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NHS Beds (Oxfordshire)
Q12. Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of NHS beds in Oxfordshire. [4231]
The Prime Minister: In August 2001, an assessment made in accordance with the recommendations of the National Beds Inquiry showed that Oxfordshire needed a further 151 beds to reach its recommended number. A more detailed assessment process is now being developed to ensure that the right capacity exists to meet the needs of patients in Oxfordshire. Action is already being taken to address the capacity problem, and current plans include an increase of 48 surgical beds at the John Radcliffe Hospital by spring 2003 and an increase of 18 beds in Bicester by autumn 2004.
Experience Corps
Bob Russell: To ask the Prime Minister which Minister has responsibility for the operation of the Experience Corps. [8453]
The Prime Minister: The Under-Secretary of State, Home Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle), has responsibility for the Experience Corps.
Devolved Administrations
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Prime Minister what his policy is with regard to (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department giving evidence to (i) Scottish Parliament, (ii) Welsh Assembly and (iii) Northern Ireland Assembly Committees; and to what categories of document he gives (A) full access, (B) restricted access and (C) no access to (1) Scottish Parliament, (2) Welsh Assembly, (3) Northern Ireland Assembly and (4) House of Commons Select Committees. [7018]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 15 October 2001, Official Report, columns 1003–04W.
Public Sector (Retirement)
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Prime Minister what proportion of public sector employees in work are due to retire in the next (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 15 years. [8028]
Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
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The Labour Force Survey (LFS) can provide estimates of the total number of employees in the public sector due to reach state retirement age in the next five, 10 and 15 years. That is, men aged 60–64, 55–64, and 50–64 and women aged 55–59, 50–59 and 45–59 respectively. Estimates for the number of employees in the public sector for the age breakdowns and their proportions of the total number of employees of working age in the public sector are shown in the table.
The LFS does not collect information on the retirement intentions of individuals.
| Thousand | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|
| All persons | ||
| Five years | 465 | 7.4 |
| 10 years | 1,252 | 20.0 |
| 15 years | 2,172 | 34.6 |
| Men | ||
| Five years | 111 | 4.6 |
| 10 years | 322 | 13.4 |
| 15 years | 648 | 27.0 |
| Women | ||
| Five years | 355 | 9.1 |
| 10 years | 931 | 24.0 |
| 15 years | 1,525 | 39.3 |
(2) March to May
(3) Not seasonally adjusted
Note:
Percentages are based on the total number of public sector employees in the relevant age group as a percentage of all employees in the public sector
Source:
ONS—Labour Force Survey
TREASURY
Split Level Investment Trusts
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what steps are being taken by the Treasury and the FSA to investigate (a) mis-selling and (b) financial solvency in respect of split level investment trusts; [7504]
- (2) what investigations have been carried out by the Treasury and the FSA into the possible mis-selling of zero coupon preference shares by investment trusts. [7505]
Ruth Kelly: I understand from the Financial Services Authority that they have been considering for some time the sale of 'exotic' products, including split capital investment trusts, to retail investors. It issued a Consumer Alert on 9 March 2001, entitled "Be wary of exotic ISAs, warns financial watchdog". In March 2001, it also issued specific guidance to financial advisers, reminding them of their responsibility to ensure that investors are aware of the risks involved in purchasing split capital investment trusts.
Employment Tax Credits
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with carers' organisations as part of the consultation on employment tax credits. [7511]
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Dawn Primarolo: Throughout 2001, I have met a wide range of interested groups and individuals, including representatives from carers' organisations and disability groups, to discuss all aspects of the new tax credits proposals.
Departmental Staff
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate total annual staff costs for his Department and its agencies by nation and region of the UK; and if he will make a statement. [6871]
Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, on 15 October 2001, Official Report, columns 1009–12W.
Departmental Spending
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total expenditure was on (a) advertising, (b) polling, (c) focus groups, (d) design consultants, (e) caterers, (f) production of departmental publications and (g) photographs/photographers by his Department for each year since 1995 in (i) cash and (ii) real terms; what was (A) the annual percentage increase in spending on each category and (B) spending on each category as a percentage of the total departmental running costs; and if he will make a statement. [6878]
Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, on 15 October 2001, Official Report, columns 1009–12W.
Customs and Excise, Shrewsbury
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the maximum distance is that employees at Her Majesty's Customs and Excise office in Shrewsbury would be expected to travel if alternative work were found for them. [7142]
Mr. Boateng: Staff could be moved to another office within reasonable daily travel, which is defined as within 90 minutes' travelling time each way from home, taking into account the personal and domestic circumstances of each member of staff.
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when the review into workloads will be completed at Her Majesty's Customs and Excise office in Shrewsbury; [7139]
- (2) if he will publish the brief given to the regional director undertaking the review into workloads at Her Majesty's Customs and Excise office in Shrewsbury. [7140]
Mr. Boateng: There is no review into workloads at the HM Customs and Excise Shrewsbury office.
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the proposed reduction in work at HM Customs and Excise office in Shrewsbury. [7137]
Mr. Boateng: HM Customs and Excise are pursuing a number of initiatives to improve their service to business and achieve efficiency improvements. Reductions in personnel at Shrewsbury are related to the programme to concentrate the work of Debt Management Units from
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29 sites into 10. As a result HM Customs and Excise announced that the DMU at their Shrewsbury office will close on 31 March 2002, affecting 32 staff.
However, Customs have no plans to close the Shrewsbury office. Customs are also exploring options with other Government Departments and agencies. Their aim remains to avoid compulsory redundancies wherever possible.
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of redundancies at Her Majesty's Customs and Excise office in Shrewsbury if replacement work is not found. [7141]
Mr. Boateng: HM Customs and Excise's policy is to avoid compulsory redundancies wherever possible. They are not in a position to estimate whether or not there will be any redundancies at Shrewsbury until all the other options have been exhausted.
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to introduce new work at HM Customs and Excise office in Shrewsbury. [7138]
Mr. Boateng: HM Customs and Excise are undertaking a national review of Regional Business Services work that does not have to be based at a particular location. This may result in that work being pooled or concentrated in particular sites. Shrewsbury will be given equal consideration alongside similar locations as part of that review.
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