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Regional Gross Domestic Product
David Maclean:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make a statement on Office for National Statistics regional gross domestic product statistics; and what the differences are between the methods used by the Office for National Statistics to calculate regional gross domestic product statistics and the methods used in other European Union countries; [6116]
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(2) what assessment he has made of the effect of the differences between the methods used by the Office for National Statistics to calculate regional gross domestic product statistics and the methods used in other European Union countries on the allocation of European regional aid funds to disadvantaged areas of the United Kingdom. [6126]
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. David Maclean, dated 27 June 2005:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about Office for National Statistics (ONS) regional gross domestic product statistics and the differences between the methods used by ONS to produce these and the methods used in other European Union countries. (6116 & 6126)
ONS published gross value added (GVA) NUTS 1 to 2003, and NUTS 2 and 3 to 2002, in December 2004. A guide to ONS methods for calculating regional GDP is available on the ONS website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/economic_trends/UK_Regional_GDP_methodological_guide.pdf.
Additional resources and a move into National Accounts Group have contributed to significant improvement to the quality assurance processes of regional economic statistics since the withdrawal of estimates in December 2002. Emphasis is on ensuring the quality of data inputs and there is a no risk strategy in place to generate confidence in regional economic statistics outputs.
ONS have not carried out a comparison between methodologies used to calculate regional gross domestic product statistics in European Countries. As a result, an assessment on the allocation of European regional aid funds to disadvantaged areas in the United Kingdom has not been produced.
David Maclean: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that the treatment of (a) extra-regio gross domestic product and (b) financial and investment services in Eurostat statistics for regional gross domestic product do not disadvantage UK regions with regard to the allocation of European regional aid funds. [6125]
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. David Maclean, dated 27 June 2005:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on what steps are being taken to ensure that the treatment of (a) extra-regio gross domestic product and (b) financial and investment services in Eurostat statistics do not disadvantage UK regions with regard to the allocation of European regional aid funds. (6125)
My responsibility is to ensure that proper statistical processes are followed, and that the statistics are the best that can be devised. To this end I have written to the Director General of Eurostat (MrHanreich) twice this year to express my concern at the approach adopted in the calculation of Regional GDP per capita. I have questioned the treatment of both Extra-Regio and FISIM (Financial Intermediation Services Indirectly Measured).
Scottish Currency
Mr. McGovern: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance he provides to businesses in England on the legality of Scottish currency. [7257]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Treasury provides no guidance to businesses in England about the legality of Scottish banknotes.
Strychnine Hydrochloride
David Maclean: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it will be possible to import strychnine hydrochloride into the UK for use in the destruction of moles after 1 September 2006. [6275]
Jim Knight: I have to been asked to reply.
For strychnine hydrochloride to be used in the UK to control moles it first requires a specific authorisation for that purpose under either the Plant Protection Products Directive (91/414/EEC) or the Biocidal Products Directive (98/8/EC). The requirement for a specific authorisation for use applies irrespective of the origin of the strychnine hydrochloride.
Sustainability
Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons his Department is seeking to change the accepted definition of sustainability to stress the economic arm above the environmental dimension. [7302]
John Healey: The Treasury is not seeking to change the accepted definition of sustainable development.
The June European Council reiterated its attachment to sustainable development as a key principle governing all the Union's policies and activities. Within this context, and as agreed at spring European Council, it is vital that the Lisbon strategy be relaunched without delay and with priorities refocused on growth and employment.
Tax Credits
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the oral statement by the Paymaster General of 22 June 2005, Official Report, columns 801–14, on tax credit overpayments; (1) if he will take steps to improve the operation of the tax credit offices; [7413]
(2) if he will (a) undertake an investigation into the workings of the tax credits offices and (b) appoint an official with overall responsibility for tax credits; and if he will make a statement. [7414]
Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement I made to the House on 26 May 2005, Official Report, columns 22–23WS and the oral statement I made to the House on 22 June 2005, Official Report, columns 801–14.
Mrs. Maria Miller:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been in receipt of an incorrect level of tax credit in Basingstoke; how many of
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these could not reasonably have been expected to know that a mistake had been made; and if he will make a statement. [7325]
Dawn Primarolo: The number of tax credit awards for families living in Basingstoke that have been affected by official error are not available.
Underage Pregnancy and Abortion
Mr. Hancock: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many girls in Portsmouth aged under 17 years (a) gave birth and (b) had abortions, in each of the last five years, broken down by age group. [6332]
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. Mike Hancock, dated 27 June 2005:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary asking how many girls in Portsmouth aged under 17 years (a) gave birth and (b) had abortions in each of the last five years. (6332)
The maternity data given in the Table 1, attached below, for each of the years between 1999 and 2004 are for girls who gave birth aged under 17, and who were resident in Portsmouth Unitary Authority at the time of the event. Abortions figures are only available for the larger Health Authority area for 1999–2001 prevailing at the time and only for under 18 for Portsmouth UA in 2002. These figures, along with their equivalents for maternities are shown in Table 2.
Due to the possibility of individuals being identified, a further breakdown by age cannot be provided.
| Number of maternities | |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 22 |
| 2000 | 11 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2002 | 25 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2004 | 19 |
Source:
Office for National Statistics
n/a = Not available.
(15)Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority
(16)Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and South East Hampshire Health Authority
(17)Portsmouth UA
Sources:
Maternities Office for National Statistics
Abortions Department of Health
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