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Qualifications
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of working age people did not have a qualification in spring 2001 according to the Labour Force Survey. [5955]
Mr. Boateng: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. Frank Field, dated 20 July 2001:
- The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning working age people with no qualifications. I am replying in his absence. (5955)
- According to the Labour Force Survey, in spring (March to May) 2001, the estimate for the proportion of working age people in the United Kingdom who did not have a qualification was 16.3 per cent.
Employment Statistics
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of working age people were in work in the spring quarter of (a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000 and (d) 2001 according to Labour Force Survey data. [5956]
Mr. Boateng: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. Frank Field, dated 20 July 2001:
- The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning employment rates of working age people. I am replying in his absence (5956).
- People aged 16 or over are classed as in employment by the Labour Force Survey (LFS) if they have done at least one hour of paid work (as an employee of self-employed) in the week prior to their LFS interview or if they have a job that they are temporarily away from. People who do unpaid work in a family business and people on Government-supported training and employment programmes are also included according to the International Labour Organisation convention.
- The table overleaf gives the LFS estimates of the proportion of working age people who were in employment in the spring quarter of 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.
20 Jul 2001 : Column: 578W
| Percentage | |
|---|---|
| Spring 1998 | 73.1 |
| Spring 1999 | 73.6 |
| Spring 2000 | 74.3 |
| Spring 2001 | 74.6 |
Source:
ONS Labour Force Survey
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the employment rates are, on Labour Force Survey data, of (a) people over 50 years of age, (b) ethnic minorities, (c) lone parents and (d) those with an illness or disability, for each of the past four years. [5954]
Mr. Boateng: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. Frank Field, dated 20 July 2001:
- The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about employment rates of various groups (5954). I am replying in his absence.
- The table overleaf gives estimates of employment rates for autumn 1997 to autumn 2000. Estimates of employment rates of people with a long-term disability are not available for autumn 1997 as disability status using the Disability Discrimination Act definition is only available on a consistent basis from 1998.
| Percentage | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People aged over 50 | Ethnic minorities | Lone parents with dependent children | Long-term disabled(18) | |
| Autumn 1997 | 30.5 | 52.3 | 45.9 | (19)— |
| Autumn 1998 | 32.0 | 53.4 | 47.0 | 45.2 |
| Autumn 1999 | 32.6 | 53.9 | 48.5 | 46.8 |
| Autumn 2000 | 33.3 | 53.1 | 50.0 | 46.9 |
(18) Rates are for men aged 16–64 and women aged 16–59
(19) Data not available
Pensions
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals contribute to (a) defined benefit occupational pension schemes, (b) defined contribution occupational pension schemes, (c) group personal pension schemes, (d) additional voluntary contributions and (e) free-standing additional voluntary contributions. [1141]
Mr. McCartney [pursuant to his reply, 5 July 2001, c. 304]: I have been asked to reply.
The latest information available is in the table:
| Type of pension provision | Number of active members |
|---|---|
| Defined benefit schemes | 8.8 |
| Defined contribution schemes | 1.1 |
| 'Hybrid' schemes (mixed defined benefit/defined contribution) | 0.3 |
| Group Personal Pensions | 1.4 |
| Additional Voluntary Contributions | 0.9 |
| Free Standing Additional Voluntary Contributions | 1.1 |
1. Active members are those currently accruing pension rights.
2. The information on occupational pension schemes is drawn from the Government Actuary's Department (GAD) Survey of Occupational Pension Schemes (1995). The number of members will include those whose scheme does not currently require member contributions. It is estimated that the number of members contributing are 8.2 million for defined benefit and 0.8 million for defined contribution schemes.
3. The information on Group Personal Pensions is drawn from the New Earnings Survey (2000).
4. The information for Additional Voluntary Contributions covers private sector schemes only.
5. The information on Free Standing Additional Voluntary Contributions is drawn from Inland Revenue Statistics (2000). Individuals can have more than one Free Standing Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
6. All figures are rounded to the nearest 0.1 million
20 Jul 2001 : Column: 579W
Electronic Procurement
Barbara Follett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will quantify value for money gains achieved by Government as a result of applying electronic techniques to their procurement activities. [6536]
Mr. Andrew Smith: There has been £100 million in value for money gains over the last three years as a result of applying modern electronic techniques to central civil Government procurement. Our objective was to purchase 90 per cent. of low-value goods and services electronically by March 2001. Recent measurements by the Office of Government Commerce indicate that at present approximately half of low-value transactions are conducted electronically. Work is continuing to realise additional benefits through means such as increased use of the Government procurement card and the replacement of antiquated IT systems with more modern ones.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Urban Regeneration
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grants have been made from central Government or their agencies for urban regeneration in Bradford and Oldham since May 1997. [5939]
Ms Keeble: I have been asked to reply.
Since May 1997 the following grants from Government and their agencies have been made for urban regeneration in Bradford and Oldham.
20 Jul 2001 : Column: 580W
Departmental Grants and Loans
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what employment-related limitations her Department attaches to grants and loans administered (a) by her Department and (b) through other agencies on her behalf; what systems are in place to monitor the fulfilment of such conditions; what remedies are available to deal with breaches of such conditions; and if she will make a statement. [2109]
Ms Hewitt: There are a variety of possible interpretations of the term "employment-related limitations" and it is not clear from my hon. Friend's question which of these he has in mind. If he would care to clarify his question, I shall write to him with a full answer and have a copy placed in the Library of the House.
Higher Education
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to review the workings of higher education establishments in relationship to the DTI review of delivery to business. [1686]
Ms Hewitt: The reviews which I have announced of DTI priorities, ways of working and structure and DTI support for business will consider, among other things, the resources and mechanisms which the DTI uses to promote scientific and technological research, knowledge transfer and higher education/business links as appropriate.
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