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Birth Statistics
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the annual figures from 1970 until the present for the overall number of births outside of marriage by teenagers as a percentage of the overall number of births by teenagers in the United Kingdom. [109466]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Pullinger, on behalf of Dr. Holt, to Mr. Shaun Woodward dated 10 February 2000:
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The Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on the annual figures from 1970 until the present for the overall number of births outside of marriage by teenagers as a percentage of the overall number of births by teenagers in the United Kingdom. I am replying in Dr Holt's absence.
The attached table shows the percentage of live births for teenagers (aged under 20) outside marriage from 1970 to present in the UK.
Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the annual figures from 1970 until the present for the overall number of births outside of marriage (1) for teenagers of ethnic minority groups as a percentage of the overall number of ethnic minority teenage births in the UK; [109465]
- (2) for ethnic minority groups as a percentage of the overall number of ethnic minority births in the UK. [109467]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Pullinger, on behalf of Dr. Holt, to Mr. Shaun Woodward, dated 10 February 2000:
The Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been asked to reply to your parliamentary questions on the percentage of births outside marriage by ethnic minority. I am replying in Dr. Holt's absence.
The current form of birth registration does not include ethnicity. Figures on live births by country of birth of mother are available in Birth Statistics 1998, FM1 which is available in the House of Commons Library. However, it should be noted that birthplace does not necessarily indicate ethnic origin or race. More information on these statistics can be found in an article in Population Trends 52, 1988.
WALES
Nurses' Pay
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what talks he has had concerning nurses' pay with (a) other departments and (b) the First Secretary; and if he will make a statement. [108827]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I recently met my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health to discuss health issues generally and health issues in Wales in particular. I also meet regularly with the First Secretary to discuss health issues in Wales.
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On 17 January, the Department of Health and the National Assembly for Wales accepted the Review Body recommendations for nurses pay.
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals there are to amend the Wales Office departmental expenditure limit for 1999-2000. [108699]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class XIV, Vote 1 (The Welsh Office, the Wales Office and payments to the National Assembly for Wales) the Welsh Departmental Expenditure Limit for 1999-2000 will be increased by £8,285,000 from £7,217,489,000 to £7,225,774,000. The increase is a result of net transfers to other Government Departments of £74,000 and additional funding of £7,939,000 and £420,000 for Health and Agriculture respectively.
There is an increase in the provision of Welfare to Work of £548,000 as a result of end-year flexibility entitlement of £300,000 and additional funding of £248,000 announced in the Pre-Budget Report.
Transfers are from Class 1 Vote 1 (£200,000), Class 2 Vote 1 (£11,000), Class 3 Vote 2 (£113,000), Class 3 Vote 3 (£150,000), Class 18 Vote 1 (£300,000) and to Class 2 Vote 1 (£177,000), Class 10 Vote 2 (£260,000) and Class 4 Vote 1 (£411,000). The balance will be met by a charge on the Departmental Expenditure Limit Reserve for the increases announced in the Pre-Budget Report and the Aid Package for farmers and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.
11. Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the farming industry to discuss the levels of sheep annual premium; and if he will make a statement. [107890]
Ms Quin:
We regularly meet representatives of the farming industry who raise many topics including the sheep annual premium.
12. Mr. Brake:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce further measures to support exports of pigmeat. [107892]
Mr. Nick Brown:
I have made representations to the Agriculture Commissioner in Brussels to increase export refunds as a way of proving additional support to the pig sector.
18. Mr. Leigh:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on state aid to the pig sector. [107899]
Ms Quin:
We are well aware of the representations that continue to be made for some form of aid to be introduced as compensation for what the industry sees as the imposition of unfair additional costs as a result of BSE. This matter has been discussed many times with the pig
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industry. The points they are making are well understood, but this is not an easy issue. The cost would be considerable and it would have to conform with strict EU rules. Communications with the European Commission have shown how difficult this would be. This is an issue which Ministers have looked at very closely and will continue to do so. As the Prime Minister said on 1 February any investment by Government must be linked to long-term change in the structure of the industry. It must also be part of an agrees overall strategy; to this end, my officials are in touch with the National Pig Association and others.
19. Mr. Jack:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions has he had with (a) producers and (b) others on the problems facing the United Kingdom pig industry. [107900]
Ms Quin:
Ministers are in frequent contact with a number of organisations representing producers and others to discuss the state of the UK pig industry. We have also discussed this matter with the European Agriculture Commissioner.
Mr. Colvin:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress made towards an EU-wide ban on the stall and tether system for raising pigs. [108601]
Mr. Morley:
The EU Commission's proposals for a new Directive on pig welfare are well overdue. Its Scientific Veterinary Committee's report, on which these proposals must be based, was published in 1997, and we lose no opportunity to remind the Commission of the need for progress in this area.
13. Mr. Pickthall:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the horticulture industry. [107893]
Ms Quin:
My right hon. Friend the Minister met a wide cross-section of the horticultural industry when he opened Hortex 2000 at Telford on 18 January.
15. Mr. Gareth R. Thomas:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to promote the institutional reform of the common agricultural policy. [107896]
Mr. Nick Brown:
We will pursue opportunities created by anticipated market pressures, the reviews contained within the Agenda 2000 agreement and the existing commitment to review the sugar regime by 2001 to push for the reform process started at Berlin to be completed.
16. Mr. Luff:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to encourage the introduction of mobile abattoirs. [107897]
Ms Quin:
Mobile abattoir facilities can have attractions for a range of interests and may provide welfare benefits. MAFF have recently awarded a grant to the Humane Slaughter Association to support the development of a
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mobile slaughtering service in central southern England. MAFF Veterinary Meat Hygiene Advisers are available to advise those interested in developing mobile abattoirs.
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