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Unemployment (Bolton)

Ms Kelly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people aged 25 years or over have been unemployed for two years or more in the Bolton, West constituency. [9684]

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 Ms Ruth Kelly, dated 23 July 1997:

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply, as Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), to your recent parliamentary question asking how many people aged 25 years or over have been unemployed for two years or more in the Bolton West constituency.

The ONS produces two measures of unemployment. The first is derived from the quarterly Labour Force Survey, and is defined on a consistent and internationally recognised basis set out by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). It counts as unemployed those people who are a) without a paid job, b) available to start work within the next two weeks, and c) have either looked for work in the last four weeks or are waiting to start a job already obtained.

The ONS also publishes the monthly claimant count, which is based on the administrative system and includes all people claiming unemployment-related benefits (i.e. Jobseekers Allowance or National Insurance credits) at Employment Service offices on the day of the monthly count, who on that day had signed on as unemployed and available to do any suitable work. Essentially, all people who attend an Employment Service office to sign on the designated day are counted.

The information requested can only be derived from the claimant count, as the labour force survey does not give detail on duration of unemployment below county level. In April 1997, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 112 people aged 25 years or over who had been claiming unemployment-related benefits for more than two years in the Bolton West constituency.

Economic and Monetary Union

Sir Richard Body: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchquer which statistical sources will be used to identify the fulfilment of the criteria for EMU convergence. [10015]

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Mrs. Liddell [holding answer 22 July 1997]: Protocol (No. 6) on the convergence criteria referred to in article 109j of the treaty establishing the European Community states

"The statistical data to be used for the application of this Protocol shall be provided by the Commission".

Sir Richard Body: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the redenomination of Government debt from sterling into euros under a single currency; and if he will make a statement. [10205]

Mrs. Liddell [holding answer 22 July 1997]: The report of the working group on the gilt market after EMU recommended, if the United Kingdom joins EMU,

"complete and simultaneous redenomination of existing gilts from sterling into euro by law; this should take place early in 1999 if the UK joins EMU at the outset or as soon as possible after it joins if it participates at a later date".

HM Treasury was represented at the working group, which was convened by the Bank of England, and included a wide range of market participants. The report does not necessarily represent the views of the Government. The report was published in the Bank's "Practical Issues Arising from the Introduction of the Euro"--No. 3, December 1996.

Sir Richard Body: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission research into the potential effects on the world gold price of the sale of excess reserves by states participating in the single currency; and if he will make a statement. [10197]

Mrs. Liddell [holding answer 22 July 1997]: Developments in the world gold market are kept under continuous review as part of the normal process of managing the official reserves.

Civil Servants (Pay and Conditions)

Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if staff engaged in the labour force survey field teams organised by the social survey division of the Office of National Statistics are entitled to the protection, pay and working conditions available to other civil service employees; [9459]

(2) if he will list the car mileage expenses limits applicable to payment by Government Departments to civil servants' travel in the course of their paid employment; and if these rates differ for staff travel relating to work undertaken for Departments on a self-employed or fee-paying basis; [9460]

(3) in what circumstances the Government insist on Crown exemptions regarding car insurance being taken out by persons carrying out duties on behalf of the civil service, with special reference to the labour force survey. [9461]

(4) what guidance is given to civil service staff concerning when travel by car can be legitimately claimed as expenses by civil servants or others involved in labour force survey field work. [9462]

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Mrs. Liddell [holding answer 22 July 1997]: 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. Archy Kirkwood, dated 23 July 1997:

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply, as Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to your recent parliamentary questions (9459, 9460, 9461, 9462) on Civil Servants travelling by car when involved in field work.

The Social Survey is a division of the ONS and carries out social and economic surveys commissioned by government departments and other public bodies. The Labour Force Survey provides independent, accurate and reliable information about people's intentions in the area of employment.

Labour Force Survey Interviewer contracts of employment are fundamentally different from main stream ONS employees and reflect the unique nature of their work. Terms and conditions of service and rates of pay are negotiated directly with the Institution of Professionals, Managers and Specialists (IPMS), the civil service union recognised for collective bargaining purposes.

The Labour Force survey is continuous throughout the year but the amount of work available for field interviewers fluctuates each week. Employment is therefore paid at an hourly rate. The hourly rates have been calculated to include an additional supplement for bank holidays, privilege days and annual leave days which are not paid at the time they are taken, Interviewer appointments are not pensionable, and for periods of sickness absence only payments due under statutory entitlement are made. To compensate for this, the hourly rate for pay has been further enhanced.

Interviewers are paid for time spent travelling to and from working area, and for time spent calling on people and interviewing in the area. Study, planning and administration time are also paid. Payment is not made for periods when interviewers are unavailable for work or when there is no suitable work available. Labour Force Interviewers contact and interview informants by calling on them at home. The use of a car is essential and a motor mileage allowance is payable for use of a private vehicle on official business.

Since 1994 government departments and agencies have been free to set their own rates of motor mileage allowance, which are payable to employees travelling necessarily in the course of their paid employment. Motor mileage rates therefore differ from department to department according to prevailing circumstances.

The ONS operates a single rate of motor mileage allowance for all private motor vehicles. The rate for the first 4,000 miles is 37 pence per mile. The rate for mileage in excess of 4,000 miles is 24 pence per mile. This rate of motor mileage allowance currently applies to all ONS employees irrespective of type of appointment.

Guidance for Labour Force Survey field workers, relating to the use of private vehicles on official business, is available in the Pay and Expenses Handbook for Labour Force Survey Interviewers.

Expenses claims for mileage are only allowed when field workers have used a car which has been specifically authorised for official use. For a vehicle to be authorised it must satisfy certain insurance conditions. The insurance policy must include:

cover for damage to or loss of the vehicle,

cover for bodily injury to or death of third parties or any passenger, and of damage to the property of third parties,

cover for the use of the car either in connection with the employee's business or the business of the employing department.

In addition, the insurers must undertake to indemnify the Crown (in the event of a claim against the Crown as the driver's employer) to the same extent as the insured is covered under the policy, on the understanding that the insurers are allowed to retain control of the claim.

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Pensioners (Fuel Costs)

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) of 16 July, Official Report, column 169, concerning the effect on pensioners of the reduction in VAT on domestic fuel, on what assumption in respect of the uprating of the basic pension the answer was based; and for what reason that assumption was used.[10149]

Dawn Primarolo: No assumption was used in respect of the uprating of the basic pension. The uprating for 1998-99 benefit levels will depend upon the retail prices index increase in September 1997. This reflects the prices paid for goods and services and will take account of the reduction in VAT on fuel and power. So the real value of the pension is not affected by the change.

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