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Unemployment
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the (a) percentage and (b) numerical difference in unemployment rates between the United Kingdom and (i) Germany and (ii) France in each of the past 24 months. [4360]
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. Peter Bottomley, dated 21 November 1996:
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Source:
Eurostat (the statistical Office of the European Community, or SOEC).
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The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on unemployment in the United Kingdom, Germany and France.
The information you requested is given in the attached table. This is based on the International Labour Office (ILO) measure of unemployment which provides a like for like basis for international comparisons. The ILO measure of unemployment is a count of people without a job who were available to start work in the two weeks following their Labour Force Survey interview and who had either looked for work in the four weeks prior to interview or were waiting to start a job they already obtained.
Annual average numbers of ILO unemployed in member countries are published by Eurostat in their monthly Unemployment Bulletin, available in the House of Commons Library.
Unemployment rate per cent. Percentage point difference UK compared with
UK France Germany France Germany September 1994 9.4 12.2 8.3 -2.8 1.1
October 9.2 12.1 8.2 -2.9 1.0
November 9.1 12.0 8.2 -2.9 0.9
December 9.0 11.9 8.1 -2.9 0.9
January 1995 8.9 11.8 8.1 -2.9 0.8
February 8.8 11.7 8.1 -2.9 0.7
March 8.9 11.6 8.1 -2.7 0.8
April 8.8 11.5 8.1 -2.7 0.7
May 8.8 11.5 8.1 -2.7 0.7
June 8.8 11.4 8.2 -2.6 0.6
July 8.8 11.4 8.2 -2.9 0.5
August 8.7 11.6 8.2 -2.9 0.5
September 8.7 11.6 8.3 -2.9 0.4
October 8.7 11.7 8.4 -3.0 0.3
November 8.6 11.9 8.5 -3.3 0.1
December 8.4 12.0 8.6 -3.6 -0.2
January 1996 8.3 12.0 8.7 -3.7 -0.4
February 8.4 12.1 8.9 -3.7 -0.5
March 8.4 12.1 9.0 -3.7 -0.6
April 8.4 12.1 8.9 -3.7 -0.5
May 8.3 12.2 8.9 -3.9 -0.6
June 8.3 12.3 8.9 -4.0 -0.6
July 8.2 12.3 8.9 -4.1 -0.7
August 8.2 12.4 8.9 -4.2 -0.7
September 8.1 12.5 9.0 -4.4 -0.9
Environmental Auditing
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the ways in which his Department has (a) demonstrated by example and (b) promoted externally, the ability to improve efficiency and competitiveness through environmental auditing; and if he will make a statement. [4534]
Mrs. Angela Knight: An environmental assessment using the Building Research Establishment "toolkit" has been carried out at the offices occupied by HM Treasury at Allington Towers in Victoria with a view to accreditation under ISO 14001. Extending the assessment to the main building in Parliament street--Government offices, Great George street--is not cost-effective, given the proposed redevelopment and the short time we expect to remain in the building in its current configuration. We are paying particular attention to the drive for energy efficiency to be fully recognised in the proposed redevelopment where an "excellent" rating under the Building Research Establishment environmental assessment method system is required.
External promotion of environmental auditing is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Trade and Industry and the Environment.
Coinage (Metal Content)
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes have occurred in the metal content of United Kingdom coinage in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [4817]
Mrs. Angela Knight: From September 1992 onwards, all 1p and 2p coins dated 1992 were made of copper-plated steel instead of bronze.
Transport, Agriculture and Fishing
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes in policy his Department has
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made during the last 12 months in respect of (a) transport, (b) agriculture and (c) the fishing industry; and if he will make a statement. [5137]
Mrs. Angela Knight: Policy responsibility on transport lies with the Secretary of State for Transport. The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is responsible for policies on agriculture and fisheries.
Tax Overpayments
Ms Lynne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount spent by his Department on advertising and publicity relating to the opportunities for people to reclaim overpayments in tax; and what proportion of this is specifically targeted at pensioners. [4734]
Mr. Jack: Since 1991 the Inland Revenue has had six national publicity initiatives encouraging savers, especially pensioners, who are paying too much tax on their savings income to claim it back. Approximately £12.9 million has been spent during this period on advertising and publicity.
The campaigns have told savers who are entitled to tax back how to claim, and non-taxpayers to tell their bank and building society not to take tax off in the future.
Oral Cancer
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors have delayed the availability of information regarding the incidence of oral cancer since 1991 as referred to in his answer of 15 October, Official Report, column 837-38. [2725]
Mrs. Angela Knight [holding answer 7 November 1996]: The process of cancer registration in England and Wales is carried out by 11 regional cancer registries, over which the Office for National Statistics has no statutory or managerial control. The process of registration is often very complex and often delayed pending the completion of treatment. ONS can only produce national results once the information is available from all registries. Several have introduced new computer systems and ONS is developing its processes which should help to enable overall figures to be produced more quickly.
Unemployment
Mr. Hain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list figures for the number and percentage of the (a) male, (b) female and (c) total work force who have experienced at least one spell of unemployment since (i) autumn 1990 and (ii) spring 1992, and if he will provide figures by region; [2818]
- (2) if he will list the number and percentage of the work force in each of the main occupational categories who have experienced at least one spell of unemployment since (a) autumn 1990 and (b) spring 1992. [2819]
Mrs. Angela Knight [holding answer 12 November 1996]: 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.
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