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20 Jan 2003 : Column 48W—continued
Government Actuary
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full time staff he estimates (a) were employed in the Government Actuary's Department in 1998–99 and (b) will be employed in 2003–04; and if he will make a statement. [91712]
Ruth Kelly: It is estimated that there were 93 full time equivalent staff employed in the Government Actuary's Department in 1998–99. It is estimated that 103 full time equivalent staff will be employed in 2003–04.
Investment Products
Mr. Flight: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the European Commission on (a) the sale of investment products or services and (b) the liability of advisors and providers in relation to their customers, following the recommendations of the Sandler Report; and if he will make a statement [89468]
Ruth Kelly: Treasury officials have regular discussions with the European Commission about financial services, including investment services, particularly in the context of the Commission's proposal for an updated directive on investment services and regulated markets, published on 19 November 2002. The Government is seeking to ensure that this proposed directive is consistent with the proposals in Mr. Ron. Sandler's review of the medium to long term retail savings market.
Job Sharing
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the extent of job sharing in his Department. [90866]
Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 March 2002. The Treasury policy on job sharing remains unchanged. There are now 13 job sharers covering seven posts as at 31 December 2002. These individuals are employed on part-time contracts.
Lisbon Strategy
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research his Department has
20 Jan 2003 : Column 49W
undertaken into the progress of member states of the European Union towards achieving the goals set in the Lisbon Strategy in March 2000. [91199]
Ruth Kelly: HM Treasury has produced a series of documents on the progress of the EU towards the goals set in the Lisbon strategy.
- 1. 'European Economic Reform; meeting the challenge' (March 2001);
2. The Government White Paper, 'Realising Europe's Potential; economic reform in Europe' (February 2002);
3. 'Structural Indicators of European economic reform; measuring Europe's progress' (February 2002);
4. 'Productivity in the EU, 1979–99', commissioned from Mary O'Mahoney at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (February 2002); and
5. 'Towards Full Employment in the European Union' (July 2002).
The Treasury will report on developments in European economic reform since the 2002 White Paper in a progress report, to be published shortly.
Mortgages
Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average mortgage rate was in England in each year since 1978. [90835]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Andrew George, dated January 2003:
- The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the average mortgage rate in England in each year since 1978. I am replying in his absence. (90835)
- The rates shown in the attached table are currently compiled by the Financial Services Authority (and previously Building Societies Commission). They are average rates for mortgages with Building Societies. Comparable figures prior to 1984 are not available..These figures relate to the UK Separate figures for England are not available.
| Year | Average Rate(4) | Basic Rate(5) |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 12.19 | 11.88 |
| 1985 | 13.01 | 12.75 |
| 1986 | 12.32 | 12.30 |
| 1987 | 10.34 | 10.30 |
| 1988 | 12.75 | 12.77 |
| 1989 | 14.44 | 14.42 |
| 1990 | 14.34 | 14.48 |
| 1991 | 11.39 | 11.52 |
| 1992 | 8.98 | 8.98 |
| 1993 | 7.94 | 7.99 |
| 1994 | 7.84 | 8.14 |
| 1995 | 7.48 | 7.98 |
| 1996 | 6.51 | 7.00 |
| 1997 | 7.58 | 8.16 |
| 1998 | 7.29 | 7.75 |
| 1999 | 6.49 | 6.88 |
| 2000 | 6.65 | 7.31 |
| 2001 | 5.17 | 5.34 |
(3) The average rates are based on information provided by Building Societies. The figures reflect rates at the end of the year.
(4) These data represents the weighted average of individual reporters' own weighted average rates on their overall residential loan book.
(5) These data represents the weighted average of the individual reporters' standard variable (headline) rate applying to the majority of mortgage accounts at the end of reporting period.
20 Jan 2003 : Column 50W
Paper Supplies
Sue Doughty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who the suppliers are of his Department's paper and paper products. [91902]
Ruth Kelly: The following suppliers provide paper and paper products to HM Treasury:
- Banner
Talk Paper
Tompla
Public Service Agreement
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review staffing in relation to his Department's not meeting key targets set out in the 2000 Public Service Agreement. [91200]
Ruth Kelly: The Treasury Management Board reviews the allocation of resources to the delivery of Public Service Agreement targets during the annual
business planning round in-year when necessary.
Sandler Review
Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the impact that proposed revisions to the 1993 European Investment Services Directive would have on the proposals contained in the Sandler review of savings. [91574]
Ruth Kelly: The Government are seeking to ensure that the proposed revision to the 1993 Investment Services Directive is consistent with the proposals in Mr. Ron Sandler's review of the medium to long-term retail savings market.
STEPS Contract
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date stamp duty was paid by Mapeley on the STEPS Contract with the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise; and if he will make a statement. [89475]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 14 January 2003]: The payment of Stamp Duty is a confidential matter between the payer and the Inland Revenue. Ministers are not involved in the process and do not have access to information relating to it. Exemption 15 (Statutory and other restrictions) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the advice given by Mr.Dave Shaw of the Inland Revenue special investigation section to the Deputy Chairman of the Inland Revenue in respect of the Mapeley STEPS contract; and if he will make a statement. [89476]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 14 January 2003]: I understand that Mr. Shaw's advice referred to policy advice which it would be inappropriate to disclose.
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Exemption 2 (Internal discussion and advice) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies.
Teleworkers
Mr. Miller: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) employees and (b) self-employed persons are teleworkers. [91600]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Andrew Miller, dated 20 January 2003:
- The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about teleworkers. I am replying in his absence. (91600)
- The attached table gives the information requested, for the three month period ending May 2002. These estimates are from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The LFS questions on teleworking are asked in spring (March to May) quarters only. The latest available estimates are for spring (March to May) 2002.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Teleworker homeworkers(9) | |
| Employees | 163 |
| Self-employed | 232 |
| Home-based teleworkers(10) | |
| Employees | 375 |
| Self-employed | 449 |
| Occasional teleworkers(11) | |
| Employees | 472 |
| Self-employed | 89 |
| Total | |
| Employees | 1,010 |
| Self-employed | 770 |
(6) People who do some paid or unpaid work in their own home in their main job and could not do so without using both a telephone and a computer.
(7) Estimates not adjusted for non-response to the teleworking questions.
(8) Not seasonally adjusted
(9) Teleworkers who work mainly in their own home.
(10) Teleworkers who work in various locations using home as a base.
(11) People who do not usually work at home or use home as a base but spent at least one day in the reference week teleworking in these locations.
Note:
These Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates are Not Seasonally Adjusted (NSA) and have not yet been adjusted to take account of the recent Census 2001 results.
Source:
ONS Labour Force Survey
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