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National Minimum Wage

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the numbers of people in the Crosby constituency that have benefited from the minimum wage. [127171]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Curtis-Thomas, dated 28 June 2000:

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question regarding the number of people who have been affected by the national minimum wage in the Crosby constituency.

Definitive estimates on the number of people that have been affected by the national minimum wage are not yet available. Currently available estimates for assessing the effect draw on data from both the New Earnings Survey and the Labour Force Survey, and recognise the particular value that each survey adds to the quality and analytical details that can be provided. However, the latest adjusted estimates are mainly based on data for the spring (March-May) 1999 Labour Force Survey. Because the reference period spans the implementation date for the National Minimum Wage Act on 1 April 1999, these adjusted estimates are unlikely to accurately measure the effect of the Minimum Wage legislation since there are employees who could have been earning below the minimum wage rates in March 1999, before the law took effect.

The currently available estimates for March-May 1999 were published in an Office for National Statistics (ONS) First Release on 14 October 1999 and show that the number of people earning

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below the minimum wage rates set in April 1999 had fallen significantly between 1998 and 1999. A copy of this first release is available in the House of Commons Library.

Miss Geraldine Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many people in Morecambe and Lunesdale have benefited from the national minimum wage. [127632]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Miss Geraldine Smith, dated 28 June 2000:

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question regarding the number of people who have been affected by the national minimum wage in the Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency (127632).

Definitive estimates on the number of people that have been affected by the national minimum wage are not yet available. Currently available estimates for assessing the effect draw on data from both the New Earnings Survey and the Labour Force Survey, and recognise the particular value that each survey adds to the quality and analytical details that can be provided. However, the latest adjusted estimates are mainly based on data for the Spring (March-May) 1999 Labour Force Survey. Because the reference period spans the implementation date for the National Minimum Wage Act on 1 April 1999, these adjusted estimates are unlikely to accurately measure the effect of this Legislation since there are employees who could have been earning below the minimum wage rates in March 1999, before the law took effect.

The currently available estimates for March-May 1999 were published in an Office for National Statistics (ONS) First Release on 14 October 1999 and show that the number of people earning below the minimum wage rates set in April 1999 had fallen significantly between 1998 and 1999. A copy of this first release is available in the House of Commons Library.

Single Currency

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the rate of entry for Sterling into the euro will be determined; what the scope is for negotiation of the rate; how long the exchange rate has to be maintained before entry; and if the relativity to be maintained to the euro allows for changes in the euro rate. [127557]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The rate at which sterling would enter the single currency would need to be consistent with economic fundamentals in the UK and compatible with sustainable convergence between the UK and other euro area economies.

Average Wage (Young People)

Mr. Coaker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the average wage paid to 16 and 17 year-olds in full-time work with no training. [127616]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Vernon Coaker, dated 28 June 2000:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question regarding the average wage of 16 and 17 year-olds in full-time work with no training. (127616)

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is National Statistics' major source of labour market data on individuals and is the most appropriate source of data to answer this question. LFS estimates

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show that in the UK in winter (December to February) 1999/2000, the average gross weekly earnings of 16 and 17 year-old full-time employees who had not received any job-related training in the last 13 weeks and were not currently enrolled on an education course was £139. This estimate is not seasonally adjusted.

Internet Access

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 June 2000, Official Report, column 105W, on the knowledge economy, how he defines access to the internet through a public access point; on what terms such access shall be available; and if he will make a statement. [127865]

Mr. Andrew Smith: Public internet access points are defined as any facility, whether provided by the public, voluntary, or private sector, which provides internet access for the general public. The Government are making community internet access points available through a number of initiatives, including ICT learning centres, and putting libraries on-line.

Non-contributory Benefits

Mr. Ian Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid from the National Insurance Fund to pay for non-contributory benefits in the last financial year. [127986]

Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 27 June 2000]: Appendix 4 of the Government Actuary's Benefits up-rating report (Cm 4587) lists the estimated payments from the National Insurance Fund for both contributory and non-contributory benefits.

Motor Fuel

Mr. St. Aubyn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what study his Department has made of the implications for the United Kingdom economy of rising motor fuel prices; [127733]

(2) if he will assess the impact for the United Kingdom economy of petrol prices reaching £4 per gallon before 31 March 2001. [127734]

Mr. Timms: The Budget economic forecast took into account developments in motor fuel prices up to mid- March and their implications for both economic activity and inflation. The Treasury's next assessment of economic prospects, including the impact from higher world oil prices, will be published in the pre-Budget Report later this year.

Interactive Voice Response Systems

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many agencies of his Department use interactive voice response systems when dealing with telephone inquiries from the general public; [127117]

(2) how many of his Department's telephone lines used by the general public are responded to by interactive voice response systems. [127389]

Miss Melanie Johnson: There are no Voice Recognition Systems used.

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Electronic Data Systems

Mr. Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Government Departments have (a) contracts and (b) framework agreements with Electronic Data Systems. [121789]

Mr. Timms [holding answer 12 May 2000]: The following Government Departments currently have contracts with Electronic Data Systems (EDS):

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

Department for Education and Employment

Department of Social Security

Home Office (Prison Service)

Inland Revenue

Lord Chancellor's Department

Ministry of Defence

Treasury (Office of Government Commerce).

Of the contracts listed, three are framework agreements (one with MOD and two with the Treasury (OGC)).

Road Tolls (VAT)

Mr. Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount of VAT which the UK would be required to collect if the proposed extension of VAT to road tolls were to be applied retrospectively. [127384]

Dawn Primarolo: If, in its judgment due on 12 September, the European Court of Justice agrees with the earlier opinion of the Advocate-General--that VAT should be charged on road tolls--VAT will not be imposed upon motorists or toll operators retrospectively. It may, however, be necessary for the UK to recalculate contributions made to the European Commission budget from 1984. While it is not possible accurately to calculate the amount involved, it will be very small in relation to our overall contribution.

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