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24 Mar 2003 : Column 58W—continued

Trams

Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department is sponsoring into the role of trams in a sustainable transport policy. [104149]

Mr. Jamieson: None directly. However, all local public transport schemes, including trams, proposed for Government funding are subject to comprehensive appraisal on criteria which include the likely impact of the scheme on the environment, safety, the economy, accessibility and integration. Evaluation of tram schemes is also carried out after their completion.

24 Mar 2003 : Column 59W

TREASURY

MRSA

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many recorded deaths there were from MRSA virus in each of the last five years for which records are kept. [104349]

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. Eric Pickles, dated 24 March 2003:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many recorded deaths there were from MRSA in each of the last 5 years for which records are kept. (104349)

Information on deaths from Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureas (MRSA) is not routinely available but a recent research study published in the British Medical Journal identified the number of death certificates that mentioned MRSA as the underlying cause of death or as a contributory cause for the years 1993–1998. The table below gives figures from the study for the 5 years to 1998.

Number of deaths where MRSA was mentioned as the underlying or a contributory cause of death, England and Wales, 1994–1998

	Number
1994	88
1995	187
1996	290
1997	377
1998	398

The Office for National Statistics is currently in the process of updating this study to cover the period 1999–2001. The results of this analysis will be published later this year.

Unemployment(Inverness, East, Nairn and Lochaber)

Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the change has been in the level of unemployment in the constituency of Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber since May 1997. [104572]

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. David Stewart, dated 24 March 2003:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on what the change has been in the level of unemployment in the constituency of Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber since May 1997.(104572)

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from surveys following the international standard International Labour Organisation definition. However the survey sample size is too small to provide estimates for the Inverness East Nairn and Lochaber Parliamentary Constituency.

ONS also compiles statistics of claimants of the Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) benefit for Parliamentary Constituencies.

In February 2003, there were K543 claimants of Jobseekers Allowance in the Inverness East and Lochaber Parliamentary Constituency compared with 2,403 in May 1997. This represents a reduction of 860 or 36 per cent. The data are not seasonally adjusted.

24 Mar 2003 : Column 60W

Civil Service Travel

Mr. Maples: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what grades in the Civil Service in his Department are allowed to travel by air (a) first class and (b) business class at public expense when on official duties. [104961]

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury meets the cost of business or club class air tickets for staff flying on official business. Staff may travel first class at official expense only with written permission from the Accounting Officer. No distinction is made by grade.

Computer Misuse

Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 10 March (2003), Official Report, column 19W, on computer misuse, how many staff in other agencies of HM Treasury have been (a) dismissed and (b) prosecuted as a result of misuse of its computer systems. [104208]

Ruth Kelly: One official in HM Customs and Excise was dismissed for computer misuse in 2001 and three were in 2002. There were three such dismissals from the Office for National Statistics in 2001 and one from the Treasury in 2000. HM Customs and Excise prosecuted one official for computer misuse in 1998 and another in 2002. There were no other dismissals or prosecutions of officials working for the Chancellor's departments and agencies in the period 1998 to 2002.

Departmental Invoices

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the occasions on which (a) his Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department failed to pay valid invoices within 30 days or after the agreed credit period in the financial year 2001–02. [104326]

Ruth Kelly: The bodies for which the Chancellor is responsible have made the following percentages of payments within 30 days or within contractual arrangements: HM Treasury 98.7 per cent.; National Investment and Loans Office 100 per cent.; Department of National Savings 99.6 per cent.; Inland Revenue 98.9 per cent.; HM Customs and Excise 97.38 per cent. and Royal Mint 91 per cent. More detailed information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Website

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost of his Department's website was in the last 12 months; and how many hits it received in the same period. [104196]

Ruth Kelly: The total cost of the Treasury's website, www.hm-treasury.gov.uk. was £140, 634 for the year ending January 2003. During that period pages from the site were viewed 18 million times.

Entertainment Expenditure

Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the total spending of his Department on entertainment in each year from 1994–95 to 2002–03; and if he will make a statement. [92371]

24 Mar 2003 : Column 61W

Mr. Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's hospitality budget (a) is in 2002–03 and (b) was in each of the last three years; and how much was left unspent at the end of each financial year. [99511]

Ruth Kelly: Expenditure in the years since 1997–98 is as follows:

£000

	Expenditure
1997–98	59
1998–99	69
1999–2000	99
2000–01	141
2001–02	100
2002–03(24)	115

⁽²⁴⁾ April to December

Figures for earlier years were given in the answer by the then Economic Secretary (Helen Liddell) on 18 November 1997, Official Report, column 110W.

Treasury internal budgets are controlled in respect of organisational units, not in respect of types of spending. Accordingly there are no binding budget figures comparable to these figures for expenditure.

All expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in "Government Accounting".

Euro

Mr. Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2003, Official Report, column 991W, on the euro, (1) what issues have been discussed by Government officials with representatives of (a) Gibraltar and (b) the Isle of Man; [104046]

(2) which Government officials are responsible for liaison with officials from Jersey; how often meetings occur between Government officials and representatives from Jersey; and whether there are regularly scheduled talks between the two groups. [104047]

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 11 February 2002, Official Report, columns 104–05W.

Financial Sector Green Paper

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 11 March 2003, Official Report, column 133W, on the Financial Sector Green Paper, if he will make a statement on the ongoing work undertaken by his Department to strengthen financial sector resilience. [103968]

Ruth Kelly: HM Treasury is working with the Bank of England, the Financial Services Authority and the private sector to help strengthen financial sector resilience. More information on this work can be found at their tripartite website: www.financialsectorcontinuity.gov.uk.

24 Mar 2003 : Column 62W

Financial Services Authority

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to extend the responsibilities of the Financial Services Authority. [103914]

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws), on 21 January 2003, Official Report, column 247W.

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