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13 Jul 2004 : Column 1015W—continued
Unemployment (Warrington)
Helen Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of unemployment in Warrington was in each year since 1997. [182772]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl to Ms Helen Jones, dated 13 July 2004:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the level of unemployment in Warrington in each year since 1997. I am replying in his absence. (182772)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
The attached Table 1, gives the estimates available of the number of unemployed people resident in the Warrington unitary authority, for the twelve months ending in February for each year from 1997 to 2003.
As with any statistical sample survey, estimates for the LFS are subject to sampling variability. The fall between 1998 and 1999 shown in the table is within the limits of sampling variation.
ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas including parliamentary constituencies. The attached Table 2, gives the annual averages number of JSA claimants who are resident in the Warrington unitary authority for each year since 1997.
| 12 months ending February | Thousand |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 5 |
| 1998(3) | 4 |
| 1999(3) | 2 |
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 4 |
(2) Unemployed residents of the Warrington UA.
(3) Figures not yet adjusted to take account of 2001 Census data.
Source:
ONS Labour Force Survey Local Area Datasets
| Annual averages | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 3,679 |
| 1998 | 3,083 |
| 1999 | 2,999 |
| 2000 | 2,750 |
| 2001 | 2,431 |
| 2002 | 2,377 |
| 2003 | 2,279 |
Source:
Jobcentre Plus administrative system.
TRANSPORT
Drivers' Hours Regulations (HGVs)
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many drivers of heavy goods vehicles were found to be breaking the drivers' hours regulations in 2002–03; how many were prosecuted; and what penalties were imposed. [183696]
Mr. Jamieson: Enforcement of the drivers' hours regulations in Great Britain is carried out by the police and by the Department's Vehicle and Operators Service Agency (VOSA). Statistics are only available for the work done by VOSA:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Drivers checked | 106,587 |
| Prohibitions issued | 4,999 |
| Total offences reported for prosecution(4) | 10,353 |
| Number of drivers reported for prosecution(4) | 2,278 |
| Average fine per offence | £120 |
(4) Minor offences are dealt with by way of warning and advice and are not recorded.
Empty Houses
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for how many empty houses his Department is responsible; and if he will make a statement. [182145]
Mr. Jamieson: The Highways Agency, an agency of the Department for Transport, currently holds 105 empty residential properties.
Highways Agency
John Thurso:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total value was of (a) technical and
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financial contracts, (b) technical consultants used on a call-off basis and (c) financial consultants used on a call-off basis by the Highways Agency in each year since 2001. [180895]
Mr. Jamieson: The Highways Agency spent:
| (a) Technical and financial | (b) Technical consultants | (c) Financial consultants | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 91,319 | 88,437 | 2,882 |
| 2002–03 | 171,739 | 165,056 | 6,683 |
| 2003–04 | 220,194 | 215,269 | 4,925 |
Ministerial Speeches
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the speeches made by Ministers with responsibility for transport issues to external organisations since 1 June 2003. [180857]
Mr. McNulty: Transport Ministers have undertaken a very wide range of speaking engagements since 1 June 2003. Key speeches are listed on the Department for Transport website at www.dft.gov.uk, in the Ministerial section of "About DfT".
Road Traffic
Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department recommends that county councils issuing consultation documents for road improvements should include traffic projection figures. [183773]
Mr. Jamieson: It is for local highway authorities to determine the information included in consultation documents on any road improvements that they are promoting. My Department would expect this to include such information needed for consultees to reach an informed understanding of the scheme.
Speed Cameras
Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what common speed thresholds for penalties and prosecutions speed camera partnerships apply. [181173]
Mr. Jamieson: Enforcement thresholds are a matter for individual chief police officers. Guidelines established by the Association of Chief Police Officers is not to enforce below 10 per cent. plus 2 mph over the posted speed limit.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has commissioned on the effects of high levels of speed enforcement. [182345]
Mr. Jamieson:
The independent review of the first three years' operation of the national safety camera programme, carried out by University College London and PA Consulting Group and published on 15 June, concluded that the number of people killed or seriously injured at camera sites had been reduced by 40 per cent., over and above the UK's general downward trend in road casualties. The report is available in the Library and on the Department's website.
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The Department will also start research this year to assess the potential benefits of other speed enforcement measures such as vehicle-activated signs and in-car information on speed limits.
Transport Strategy (South Coast)
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what priority is being given to the south coast corridor in his draft Transport Strategy; and if he will make a statement. [182393]
Mr. McNulty: Once the Government's current review of the 10 Year Plan for Transport is complete we will publish a new transport strategy. A range of work has continued on the south coast corridor since the publication of the South Coast Multi Modal Study.
Trust Ports
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the capital value is of each trust port which is defined as a public corporation. [183698]
Mr. Jamieson: The latest published accounts we have received from the major ports defined as public corporations show on the balance sheets that the net worth of each port is as follows:
| Port | Net worth |
|---|---|
| Port of London (at 31 December 2003) | 48.3 |
| Dover (at 31 December 2003) | 124.8 |
| Milford Haven (at 31 December 2002) | 31.9 |
| Poole (at 31 March 2003) | 11.8 |
| Tyne (at 31 December 2002) | 47.6 |
| Harwich Haven (at 31 December 2003) | 33.8 |
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Animal Experiments
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 1 July 2004, Official Report, column 388W, on animal experiments, when the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research will take over the budget hitherto allocated to the Centre for Best Practice for Animals in Research (CBPAR); when the double funding promised by the Medical Research Council and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council will be transferred to the National Centre; when the Animal Procedures Committee will transfer its funding to the National Centre; when the National Centre will fully take over the functions of the CPBAR; and if she will make a statement. [183513]
Ms Hewitt:
The Centre for Best Practice for Animals in research (CBPAR), which already carries out many of the functions of the national centre, will continue to operate until September when it will be replaced by the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3RS). The funding committed by the Medical Research Council and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council will be transferred to NC3RS at that time. The budget for research into the 3Rs currently
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administered by the Animal Procedures Committee will be transferred by the Home Office to the Centre once its current commitments have been honoured. The Home Office is currently considering the timing and arrangements for the transfer.
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