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21 Oct 2005 : Column 1296W—continued
Departmental NDPBs
Mr. Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list those of his Department's advisory non-departmental public bodies which the Government are required (a) to consult prior to legislative proposals and (b) to publish advice from; [20135]
(2) which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base; which (a) publish their advice to Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament; and whether it is under a statutory requirement in each case; [20136]
(3) which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) hold public meetings, (b) conduct public consultation exercises, (c) conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests, (d) publish a register of members' interests, (e) publish agendas for meetings and (f) publish the minutes of meetings; and whether it is under a statutory requirement in each case. [20137]
John Healey: The Treasury consults a wide range of interest bodies, as appropriate, in the process of preparing its legislative proposals. Depending on the nature of the consultation, responses are normally made public, subject to any confidentiality considerations and the wishes of respondents.
Details relating to the Treasury's two advisory non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs)—the Statistics Commission and the Public Services Productivity Panel—are set out in the annual Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies", which can be accessed via: http://www.knowledgenetwork.gov.uk/ndpb/ndpb.nsf/0/04801FA2F8BF454480256E540049FF84?OpenDocument
The Statistics Commission was set up under the Framework for National Statistics in June 2000. It is a non-statutory body. It is independent of Ministers and the producers of National Statistics. Commissioners are appointed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in accordance with the Code of Practice published by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The Commission is chaired by Professor David Rhind.
Under the Commission's Financial Memorandum it is required to lay an annual report and audited accounts as a single document before Parliament.
Under the Framework the Commission has a duty to be open and transparent about everything it does. Minutes and agendas of its meetings, correspondence and evidence it receives and advice it gives are all published on the Commission's website at www.statscom.orq.uk. The commission also holds an open meeting once a year which is open to the public. A register of interests for commissioners is maintained on the commission's website. The commission consults widely in conducting its research.
Public Services Productivity Panel:
The Public Services Productivity Panel (PSPP) was established as part of the November 1998 pre-Budget report. The panel does not produce an annual report, but it has published a number of reports around themes
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of public services productivity, which are accessible via the Treasury's website: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/public_spending_and_services/public_ services_productivity_panel/pss_psp_bckgrd.cfm
The PSPP does not hold public meetings, and meeting agendas and minutes are not published. It consults as appropriate in the course of carrying out its work.
Upon appointment, all PSPP members are expected to declare any personal or business interest which may, or may be perceived (by a reasonable member of the public) to influence their judgment. A register of such interests is kept up to date by the secretary to the panel and can be accessed via: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/Documents/Public_Spending_and_ Services/Public_Services_productivity_Panel/pss_psp_ register.cfm
Departmental Spending
Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of Government expenditure has been allocated to each Government department, in each year from 1997; and what the outturn percentage of total spending for each Department was in each year. [20581]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Details of Government expenditure are published annually in the Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis. This publication, which is available in the Library of the House, includes a breakdown by Department of both planned and outturn expenditure.
Employment Levels
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) public and (b) private sector employment levels were on 1 January of each year since 2000; and what estimate he has made of private sector employment generated directly by work for the public sector in each year. [17665]
John Healey: Data on public and private employment levels since 2000 can be found in Table 5 of the National Statistics quarterly publication, "Public Sector Employment First Release", published on the ONS website.
There are no reliable estimates of private sector employment generated by public sector because surveys of departments ask for information on employment levels but not on employment by private sector firms under their remits. Similarly, data on public and private sector employment published by the Labour Force Survey ask respondents to classify themselves as working in the public sector or private sector but does not ask whether they are working for private firms in the public sector.
Endowment Mis-selling
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when (a) he and (b) his officials last met the Financial Services Authority to discuss compensation for those who were mis-sold endowment policies. [20039]
Mr. Ivan Lewis:
The Treasury has regular discussions with the FSA covering a range of matters.
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Mr. Holloway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the advice the Financial Services Authority offers those wanting to pursue a claim for the mis-selling of endowment mortgages. [20040]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) factsheet "Endowment mortgage complaints" has been produced and distributed since October 2000 and has been regularly updated. The FSA also produces a more detailed guide to making a complaint, which includes an example of how to write a complaint letter. Consumer awareness campaigns have backed this up.
Millions of the FSA's mortgage endowment fact sheets have been distributed by firms or requested by consumers. And the consumer communications campaign has resulted in high levels of awareness as evidenced in the FSA's 2002 Consumer Research (Paper 16) where 99 per cent. of consumers recalled receiving re-projection letters, enclosing FSA fact sheets.
FSA's latest research results (published in July 2005) indicate that 48 per cent. of households facing a shortfall have restructured their mortgage, savings or endowment. And around 21 per cent. of those facing a shortfall have complained or taken advice. FSA records show that at the end of 2004 around £1.1 billion had been paid in redress.
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the way compensation for the mis-selling of endowment mortgages is calculated. [20041]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The FSA has consulted on the Mortgage Endowment Complaints Guidance set out in its Rulebook. This was issued in 2001. The FSA wrote to firms in 2002 and December 2004 to remind firms of their requirement to deal with mortgage endowment complaints fairly and consistently. The FSA has also produced a factsheet on compensation for consumers, which we understand firms are starting to send out with their final response letters.
Family Statistics
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of children lived in (a) single parent families and (b) two parent families where the parents were married, in each year since 1976; and if he will make a statement. [20020]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. David Laws, dated 21 October 2005:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question on the proportion of dependent children living in (a) lone parent families and (b) married couple families since 1976. (20020)
Estimates of the percentage of dependent children living in Britain by different family types of the years available are shown in the attached table.
(20) Dependent children are those aged under 16 or aged 16 to 18 who are never-married and in full-time education.
(21) Split of married and cohabiting couples not available. Figures for 1976 are not available.
Note:
percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding
Sources:
Pre 1992 General Household Survey (Great Britain), 1992–2005 Labour Force Survey (United Kingdom)
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