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Pensioners (Rural Areas)

Mr. Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many (a) pensioners and (b) other people are living in rural areas; and if he will provide corresponding estimates for (i) 10 and (ii) 20 years earlier. [144359]

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Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 8 January 2001]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 2 February 2001:

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on pensioners living in rural areas (144359). I am replying in his absence.

The following table shows the estimated number of people of pensionable age and of all other ages in 1981, 1991 and 1999, resident in those local authorities in England and Wales identified as rural areas in the Office for National Statistics (ONS) classification of local and health authorities of Great Britain.

Estimated number of (thousands) of people of (a) pensionable age⁽¹⁴⁾ and (b) all other ages in local authorities identified as "rural areas"⁽¹⁵⁾: England and Wales 1981, 1991 and 1999

	1981	1991	1999
Pensionable age	978.3	1,117.5	1,191.2
All other ages	3,705.0	3,911.6	4,133.2
Total population	4,683.2	5,029.1	5,324.4
Percentage of population who were of pensionable age	20.9	22.2	22.4

⁽¹⁴⁾ Men aged 65 years and over, women aged 60 years and over.

⁽¹⁵⁾ See Office for National Statistics classification of local and health authorities of Great Britain (ONS: London 1999).

Census (Leeds)

Mr. Hilary Benn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of respondents to the pilot census survey undertaken on 25 April 1999 in Leeds identified themselves as Kashmiri. [145621]

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

Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Hilary Benn, dated 2 February 2001:

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on what proportion of respondents to the pilot census survey undertaken on 25 April 1999 in Leeds identified themselves as 'Kashmiri' (145621). I am replying on his behalf.

A census rehearsal was carried out in a number of selected areas across the country, including parts of Leeds, in April 1999 for the prime purpose of ensuring that the methods and procedures for the full census in April this year will work efficiently. Response to the rehearsal was voluntary, and there were responses from 32,718 people in Leeds.

Although there has been no intention to publish the statistical results from the Rehearsal, an analysis of the answers to the ethnic group question in Leeds showed that there were some 81 write-in responses of 'Kashmiri' (0.25 per cent of all respondents in Leeds).

Minimum Wage

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals in Crosby have benefited from the introduction of the national minimum wage. [148335]

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

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Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Claire Curtis-Thomas, dated 2 February 2001:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of workers in Crosby who have benefited from the national minimum wage (NMW) (148335).

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published estimates of the number of jobs paid at less than NMW rates for 1998, 1999 and 2000. These are based on an improved methodology using data from both the New Earnings Survey and Labour Force Survey. Estimates for the United Kingdom and Government Office Regions are available on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/nsbase/themes/labour--market/nmw--lowpay--tables.asp

No estimates are available for Parliamentary Constituencies.

Tower Wagons

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the letter from the Minister for Transport of 11 January regarding the vehicle excise duty applicable to tower wagons, if he plans to harmonise the tax treatment of tower wagons and mobile cranes; and if he will make a statement. [148587]

Mr. Timms: Any changes to rates of vehicle excise duty will be announced by the Chancellor as part of his Budget statement.

Euro

Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many auctions by the Bank of England of notes in foreign currencies there have been over the past five years; and if he will list the (a) currencies and (b) amounts involved; [145628]

(2) for what reason the euro notes being auctioned by the Bank of England on 16 January will not be offered to institutions in the United States of America; and if any other nations are subject to the same restrictions; [145630]

(3) if the European Central Bank was consulted on the proposed issue of euro notes by the Bank of England; and if he will make a statement. [145627]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 15 January 2001]: The UK Government have been running a euro Treasury note programme since 1992. This has involved quarterly auctions of euro-dominated Treasury notes, to reach a total outstanding of 6 billion euro.

In the past five years the Bank has also issued on behalf of HMG a total of $4 billion of dollar denominated debt.

The European Central Bank was not consulted on the proposed issue of euro notes by the Bank of England but was aware of the intention to issue. The UK Government and the Bank are free to determine independently the debt securities they wish to sell and the currencies in which those of denominated.

Under the US Securities Act of 1933, euro Treasury notes may not be offered, sold or delivered within the United States until 40 days after the auction, if they have not been registered.

Financial Services

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases have been undertaken, and how many

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successful prosecutions have resulted each year, using each sub-section of section 47 of the Financial Services Act 1986; and if the replacement section of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 is now fully operational. [143880]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 8 January 2001]: There have been a total of seven prosecutions under section 47 of the Financial Services Act 1986 since it came into force. Six resulted in convictions. The replacement provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 will come into operation later this year.

Residential Mooring Fees

Mr. McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make a statement on the review of the levying of VAT on residential boat mooring fees; [148585]

(2) what consultations his Department has undertaken on the levying of VAT on residential boat mooring fees. [148586]

Dawn Primarolo: Customs have discussed the issue, and will continue to discuss it, with the Residential Boat Owners Association and representatives of mooring providers.

Mr. McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the total amount of income received from the levying of VAT on residential boat mooring fees in the last financial year; [148574]

(2) what average amount of VAT was collected on residential boat mooring fees in the years (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99, (c) 1999-2000 and (d) 2000-01; [148572]

(3) how many residential boats paid VAT on their mooring fees in the last financial year. [148573]

Dawn Primarolo: Customs and Excise do not have estimates of the number of residential boats that have paid VAT on their mooring fees, or the amount of VAT collected from these fees.

Tobacco (Taxes)

Mr. Barron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised from each of the taxes payable on each category of tobacco products in the last year for which figures are available. [148498]

Dawn Primarolo: The information on revenue from tobacco products can be found in the HM Customs & Excise "Tobacco Factsheet", a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.

Working Families Tax Credit

Mr. Davidson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the total amount of unclaimed working families tax credit to date in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland, (c) Glasgow and (d) Glasgow, Pollok constituency; and if he will make a statement. [148118]

Dawn Primarolo: No such estimates are available.

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