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10 Nov 2005 : Column 643W—continued
Minimum Wage
21. Mr. McGovern: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the merits of an extension of the minimum wage to 16 and 17-year-olds. [26743]
Dawn Primarolo: In its 2004 report, the Low Pay Commission proposed the introduction of a National Minimum Wage for 16 and 17-year-olds, at an hourly rate of £3.00 per hour. The Government accepted the Commission's recommendation and the Youth Rate was introduced in October 2004.
The Government agree with the Commission that the Youth Rate puts a stop to clear exploitation while neither encouraging young people out of education nor harming the supply of training places.
The Low Pay Commission are currently considering a range of matters in connection with the minimum wage, including the impact of the new rate for 16 and 17-year-olds workers, and we expect to receive their report in spring 2006.
Mr. Kemp: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses were found to be employing workers for less than the minimum wage in (a) Houghton and Washington East and (b) Sunderland city council area in each year since the minimum wage was introduced; and how many were (i)fined and (ii) forced to cease trading. [25514]
Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available.
National minimum wage statistical data are not held by reference to constituency or council areas.
City Academies
22. Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects a resolution satisfactory to city academies to be reached following the discussions between his Department and colleagues at the Department for Education and Skills. [26744]
John Healey: Discussions with the Department for Educations and Skills are on-going, including about the impact of the VAT rules on academies. The Government are also in discussion with academies about this issue.
Golden Rule
23. Mike Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce an independent monitoring system for the Golden Rule. [26745]
Mr. Des Browne:
Progress against the golden rule is measured by the average annual surplus on the current budget as a percentage of GDP since the cycle began. The independent Office for National Statistics produces
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the public finance and national accounts statistics on which this measurement is based. These statistics are subject to the same safeguards and quality control procedures that apply to all statistics produced within the National Statistics framework.
In addition, the Comptroller and Auditor General has been asked to audit the end date of the previous economic cycle and give us his view as to whether the judgment is reasonable and cautious.
Child Trust Fund Vouchers
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequerhow many child trust fund vouchers had been issued up to 30 September in West Lancashire; how many of these have been cashed; and if he will make a statement. [27747]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The information requested is available only at disproportionate cost. UK-wide information on the number of child trust fund vouchers issued and the number of accounts opened are published quarterly on the HMRC website at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/child_trust_funds/child-trust-funds.htm. The second set of quarterly figures was published on 31 August 2005.
Data showing activity to 20 November will be published on the 30 November 2005.
Childcare Vouchers
Margaret Moran: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the take-up rate of tax-free child care vouchers. [26105]
Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the cost of the new tax and national insurance contributions (NICs) exemption for employer supported child care were included in page6 of the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report" and Financial Statement and Budget Report 2004" 1 . Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs are monitoring the levels of take-up but the information is not yet available.
Document Terminology
Andrew Selous: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the use of the word spouse in official documents; if he will encourage the use of the term spouse/partner; and if he will make a statement. [24778]
Dawn Primarolo: For tax purposes, official documents and forms will continue to use the term spouse" where it already occurs. Following the start of the civil partnership scheme on the 5 December 2005 documents and forms will in due course include the term civil partner" to recognise this new relationship.
From 5 December, in line with the changes to tax credits legislation made by the Civil Partnership Act and consequential regulations, child and working tax credits forms and documents will refer to an extended definition of the term 'couple', including same-sex couples.
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Dormant Accounts
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the dates of meetings that have taken place between his officials and representatives of (a) banks and (b) building societies to discuss dormant accounts in the last two years; and if he will make a statement. [27609]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: HM Treasury meet regularly with representatives of banks and building societies to discuss this and other issues.
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in discussions between his officials and representatives of (a) banks and (b) building societies on dormant accounts; and if he will make a statement. [27654]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: As stated in the Budget 2005, HM Treasury is engaged in constructive discussions with the industry to take work on unclaimed assets forward. A report on progress will be made in due course.
Farming Industry (Suicides)
Mr. Steen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many suicides were recorded in the farming industry in each of the last five years. [26269]
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. Anthony Steen, dated 10 November 2005:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to answer your question asking how many suicides were recorded in the farming industry in each of the last five years. (26269)
The most recently available information is for deaths in 2004. Figures for deaths in farm workers or farm owners from suicide or injury or poisoning of undetermined intent are shown in the table for each year from 2000 to 2004.
(1)The cause of death for intentional self-harm was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (1CD-9) codes E950 to E959 for 2000, and for the years 2001 to 2004, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (1CD-10) codes X60-X84.
(2)The cause of death for injury or poisoning of undetermined intent was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (1CD-9) codes E980 to E989 excluding E988.8 for 2000, and, for the years 2001 to 2004, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (1CD-10) codes Y10-Y34 excluding Y33.9 where the coroner's verdict was pending.
(3)The occupation coded at death registration is the last gainful occupation of the deceased, as supplied by the informant who registers the death and is recorded for all persons aged 16 to 74. ONS Standard Occupation Classification 1990 (SOC90) was usedto code data for 2000, and ONS Standard Occupational Classification 2000 (SOC2K) was used to code data from 2001 to 2004.
(4)Data are for occurrences of death in each calendar year.
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