House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 17 Mar 2005 (pt 4)

17 Mar 2005 : Column 354W—continued

Paddington Hospital

Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has received the outline business case for the Paddington Basin Health Campus from the North West London strategic health authority. [222669]

Mr. Boateng: No.

Perpetual Annuity/Pension Payments

Mr. Mudie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether (a) annuities and (b) pensions are still paid from public funds to the descendants of any individuals who through particular public service were granted exceptional perpetual annuity or pension payments. [221921]

Mr. Timms: No such payments are made by the Treasury.

Productivity

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what indicators his Department uses to assess the productivity performance of the United Kingdom. [221803]

John Healey: The Government uses two headline measures in its assessment of the UK's productivity performance: HM Treasury estimates of underlying productivity growth in the UK over the economic cycle; and ONS International Comparisons of Productivity estimates.

These headline measures are supported by a set of intermediate indicators to highlight how the UK is performing relative to its major competitors on key dimensions of the drivers of productivity.

Details can be found in the technical note accompanying the Treasury's PSA target on productivity; in Productivity in the UK 5: Benchmarking UK productivity performance: A consultation on productivity indicators ¹ "; and Benchmarking UK productivity performance: The Government's response to the consultation on productivity indicators ² ";.

¹ http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/EFF/68/iulytechnicalnote 300704.pdf

² http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/consultations and legislation/productivity indicators/consult productivity indicators index.cfm

17 Mar 2005 : Column 355W

Tax Relief (Over-65s)

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what powers he has to provide tax relief to the over-65s on savings and earnings for those earning between £18,900 and £23,070. [222364]

Mr. Timms: Those over 65 are entitled to more generous personal allowances than those aged below 65, while those over 75 have a greater entitlement still.

In 2004 the personal allowances for all those aged 65 and over were increased in line with earnings by a provision in the Finance Act. The Chancellor announced his intention at last December's PBR of introducing a similar increase to the personal allowance for all those aged 65 and over in this year's Finance Bill.

This overrides the automatic increase which is made in line with prices for all personal allowances. The higher allowances for those aged 65 and over are reduced where their income is above a certain level. This level, £18,900 for 2004–05, is also increased automatically in line with prices.

In common with everyone else, those over 65 can withdraw funds from any ISAs they have tax free. Consequently, this does not affect their entitlement to age-related personal allowances.

17 Mar 2005 : Column 356W

Unemployment (Aberdeenshire)

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of unemployment was in Aberdeenshire unitary authority area in each year since 1999 broken down by age group. [222062]

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. Alex Salmond, dated 17 March 2005:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment in Aberdeenshire Unitary Authority. (222062)

Table 1 gives estimates of the levels of unemployed people resident in the Aberdeenshire Unitary Authority analysed by age group and covering twelve-month periods ending February each year from 1999 to 2004.

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

The Office for National Statistics also compiles statistics of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance. Table 2 gives, for each age group, the average number of people resident in the Aberdeenshire Unitary Authority who were claiming Jobseeker's Allowance benefits in each year from 1999 to 2004.

Table 1: Unemployed people resident in the Aberdeenshire unitary authority area by age

Age

12 months ending February All 16 and over 16–24 25–34 35–44 45–54 55 and over

1999 4,000 1,000 ⁽⁸⁾— 1,000 1,000 ⁽⁸⁾—

2000 5,000 2,000 1,000 2,000 ⁽⁸⁾— ⁽⁸⁾—

2001 4,000 2,000 1,000 ⁽⁸⁾— 1,000 1,000

2002 4,000 3,000 ⁽⁸⁾— 1,000 ⁽⁸⁾— ⁽⁸⁾—

2003 4,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 ⁽⁸⁾—

2004 5,000 2,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000

⁽⁸⁾ Estimates not given in order to protect respondent confidentiality.
Note:
These estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a high degree of sampling variability. Changes from year to year, especially, should be treated with caution.
Source:
ONS Labour Force Survey

Table 2: JSA claimants resident in the Aberdeenshire unitary authority area by age

Age

Annual averages All 18 and over 18–24 25–34 35–44 45–54 55 and over

1999 2,565 625 635 505 555 245

2000 2,565 635 640 490 540 260

2001 1,845 465 445 370 390 175

2002 1,725 465 390 330 365 175

2003 1,865 495 410 360 390 210

2004 1,890 525 410 355 380 220

Source:
Jobcentre Plus Administrative system

	Age
12 months ending February	All 16 and over	16–24	25–34	35–44	45–54	55 and over
1999	4,000	1,000	⁽⁸⁾—	1,000	1,000	⁽⁸⁾—
2000	5,000	2,000	1,000	2,000	⁽⁸⁾—	⁽⁸⁾—
2001	4,000	2,000	1,000	⁽⁸⁾—	1,000	1,000
2002	4,000	3,000	⁽⁸⁾—	1,000	⁽⁸⁾—	⁽⁸⁾—
2003	4,000	1,000	1,000	1,000	1,000	⁽⁸⁾—
2004	5,000	2,000	1,000	1,000	1,000	1,000

	Age
Annual averages	All 18 and over	18–24	25–34	35–44	45–54	55 and over
1999	2,565	625	635	505	555	245
2000	2,565	635	640	490	540	260
2001	1,845	465	445	370	390	175
2002	1,725	465	390	330	365	175
2003	1,865	495	410	360	390	210
2004	1,890	525	410	355	380	220

VAT (Electronic Publishing)

Charles Hendry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been raised through VAT on electronically published materials in each of the past 10 years. [222376]

Dawn Primarolo: VAT revenue figures are published by HM Customs and Excise in the VAT factsheet, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House and from Customs' website: http://www.uktradeinfo.com

HM Customs and Excise do not collect data on VAT from individual goods and services.

Charles Hendry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from (a) universities and (b) libraries with regard to the level of VAT levied on electronically published materials. [222377]

Dawn Primarolo: I am not aware that any Treasury Minister has received any representations from universities and libraries with regard to the level of VAT levied on electronically published materials in the last year.

17 Mar 2005 : Column 357W

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Pet Fairs

18. Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received regarding pet fairs; and if she will make a statement. [222457]

Mr. Bradshaw: I have received a considerable amount of correspondence both for and against the licensing of pet fairs under the proposed Animal Welfare Bill, and I am currently considering how best to take forward work on this issue.

Fallen Stock

19. Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the collection of fallen stock. [222459]

Mr. Bradshaw: The National Fallen Stock Scheme has been operating for just over three months and already has 25,000 members. While acknowledging there have been teething problems with collection of fallen stock in some parts of the country, the National Fallen Stock Company reports that it is pleased with the response and that the scheme is generally working well.

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