27 May 2004 : Column 1721W
Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 27 May 2004
TREASURY
Analogue Wave Band
Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) estimate he has made and (b) research he has (i) commissioned and (ii) evaluated on the value of the sale of the analogue wave band to public funds. [174047]
Ruth Kelly: The terms and method of reallocation of radio spectrum released by digital switchover are a matter for Ofcom. Additionally, the scope of future uses will be dependent on the result of international negotiations commencing in 2006. Hence, the Government are not currently in a position to make an estimate of the likely value of spectrum.
However, the Government have produced an economic cost-benefit analysis of digital switchover. The positive result of this study informed the Government's decision to confirm their support for switchover in September 2003 as it will bring significant benefits to consumers and to broadcasters. A summary of the results can be found at: www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk
Inland Revenue
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when the Inland Revenue Avoidance Intelligence Unit will commence work; and how many staff it will employ; [176258]
(2) what the total costs, including employment, are for the Inland Revenue Avoidance Intelligence Unit for this financial year. [176259]
Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue's Avoidance Intelligence Unit will be operational by the time the tax avoidance disclosure rules come into effect on 1 August 2004. The anticipated initial funding for the Unit is £1.5 million for the first full year. The precise number of staff who will be employed within the Unit is not fixed but will be under constant review and will vary according to the level of work the Unit has to handle.
Civil Registration (Consultation)
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the origins of the responses to the document Civil Registration: Delivering Vital Change; and how many were received from (a) registration officers, (b) genealogists and (c) the general public. [176583]
Ruth Kelly:
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the General Registrar for England and Wales, who has been asked to reply.
27 May 2004 : Column 1722W
Letter from Len Cook to Dr. Iddon, dated 27 May 2004:
As National Statistician and Registrar General For England and Wales, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what assessment has been made of the origins of the responses to the document Civil Registration: Delivering Vital Change; and how many were received from (a) registration officers (b) genealogists and (c) the general public. (176583)
There were 516 responses from registration officers, 30 from genealogists who explicitly identified themselves as such and 2,310 from the general public. Of the latter group there were many whose main interest appeared to be in family history and genealogy, although a number also commented on other issues such as the propose changes to the system of civil marriage. The large number of responses received will be taken into consideration before proposals are laid before Parliament for scrutiny in the form of a proposed draft Regulatory Reform Order and Explanatory Memorandum.
Indeed, in her Statement to the House of Commons on 29 March the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Ruth Kelly) explained that she had been pleased to see there had been almost 3,400 responses to the consultation document "Civil Registration: Delivering Vital Change". She added that this indicated a very real interest among a wide range of stakeholders—registration practitioners and managers, the public and other interested organisations—in this area of reform.
Correspondence
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to reply to the letter of 24 March 2004 from Stewart Stevenson MSP regarding World Vision. [176133]
Mr. Boateng: There is no record of the letter being received. A copy has been requested and will be replied to as soon as possible.
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to reply to the letter dated 9 March from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan regarding whisky strip stamps. [176201]
Employment (Blackpool, North and Fleetwood)
Mrs. Humble: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were employed in tourism-related jobs in Blackpool, North and Fleetwood on the latest date for which figures are available. [176398]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been has to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Joan Humble, dated 27 May 2004:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about tourism-related jobs in Blackpool, North and Fleetwood. (176398)
The latest available data, from the 2002 Annual Business Inquiry, shows that the total number of jobs in tourism related industries in Blackpool, North and Fleetwood Parliamentary Constituency was 4,400. This total is obtained by combining figures for those working in the following industries, as identified by Standard Industrial Classification 2003:
hotels
restaurants
bars
activities of travel agencies
library, archives, museums etc.
sporting activities
other recreational activities.
Mrs. Humble: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new jobs have been created in Blackpool, North and Fleetwood since 1997. [176399]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Joan Humble, dated 27 May 2004:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about jobs created in Blackpool, North and Fleetwood. (176399)
While statistics of new jobs created are not available explicitly, statistics from surveys enable comparisons to be made of net changes, in numbers of jobs, from year-to-year.
The attached table shows the information requested relating to jobs Blackpool, North and Fleetwood, for 1997 and the latest year available, 2002.
| Number, per cent. | |
|---|---|
| Total | |
| Number of employees | |
| 1997 | 32,000 |
| 2002 | 31,500 |
| Change from 1997 to 2002 | |
| Absolute | -500 |
(1) Employee jobs only, not self-employed jobs.
Source:
1997; Annual Employment Survey, rescaled 2002; Annual Business Inquiry (ABI).
Employment Statistics
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were employed in each year since 1979, broken down by constituency within each region. [175126]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl to Chris Ruane, dated 27 May 2004:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about employment. I am replying in his absence. (175126)
Estimates of the number of people in employment broken down by Parliamentary Constituencies within each region, are only available for the twelve month periods ending February 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. This information has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
Estimates are taken from the Office for National Statistics' Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to sampling variability.
Information for individual constituencies in Northern Ireland is not shown in the table, but is available from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
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