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Amsterdam (Wreck)
Sir Cranley Onslow: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what recent discussions her Department has had with the Dutch authorities about the protection of the wreck of the Amsterdam. [4707]
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Mr. Sproat [holding answer 20 November 1996]: The Dutch Government are the owners of the wreck of the Amsterdam and, therefore, have prime responsibility for decisions about its future. However, the Amsterdam is a designated site under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, for which my Department has responsibility. My Department and the Dutch Government, therefore, have discussions as appropriate about the Amsterdam and its protection.
Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what information is collated centrally on (a) the long-term revenue commitments and (b) any other commitments arising as a result of private finance initiative projects agreed by (i) her Department and (ii) agencies accountable to her Department. [5080]
Mr. Sproat [holding answer 20 November 1996]: The Government response to the Treasury Committee report on the private finance initiative agreed the importance of collecting and monitoring information on future spending commitments arising from contracts under the private finance initiative. Such information is now being collected twice yearly, in April and October. A joint review of the position by the Treasury and the Department is triggered if these commitments in total exceed 15 per cent. of the Department's discretionary expenditure. The response stated that aggregate projections of the level of expenditure that is anticipated to arise from signed contracts under the initiative would be published n the 1997-98 "Financial Statement and Budget Report".
Arts Funding
Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate she has made of the level of public funding for the arts per head of population (a) in the south-west region, and (b) in the rest of Britain. [3179]
Mr. Sproat [holding answer 18 November 1996]: Central Government funding for the arts in Britain, provided through the three arts councils, the Crafts Council and the Government's pairing scheme, amounts to £234 million in 1996-97. Additionally, local authorities spend a similar amount on the arts each year. From these sources the estimate of current level of public funding per capita on the arts in the south-west region is approximately £5.86, compared with an overall average £8.24 for England, Scotland and Wales. In addition, it is anticipated that the arts' share of lottery awards in England, Scotland and Wales will be in the region of £300 million this year, or £5.29 a head. There are also other sources of arts funding generated through Government expenditure: either directly, such as through the BBC--an estimated £300 per annum--or indirectly, such as through European spending programmes. Each of these elements of funding benefits the south-west alongside other areas of Britain.
Millennium Celebrations
Mrs. Jane Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on plans for regional celebrations of the millennium. [2842]
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Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 18 November 1996]: There will be a series of national events in 1998 and 1999 associated with the millennium exhibition. The Millennium Commission has not yet decided what funding it may give to other events. In addition to events supported by the commission, there will be a range of local events, organised and funded by local authorities, local businesses, and local people.
TREASURY
Agency Co-operation
Mr. Pearson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 29 October, Official Report, column 61, if he will make available a list of the projects in hand on closer working between the Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise and the Contributions Agency. [3195]
Mr. Jack: The information requested will shortly be placed in the House Library.
Utilities Windfall Tax
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the effective annual rate of tax on output prices of a utilities windfall tax which is fully passed on to consumers and which raises (i) £3 billion, (2) £5 billion and (3) £10 billion annually from privatised utilities in (a) the water sector, (b) the electricity sector, (c) the gas sector, (d) the telecommunications sector, (e) a, b and c and (f) b and c. [3223]
Mr. Jack: Information on the effect of a utilities windfall tax on output prices is not available and cannot readily be estimated because of the wide range of assumptions that would be involved.
Suicides
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of suicides among under-30s, broken down by gender, in England for each year since 1985. [3833]
Mrs. Angela Knight: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Cynog Dafis, dated 21 November 1996:
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on how many suicides in males and females under 30, took place each year since 1985.
(1) International classification of diseases, 9th revision, codes E950-E959, E980-E989 excl. E988.8.
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Mr. MacShane:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the impact on employee share ownership plans of the proposal by the accounting standards board to implement its urgent issues task force proposal in respect of employee share schemes; [3899]
Mrs. Angela Knight:
The take-up of employee share ownership plans will be determined by a wide range of factors and it is not possible to make a precise estimate of the impact on take-up of individual factors. The Treasury has not discussed the UITF proposals with the ASB. However, I understand that the UITF has received a number of representations of concern about the inclusion of save as you earn employee share schemes within the scope of its proposals covering employee share schemes generally.
Mrs. Wise:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 November, Official Report, column 401, (1) how many of the women whose deaths
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in 1991 to 1993 were directly due to maternity were born in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the Republic of Ireland, (c) the new Commonwealth and Pakistan, (d) other countries and (e) unstated countries, as recorded on the death registration; [4491]
Mrs. Angela Knight:
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Tim Holt to Ms Audrey Wise, dated 21 November 1996:
The figures for England are given in the attached table.
Year Males Females 1985 770 184
1986 803 225
1987 864 252
1988 990 227
1989 948 242
1990 1,089 233
1991 991 213
1992 1,007 232
1993 939 224
1994 985 200
1995 899 213
(2) what discussions he has had with the accounting standards board about reporting employee share ownership schemes in profit and loss accounts. [3908]
(2) how many of the women whose deaths in 1991 to 1993 were indirectly due to maternity were born in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the Republic of Ireland, (c) the new Commonwealth and Pakistan, (d) other countries and (e) unstated countries, as recorded on the death registration. [4490]
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