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5 Dec 2005 : Column 917W—continued
Treasury Silver
Mike Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated value is of the Treasury silver; and what additions have been made to that silver since May 1997. [33740]
John Healey:
The value of the Treasury silver is £1,320,650. This was valued by Bonhams auctioneers at 31 March 2005 and is reported in HM Treasury's Resource Accounts 2004–05. No additions have been
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made to this silver since May 1997. The silver items are either stored at the Bank of England for safekeeping, or on display at 10 Downing street and the Cabinet Office.
Unemployment (Tamworth)
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the registered unemployed in Tamworth constituency were (a) 25 years and under, (b) 26 to 35 years, (c) 36 to 45 years, (d) 46 to 55 years and (e) over 55 years of age on the latest dates for which figures are available. [33809]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 5 December 2005:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment. (33809)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for small areas from the Annual Population Survey following International Labour Organisation definitions.
Table 1 shows the percentage of unemployed, by specified age groups, who were resident in the Tamworth Parliamentary Constituency for the 12 month period ending in March 2005. These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to sampling variability.
ONS also compiles statistics for local areas of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). Table 2 shows the percentage of JSA claimants, by age bands, resident in the Tamworth constituency for October 2005.
(7)Estimate not available, sample size less than three could be disclosive.
Source:
Annual Population Survey
Source:
Jobcentre Plus Administrative system
Work Force Statistics
Mr. Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total estimated work force was in (a) Southend, (b) Essex, (c) Hertfordshire, (d) Greater London and (e) England and Wales in each of the last 10 years. [33654]
John Healey:
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
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Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 5 December 2005:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about employment. (33654)
The attached table shows, for the last 10 years, the estimated numbers of persons aged 16 and over in employment who were resident in Southend-on-Sea Unitary Authority, Essex (excluding Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock unitary authorities), Hertfordshire, Greater London and England and Wales. These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to sampling variability.
(8)Note that Essex excludes Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock unitary authorities.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Agricultural Levy Board
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people are employed, by full-time equivalents, by each agricultural levy board. [32304]
Mr. Bradshaw: The number of people employed, by full-time equivalent, for the five statutory agriculture and horticultural levy boards are: 51 in the British Potato Council; 61 in the Home-Grown Cereals Authority; 15 in the Horticultural Development Council; 47 in the Milk Development Council; and 565 (of which 115 are funded by the statutory levy) in the Meat and Livestock Commission.
Animal Exhibitions
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State forEnvironment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2005, Official Report, column 1830W, on animal exhibitions, how many applications were (a) applied for, (b) granted and (c) refused in the most recent year for which figures are available. [33752]
Jim Knight:
Exemptions from the provisions of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 (as amended), and hence from Directive 1999/22/EC, may be granted under section 14(1)(a) of the 1981 Act. Figures on applications to the Department for such exemptions are provided below for the most recent 12 month period for which they are available (1 November 2004 to 31 October 2005).
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In answer to point (a), nine applications for exemptions under section 14(1)(a) of the 1981 Act have been determined. A further eight such applications have been received and are in the process of being determined.
In answer to point (b), five exemptions were granted.
In answer to point (c), four applications for exemptions were refused. Of these, the Department has recommended that three are suitable for a section 14(2) dispensation and one is suitable for a section 14(1)(b) dispensation. These dispensation provisions retain the requirement for the establishment concerned to be licensed under the 1981 Act but provide for reduced regulatory requirements.
Animal Welfare Bill
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will redefine (a) decapod crustaceans and (b) cephalopods as animals to be included in the provisions of the Animal Welfare Bill. [30913]
Mr. Bradshaw: The definition of an animal for the purposes of the Animal Welfare Bill is limited to non-human vertebrates. This restriction to vertebrates is made on the basis that there is currently insufficient evidence to show conclusively that other types of animals, such as lobsters/crabs/squids", have the capacity for conscious awareness; a prerequisite for experiencing pain and suffering. However, there are powers within the Bill to extend the definition if future scientific evidence demonstrated that such animals can in fact experience pain and suffering.
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely effect of the Animal Welfare Bill on the licensing of pet fairs and markets. [33628]
Mr. Bradshaw: Our assessment on the effect of our proposal to license pet fairs is detailed in the regulatory impact assessment (RIA), which was published alongside the Animal Welfare Bill. The RIA was informed by a public consultation on our animal welfare legislation and meetings with a wide range of organisations with an interest in animal welfare. We have also recently been in contact with interested parties, both for and against the licensing of pet fairs, in order to assist in the preparation of our proposals on these events. Once the Bill has been enacted, we plan to draw up regulations on pet vending, including pet fairs, and these proposed regulations will be subject to full public consultation.
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