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Fine Revenues
Mr. Green: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much revenue was raised from fines following convictions for (a) littering and (b) abandoning a vehicle in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999. [137376]
Jane Kennedy: The collection of fines is the responsibility of the magistrates courts. Figures at this level of detail are not held centrally and could be obtained from individual courts only at disproportionate cost.
Mortgage Repossessions
Mr. Ruane: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many mortgage repossessions there were in England and Wales in each of the past 15 years. [137729]
Jane Kennedy: Information on the number of mortgage possession actions entered and orders made in England and Wales in each of the past 10 years is available and is set out in the table. Information on numbers before 1990 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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| Year | Number of actions issued | Number of orders made |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 145,350 | 54,718 |
| 1991 | 186,649 | 73,859 |
| 1992 | 142,162 | 58,654 |
| 1993 | 116,181 | 43,017 |
| 1994 | 87,958 | 32,137 |
| 1995 | 84,170 | 30,535 |
| 1996 | 79,791 | 27,777 |
| 1997 | 67,073 | 22,524 |
| 1998 | 79,637 | 23,002 |
| 1999 | 82,623 | 23,590 |
Note:
Not all orders made result in repossession. Parties are still at liberty to negotiate a settlement.
Judicial Trustees
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many trusts are administered by judicial trustees under the Judicial Trustees Act 1896. [137843]
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Jane Kennedy: The Official Solicitor is currently administering 81 cases and the Public Trustee is currently administering three cases under the Judicial Trustees Act 1896 (the Act). Solicitors, accountants, or any other competent person can be appointed as Trustee by the Chancery Division of the High Court and that office has record of an additional current 25 cases. This produces a total of 109 cases currently being administered under the Act.
Civil Servants (Relocation)
Mr. Hunter: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which relocation companies hold contracts with his Department for the relocation of civil servants; when the contracts were last renewed; where the contracts were advertised; and what the length and value of each contract is. [137197]
Mr. Lock: The Lord Chancellor's Department does not hold contracts with any companies for the relocation of civil servants, and has not done so in the past.
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CABINET OFFICE
Departmental Employees (New Deal)
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many staff her Department employs under the New Deal for Young People. [137958]
Mr. Stringer: As at 1 October 2000, the information on all Civil Service departments (including their agencies) participating as employers in the New Deal is as follows:
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Ministerial Fleet (Petrol Costs)
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what was the cost for each of the past three years of petrol for the Downing street fleet of cars; and how many vehicles are in that fleet. [135008]
Mr. Ian McCartney: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car and Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive, Mr. Nick Matheson, to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Nick Matheson to Dr. Julian Lewis, dated 13 October 2000:
The Minister of State, Cabinet Office, has asked me in my capacity as the Chief Executive responsible for the Government Car and Despatch Agency to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about the number of ministerial vehicles provided to various government departments and the associated petrol costs.
The figures are as follows:
13 Nov 2000 : Column: 551W
| Department | Number of ministerial cars | Petrol costs (excluding VAT) from 1 April to 30 September 2000 (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet Office, including No. 10 Downing street | (50)7 | 6,231 |
| Department of Culture Media and Sport | 4 | 4,027 |
| Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions | 8 | 5,551 |
| Department for Education and Employment | 8 | 7,812 |
| Department for Trade and Industry | 5 | 3,158 |
| Department of Health | 6 | 5,904 |
| HM Treasury | 5 | 5,441 |
| Home Office | 4 | 4,520 |
(50) Including reserve cars for Prime Minister
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Figures for earlier years are not readily available and are in archived format. These can only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.
Volunteers
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will mark next year's International Year of Volunteers by spending a day working as a volunteer. [137422]
Marjorie Mowlam: I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Office, Official Report, column 531W.
Cabinet Office rules allow paid time off to undertake activities in all areas of volunteer work, for example as a magistrate or school governor, helping out at a local old people's home or assisting with an adult literacy scheme.
13 Nov 2000 : Column: 552W
I attach a great deal of importance to the benefits which voluntary work brings to both the individual and the organisation. Along with a number of staff in my Department, I will be undertaking a day of voluntary activity next year to mark the International Year of Volunteers. I intend to do so by spending the day with disabled people.
TREASURY
English Parishes
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of English parishes do not contain settlements of 2,000 or more. [136497]
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Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Tim Yeo, dated 13 November 2000:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on percentages of English parishes which do not contain settlements of 2,000 or more. (136497)
There is no information on the populations of settlements within Civil Parishes in England. However, from the 1991 Census, some 8,378 parishes (82 per cent. of all parishes (10,269) in England) had total populations of under 2,000 residents.
Climate Change Levy
Mr. Fraser: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the annual cost of the climate change levy to the clothing and textile industry. [135564]
Mr. Timms: The impact of the levy will depend on a number of factors, including: the future energy consumption by firms; the level of employment in those firms; the number of firms that are eligible to receive a discount on the main rates of the levy by signing up to an energy efficiency agreement; what use they make of electricity generated from "new" renewable sources of energy and in "good quality" combined heat and power plants; and the extent to which they take advantage of the proposed introduction of a system of enhanced capital allowances for energy saving investments.
Petrol
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the extent to which differential tax rates account for the different cost to the motorist of unleaded petrol and lead replacement petrol. [134965]
Mr. Timms: The current difference in the tax rates for unleaded and lead replacement petrol accounts for 2.43 pence per litre (excise duty plus associated VAT). However, as announced in the PBR, subject to consultation on the environmental implications, the duty premium will be removed in Budget 2000.
Retail price of fuel reflects the influence of a number of variable commercial and economic factors apart from duty.
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