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Promoting Sport in the Community
Mr. Greenway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what regulatory impact assessment has been undertaken on the proposal contained in the Treasury consultation paper, "Promoting Sport in the Community"; and what were its conclusions. [34513]
Mr. Boateng: The Government have just concluded their consultation exercise on the best way to support community amateur sports clubs that make a positive contribution to the community. Ministers will be considering the responses to the consultation and as with all policy proposals, an RIA will be carried out if there is a significant impact on business, in accordance with Cabinet Office guidelines.
Stamp Duty
Mr. Flook: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason property transactions in Williton, Somerset, are exempt from stamp duty; and for what reason transactions in Brompton Regis, Somerset are not exempt. [34965]
Mr. Boateng: For England, the stamp duty exemption for disadvantaged areas is available for the 15 per cent. most deprived wards as identified by the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000. In Somerset, the ward of Williton falls within this category but the area of Brompton Regis is not within a qualifying ward.
Housing
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what indicators of housing need the ward-based statistics to be collected by the Office for National Statistics will include. [34931]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook for Mr. David Kidney, dated 12 February 2002:
- As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on ward based housing need indicators. (34931)
- The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is currently leading the development of a web based Neighbourhood Statistics service which will provide a wide range of information about deprived
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- neighbourhoods, including a number of housing needs indicators. The plan is to introduce this service by March 2004, but the core of the system will be the information that will be available from the 2001 Census of Population and Housing in 2003.
- A prototype of this system is available now on the ONS web site (www.statistics.gov.uk) and this contains ward-based Indices of Deprivation, 2000, compiled from a range of variables. This prototype will be enhanced during 2002.
- A number of housing needs indicators at ward level will be able to be derived from the 2001 Census data, including tenure, sharing, multiple occupation, overcrowding, number of rooms, basic amenities and vacant properties.
- ONS is also working with a range of other Government Departments and Agencies to develop a set of ongoing indicators, including housing needs, as part of the Neighbourhood Statistics Service. These will be introduced from 2004 onwards and will cover, affordability, dwelling stock, unfit housing and disrepair, and vacant properties.
Manufacturing Industry
Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many jobs in manufacturing industry were lost (a) in each of the past 10 years and (b) in each month in 2001. [34835]
Ruth Kelly [holding answer 8 February 2002]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Paul Flynn, dated 12 February 2002:
- As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question about how many jobs in manufacturing industry were lost (a) in each of the past 10 years and (b) in each month in 2001. (34835)
- The information requested is shown in the attached tables. Table 1 shows the number of employee jobs in manufacturing for 1992 to 2001. Table 2 shows the number of employee jobs in manufacturing over the period January to November 2001. Rolling three-month averages are shown to reduce the variability in the data.
- These estimates are based on the results of regular sample surveys of employers which count the number of employee jobs. The data are published in Statbase on the National Statistics website at www.statistics.gov.uk under series identifier YEJL.
| Thousand | Change over year | Percentage change over year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 1991 | 4,372 | — | — |
| June 1992 | 4,146 | -226 | -5.2 |
| June 1993 | 3,960 | -186 | -4.5 |
| June 1994 | 3,975 | 15 | 0.4 |
| June 1995 | 4,076 | 101 | 2.5 |
| June 1996 | 4,121 | 45 | 1.1 |
| June 1997 | 4,185 | 64 | 1.6 |
| June 1998 | 4,204 | 19 | 0.5 |
| June 1999 | 4,068 | -136 | -3.2 |
| June 2000 | 3,965 | -103 | -2.5 |
| June 2001 | 3,837 | -128 | -3.2 |
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Stability and Growth Pact
Mr. Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his intended policy at the ECOFIN meeting on 12 February regarding the Commission's position on the stability and growth pact. [35100]
Ruth Kelly [holding answer 11 February 2002]: The UK has consistently said that we support a prudent interpretation of the stability and growth pact, taking into account the economic cycle, sustainability and the important role of public investment.
Fair Trade Fortnight
Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to encourage participation by his Department in Fair Trade Fortnight from 4 to 17 March. [33546]
Mr. Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 November 2001, Official Report, column 139W, on Fair Trade goods, if he will review during Fair Trade Fortnight the amount of fairly traded goods used in his Department. [35453]
Ruth Kelly: The Treasury is not participating directly in Fair Trade Fortnight. The Government's contribution is through the Department for International Development, which is providing £120,000 to the Fairtrade Foundation over three years (2001–2003) in support of its efforts to target new groups through its annual Fair Trade Fortnight campaigns.
Working Conditions and Practices
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work-related stress, and at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress, and at what cost, in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [35935]
Ruth Kelly: The number of cases of work-related stress dealt with by the Department's Welfare service was: 11 in the year from 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001; and 34 from 1 April 2001 to 31 December 2001. No figures are available for 1999–2000.
No compensation has been paid to employees for work-related stress. The number of working days lost due to work-related stress was: 190 days between 1 January
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1999 and 31 December 1999; 230 days between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2000; and 361 days between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2001. The information requested about the cost of the number of working days lost due to work-related stress could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Procedures put in place to reduce work-related stress include: a stress audit and follow-up work (cost £44,240); the provision of a staff welfare and counselling service (cost £31,900 per year); stress management training (cost £3,525) and complementary therapies (cost £2,350).
Lamfalussy Report
Mr. Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals the Government will be making to the European Council at Barcelona on the implementation of the Lamfalussy report; and if he will make a statement. [35853]
Ruth Kelly: The Government note as a positive step forward recent agreement between the European Parliament and the Commission on Lamfalussy implementation. We believe it is now important to get on and implement the main Lamfalussy recommendations. In particular, it is important to ensure that consultation and transparency is part of the process for EC securities legislation; to prioritise those legislative measures that will deliver an effective single market; and to ensure that legislation is principles-based and flexible.
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