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Kick Boxing
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement about his Department's policy towards kick boxing. [4086]
Mr. Banks [holding answer Monday 23 June 1997]: The Government does not regulate kick boxing--or indeed any other sport in this country. This is a matter for the relevant governing body, or bodies, acting within the bounds of the law. However, I believe that those in charge of such sports have a duty to ensure they are conducted safely, particularly where there is a risk of injury, and that governing bodies of sport should have the appropriate medical and safety regulations in place. The tragic death of Sean McBride, following his participation in a kick boxing bout in Northern Ireland, highlights the need for governing bodies to take urgent and appropriate action.
Tobacco Companies (Sponsorship)
Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 19 May, Official Report, column 361, if he will list the alternative sponsors he has identified to replace existing funding provided by tobacco companies for each sport in the event of the proposed ban on tobacco sponsorship of sport. [4289]
Mr. Banks: I will be looking very carefully at how best to achieve an end to the advertising and promotion of tobacco at sports events in a way that will minimise any damage to the sports concerned. Clearly we will do all we can to help the sports concerned identify alternative sponsors.
Tourism Industry
Mr. Butterfill: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the effect of VAT and the VAT threshold on the international competitiveness of the British tourism industry. [5137]
Mr. Tom Clarke:
Issues concerning VAT and the VAT threshold are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I am aware of the tourism industry's concerns about VAT-related issues, as is he.
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National Savings Accommodation Review
Mr. Jack: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive the results of the National Savings Accommodation Review. [3370]
Mrs. Liddell: The review of National Savings, future accommodation needs has now been subsumed into the exploration of a possible Private Finance Initiative (PFI) project. A shortlist of three property firms are being consulted, and the Agency hopes to issue an Invitation to Negotiate next month.
European Single Currency
Ms Kelly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what respects the Bank of England would need to be reformed to meet all the requirements for central bank independence in the Maastricht treaty; and when legislation would need to be passed if the United Kingdom wished to join a European single currency at the beginning of 1999. [4243]
Mrs. Liddell: The proposed changes to the Bank of England will not make it compatible with the requirements in the EC Treaty which would apply if the United Kingdom were to adopt the single currency. In particular, the Governor would need to be fully independent when carrying out his tasks in the Governing Council of the European Central Bank, and the Bank of England would need to be able to play a full role in the European System of Central Banks and the formulation and implementation of the single monetary policy.
The Treaty provides for the ECB to take responsibility for the monetary policy of the single currency on 1 January 1999. The legislative framework enabling the Bank of England to play its part would need to be in place by 1 January 1999 at the latest if the United Kingdom were to adopt the single currency. Progress towards making the Bank of England compatible with the Treaty will be assessed by the Commission and the European Monetary Institute as part of their reports made in accordance with the procedure under Article 109j(1) of the Treaty probably in spring 1998.
Sir Richard Body:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) in whose name the deeds for the gold reserves for the Euro will be held; [4463]
(3) where the gold reserves for the Euro will be held;[4464]
(4) what estimate he has made of the quantity of gold and foreign currency reserves which this country would contribute to the Euro's central reserves in the event of participation in the single currency. [4462]
Mrs. Liddell:
The foreign reserve assets to be held and managed by the European Central Bank (ECB) will be provided by the national central banks of countries which adopt the single currency in accordance with Article 30 of the Statute of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) annexed to the EC Treaty. The amount to be
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provided by each national central bank will depend on the size of its country's population and national income. It is not possible at this stage to say precisely how much the Bank of England would need to provide if the United Kingdom were to join. The amount required in total by the ECB and its precise composition will be decided by its Governing Council, within a ceiling provided by the Treaty.
Foreign reserve assets held and managed by the ECB will be "pooled", in the sense that the central banks which provide them will have in turn a proportionate claim on the assets of the ECB. The Governing Council will decide the degree of decentralisation of the activities of the ESCB. There are likely to be good reasons for some or all foreign reserve assets to remain in individual national central banks, so that they can be used more effectively in local financial markets for example.
The Treaty provides no mechanism or sanction specifically for use against a national central bank which fails to provide the required amount of foreign reserve assets.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people aged 17 to 25 years were claiming unemployment benefit in Portsmouth in June of (a) 1974, (b) 1979, (c) 1988, (d) 1992, (e) 1993, (f) 1994, (g) 1995 and (h) 1996; and what percentage of the total number of those in this age group these figures represent. [4743]
Mrs. Liddell:
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. Michael Hancock, dated 25 June 1997:
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(4) Mid-year estimates.
(5) Provisional (based on mid-1995 population estimates).
Mr. Willetts:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people aged 18 to 24 years have come off unemployment benefits in each of the past five years; and what were the alternative activities to which they moved.[4995]
Mrs. Liddell:
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. David Willetts, dated 25 June 1997:
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 people aged 18 to 24 years have come off unemployment benefits in each of the past five years; and what were the alternative activities to which they moved.
Source:
NOMIS.
Source:
JUVOS Leaving Marker.
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Source:
JUVOS Leaving Marker.
Mrs. Liddell:
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 Tom Holt to Mr. Bob Russell, dated 25 June 1997:
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(2) what action would be taken against a participant in the single currency which was found to have gold reserves less than its planned contribution to the central reserves;[4461]
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on the numbers of 17 to 25 year olds claiming unemployment benefit in Portsmouth in June of (a) 1974, (b) 1979, (c) 1988, (d) 1992, (e) 1993, (f) 1994, (g) 1995 and (h) 1996; and what percentage of the total number of those in this age group these figures represent.
The data you have requested can only be derived from the monthly count of people claiming unemployment-related benefits (i.e. Unemployment Benefit and Income Support which were replaced by Jobseeker's Allowance in October 1996, or National Insurance credits). Essentially, all people who attend an Employment Service office to sign on the designated day are counted.
These figures by broad age group for Local Authority Districts have been available quarterly since 1983. The corresponding figures by age are only available quarterly and not seasonally adjusted, and are based on particular age bands. The data given in the attached table, relating to claimants aged 17 to 24 inclusive in July each year, correspond as closely as possible to your request.
Claimant unemployed aged 17-24 Resident population aged 17-24(4) Claimant unemployed aged 17-24 as a percentage of population
July 1988 2,300 31,400 7.3
July 1992 3,200 28,300 11.2
July 1993 3,300 26,400 12.6
July 1994 2,700 25,600 10.7
July 1995 2,500 25,600 9.9
July 1996 2,300 n/a (5)8.9
Total numbers leaving the claimant count from 1992 to 1996 are shown in the attached tables 1 to 3 but information on the destination of leavers from the claimant count is not available for 1992 to 1994.
For 1995 and 1996, numbers of leavers from the claimant count are shown in tables 2 and 3 according to the claim end reason categories identified in those years. The percentages shown in these tables are expressed in terms of leavers with a known destination.
Year Total leavers (000s)
1992 1,407.4
1993 1,423.2
1994 1,390.5
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons aged 18 to 24 years in the Colchester parliamentary constituency who are currently registered unemployed have never been employed. [5003]
Reason for leaving Leavers (000s) As a percentage of those with a known destination
Ceased claiming 24.5 2.9
Found work 637.1 76.0
Gone abroad 19.6 2.3
Claimed another benefit 23.5 2.8
Full-time education 28.9 3.5
Claimant deceased 0.2 0.0
Approved training 1.2 0.1
Claimed sickness benefit 42.5 5.1
Transferred to government-supported training 55.5 6.6
Working on average 16+ hours 3.4 0.4
Claimed Incapacity Support 0.8 0.1
Claimed Income Support 0.2 0.0
Defective claim 0.4 0.1
Claimant in prison 0.1 0.0
Total known destination 838.1 100.0
Not known 12.8 --
Failed to attend 359 --
Total leavers 1,209.9 --
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question asking how many persons aged 18 to 24 years in the Colchester parliamentary constituency who are currently unemployed have been employed.
The only source which provides information about whether or not a person has ever been employed (other than in casual and holiday jobs) is the Labour Force Survey. Because this is a sample survey no information is available below county level.
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