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10 Sept 2003 : Column 392W—continued
Speed Cameras
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects of speed cameras upon the number of (a) fatal and (b) other serious accidents. [129238]
Mr. Jamieson: On 11 February 2003 the Department published an independently produced evaluation report of the 2-year trial of the safety camera cost recovery system. This showed a 35 per cent. reduction in those killed or seriously injured at camera sites, equating to around 280 people and a 4 per cent. reduction in those killed or seriously injured across the pilot areas, equating to around 530 people.
TREASURY
Aggregates Companies
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many aggregates companies there are in each region of the UK; and how many there were in 2001. [127198]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl to Alex Salmond, dated 10 September 2003:
- The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on the number of aggregates companies there are in each region of the UK. I am replying in his absence. (127198)
- The table below shows the number of companies, broken down by region, who reported aggregate material in 2001 and 2002. This information has been taken from the Annual Minerals Survey (AMRI), carried out by the Office for National Statistics on behalf of the Department for Trade and Industry and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
| Region name | 2001 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|
| North East | 14 | 16 |
| Yorkshire & the Humber | 33 | 32 |
| North West | 29 | 28 |
| West Midlands | 29 | 28 |
| East Midlands | 34 | 32 |
| East of England | 44 | 44 |
| South East | 48 | 45 |
| South West | 50 | 50 |
| Wales | 36 | 32 |
| Scotland | 102 | 99 |
| Total companies | 353 | 341 |
The data relates to GB only.
The same company may appear in more than one region.
The total is the overall number of companies.
Child Care Vouchers
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government will take in applying the Inland Revenue's salary sacrifice scheme for the purchase of child care vouchers to ensure that low income employees have the same advantages as higher paid employees; and if he will make a statement. [128293]
10 Sept 2003 : Column 393W
Dawn Primarolo: It is open to any employer and its employees to enter into a salary sacrifice arrangement linked to the provision of child care vouchers in order to take advantage of the exemption from national insurance contributions that applies to them.
The Government also provide help to parents in low to medium income families with the cost of child care through the child care element of working tax credit.
Census
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Chairman of the Statistics Commission on the UK census. [127406]
John Healey: Treasury Ministers have not discussed the Census with the Chairman of the Statistics Commission. The Statistics Commission, which is independent of both Ministers and the producers of National Statistics, was established to advise on the quality, quality assurance and priority setting for National Statistics, and on the procedures designed to deliver statistical integrity. The Commission has announced that, using the Census results for Westminster city council as an example, it is considering evidence on whether Census 2001 was properly conducted and whether there are lessons to be learned for the future. The Commission has yet to publish its report, but expects to do so, probably in stages, between the summer and autumn of this year.
Cigarette Imports
Mr. Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of cigarettes imported from EU countries in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003. [R] [127945]
John Healey: The following table shows the number (in thousands) of cigarettes imported from EU countries in 2002 and up to May of this year (the latest month for which figures are available). The figures show cigarettes imported by way of trade and do not include personal imports.
| Period | Thousand |
|---|---|
| January to December 2002 | 8,552,145 |
| January to May 2003 | 2,154,815 |
These figures are also available on the Customs website www.uktradeinfo.com.
Customs and Excise
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce on the spot fines for people caught bringing illegal meats and bushmeat into the UK. [128364]
John Healey: Customs have no current plans to introduce on the spot fines for people caught bringing illegal meats and bushmeat into the UK.
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when HM Customs plan to trial passenger luggage x-ray equipment to detect illegal meat and bushmeat at UK ports of entry. [128365]
10 Sept 2003 : Column 394W
John Healey: Customs have already conducted some informal trials using existing equipment to look for illegal meat. They are currently in discussion with suppliers with a view to conducting further evaluation as soon as possible.
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many illegal meat seizures have been made by HM Customs in each month since they assumed control of enforcement at UK ports of entry; and what percentage of these seizures are classified as bushmeat. [128367]
John Healey: Customs do not normally publish seizure information on a monthly basis. Exemptions 4(b) and 7(b) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information apply. However, annual seizure figures will be reported in the Government's "Annual Review of Controls on Imports of Animal Products" which is published by Defra.
Michael Fabricant: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many dogs are used at air and sea ports of entry into the United Kingdom to detect illegal imports of food products. [128679]
John Healey: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Wealden (Mr. Hendry) on 6 May 2003, Official Report, column 618W.
Online Tax Assessment
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government's UK on-line agenda has met HM Treasury's stated expectations in the transformation of the delivery of its services. [127083]
Mr. Boateng: The Government recognise that there is considerable potential for electronic government to transform the delivery of public services. That is why the Treasury allocated significant resources in the 2002 Spending Review to further develop electronic services.
As part of the Spending Review the Cabinet Office reached a public service agreement with the Treasury to ensure Departments meet the Prime Minister's targets for electronic service delivery by Government: 100 per cent. capability by 2005, with key services achieving high levels of use. A growing number of services are now available on-line with more services being added through the UKonline portal.
Tax Credits
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons in the Chorley constituency are in receipt of (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit; and how many claims are outstanding. [127757]
Dawn Primarolo: Statistics on awards of these tax credits are being published today and are accessible on the Inland Revenue website (http://www.inlandrevenue. gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/main-tables-july03.pdf and http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/geographical-analysis-july03.pdf).
For progress in processing claims, I refer my hon. Friend to my remarks during debate on 7 July 2003, Official Report, column 859. Breakdowns by constituency of the figures that I gave are not available.
10 Sept 2003 : Column 395W
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how applications for tax credits received after the 5 July deadline will be treated; and if he will make a statement. [128671]
Dawn Primarolo: Tax credits claims received by the Inland Revenue before midnight on Monday 7 July, the first full working day after the deadline, were treated as meeting the deadline for tax credits to be backdated to 6 April 2003, if appropriate. This was because the deadline fell at the weekend and to ensure that claims made through different channels were treated alike. Claims received after 7 July may be backdated for up to three months.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Northern Ireland Assembly
6. Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had about the restoration of the devolved Assembly. [128492]
7. Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations he has received regarding the progress of the peace process. [128493]
12. Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the resumption of power sharing in Northern Ireland. [128499]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Robathan), Official Report, column 314.
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