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UK Households
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of UK households were headed by (a) couples and (b) married couples, in each year from 1979–80 to 2004–05; what the estimated figures are for 2005–06; and if he will make a statement. [822]
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. David Laws, dated 6 June 2005:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about households in the United Kingdom (UK). I am replying in his absence. (822)
The attached table gives the proportion of households in the UK who were headed by couples and married couples for the three months ending May of each year from 1992 to 2004, the latest period for which information is available. Comparable information is not available for earlier years. These figures are taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS).
As with any statistical sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to sampling variability. Comparable projections for 2005–06 for the UK are not available. However, projected figures for 2006 for England are available from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. These show projections for 2006, based on 1996 data, of 54.2 per cent. of households headed by couples and 50.5 per cent. of households headed by married couples.
As the data from the Labour Force Survey and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are produced using separate sources, they are not directly comparable.
(13)Couples in households as a percentage of all households in the UK.
(14)Married couples in households as a percentage of all households in the UK.
Source:
ONS Labour Force Survey
UK Presidency (EU)
Kate Hoey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what communication activities are planned in relation to the policy areas covered by his Department during the UK Presidency of the EU; and what budget has been allocated for these activities. [1642]
John Healey: The external communications activity for the Presidency is being co-ordinated centrally by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Any EU Presidency media activities will be covered within the Treasury's existing budget and no additional funding will be allocated.
ELECTORAL COMMISSION
Regional Government Referendums
Mr. Davidson:
To ask the hon. Member representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission (1) whether the Commission has reported to the Government on the conduct of the referendum on the north-east regional assembly; [1222]
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(2) whether a Government response to the Commission's report on the conduct of the referendum on the north-east regional assembly is expected. [2054]
Peter Viggers: I have been asked to reply.
The Chairman of the Electoral Commission informs me that the Commission intends to publish the reports required by section 5 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 in relation to the administration of the referendum on the north-east regional assembly by autumn 2005. It will then be for the Government to respond as they consider appropriate.
CABINET OFFICE
Downing Street (Refurbishment)
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans there are to refurbish Numbers (a) 10 and (b) 11 Downing street; and if he will make a statement. [1309]
Mr. Hutton: There have been no major works on any of these buildings since 1963. Officials are considering options to bring services and accommodation within the Cabinet Office estate to a modern standard. Any proposals considered will be in line with the listed status of the buildings. No final decisions have been made.
EU Legislation
Mr. Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list EU directives and regulations that the British Government is seeking (a) to repeal and (b) to amend in the pursuit of its policy of deregulation. [1899]
Mr. Hutton: As part of the '6-Presidency' initiative on better regulation in Europe, the UK Government have been working closely with other member states to bring forward proposals for simplification of EU law. A priority list of 15 measures was submitted to the Commission by the Competitiveness Council in November 2004. I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library today.
Regulatory reform will also be high priority for the UK Presidency of the EU in the second half of this year. The Government will be working closely with the Commission and other member states to ensure that the Commission delivers an effective package of further proposals for simplification of existing legislation—including repeal or amendment of legislation which is disproportionately burdensome for citizens and business—later in the year. As a first step, following its Communication Better Regulation for Growth and Jobs" adopted on 16 March 2005, the Commission has asked member states for suggestions of which specific legislation would benefit most from simplification. Cabinet Office officials are currently consulting Government Departments, as well as external stakeholders, to identify suitable candidates which the UK will propose.
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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Animal Testing
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance his Department is giving to research bodies to encourage them to use scientific research techniques which do not involve animals for risk assessments on chemicals; and if he will make a statement. [674]
Mr. Morley: I have been asked to reply.
Risk assessments on chemicals are carried out according to EU and UK regulatory requirements to provide the necessary data for the protection of human health and the environment. There is currently a legal requirement to use animals for some testing where there is no other method for producing the data. The Government are keen to keep animal testing to a minimum and supports the development of alternative methods which, once properly validated, may be accepted as part of the regulatory system. My Department is supporting the development of alternative methods and strategies that will lead to the reduced use of animals in chemical assessment programmes and is hosting a workshop on this topic in June.
The Government through the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) fund the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs). The Centre provides a UK focus for the development, promotion and implementation of the 3 Rs in biological and biomedical research in academia and industry.
Bankruptcies
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) personal and (b) company bankruptcies in (i) Greater London and (ii) each London borough there were in each of the last three years for which figures are available; what assessment he has made of recent trends; and if he will make a statement. [1564]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The following table records the numbers of individual bankruptcy orders and company compulsory liquidations in the London region classified according to Official Receivers' Office from 2002 to 2004.
Figures are not separately available for Greater London and each London borough.
| Annual totals | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | |
| Bankruptcy orders | 1,457 | 1,933 | 4,246 |
| Company Compulsory Liquidations | 1,147 | 864 | 1,114 |
(15)The 2004 London figure includes Public Interest Unit (PIU) and Carousel, which together amount to 15 bankruptcies and 120 company compulsory liquidations
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