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Cancer Deaths
Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest assessment is of the number of
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deaths from cancer which could be avoided in the UK each year if cancer survival rates were raised to the average level of other EU countries. [42286]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Tim Loughton, dated March 2002:
- As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the number of deaths from cancer which could be avoided in the UK each year if cancer survival rates were raised to the average level of other EU countries. (42286)
- The number requested is not readily available. Comparable survival rates do not exist for all EU countries or for the UK as a whole. The comparable figures that are available relate to the devolved administrations of the UK and those parts of EU countries that participated in the EUROCARE project.
Official Visits
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the official visits (1) to (a) Paris and (b) Brussels made by each Minister in his Department in 2001 and the mode of travel used; and what guidance is provided to Ministers in his Department on the choice of mode of travel for such visits; [38159]
- (2) within the UK outside London made by each Minister in his Department in 2001, giving for each (a) the origin and destination and (b) the mode of travel used; and what guidance is provided to Ministers in his Department on choice of mode of travel for official visits. [38195]
Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to him by the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 6 March 2002, Official Report, column 421W.
Smaller Quoted Companies
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what incentives are in place to aid investment in research for smaller quoted companies; and what steps the Government are taking to make competition for investment capital less biased towards larger quoted companies. [40248]
Dawn Primarolo: An R&D tax credit for small and medium sized companies was introduced in Budget 2000. The credit increases the tax deduction for current spending on qualifying R&D from 100 per cent. to 150 per cent., reducing the cash cost of R&D by 30 per cent. for a company paying tax at the small companies rate. The credit can also be paid to companies that are not yet in profit, at a rate of 24 per cent. An R&D tax credit for larger companies will be introduced in Budget 2002. There are also 100 per cent. allowances for R&D capital spending, which are available to all companies and allow immediate tax deductions for qualifying capital expenditure.
The Government commissioned the Myners Review in 2000 to look at factors that may be distorting the investment decision-making of institutions. The review reported in March 2001 and found weaknesses in the investment process that affect all quoted companies, including smaller quoted companies. The Government have accepted all the recommendations made in the review in principle and have published consultation documents on specific issues that were highlighted.
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Equity
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government intend to define initial costs incurred as a result of raising equity as a legitimate expense and allow them to be written off against tax. [40250]
Dawn Primarolo: The costs of raising equity finance are treated consistently between taxable profits and commercial accounts—they are not allowed as a deduction against profits because they relate to ownership of the company. The Government have not stated any intention to change this rule.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Escapees
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the escaped terrorist prisoners who were on the run and have been granted early release under the terms of the Northern Ireland Sentences Act 1998. [41618]
Dr. John Reid: 11 prisoners on the run have successfully applied to the Sentence Review Commissioners for early release under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998. In addition eight prisoners on the run have met the principles of the early release scheme but a strict application of the Sentences Act has created an anomaly whereby the Sentence Review Commissioners are unable to grant an early release. In those circumstances the Secretary of State's powers under the Northern Ireland Prisons Act 1953 or the Royal Prerogative of Mercy have been used to provide early release. It has always been the Government's policy that they do not name individuals released under the early release scheme.
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the terrorists who are on the run from justice and who may benefit from future amnesty legislation. [41617]
Dr. John Reid: The Government have acknowledged that there is an issue concerning fugitives on the run who would stand to benefit from the early release scheme if they were convicted. As part of the package of measures proposed at Weston Park last July the Government made a commitment to take steps to resolve this issue. The Government are currently considering how to take this forward. An announcement will be made in due course.
Ballistic Protection Kits
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many reclaimed ballistic protection kits have been (a) taken out of service and (b) retained for future use in the event of increased security demands. [30417]
Jane Kennedy: The Chief Constable advises me that:
- (a) No Land Rover protection kits have been taken out of service. 70 armoured saloon protection kits have been taken out of service and recycled.
- (b) Reclaimed ballistic protection kits are always recycled and therefore not retained for future use.
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HOUSE OF COMMONS
Data Protection
Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the President of the Council what representations he has received on the responsibilities of hon. Members under the Data Protection Act 1998; and if he will make a statement. [42121]
Mr. Robin Cook: I have received a number of representations from hon. Members about difficulties they are experiencing in dealing with constituency cases as a result of the Data Protection Act. At my instigation, officials are consulting their colleagues in the Lord Chancellor's Department about what changes might be needed to the present arrangements.
Government Bills
Norman Baker: To ask the President of the Council how many Government Bills were announced in the Queen's Speech and were not introduced in the same Session of Parliament in the (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01 Sessions of Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [42123]
Mr. Robin Cook: Subject to the exceptions set out, all legislation announced in Queen's Speeches from 1997–2000 was introduced during the same Session of Parliament.
Queen's Speech 1998 announced our intention to introduce legislation to promote electronic commerce; the Electronic Communications Act was introduced the following Session.
Queen's Speech 1999 announced our intention to introduce legislation to increase the effectiveness of the power to remove regulatory burdens and to improve the education of children with special educational needs; the Regulatory Reform Act and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act were introduced the following Session.
Queen's Speech 2000 announced our intention to re-introduce legislation on giving courts the power to decide whether certain defendants should be tried by jury or by magistrates; the Government have subsequently announced their intention to bring forward legislation to reform the criminal courts system in the light of the recommendations from the review by Lord Justice Auld.
Norman Baker: To ask the President of the Council if he will list the average number of days of consideration for Government Bills in (a) the House of Commons and (b) the House of Lords in each parliamentary Session since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [42125]
Mr. Robin Cook: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Records are not kept in precisely the form required. The table 1 provides information on the time taken to consider Government Bills.
- 1 Supplied by the Journal Offices in the Lords and the Commons.
(13) Standing Committee
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| Session | 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government Bills considered(14) | 50 | 29 | 42 | 27 |
| Time taken debating | 806 hours 55 minutes | 622 hours 45 minutes | 791 hours 33 minutes | 223 hours 38 minutes |
| Average time per Bill | 16 hours 8 minutes | 21 hours 28 minutes | 18 hours 51 minutes | 8 hours 17 minutes |
(14) Floor or Grand Committee
Norman Baker: To ask the President of the Council (1) how many Government Bills were introduced in each Parliamentary Session since 1997; and if he will make a statement; [42122]
- (2) if he will list each Bill introduced by the Government which failed to complete its passage through Parliament in each Parliamentary Session since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [42124]
Mr. Robin Cook: The information is in the table.
| Number of Government Bills | ||
|---|---|---|
| Session/Bill | Introduced | Which failed to complete their passage |
| 1997–98 | ||
| European Parliamentary Elections | 53 | 1 |
| 1998–99 | ||
| Northern Ireland | ||
| Sexual Offences (Amendment) | 13 | 4 |
| Financial Services and Markets(15) | ||
| Railways | ||
| 1999–2000 | ||
| Criminal Justice No. 1(16) | ||
| Criminal Justice No. 2(16) | 42 | 3 |
| European Parliamentary Elections | ||
| 2000–01 | ||
| Adoption and Children | ||
| Commonhold and Leasehold | ||
| Culture and Recreation | ||
| Homes | 28 | 7 |
| Hunting | ||
| International Development | ||
| Tobacco Advertising and Promotion | ||
| 2001–02 | ||
| So far | 31 | — |
(15) Carried over
(16) Mode of Trial
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