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19 Jan 2004 : Column 1028W—continued
Unemployment (Chorley)
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the change in the level of unemployment in the Chorley constituency has been since 1997. [148494]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Lindsay Hoyle dated 19 January 2004:
- The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about unemployment in the Chorley constituency. I am replying in his absence. (148494)
- The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following the internationally standard International Labour Organisation definitions. For Parliamentary constituencies, information about unemployment rates, but not levels, is available. However, the LFS sample size is too small to give reliable estimates of unemployment in the Chorley constituency.
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- ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas including Parliamentary constituencies. The annual average number of JSA claimants in the Chorley constituency decreased by 764 from 1,679 in 1997 to 915 in 2003.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on levels of unemployment in Chorley; and what the numbers were in (a) 1990, (b) 1995, (c) 2000 and (d) 2003. [149166]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr Lindsay Hoyle, dated 19 January 2004:
- The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about unemployment in the Chorley constituency. I am replying in his absence. (149166)
- The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following the internationally standard International Labour Organisation definitions. For Parliamentary constituencies, information about unemployment rates, but not levels, is available for the twelve month period ending February of each year from 1997 to 2002. However, the LFS sample size is too small to give reliable estimates of unemployment in the Chorley constituency.
- ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas including Parliamentary constituencies. The table below shows the annual average claimant level in the Chorley constituency for the requested periods. Because of boundary changes the figures for 1990 and 1995 are not directly comparable with the later data.
| Year | Level |
|---|---|
| Annual average 1990 | (18)2,159 |
| Annual average 1995 | (18)2,605 |
| Annual average 2000 | 1,217 |
| Annual average 2003 | 915 |
(18) Figures based on the 1981 census wards.
Unemployment (Middlesbrough)
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about levels of unemployment in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East; and what the rates were in (a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001. [148402]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl to Dr. Ashok Kumar dated 19 January 2004:
- The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment in the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency. I am replying in his absence. (148402)
- The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following the internationally standard International Labour Organisation definitions. For Parliamentary constituencies, information about unemployment rates, but not levels, is available. The unemployment rate in the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency for the 12 month period ending February 2002 was 8.1 per cent. The LFS sample size is too small to give comparable information for 1997. LFS estimates are not available at Parliamentary constituency level for 1992. As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to sampling variability.
19 Jan 2004 : Column 1030W
- ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (ISA) for local areas including Parliamentary constituencies. The table following shows the average total level of Jobseeker's Allowance claimants and the percentage of the working age population in the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland Constituency for 1997 and 2001. Comparable figures for 1992 are not available as the constituency did not exist in its current form at that time.
| Number | (19)Rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual average 1997 | 3,462 | 6.1 |
| Annual average 2001 | 2,427 | 4.3 |
(19) People claiming Jobseeker's Allowance as a percentage of the 2001 Census working age population adjusted to 2001 mid-year population estimates for local authorities.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Trade Agreements
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the revision of the generalised system of preferences. [148517]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The EU's Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) scheme has traditionally operated for a series of 10-year periods. While we are currently in the cycle for 1995–2004, revisions of the current scheme were agreed at the end of 2003. Details of these revisions can be found in Official Journal of the EU of 19 December 2003 and 31 December 2003 (Council Regulations No. 2211/2003 and 2331/2003 respectively). The main change was a one-year rollover, with amendments to the graduation criteria. This revised GSP scheme is therefore due to end on 31 December 2005. Proposals for a new GSP scheme will need to be agreed by 31 December 2004, thus providing EU importers with 12 months' notice to plan for changes to duty rates.
The Commission has indicated its intention to begin the renegotiation process of the EU GSP scheme early this year through regular working party meetings once initial proposals have been published. Officials from my Department will lead on the consultation across Whitehall and industry and, together with colleagues from the UK's Permanent Representation to the EU, make representations on behalf of the UK at these working party meetings. The proposals will be cleared through Parliament by Explanatory Memoranda in the usual way.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreements with African, Caribbean and Pacific States which are party to the Cotonou Agreement. [148518]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: As outlined in my answer to the hon. Member's question published on 13 January 2004, Official Report, column 696W, no Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) has yet been agreed between the EU and an ACP region. Phase I of the negotiations began in September 2002. But the EU only announced the launch of the first EPA negotiations with the Western and Central African regions—CEMAC
19 Jan 2004 : Column 1031W
(Central African Economic and Monetary Community) and ECOWAS (Economic Community of Western African States) in October 2003. Launches of negotiations between the EU and other ACP regions are expected to take place later this year and to continue over several years. EPAs are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2008.
Aerospace Funding
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the funding of the Aerospace Launch Investment; and if she will break down the costs incurred by main budget head. [147805]
Jacqui Smith: Through Launch Investment partnerships the Government supports the design and development of civil aerospace projects in the UK. The information in the DTI's Departmental Report (CM 5916 published in May 2003) on the funding of the Aerospace—Launch Investment (page 85) indicates a working provision for 2002–03 of Payments of £258.2 million, Receipts (excluding Consolidated Fund Extra Receipt (CFER)) of £66.9 million and Total Receipts of £98.5 million. The actual outturn for 2002–03 was Payments of £258.2 million, Receipts (excluding CFER) of £80.7 million and Total Receipts of £109.5 million.
My Department is working closely with the industry in implementing the recommendations from the Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team (AelGT), which reported on 11 June 2003. The Government will continue to consider applications for Launch Investment in conjunction with exploring with Industry ways to attract more private sector finance. Further information on the AelGT can be found on the website of the Society of British Aerospace Companies at http ://www.sbac.co.uk/aeigt/.
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