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7 Nov 2005 : Column 89W—continued
Grant-in-Aid
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much grant-in-aid the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and its predecessors spent as a percentage of gross domestic product in each year since 1993; and if he will make a statement. [24115]
Mr. Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
I am unable to provide the exact data sought: accruals based expenditure data has only been available since 1999–2000. The following table sets out the Department's expenditure in each financial year since then as a percentage of GDP.
| DCMS Expenditure (£ millions) | Percentage of GDP | |
|---|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 1,098 | 0.12 |
| 2000–01 | 1,135 | 0.12 |
| 2001–02 | 1,112 | 0.11 |
| 2002–03 | 1,305 | 0.12 |
| 2003–04 | 1,434 | 0.13 |
| 2004–05 | 1,502 | 0.13 |
Hemel Hempstead
Mike Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of youth unemployment has been in Hemel Hempstead constituency in each of the last five years. [25821]
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. Michael Penning, dated 7 November 2005:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about youth unemployment. I am replying in her absence. (25821)
Table 1, attached, shows the total numbers of unemployed young people aged 16 to 24 who were resident in the Hemel Hempstead Parliamentary Constituency. The table covers the 12 month periods ending in February each year from 2001 to 2004 and the 12 month period ending in March 2005. These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to sampling variability. Changes in the estimates from year to year should be treated with particular caution.
The Office for National Statistics also compiles statistics for local areas of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). Table 2, attached, shows the annual average number of JSA claimants, aged 18 to 24, resident in the Hemel Hempstead constituency for 2000 to 2004.
(33) Disclosive (sample size less than three).
Note:
The estimates for local areas are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a very high degree of sampling variability. Changes from year to year, especially, should be treated with caution.
Source:
Annual local area Labour Force Survey; Annual Population Survey
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| Number | |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 165 |
| 2001 | 160 |
| 2002 | 215 |
| 2003 | 265 |
| 2004 | 275 |
Note:
1. Computerised claims only.
2. Data rounded to nearest 5 for disclosure control.
Source:
Jobcentre Plus Administrative system
Revenue and Customs
Tim Farron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for the future provision of HM Revenue and Customs customer service offices in Cumbria. [25193]
Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs is preparing business plans to meet its efficiency savings for 2005–08. HMRC have more than 600 offices and there is a constant backdrop of change arising from leases ending and other circumstances beyond their or their estate suppliers control, such as compulsory purchase.
Although there will be changes to some HMRC offices the Department will continue to recognise its Public Service Agreement objectives to improve customer experience, support business and reduce the compliance burden and will continue to provide a face-to-face service to customers for whom it is the most appropriate form of contact.
Illegal Fuel (Northern Ireland)
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money HM Revenue and Customs received through fines and enforcement orders directly related to the illegal use of fuel in motor vehicles in Northern Ireland in 2004–05. [24146]
John Healey: HM Revenue and Customs does not receive any revenue in connection to fines issued by a court. In 2004–05 there were two fines imposed by the court directly related to the illegal use of fuel totalling £5,000.
In addition HM Revenue and Customs collected on behalf of the Exchequer a total of £354,893 in respect of civil penalties in relation to vehicles seized.
Irish People
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in each ward, of each county, described themselves as Irish in the 2001 census. [25600]
7 Nov 2005 : Column 91W
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. Chris Ruane, dated 7 November 2005:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in each (a) county and (b) ward, broken down by county described themselves as Irish in the 2001 Census. I am replying in her absence. (25600)
The number of people who described their ethnicity to be Irish, broken down by both ward and county, is available in table KS06 on the CD supplement to the Key Statistics for local authorities in England and Wales, which is available in the House of Commons Library.
Lisbon Goals
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of progress towards the Lisbon goals for European economic reform. [24308]
John Healey: In Growth and Opportunity: Prioritising Economic Reform in Europe" (HM Treasury, February 2005) the Government set out their assessment of the Lisbon strategy. While some progress has been made, concerted action is still needed to increase employment and productivity in Europe.
In particular, to meet the Lisbon target of 70 per cent. employment by 2010, 23 million more Europeans will need to find work. This necessitates a comprehensive programme of reform to improve levels of skills in the labour force and to facilitate greater adaptability to change.
In addition, US productivity levels remain substantially above those in the EU. Tackling this requires further structural reform to enhance product market competition in Europe and to create the right climate for enterprise and innovation to flourish.
A further assessment of the structural economic challenges facing Europe was set out in Global Europe: Full Employment Europe" published by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in October 2005 available at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/international_ issues/eu_presidency_2005/eu_presidency_2005_index.cfm
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to use the UK's presidency of the European Union to achieve progress towards the Lisbon goals for European economic reform. [24309]
John Healey: As set out in the Work Programme of the Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN) Council, a key priority for the UK presidency of the European Union is to build
prosperous, dynamic European economies through implementation of the new Lisbon Agenda to deliver sustainable growth and high employment".
At an Informal ECOFIN Council on 10 September in Manchester, Ministers and the European Commission agreed on the need for urgent action—at the European level and nationally in the context of Lisbon National
7 Nov 2005 : Column 92W
Reform Programmes—to deliver growth and full employment for Europe in a global economy, including through:
modern social and labour market policies that match flexibility with fairness and equip citizens with the skills to succeed;
The Government is using its presidency to promote progress in all of these areas.
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