) women aged 20 years and over in (i) each standard region of England, (ii) Wales and (iii) Scotland for each year since 1982. [21872]

Mrs. Knight: The information requested is contained in the following table. No information is available prior to 1983.

Average duration of claims for unemployment-related benefits by region: 1983-95

Claimants aged 20 and over at end of claim Mean duration of claims (weeks)
Standard regionMenWomen
1983
South East2823
East Anglia2924
South West2926
West Midlands4034
East Midlands3327
Yorkshire and Humberside3329
North West3629
Northern3432
Wales3428
Scotland3228
1984
South East3025
East Anglia2825
South West2927
West Midlands4034
East Midlands3227
Yorkshire and Humberside3230
North West3730
Northern3231
Wales3329
Scotland3229
1985
South East3026
East Anglia2624
South West2827
West Midlands4034
East Midlands3228
Yorkshire and Humberside3229
North West3829
Northern3430
Wales3629
Scotland3127
1986
South East3127
East Anglia2828
South West2927
West Midlands4335
East Midlands3628
Yorkshire and Humberside3530
North West4131
Northern3634
Wales4130
Scotland3328
1987
South East3428
East Anglia3127
South West3128
West Midlands4836
East Midlands4031
Yorkshire and Humberside4031
North West4533
Northern4033
Wales4330
Scotland3729
1988
South East3930
East Anglia3429
South West3228
West Midlands5638
East Midlands4131
Yorkshire and Humberside4331
North West4732
Northern4533
Wales4529
Scotland4130
1989
South East4232
East Anglia3628
South West3530
West Midlands6543
East Midlands4532
Yorkshire and Humberside4735
North West5735
Northern5540
Wales5133
Scotland5635
1990
South East2418
East Anglia1816
South West1917
West Midlands3123
East Midlands2419
Yorkshire and Humberside2721
North West3322
Northern3222
Wales2517
Scotland3522
1991
South East2016
East Anglia1916
South West1817
West Midlands2519
East Midlands2218
Yorkshire and Humberside2421
North West3021
Northern2822
Wales2318
Scotland2921
1992
South East2622
East Anglia2421
South West2521
West Midlands3025
East Midlands2723
Yorkshire and Humberside2821
North West3223
Northern2824
Wales2919
Scotland3021
1993
South East3426
East Anglia3024
South West3325
West Midlands3728
East Midlands3326
Yorkshire and Humberside3225
North West3726
Northern3226
Wales3424
Scotland3323
1994
South East4130
East Anglia3427
South West3828
West Midlands4431
East Midlands3830
Yorkshire and Humberside3626
North West4128
Northern3827
Wales3825
Scotland3726
1995
South East4230
East Anglia3423
South West3527
West Midlands4531
East Midlands3828
Yorkshire and Humberside3526
North West4127
Northern3529
Wales3826
Scotland3724


26 Mar 1996 : Column: 571

Mr. Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) men and (b) women have made (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three, (iv) four and (v) five or more claims for unemployment-related benefits in (1) each standard region of England, (2) Wales and (3) Scotland since April 1992; and what proportion each represents of the work force. [21432]

Mrs. Knight [holding answer 19 March 1996]: The information requested is contained in the following table. It is not possible to calculate at this level of detail what proportions these figures represent of the respective parts of the work force.

Number of claimants in Great Britain making one, two, three, four, and more than four claims since April 92
Number of claimants (000s)

12345+Total
Men
South East96343318478571,716
East Anglia9443221111180
South West230106532724440
West Midlands275125562419499
East Midlands19488432117362
Yorkshire and Humberside242120653233492
North West321161783735632
North15081442225322
Wales13269341615266
Scotland244128673535509
Women
South East574206752819902
East Anglia582284394
South West145522196232
West Midlands165562175255
East Midlands119411564185
Yorkshire and Humberside152562198246
North West1977228129318
North91351455149
Wales81311154132
Scotland1646026119271

Mr. Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the mean interval, excluding those with no previous claims, between claims for unemployment-related benefits for (a) men, (b) women and (c) all claimants in (i) each standard region of England, (ii) Wales and (iii) Scotland for each year since 1982. [21434]

Mrs. Knight [holding answer 19 March 1996]: The following tables contain information on the mean interval between the latest claim and the previous claim, by gender and region, for claims starting in each year between 1993, 1994 and 1995 respectively. Information is not available for earlier years.

Mean interval between latest claim and previous claim

Mean interval between claims (weeks)
MenWomenAll
1993
South East738476
East Anglia678873
South West658771
West Midlands709075
East Midlands709076
Yorkshire and Humberside628167
North West628368
Northern608165
Wales668170
Scotland658470
1994
South East657969
East Anglia608066
South West608467
West Midlands628568
East Midlands629170
Yorkshire and Humberside578464
North West598265
Northern558261
Wales608667
Scotland608066
1995
South East638068
East Anglia618267
South West608266
West Midlands628568
East Midlands598566
Yorkshire and Humberside578263
North West607965
Northern527859
Wales618467
Scotland578364

26 Mar 1996 : Column: 572

Mr. Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) men and (b) women have made (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three, (iv) four and (v) five or more claims for unemployment-related benefits in the three year period ended for each year from 1982 to 1995 in Great Britain; and what proportion each represents of the work force. [21433]

Mrs. Knight [holding answer 19 March 1996]: The table shows the number of men and women in Great Britain making one, two, three, four or more than four claims for unemployment-related benefits in each three-year period since 1983, together with the proportion that these represent of the total population of working age over the same time period. No information is available prior to 1983 and no information is available on the corresponding total of the work force.

Number of claims starting within the three-year period
Number of claimants (000s)

12345+Total
Men
1983-852,5929624031711384,268
1984-862,6699884131761424,388
1985-87(24)2,523(24)993(24)422(24)176(24)150(24)4,264
1986-882,3659323811551193,953
1987-892,162789298114813,444
1988-902,117777293111743,371
1989-912,450955367135863,994
1990-922,8291,1774801861244,796
1991-932,9261,2495122041415,033
1992-942,7871,2134981971434,838
1993-952,5961,1204681861424,512
Women
1983-851,67954119669522,537
1984-861,72155220071532,596
1985-87(24)1,753(24)578(24)206(24)77(24)56(24)2,669
1986-881,66052417962432,466
1987-891,46040612840252,058
1988-901,35636210432191,873
1989-911,42041212838212,019
1990-921,60450616855322,365
1991-931,64953418763362,468
1992-941,58551718260392,383
1993-951,50649417055372,263

(24) Revised from previously published figures.


26 Mar 1996 : Column: 573

Number of claimants as a proportion of the working age population
Percentage

Number of claims starting within the three-year period
12345+Total
Men
1983-8513.85.12.10.90.722.7
1984-8614.15.22.20.90.823.1
1985-8713.35.22.20.90.722.4
1986-8812.44.92.00.80.620.8
1987-8911.44.11.60.60.418.1
1988-9011.14.11.50.60.417.7
1990-9112.95.01.90.70.521.0
1990-9214.86.22.51.00.725.2
1991-9315.36.52.71.10.726.4
1992-9414.66.32.61.00.725.3
1993-9513.55.82.41.00.723.5
Women
1983-859.83.21.10.40.314.8
1984-8610.03.21.20.40.315.1
1985-8710.23.31.20.40.315.5
1986-889.63.01.00.40.214.3
1987-898.42.30.70.20.111.9
1988-907.82.10.60.20.110.8
1989-918.22.40.70.20.111.6
1990-929.32.91.00.30.213.6
1991-939.53.11.10.40.214.2
1992-949.13.01.00.30.213.7
1993-958.62.81.00.30.213.0

26 Mar 1996 : Column: 574

Mr. Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many (a) men and (b) women have made (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three, (iv) four and (v) five or more claims for unemployment-related benefits in (1) each standard region of England, (2) Wales and (3) Scotland for each major group of the standard occupational classifications since January 1995; and what proportion each represents of that section of the work force; [21435]

Mrs. Knight [holding answer 19 March 1996]: Occupational data for the claimant unemployed are not available prior to January 1995. In addition, due to small sample sizes, it is not possible to provide reliable estimates at the level of detail requested. Hence, the following table shows the extent of the reliable information. No information is available on the proportion these figures represent of the work force.

26 Mar 1996 : Column: 573

Number of claimants making one, two and more than two claims since January 1995
Number of claimants

Men Women
Usual Occupation123+Total123+Total
SOC major group 1
Managers and administrators
South East48,0205,98082054,82019,8602,40030022,560
East Anglia4,360640--5,0601,260140--1,440
South West11,4601,76022013,4403,840400--4,320
West Midlands11,1201,24012012,4803,700440--4,200
East Midlands8,2009403009,4402,4003001802,880
Yorkshire and Humberside8,9401,08022010,2402,920380--3,380
North West12,4602,28028015,0204,2005201404,860
North4,9209402006,0601,620340--2,040
Wales4,6809401205,7401,480280--1,760
Scotland9,5801,44020011,2203,5804401004,120
SOC major group 2
Professional occupations
South East27,3204,56086032,74014,7402,26070017,700
East Anglia2,340400--2,8001,540220--1,800
South West6,1201,3803207,8203,3005401003,940
West Midlands6,1409401807,2603,2006201003,920
East Midlands4,0607402405,0403,020560--3,660
Yorkshire and Humberside5,3209603206,6003,6608402004,700
North West7,9201,4005809,9004,1008603405,300
North3,8805801804,6401,9203801002,400
Wales3,6604401804,2802,3805602403,180
Scotland6,3001,4604008,1604,6409602405,840
SOC major group 3
Associate professional and technical occupations
South East36,0007,0201,32044,34020,9403,76096025,660
East Anglia2,5403001603,0001,540120--1,700
South West6,7401,3603008,4003,2207801004,100
West Midlands6,1801,0002807,4603,4804801804,140
East Midlands4,0007001804,8802,140380--2,560
Yorkshire and Humberside5,6408202806,7402,980780--3,840
North West7,9801,84046010,2804,3607202405,320
North4,0201,0003205,3401,500460--2,040
Wales3,1401,1202004,4601,7804601402,380
Scotland7,0001,7004609,1604,3009202805,500
SOC major group 4
Clerical and secretarial occupations
South East54,76011,7802,44068,98076,78013,0402,18092,000
East Anglia4,2401,1602605,6608,0601,4202609,740
South West11,1602,46066014,28019,0803,40050022,980
West Midlands13,6402,90082017,36019,7002,60054022,840
East Midlands10,1802,56070013,44013,4402,68046016,580
Yorkshire and Humberside13,5403,5201,20018,26018,2203,54080022,560
North West19,7805,0601,56026,40024,1404,8601,36030,360
North6,3401,2604608,06011,6201,86050013,980
Wales5,5601,4402807,2809,3801,58044011,400
Scotland10,6802,80058014,06018,1403,58084022,560
SOC major group 5
Craft and related occupations
South East109,00021,7204,800135,5204,820860(25)--5,760
East Anglia12,1003,42086016,38070080(25)--820
South West29,8008,2601,74039,8001,340260(25)--1,640
West Midlands34,5406,9001,84043,2802,7004601003,260
East Midlands24,4206,0001,50031,9202,660400(25)--3,120
Yorkshire and Humberside34,4809,1603,42047,0602,280440(25)--2,800
North West40,9809,0403,36053,3802,800540(25)--3,380
North24,3008,0004,58036,8801,140240(25)--1,440
Wales18,3605,0401,44024,84072060(25)--780
Scotland38,54010,1404,42053,1002,300340(25)--2,660
SOC major group 6
Personal and protective service occupations
South East33,8605,8401,36041,06033,1005,86076039,720
East Anglia2,9808602004,0404,180860(25)--5,120
South West9,2002,44044012,08011,1002,66056014,320
West Midlands7,5001,2404209,1609,6801,80030011,780
East Midlands6,2401,0404207,7007,6801,5403409,560
Yorkshire and Humberside8,4202,32070011,44011,3602,28068014,320
North West11,1002,72060014,42013,3602,56070016,620
North5,9601,5802407,7807,0801,5603809,020
Wales4,6401,3002006,1405,8001,3404207,560
Scotland10,9802,68072014,38013,0402,78066016,480
SOC major group 7
Sales occupations
South East35,2206,8401,08043,14033,4006,10080040,300
East Anglia3,3608001204,2804,3809401605,480
South West8,9601,80044011,20010,9801,96038013,320
West Midlands8,9201,72022010,86011,4402,18020013,820
East Midlands6,2601,1203007,6808,0201,2401609,420
Yorkshire and Humberside7,4001,5604009,36011,8202,04046014,320
North West11,5402,56064014,74013,1602,32060016,080
North5,0601,2602006,5206,9001,4001008,400
Wales4,1808601005,1405,5401,0801806,800
Scotland8,1401,58030010,02011,5802,20038014,160
SOC major group 8
Plant and machine operatives
South East52,5409,4801,68063,7007,8201,2002809,300
East Anglia7,1001,7604209,2801,0801801001,360
South West16,6603,4401,04021,1402,0402401602,440
West Midlands25,1404,6601,10030,9005,4808602006,540
East Midlands15,1402,8801,02019,0403,2806801804,140
Yorkshire and Humberside22,5005,9801,94030,4204,5201,0602405,820
North West26,0605,6001,56033,2205,6401,0201806,840
North12,6202,9601,12016,7001,740260(25)--2,060
Wales11,4402,50088014,8201,420400(25)--1,880
Scotland19,8205,0401,70026,5603,9607602604,980
SOC major group 9
Other occupations
South East80,86017,6804,480103,02022,4003,70088026,980
East Anglia12,8403,7001,32017,8604,2206804205,320
South West28,1407,4802,32037,9408,3401,66032010,320
West Midlands28,3006,7801,98037,0606,2601,0202207,500
East Midlands25,4607,6402,30035,4006,2601,1801607,600
Yorkshire and Humberside36,66010,4403,36050,4607,7001,2604409,400
North West45,22011,6003,26060,0807,8601,2404209,520
North26,7206,4601,94035,1205,6209804607,060
Wales23,5806,0401,58031,2005,3209601806,460
Scotland42,40010,3403,38056,12010,5602,40048013,440
No previous occupation
South East41,6206,82096049,40031,5404,18044036,160
East Anglia3,6208001604,5802,560620(25)--3,240
South West9,1001,70024011,0407,3801,2602008,840
West Midlands12,9202,06022015,2009,9601,46016011,580
East Midlands8,4201,50018010,1006,3407601407,240
Yorkshire and Humberside14,5802,28028017,14010,4601,20020011,860
North West18,8003,36068022,84013,7202,02024015,980
North9,5401,66024011,4407,3601,1201008,580
Wales8,5001,1402809,9206,5208801007,500
Scotland13,5402,46068016,6809,6401,32024011,200

(25) Estimates less than 100 are unreliable due to small sample sizes.


26 Mar 1996 : Column: 577

26 Mar 1996 : Column: 577


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