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20. Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the status of the Office for National Statistics as a Government agency. [1011]
John Healey: The Government established the current Framework for National Statistics, which became operational in 2000. The Government's overriding aim in introducing the Framework has been to assure the quality of official statistics, and ensure freedom from political interference in their compilation and presentation. The Government committed to review the operation of the Framework after five years.
21. Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the level of direct taxation on the state of the economy. [1012]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Since 1997 the Government have consistently delivered macro-economic stability with strong growth and low inflation, thus establishing a track record that has been internationally acknowledged. The Government's approach to taxation balances the need to finance better quality public services, promote sustainable development and economic activity and ensure a fair tax environment.
22. Chris McCafferty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with EU and other governments on the International Finance Facility for Immunisation. [1013]
Mr. Ivan Lewis:
The IFF for Immunisation (IFFIm) is a pilot for the UK's proposal for an IFF to raise an additional $50 billion a year in development aid to help
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developing countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The IFFIm will demonstrate the technical feasibility of the larger IFF and the significant benefits of frontloading aid, disbursing $4 billion to save an additional 5 million children's lives in the years to 2015.
The UK, France and Sweden have committed to participate in the IFFIm and Germany and Italy support the proposal. We will continue to engage with other countries within the G8, EU and UN in order to finalise and launch the IFFIm.
Angela Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he is making to achieve full employment in every region. [1006]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Government's measures to achieve full employment in every region are built on a platform of macro-economic stability, and include new deal, investment in skills and training, and policies to make work pay. These policies have seen over 2 million more people in work since 1997, a record employment level.
Mr. Heath:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the minimum fruit content is, expressed in
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percentage by volume, required for an alcoholic beverage to be treated as a cider or perry for the purposes of duty. [1158]
Dawn Primarolo: For the purposes of excise duty, cider and perry are defined as being of a strength exceeding 1.2 per cent. but less than 8.5 per cent. alcohol by volume, and obtained from the fermentation of apple or pear juice. HMRC also allow the addition of certain approved ingredients to impart colour or flavouring to the cider or perry.
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the percentage of people suffering from autism who are in employment; and if he will make a statement. [676]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Laurence Robertson, dated 26 May 2005:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the percentage of people suffering from autism who are in employment in the UK. I am replying in his absence. (676)
The attached table shows the information available relating to the health problems which were quoted by respondents to the Labour Force Survey, who were in employment, as affecting the work they do. The condition of autism is not specifically identified in the available data.
This estimate from the Labour Force Survey is, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability.
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter dated 9 March from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan regarding Form VAT 1Application for Registration. [1186]
Dawn Primarolo: I did so on 16 May.
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter, from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (a) dated 29 March regarding Inland Revenue penalties and (b) dated 5 April regarding small business tax burden. [1187]
Dawn Primarolo: I have done so.
Mr. Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many drug sniffer dogs are being (a) used at ports of entry into the UK and (b) trained. [1137]
Dawn Primarolo: As at 1 May 2005, there were 24 drug dogs in operation in HM Revenue and Customs at major ports of entry into the UK. All operational dogs are fully trained however at this present time there are no drugs dogs undergoing training.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many drug-related deaths there have been in (a) Wales and (b) England in each year since 2001. [1077]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Bill Wiggin, dated 26 May 2005:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many drug-related deaths there have been in (a) Wales and (b) England in each year since 2001. (1077)
Figures are readily available from death certification on deaths due to drug poisoning, not the total number that were drug-related. The most recent year for which figures are available is 2003. Numbers of deaths certified as due to drug poisoning for (a) Wales and (b) England in the three years 2001 to 2003 are given in the table below.
Figures are not readily available where death was indirectly related to the use of drugs, as the direct cause is generally selected as the underlying cause of death (e.g. HIV infection).
Calendar year | (a) Wales | (b) England |
---|---|---|
2001 | 175 | 2,699 |
2002 | 152 | 2,507 |
2003 | 147 | 2,288 |
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