House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 8 Dec 2004 (pt 7)

8 Dec 2004 : Column 530W—continued

Departmental Expenditure

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for his Department in each of the last two years. [202489]

Mr. Timms: Information concerning ministerial cars in the financial year 2002–03 was given by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office on 13 November 2003, Official Report, columns 397–98W. The Minister for the Cabinet Office has asked the Chief Executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency to write to the hon. Member with details of the cost of ministerial vehicles in 2003–04.

Expenditure on taxis is estimated to have been £163,000 in 2002–03 and £151,000 in 2003–04.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on energy costs incurred by his Department in each of the last two years. [202490]

Mr. Timms: Energy costs in 1 Horse Guards Road reduced by 15 per cent. over the last two years.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the (a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) his Department, (ii) agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which he has had responsibility in each of the last two years. [202491]

Mr. Timms: HM Treasury, the Office of Government Commerce, the Royal Mint, the Government Actuary's Department, the Debt Management Office, the Office for National Statistics and National Savings and Investments do not own any empty properties.

Inland Revenue, HM Customs and Excise and the Valuation Office Agency sold their freehold properties to Mapeley on 2 April 2001 as part of the STEPS PFI contract. Mapeley have assumed responsibility for these since then, irrespective of whether the properties are empty or occupied.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what crèche facilities are provided by his Department; and at what cost. [202498]

Mr. Timms: The Treasury does not provide any crèche facilities. The Department is a member of the Westminster Holiday Playscheme, which operates during school holidays and is open to children aged 4 years 9 months to 12. The Treasury has two bespoke playscheme rooms, which can cater for up to 18 children. The cost per child is £30 a day and the Treasury subsidises the costs by 60 per cent. The total subsidy to Treasury parents using the playscheme is £4,100.

The Treasury also supports the child care cost of eligible staff. Staff who work full time receive £40.00 per week per family, part timers receive a pro-rated amount.

85 staff members receive child care vouchers. The total cost of child care vouchers, since the scheme was introduced in January 2004 is £134,000.

8 Dec 2004 : Column 531W

Labour Statistics

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many people over 65 were in employment in each metropolitan authority and county area in the North East region in each year from 1997 to 2004; [202680]

(2) how many and what percentage of 50 to 65-year-olds were economically inactive in (a) the North East region, and (b) each (i) metropolitan authority and (ii) county area within the North East region in each year from 1997 to 2003. [202681]

Mr. Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 8 December 2004:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about employment and economic inactivity. (202680, 202681)

The attached table provides the information requested.

These estimates from the Labour Force Survey are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability.

Economic activity in the North East region and each metropolitan authority and county area 12-month period ending in February each year— United Kingdom

1997

Number of economically inactive people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁵⁾ (000s) Inactivity rate for people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁶⁾ (%) Number of people in employment aged 65 years and over⁽⁷⁾ (000s)

North East 147 42.0 22

Darlington UA 3 24.7 ⁽⁸⁾—

Durham UA 31 42.7 4

Gateshead 11 40.7 2

Hartlepool UA 6 44.4 1
Middlesbrough UA9 55.9 ⁽⁸⁾—
Newcastle upon Tyne13 41.1 3

North Tyneside 9 32.5 ⁽⁸⁾—

Northumberland 16 37.5 5
Redcar and Cleveland UA10 44.1 1

South Tyneside 8 44.5 2
Stockton-on-Tees UA9 41.7 1

Sunderland 19 51.1 1

1998

Number of economically inactive people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁵⁾ (000s) Inactivity rate for people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁶⁾ (%) Number of people in employment aged 65 years and over⁽⁷⁾ (000s)

North East 153 42.7 19

Darlington UA 5 38.3 ⁽⁸⁾—

Durham UA 32 44.5 4

Gateshead 12 40.4 2

Hartlepool UA 5 42.3 1
Middlesbrough UA8 42.1 ⁽⁸⁾—
Newcastle upon Tyne15 42.2 3

North Tyneside 10 38.6 1

Northumberland 20 42.9 4
Redcar and Cleveland UA11 43.9 ⁽⁸⁾—

South Tyneside 7 35.2 1
Stockton-on-Tees UA9 37.1 1

Sunderland 20 51.6 1

8 Dec 2004 : Column 532W

1999

Number of economically inactive people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁵⁾ (000s) Inactivity rate for people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁶⁾ (%) Number of people in employment aged 65 years and over⁽⁷⁾ (000s)

North East 157 42.9 21

Darlington UA 5 33.1 ⁽⁸⁾—

Durham UA 33 43.6 6

Gateshead 12 42.8 1

Hartlepool UA 5 41.1 ⁽⁸⁾—
Middlesbrough UA7 36.5 2
Newcastle upon Tyne10 33.9 3

North Tyneside 12 38.1 1

Northumberland 19 40.3 4
Redcar and Cleveland UA12 56.4 ⁽⁸⁾—

South Tyneside 9 44.3 1
Stockton-on-Tees UA11 42.0 ⁽⁸⁾—

Sunderland 22 55.0 1

2000

Number of economically inactive people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁵⁾ (000s) Inactivity rate for people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁶⁾ (%) Number of people in employment aged 65 years and over⁽⁷⁾ (000s)

North East 156 41.9 24

Darlington UA 7 38.6 2

Durham UA 29 40.3 6

Gateshead 13 42.4 1

Hartlepool UA 5 37.8 ⁽⁸⁾—
Middlesbrough UA7 33.6 1
Newcastle upon Tyne7 26.2 2

North Tyneside 12 35.5 2

Northumberland 22 43.6 5
Redcar and Cleveland UA13 59.3 1

South Tyneside 10 43.8 2
Stockton-on-Tees UA10 43.8 ⁽⁸⁾—

Sunderland 22 52.1 3

2001

Number of economically inactive people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁵⁾ (000s) Inactivity rate for people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁶⁾ (%) Number of people in employment aged 65 years and over⁽⁷⁾ (000s)

North East 150 39.8 23

Darlington UA 5 34.6 1

Durham UA 31 40.1 4

Gateshead 11 37.0 1
Hartlepool UA6 47.7 1
Middlesbrough UA8 44.3 1
Newcastle upon Tyne10 33.7 2
North Tyneside10 35.1 2

Northumberland 19 37.1 4
Redcar and Cleveland UA10 44.4 1
South Tyneside10 45.2 1
Stockton-on-Tees UA10 36.9 1

Sunderland 20 46.0 2

2002

Number of economically inactive people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁵⁾ (000s) Inactivity rate for people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁶⁾ (%) Number of people in employment aged 65 years and over⁽⁷⁾ (000s)

North East 151 39.5 21

Darlington UA5 36.0 1

Durham UA 33 40.0 4

Gateshead 10 33.1 1
Hartlepool UA5 43.6 1
Middlesbrough UA8 43.1 1
Newcastle upon Tyne12 36.2 2
North Tyneside10 33.5 1

Northumberland 19 37.7 4
Redcar and Cleveland UA10 42.7 1
South Tyneside9 43.7 1
Stockton-on-Tees UA11 39.1 1

Sunderland 19 46.8 2

8 Dec 2004 : Column 533W

2003

Number of economically inactive people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁵⁾ (000s) Inactivity rate for people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁶⁾ (%) Number of people in employment aged 65 years and over⁽⁷⁾ (000s)

North East 151 39.1 20
Darlington UA6 37.0 1

Durham UA 35 43.7 3

Gateshead 11 38.4 1
Hartlepool UA7 47.2 1
Middlesbrough UA8 46.7 1
Newcastle upon Tyne14 41.3 2
North Tyneside10 33.5 1

Northumberland 16 30.3 4
Redcar and Cleveland UA9 40.9 1
South Tyneside9 43.6 1
Stockton-on-Tees UA9 33.2 1

Sunderland 17 39.7 2

2004

Number of economically inactive people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁵⁾ (000s) Inactivity rate for people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁶⁾ (%) Number of people in employment aged 65 years and over⁽⁷⁾ (000s)

North East 149 38.4 23

Darlington UA5 35.6 1

Durham UA 34 41.1 4

Gateshead 11 40.0 2
Hartlepool UA6 42.8 1
Middlesbrough UA7 39.6 1
Newcastle upon Tyne14 40.3 3
North Tyneside10 35.1 1

Northumberland 15 28.8 4
Redcar and Cleveland UA10 43.5 1
South Tyneside10 42.6 1
Stockton-on-Tees UA9 34.3 1

Sunderland 18 41.8 3

⁽⁵⁾ Economically inactive refers to women aged 50 to 59 and men aged 50 to 64 who are neither employed nor unemployed.
⁽⁶⁾ The rates are based on people aged 50 to 64 who are economically inactive as percentage of total population in the relevant age group.
⁽⁷⁾ Refers to men aged 65 to 99 women aged 60 to 99.
⁽⁸⁾ Estimates not available because sample size is too small.
Note:
Some estimates are based on smaller sample sizes and are therefore subject to a higher degree of sampling variability. They should be treated with caution and, in particular, changes from year to year should not be used in isolation from the figures for a run of years.
Source:
ONS Labour Force Survey

8 Dec 2004 : Column 534W

	1997
	Number of economically inactive people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁵⁾ (000s)	Inactivity rate for people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁶⁾ (%)	Number of people in employment aged 65 years and over⁽⁷⁾ (000s)
North East	147	42.0	22

Darlington UA	3	24.7	⁽⁸⁾—
Durham UA	31	42.7	4
Gateshead	11	40.7	2
Hartlepool UA	6	44.4	1
Middlesbrough UA9	55.9	⁽⁸⁾—
Newcastle upon Tyne13	41.1	3
North Tyneside	9	32.5	⁽⁸⁾—
Northumberland	16	37.5	5
Redcar and Cleveland UA10	44.1	1
South Tyneside	8	44.5	2
Stockton-on-Tees UA9	41.7	1
Sunderland	19	51.1	1

	1998
	Number of economically inactive people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁵⁾ (000s)	Inactivity rate for people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁶⁾ (%)	Number of people in employment aged 65 years and over⁽⁷⁾ (000s)
North East	153	42.7	19

Darlington UA	5	38.3	⁽⁸⁾—
Durham UA	32	44.5	4
Gateshead	12	40.4	2
Hartlepool UA	5	42.3	1
Middlesbrough UA8	42.1	⁽⁸⁾—
Newcastle upon Tyne15	42.2	3
North Tyneside	10	38.6	1
Northumberland	20	42.9	4
Redcar and Cleveland UA11	43.9	⁽⁸⁾—
South Tyneside	7	35.2	1
Stockton-on-Tees UA9	37.1	1
Sunderland	20	51.6	1

	1999
	Number of economically inactive people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁵⁾ (000s)	Inactivity rate for people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁶⁾ (%)	Number of people in employment aged 65 years and over⁽⁷⁾ (000s)
North East	157	42.9	21

Darlington UA	5	33.1	⁽⁸⁾—
Durham UA	33	43.6	6
Gateshead	12	42.8	1
Hartlepool UA	5	41.1	⁽⁸⁾—
Middlesbrough UA7	36.5	2
Newcastle upon Tyne10	33.9	3
North Tyneside	12	38.1	1
Northumberland	19	40.3	4
Redcar and Cleveland UA12	56.4	⁽⁸⁾—
South Tyneside	9	44.3	1
Stockton-on-Tees UA11	42.0	⁽⁸⁾—
Sunderland	22	55.0	1

	2000
	Number of economically inactive people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁵⁾ (000s)	Inactivity rate for people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁶⁾ (%)	Number of people in employment aged 65 years and over⁽⁷⁾ (000s)
North East	156	41.9	24

Darlington UA	7	38.6	2
Durham UA	29	40.3	6
Gateshead	13	42.4	1
Hartlepool UA	5	37.8	⁽⁸⁾—
Middlesbrough UA7	33.6	1
Newcastle upon Tyne7	26.2	2
North Tyneside	12	35.5	2
Northumberland	22	43.6	5
Redcar and Cleveland UA13	59.3	1
South Tyneside	10	43.8	2
Stockton-on-Tees UA10	43.8	⁽⁸⁾—
Sunderland	22	52.1	3

	2001
	Number of economically inactive people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁵⁾ (000s)	Inactivity rate for people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁶⁾ (%)	Number of people in employment aged 65 years and over⁽⁷⁾ (000s)
North East	150	39.8	23

Darlington UA	5	34.6	1
Durham UA	31	40.1	4
Gateshead	11	37.0	1
Hartlepool UA6	47.7	1
Middlesbrough UA8	44.3	1
Newcastle upon Tyne10	33.7	2
North Tyneside10	35.1	2
Northumberland	19	37.1	4
Redcar and Cleveland UA10	44.4	1
South Tyneside10	45.2	1
Stockton-on-Tees UA10	36.9	1
Sunderland	20	46.0	2

	2002
	Number of economically inactive people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁵⁾ (000s)	Inactivity rate for people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁶⁾ (%)	Number of people in employment aged 65 years and over⁽⁷⁾ (000s)
North East	151	39.5	21

Darlington UA5	36.0	1
Durham UA	33	40.0	4
Gateshead	10	33.1	1
Hartlepool UA5	43.6	1
Middlesbrough UA8	43.1	1
Newcastle upon Tyne12	36.2	2
North Tyneside10	33.5	1
Northumberland	19	37.7	4
Redcar and Cleveland UA10	42.7	1
South Tyneside9	43.7	1
Stockton-on-Tees UA11	39.1	1
Sunderland	19	46.8	2

	2003
	Number of economically inactive people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁵⁾ (000s)	Inactivity rate for people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁶⁾ (%)	Number of people in employment aged 65 years and over⁽⁷⁾ (000s)
North East	151	39.1	20
Darlington UA6	37.0	1
Durham UA	35	43.7	3
Gateshead	11	38.4	1
Hartlepool UA7	47.2	1
Middlesbrough UA8	46.7	1
Newcastle upon Tyne14	41.3	2
North Tyneside10	33.5	1
Northumberland	16	30.3	4
Redcar and Cleveland UA9	40.9	1
South Tyneside9	43.6	1
Stockton-on-Tees UA9	33.2	1
Sunderland	17	39.7	2

	2004
	Number of economically inactive people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁵⁾ (000s)	Inactivity rate for people aged 50 to 64 years⁽⁶⁾ (%)	Number of people in employment aged 65 years and over⁽⁷⁾ (000s)
North East	149	38.4	23

Darlington UA5	35.6	1
Durham UA	34	41.1	4
Gateshead	11	40.0	2
Hartlepool UA6	42.8	1
Middlesbrough UA7	39.6	1
Newcastle upon Tyne14	40.3	3
North Tyneside10	35.1	1
Northumberland	15	28.8	4
Redcar and Cleveland UA10	43.5	1
South Tyneside10	42.6	1
Stockton-on-Tees UA9	34.3	1
Sunderland	18	41.8	3

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the employment rate is of women in couples where the woman's partner (a) does not work and (b) does work. [203166]

Mr. Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. David Willetts, dated 8 December 2004:

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about employment. I am replying in his absence. (203166)

Among couples who were both of working age (i.e. men aged 16 to 64 and women aged 16 to 59) the employment rates for the female partners were: (a) 42.3% for those whose male partner was not in employment; and (b) 79.4 % for those whose male partner was in employment.

These estimates come from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and apply to the three months ending May 2004. As with any statistical sample survey the LFS estimates are subject to sampling error.

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