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17 Jun 2004 : Column 1043W—continued
Mental Health
Mr. Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have left employment in his Department because of (a) anxiety, (b) stress, (c) depression and (d) other mental health reasons in each year since 1997. [175678]
Ruth Kelly: The number of staff leaving the Treasury on ill-health retirement since 1997 is as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 2 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | — |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | — |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | None to date |
None of these ill-health retirements was specifically related to anxiety, stress, depression or other mental health reasons.
National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship
Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to launch the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship. [179250]
John Healey: The Department for Education and Skills and the Small Business Service are working with the chairman and board to develop the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship. It is expected to be launched by the end of 2004.
Penalty Notices (Tax Returns)
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cheques were encashed from penalty notices incorrectly issued by the Inland Revenue for filing late tax returns in each of the past five years; and what their total value was in each of those years. [179205]
Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue does not hold this information.
Where a penalty notice has been issued incorrectly we apologise unreservedly and cancel it straight away. There is no question of anyone who sent in their return on time being required to pay a penalty.
Property Taxation (Indexation)
Mr. Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the linking of stamp duty and inheritance tax thresholds to house price growth indices; and if he will make a statement on homeowners' tax liabilities. [178740]
Ruth Kelly: All tax rates and thresholds are kept under review. Current receipts from Stamp Duty Land Tax and Inheritance Tax are provided in Table C8 of the Red Book.
Redundancies
Paul Holmes:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many redundancies were notified, broken down by
17 Jun 2004 : Column 1044W
nation and region, in each year since 2002; what these figures represent as a percentage of the total work force, broken down by nation and region; and if he will make a statement. [178013]
Ruth Kelly [holding answer 10 June 2004]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Paul Holmes, dated 17 June 2004:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about redundancy. (178013)
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) provides estimates of redundancies experienced by survey respondents in the three month period before their inclusion in the survey. The attached table gives LFS estimates for the numbers of redundancies in each country and region of the UK in the three month periods ending in February of the years 2002 to 2004.
The table also shows the rate of redundancies per 1,000 employees in each country and region of the UK for these periods. Redundancies are presented as rates per 1,000 employees rather than as percentages for consistency with published sources.
The data are not seasonally adjusted. As with any statistical sample survey, estimates for the LFS are subject to sampling variability.
| 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 209 | 183 | 137 |
| Great Britain | 204 | 179 | 134 |
| England | 173 | 149 | 116 |
| North East | 11 | (9)— | (9)— |
| North West (Inc. Merseyside) | 25 | 20 | 22 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | 11 | 13 | 10 |
| East Midlands | 14 | 13 | 11 |
| West Midlands | 20 | 21 | 10 |
| Eastern | 17 | 16 | 16 |
| London | 24 | 21 | 15 |
| South East | 35 | 24 | 17 |
| South West | 15 | 11 | (9)— |
| Wales | 11 | 13 | (9)— |
| Scotland | 21 | 18 | 13 |
| Northern Ireland | (9)— | (9)— | (9)— |
(9) Sample size too small for reliable estimate.
Note:
Data are not seasonally adjusted.
Source:
ONS Labour Force Survey.
| 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 8.6 | 7.5 | 5.7 |
| Great Britain | 8.7 | 7.6 | 5.7 |
| England | 8.5 | 7.3 | 5.7 |
| North East | 11.8 | (11)— | (11)— |
| North West (Inc. Merseyside) | 9.5 | 7.3 | 8.0 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | 5.4 | 6.4 | 4.9 |
| East Midlands | 7.6 | 7.3 | 6.0 |
| West Midlands | 9.4 | 9.5 | 4.8 |
| Eastern | 7.4 | 7.0 | 6.8 |
| London | 8.2 | 7.3 | 5.3 |
| South East | 10.0 | 7.1 | 5.1 |
| South West | 7.5 | 5.3 | (11)— |
| Wales | 10.2 | 11.7 | (11)— |
| Scotland | 9.8 | 8.3 | 6.1 |
| Northern Ireland | (11)— | (11)— | (11)— |
(10) The redundancy rate is based on the ratio of the redundancy level for the given quarter to the number of employees in the previous quarter, multiplied by 1,000.
(11) Sample size too small for reliable estimate.
Note:
Data are not seasonally adjusted.
Source:
ONS Labour Force Survey.
17 Jun 2004 : Column 1045W
Regulatory Impact Assessments
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the statement of 10 December 2003, Official Report, column 1064, on the Pre-Budget Report, how many regulatory impact assessments produced by his Department referring to the 147 regulations for reform or removal have been placed in the Library, including their reference numbers; and what the estimated benefit to business is in each case. [178831]
Ruth Kelly: None of the 147 deregulatory measures announced in the Pre-Budget Report were the responsibility of HM Treasury. The Department did not, therefore, produce any of the Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) linked to the 147 regulations for reform or removal which were announced with the Pre-Budget Report in December 2003. Among the regulations to reform there were several measures with direct benefits for business, including the increase to the statutory audit threshold, which freed 69,000 businesses from the obligation to undergo an independent audit. Final RIAs are laid in the House Library, and all published RIAs are also available from departmental websites.
HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION
Travel Office
Dame Marion Roe: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what the arrangements are for the future of the Travel Office; and if he will make a statement. [179743]
Sir Archy Kirkwood: The Travel Office contract, managed jointly by the two Houses, has been let for a number of years to American Express. This contract will expire at the end of August. Following a full open competition under EU procurement rules, it has been decided to award the new contract to Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT). CWT will offer a wide range of services, including a continuing implant in the Palace of Westminster, access to preferential prices for both air and rail travel, foreign exchange, and an internet self-booking facility for those who wish to book online. It is expected that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations will apply, and the jobs of existing staff in the Travel Office will thus be protected.
TRANSPORT
"O" Licence
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the minimum number of hours per month is that a CPC-qualified transport manager has to work to qualify for the "O" Licence. [179009]
17 Jun 2004 : Column 1046W
Dr. Howells: There are no minimum limits to how much time transport managers should spend on their duties. The requirement is for the individual to have continuous and effective responsibility for the transport operations of a business. It is for the licensing authority, a traffic commissioner, to decide in each case if an applicant for a goods operator's licence satisfies this requirement.
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