| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
27 Jan 2005 : Column 446W—continued
Public Spending
Mr. Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the total levels of spending on (a) the national health service, (b) education and (c) the criminal justice system in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest period for which figures are available. [211054]
Mr. Boateng: Total UK public spending on the national health service, education and criminal justice system, in 1997–98 and 2003–04, the latest outturn year, is shown as follows in real terms (2003–04 prices).
|
1997–98 (£ million) |
2003–04 (£ million) | Year-on-year real terms increase (percentage) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| National health service | 51,848 | 74,889 | 6.3 |
| Education | 43,391 | 59,489 | 5.4 |
| Criminal justice | 17,354 | 22,967 | 4.8 |
Source:
Based on National Statistics release of 2 December 2004 (Pn 99/04) and latest GDP from 23 December 2004.
Red Diesel
Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much red diesel was consumed in each month since the fuel duty rate provisions set in the 2003 Budget took effect; and if he will make a statement; [211399]
(2) how much red diesel has been consumed in each month since the introduction of new fuel duty rates on 1 September 2004; and if he will make a statement. [211400]
John Healey:
Hydrocarbon oils clearance figures are published by HM Customs and Excise in the Hydrocarbon Oils Bulletin, a copy of which can be found on the UK Trade Information website www.uktradeinfo.com.
27 Jan 2005 : Column 447W
Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what his target differential is between the prices of red diesel and road diesel; what further increases in duty levels he expects to make to meet this target; and when he expects that the target will be met; [211401]
(2) what assessment the Government have made of the impact of the recent rise in the duty on red diesel on (a) farmers, (b) the boating industry and (c) the plant industry; and if he will make a statement. [211402]
John Healey: Oils fraud has significant Exchequer costs. The narrowing of the duty differential is one component of a wider fraud strategy and there is no target rate. Decisions on duty rates are taken on a Budget-by-Budget basis by the Chancellor, who takes account of all relevant social, economic and environmental factors when deciding taxation policy. Decisions on duty rates will be set out in the Budget.
Unemployment
Mr. Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the level of unemployment has been lower in any year since 1975 than the current level of unemployment. [211009]
Mr. Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 27 January 2005:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about levels of unemployment since 1975. (211009)
Consistent series for unemployment since 1971, based on International Labour Organisation definitions, show that since 1975, unemployment has been lower than its current level of 1,400,000 on seven occasions. In date order, these were:
| Three months ending | Level |
|---|---|
| January 1976 | 1,343,000 |
| February 1976 | 1,363,000 |
| March 1976 | 1,379,000 |
| April 1976 | 1,392,000 |
| August 2004 | 1,387,000 |
| September 2004 | 1,380,000 |
| October 2004 | 1,388,000 |
Based on the same source, the unemployment rate has been lower than its current level of 4.7 per cent. on only one occasion. This was in the three months ending September 2004, when the rate was 4.6 per cent.
These estimates are based on the Labour Force Survey (LFS). Estimates from 1992 are taken directly from the LFS, whilst figures prior to 1992 are modelled estimates consistent with the post-1992 LFS data. The LFS is a sample survey and, as with any statistical sample survey, results are subject to sampling variability.
Unemployment (Nottingham)
Mr. Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were unemployed in the Nottingham, North constituency (a) in June 1997 and (b) on the last date for which figures are available; and how many of each were young people. [211013]
27 Jan 2005 : Column 448W
Mr. Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 27 January 2005:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about unemployment in the Nottingham North Parliamentary Constituency. (211013)
The attached table (1), gives estimates of the total number of unemployed people who were resident in the Nottingham North Parliamentary Constituency, for the twelve month periods ending February 1998 and February 2004, the most recent available period. The table also shows the number of those who were aged 16–24 years old.
These estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are, as with any statistical sample survey, subject to sampling variability.
The Office for National Statistics also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas. The attached table (2) gives the total number of claimants and those aged 18 to 24 years old, resident in the Nottingham North Constituency claiming JSA benefits in June 1997 and December 2004.
| 12 months ending February | Total (aged 16 and over) | Young people (aged 16–24) |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 6,000 | 2,000 |
| 2004 | 2,000 | (5)— |
(5) Estimates not shown as they are potentially disclosive.
Note:
Some of these estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a higher degree of sampling variability. They should therefore be treated with caution.
Source:
ONS Labour Force Survey.
| All claimants(6) | Young people claimants (aged 18–24)(6) | |
|---|---|---|
| June 1997 | 3,945 | 1,000 |
| December 2004 | 2,130 | 745 |
(6) Computerised claims only; not seasonally adjusted.
Source:
Jobcentre Plus Administrative system
VAT
Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised from VAT on (a) alcohol and (b) tobacco in each of the last five years. [211286]
John Healey: Tobacco and alcohol duty revenue figures are published by HM Customs and Excise in the Tobacco and alcohol fact sheets, copies of which are available in the Library of the House and from Customs' website at www.uktradeinfo.com
HM Customs and Excise do not collect data on VAT from individual goods or services.
TRANSPORT
Departmental Expenditure
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for
27 Jan 2005 : Column 449W
Transport 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. [202412]
Charlotte Atkins: For details of the cost of ministerial travel, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 10 January 2005, Official Report, columns 85–86W, by my hon. Friend, the Minister for the Cabinet Office.
The cost of taxis used by the Department in 2003 was £87,254.42, and in 2004 was £58,810.33. These figures refer to the central Department only, excluding the Agencies who do not record taxi costs separately. The information for the agencies could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
MOT
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the full rollout of the computerised MOT system began on 29 November 2004 as scheduled; what the projected date of completion of the rollout is; and if he will make a statement on (a) liability to penalties for delay to the rollout of the computerised MOT system incurred by Siemens Business Services (SBS) and (b) penalties issued to SBS by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency. [211087]
Mr. Jamieson: The MOT computerisation programme did not roll-out as scheduled on 29 November 2004. Following the first phase of trials at MOT stations, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and Siemens Business Services have agreed to make further changes to trials and roll-out plans before moving to the final phase of trials at MOT stations. Consequently, the new service will be trialled over a longer period (10 weeks) and installed at a larger number of sites (4,000) before moving to live running. VOSA has always made it clear that the system will only go live when it is satisfied that, in all respects, it will provide a robust and effective service. In this we have the garage trade's full support. The final phase of trials will start on 7 February 2005 and we expect the system to have been installed at all MOT garages by end October 2005.
Liability issues being discussed with Siemens Business Services are commercially confidential.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |