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9 Jun 2004 : Column 404W—continued
Teenage Pregnancy
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the most recent statistics are for teenage pregnancy. [172160]
Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from John Pullinger to Jim Cunningham, dated 9 June 2004:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the most recent statistics are for teenage pregnancy. I am replying in his absence. (172160)
The most recent complete year for which provisional figures for teenage pregnancy are available is 2001. Final figures will be published later this year.
Provisional estimates for the first two quarters of 2002 based on incomplete abortion data were published in May 2004 and are available on the National Statistics website at:
http://www.nationalstatistics.gov.uk/downloads/ theme health/hsq22 vl.pdf
CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
Electoral Registration
Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many electors were on the electoral roll for the constituency of Sittingbourne and Sheppey in each year since 1997. [177727]
Mr. Leslie: Based on figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in respect of the annual register of electors this information is as follows:
| Electors | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 64,628 |
| 1998 | 65,189 |
| 1999 | 65,304 |
| 2000 | 65,594 |
| 2001 | 66,020 |
| 2002 | 63,142 |
| 2003 | 62,341 |
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many constituents were on the electoral roll for Chesham and Amersham in each year since 1992. [177920]
Mr. Leslie: Based on figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in respect of the annual register of electors this information is as follows:
| Electors | |
|---|---|
| 1992 | 70,926 |
| 1993 | 70,747 |
| 1994 | 71,020 |
| 1995 | 69,242 |
| 1996 | 69,660 |
| 1997 | 70,084 |
| 1998 | 71,010 |
| 1999 | 69,991 |
| 2000 | 69,748 |
| 2001 (February) | 69,189 |
| 2001 (December) | 69,350 |
| 2002 | 69,354 |
| 2003 | 69,360 |
Honorary QCs
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will end the practice of awarding honorary QCs. [177144]
Mr. Leslie: My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State will, following his written statement of 26 May, make a further announcement on the future of the award of Queen's Counsel honoris causa, having discussed the issues with the Bar Councils and Law Societies in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.
Postal Voting
Mr. Andrew Turner:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what
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the combined electorate of the four all-postal regions for the purpose of the European Parliamentary election on 10 June is; how many ballot papers in those elections reached the Post Office (a) on or before 1 June and (b) on each day subsequently; and how many ballot papers were delivered other than by the Post Office (i) on or before 1 June and (ii) on each subsequent day. [177744]
Mr. Leslie: As at December 2003, the combined electorate of the North East, East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Number and North West regions was 14,083,004. Elections are not run by central Government. However, from discussions with returning officers, the relevant printing firms and the Royal Mail, we understand that 99.24 per cent. of ballot papers were with the Royal Mail or had been hand delivered by local authorities by midnight on 1 June. Those few batches which were not collected by midnight on 1 June were picked up by the Royal Mail at around 5.10am on 2 June. Small-scale problems which have necessitated the reprinting or issuing of new ballot papers after this date have been dealt with on a local level and figures are not held centrally. New ballot papers issued due to an elector reporting the original paper lost or spoilt are again administered at a local level and no figures are kept centrally.
Public Defenders
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the cost to the Legal Services Commission of employing its own lawyers through the Public Defenders Pilot Scheme was in the latest period for which figures are available. [176557]
Mr. Lammy: The cost to the Legal Services Commission (including national insurance contributions and overtime payments) for all legal staff employed in the Public Defender Service for the financial year 2003–04 was £1,727,928.00. The staff costs for fully qualified lawyers were £1,271,531.64.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Tourism (Bootle)
Mr. Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the work of regional development agencies in developing tourism in Bootle. [177713]
Mr. Caborn: The North West Development Agency (NWDA) is working closely with The Mersey Partnership (TMP), the nominated Destination Management Organisation (DMO) for Merseyside. DMOs are effectively mini tourist boards that will ensure a strong visitor and market focus to all that is done within the region, and aim to strengthen the connection that exists within the region between businesses and other organisations that make up the tourism sector.
During 2003–04 TMP received £320,000 from the NWDA's marketing image budget for tourism and investment campaigns to promote Merseyside. £419,000 was also provided from the NWDA's tourism budget for a variety of projects.
9 Jun 2004 : Column 407W
In addition the NWDA's Merseyside area office has supported a programme for the Mersey Waterfront Regional Park, which covers an area from Southport to Wirral. The NWDA is also investing £268,348 from the Environmental Regeneration Programme to Sefton council to create New Public Realm along Stanley road in Bootle town centre. The new works will provide Bootle with an identity, which will encourage future investment in the area.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Coalminers' Compensation
Mr. Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been paid to solicitors under the Claims Handling Agreement involved in the compensation claims for (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger of former coalminers. [176616]
Nigel Griffiths: As of 26 May 2004 the total cost paid to solicitors for respiratory disease claims is £271.1 million and for vibration white finger claims the total cost is £82.3 million.
Commission for Equality and Human Rights
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to ensure that the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights will have the (a) capacity and (b) competence to (i) deal with and (ii) give due weight to the full range of issues for which it will be responsible. [176490]
Ms Hewitt: As set out in the White Paper, "Fairness for All", the Government will ensure that the Commission for Equality and Human Rights is led by a Board that reflects the communities it serves and understands their needs, has strong strategic capabilities, and is supported by skilled and expert staff. The CEHR will develop its priorities in close consultation with its stakeholders, reinforced by a statutory duty to consult on its strategic plan. This transparent process will ensure a balanced approach to prioritisation in which the full range of relevant issues is given due weight. The Government is committed to ensuring that the CEHR is adequately resourced.
Container Terminals (Southampton)
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effect upon trade of recent decisions on container terminals at Southampton. [177198]
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