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Training Tax Credit
Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce a tax credit for training. [11971]
Dawn Primarolo: As set out in Budget 2001, the Government are willing to consider what else they can contribute to extending opportunity for all in work, particularly to obtain a qualification up to level 2. But Government action alone cannot bring about the change necessary to impact on the problem of low skills. It will be important that everyone—employers, individuals and Government—take seriously their responsibility to deliver a high skill, high productivity economy.
Payroll Services
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make a statement on the progress of the Carter report into payroll services; [12085]
- (2) what plans he has to reduce the costs to business associated with (a) current and (b) future payroll obligations. [12086]
Dawn Primarolo: Patrick Carter's review of payroll services has been completed and is currently under consideration.
Offshore Rigs
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he intends to take following the ruling in the case of Joseph Lavery v. Ian MacLeod (HMIT) relating to the foreign earnings deduction status of offshore jack-up rigs; and if he will make a statement. [12192]
Dawn Primarolo: There has been a separate Court of Appeal hearing since the Special Commissioners case of Lavery v. MacLeod. The Court of Appeal held that a jack-up rig should be treated as a ship for the purposes of the foreign earnings deduction. The Inland Revenue is currently considering the actions that it needs to take as a consequence of the decisions in these cases.
Barnett Formula
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which areas of new comparable expenditure have been applied to Scotland under the Barnett formula and when, since 1979; and what has been the annual impact of each of these spending lines on the Scottish budget allocation. [12191]
2 Nov 2001 : Column: 890W
Mr. Andrew Smith: Information on extensions to the Scottish block was published in the Treasury Committee report (HC 341 of 1997–98) on the Barnett formula in December 1997. Since then, information on the Barnett comparability factors and the assigned budget has been published in the Statement of Funding Policy, updated in July 2000. The Scottish block is determined as a block and is not hypothecated to particular spending lines.
Bio-fuel Incentives
Mr. Rendel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce fiscal incentives to encourage the use of bio-fuel to meet the EU target for 2005. [12004]
Mr. Boateng: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) and my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mrs. Clark) on 22 October 2001, Official Report, columns 61–62W.
Graduate Incomes
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the average post-tax income of full-time employed (a) graduates and (b) non graduates aged (i) 18, (ii) 22, (iii) 30, (iv) 40, (v) 50 and (vi) 60 years in (a) 1960, (b) 1970, (c) 1980, (d) 1990 and (e) 2000, based on 2000 purchasing power; [12278]
- (2) what was the average earnings of full-time employed (a) graduates and (b) non graduates aged (i) 18, (ii) 22, (iii) 30, (iv) 40, (v) 50 and (vi) 60 years in (a) 1960, (b) 1970, (c) 1980, (d) 1990 and (e) 2000, based on 2000 purchasing power. [12277]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Andrew Turner, dated 31 October 2001:
- As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions about the average earnings and average post-tax income of graduates and non-graduates (12277, 12278).
- The Labour Force Survey (LFS) provides estimates of average gross weekly earnings for graduates and non-graduates. However, it only collects information about qualifications from respondents of working age (men aged 16–64 and women aged 16–59). Therefore, it does not provide estimates for female graduates and non-graduates aged 60 years or over.
2 Nov 2001 : Column: 891W
- The LFS does not provide earnings estimates for 1990 or previous years as questions on earnings were first introduced in winter (December to February) 1992. Estimates for spring (March to May) 2000 are given in the table overleaf.
- The LFS does not collect information about post-tax income.
| £ | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| All full-time employees of working age(11),(12) | Graduates | Non- graduates | |
| All aged 18 years | 155 | (14)— | 155 |
| All aged 22 years | 250 | 272 | 244 |
| All aged 30 years | 382 | 468 | 351 |
| All aged 40 years | 448 | 719 | 391 |
| All aged 50 years | 436 | 715 | 382 |
| Men aged 60 years(13) | 431 | (14)— | 382 |
(10) The definition of full-time/part-time is based on respondents' self-assessment
(11) Men aged 16–64 and women aged 16–59
(12) Includes people who did not state their qualifications
(13) Estimates for women aged 60 years are not available as the questions about qualifications only apply to people of working age
(14) Sample size too small for reliable estimate
HEALTH
Regulation
Barbara Follett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the priorities of the Council for the Regulation of Healthcare Professionals relating to the harmonisation of regulatory systems across the professions. [11582]
Mr. Hutton: Following publication of the Kennedy report that the "regulatory bodies be brought under the overall leadership of one overarching body", a public consultation was held on the establishment of a new Council for the Regulation of Healthcare Professionals which ended on 30 September. Legislation on establishing the new Council will be published shortly. We intend that the Council will be independent of the Government and it will be for the Council itself and not Ministers to take decisions on its priorities.
Haemophilia
Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to combact the shortage of recombinant clotting factors that are provided to haemophiliac patients. [9500]
Jacqui Smith: The Department is working with the professionals, organisations and industry to help ensure that the needs of haemophilia patients are met, and that those for whom recombinant coagulation factors are required are able to get them.
Nursing and Residential Care
Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing and residential care (a) homes and (b) beds have closed in South Tyneside in each year since 1997. [8828]
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Jacqui Smith: The available information is in the table. No information is available on the number of beds affected through homes closing or opening.
| Year ending 31 March | Residential(15) | Nursing(16) |
|---|---|---|
| Establishment closures | ||
| 1999 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000 | 7 | 5 |
| New registrations | ||
| 1999 | 5 | 0 |
| 2000 | 7 | 3 |
(15) South Tyneside and Gateshead local authority areas
(16) Gateshead and South Tyneside health authority
Source:
Registration and Inspection Survey
Nuchal Translucency Scans
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability of nuchal translucency scans. [9093]
Jacqui Smith: The advice of the United Kingdom National Screening Committee on Down's Syndrome screening is that all women should be offered second trimester serum screening to consist of at least a double test and a move towards triple or quadruple tests when possible. Other combinations of serum analytes and screening in the first trimester, including ultrasound scans, will be kept under review. Nuchal translucency scans are currently estimated to be available in about 8 per cent. of maternity units.
Communicable Disease Control
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if consultants in communicable disease control will work for (a) primary care trusts and (b) strategic health authorities. [9056]
Jacqui Smith: We are currently considering in the light of "Shifting the Balance of Power" what arrangements for the employment of consultants in communicable disease control will be suitable in the future. Such arrangements will be aimed at ensuring a comprehensive health protection function at local level.
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