House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 19 Jan 2006 (pt 12)

19 Jan 2006 : Column 1484W—continued

Unlicensed Taxis

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of unlicensed taxis operating in (a) England and (b) Leeds North West. [43376]

Ms Buck: We have made no estimate of the extent of unlicensed taxi operation either in England as a whole or in particular local areas. However, relevant data is held by the Court Proceedings Database of the Office for Criminal Justice Reform.

Taxis in England must be licensed by the relevant local authority under the Town Police Clauses Act 1847. Individuals who attempt to provide a taxi service without being properly licensed normally do so by contravening section 45 of the 1847 Act by illegally plying for hire or section 167 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 by touting.

The Court Proceedings Database shows the numbers of offenders found guilty of offences under the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 (wider than just illegal plying for hire) and s167 of the 1994 Act are as follows; these data are provided on the principal offence basis.

In 2004, 215 people were found guilty of offences under sections40–68 of the 1847 Act in England; 16 people were found guilty of these offences in the West Yorkshire Police Force Area.

In 2004, 311 people were found guilty of offences under s167 of the 1994 Act in England; none of these offences were in the West Yorkshire Police Force Area.

Vehicle Testing

Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what basis he deems it necessary for private motor vehicles to be tested annually once they are over three-years-old; if he will assess the merits of extending the period between tests beyond 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [41979]

19 Jan 2006 : Column 1485W

Dr. Ladyman [holding answer 16 January 2006]: The primary purpose of the MOT test is to help safeguard against unroadworthy vehicles being used on the road. The average failure rate at annual test is, and has been for many years, around 30 per cent. for cars (equating to 6,752,700 cars), 35 per cent. for light goods (about 173,250 light goods vehicles between 3 and 3.5 tonnes) and 20 per cent. for motorcycles (about 149,000 motorcycles). The failure rate for cars undergoing their first MOT since their initial registration is around 16 per cent. (and equates to 375,000 vehicles). This reflects mainly items prone to wearing such as brake pads and tyres, which high mileage drivers who fail to check their vehicles regularly can easily overlook.

The current frequency of the test represents a reasonable balance between the cost to the motoring public and the risk to road safety of allowing defective vehicles to go undetected. However Ministers keep this under review.

TREASURY

Audible Fire Alarms

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the premises occupied by his Department is fitted with audible fire alarms. [42869]

John Healey: 100 per cent.

Carers

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of the inclusion of carers allowance recipients in the tax credit system. [41227]

Dawn Primarolo: Carer's allowance recipients are not excluded from the tax credits system. Carer's allowance recipients who meet the appropriate qualifying conditions are eligible for child tax credit and working tax credit. Information on the current cost of paying tax credits to carer's allowance recipients is not available because we do not separately collect information on tax credits paid to recipients of carer's allowance.

Charities

Dr. Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times HM Revenue and Customs audited the accounts of charitable organisations in each of the last five years. [43669]

19 Jan 2006 : Column 1486W

Dawn Primarolo: The number of audits and enquiries in relation to Gift Aid tax repayment claims and charity tax returns is shown in the table as follows. Information is only available from 2001–02.

Number of audits/inquiries

2001–02 ⁽¹⁶⁾828

2002–03 813

2003–04 884

2004–05 908

⁽¹⁶⁾This does not include inquiries made in relation to Scottish charities, for which no record is available for 2001–02.
Note:
Figures do not include inquiries raised in respect of any subsidiary trading companies.

	Number of audits/inquiries
2001–02	⁽¹⁶⁾828
2002–03	813
2003–04	884
2004–05	908

Child Care Costs (Tax Exemption)

Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many firms have claimed a tax exemption on the first £50 a week of child care costs since the introduction of the exemption. [43766]

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not currently available; Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs are currently assessing and monitoring the impact of the tax and national insurance contributions exemptions for employer supported child care.

Child Trust Fund

Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Child Trust Fund vouchers have been issued to families in Tamworth constituency to date. [43460]

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 1 December 2005, Official Report, column 658W, to the hon. Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire, North (Jim Sheridan).

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff (a) from the Valuation Office Agency, (b) HM Revenue and Customs and (c) his Department will attend the (i) Mass Appraisal Valuation Symposium in Vancouver on 6–7 February, (ii) Integrating GIS and CAMA Conference in Orlando, Florida on 19 to 22 February and (iii) International Property Tax Institute International Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in August; and what the total estimated cost to the public purse will be of attendance at each of the events. [42841]

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is as follows:

Number of staff attending

VOA HMRC HMT Estimated cost (£)

Event

Valuation Symposium Vancouver February 2006 1 0 0 1,000

GIS/CAMA Conference Florida February 2006 1 0 0 1,000

IPTI Conference Kuala Lumpur August 2006 1 0 0 1,000

	Number of staff attending
	VOA	HMRC	HMT	Estimated cost (£)
Event
Valuation Symposium Vancouver February 2006	1	0	0	1,000
GIS/CAMA Conference Florida February 2006	1	0	0	1,000
IPTI Conference Kuala Lumpur August 2006	1	0	0	1,000

Departmental Staff (Castle Point)

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff employed by his Department live in Castle Point. [42821]

John Healey: None of the staff of the Treasury are known to live in Castle Point.

19 Jan 2006 : Column 1487W

Economic Activity

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were economically inactive in each London borough in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [42948]

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 19 January 2006:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question concerning economic inactivity. (42948)

19 Jan 2006 : Column 1488W

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of inactivity for local areas from the annual local area Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.

The attached table shows the numbers of inactive people of working age, resident in each London Borough, for the 12 month periods ending February 2001 to February 2004 from the annual local area LFS, and for the 12 months ending March 2005 from the APS. The table also shows the number of inactive people as a percentage of the total working age population resident in each Borough.

These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty. Changes in the estimates from year to year should be treated with particular caution.

Number of persons of working age resident in each London borough who are economically inactive, and working age inactivity rates

12 months ending February 2001
12 months ending February 2002
12 months ending February 2003

London borough Inactive persons
(Thousand) Inactivity Rate⁽¹⁷⁾
(Percentage) Inactive persons
(Thousand) Inactivity Rate⁽¹⁷⁾
(Percentage) Inactive persons
(Thousand) Inactivity Rate⁽¹⁷⁾
(Percentage)

Barking and Dagenham 32 33 28 28 28 28

Barnet 43 22 42 21 42 21

Bexley 28 21 28 21 26 20

Brent 51 30 45 26 53 30

Bromley 30 17 34 19 41 23

Camden 37 28 39 28 38 27

City of London 1 ⁽¹⁸⁾30 ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾—

Croydon 42 21 41 20 40 19

Ealing 59 30 54 27 53 26

Enfield 44 26 45 26 45 26

Greenwich 29 22 34 25 40 29

Hackney 45 35 46 34 45 33

Hammersmith and Fulham 28 25 26 22 29 24

Haringey 49 34 50 34 45 30

Harrow 23 18 31 24 32 24

Havering 24 18 26 19 23 17

Hillingdon 33 22 31 20 30 20

Hounslow 29 21 30 22 35 25

Islington 40 33 35 29 38 31

Kensington and Chelsea 27 26 33 30 35 31

Kingston-upon-Thames 20 21 18 19 18 18

Lambeth 40 22 45 24 44 24

Lewisham 37 23 43 26 38 23

Merton 26 22 24 19 20 16

Newham 62 41 61 39 63 40

Redbridge 40 27 35 23 36 24

Richmond-upon-Thames 14 13 19 17 17 15

Southwark 48 30 45 27 47 28

Sutton 14 12 15 13 19 17

Tower Hamlets 49 39 48 37 52 39

Waltham Forest 34 24 37 26 38 27

Wandsworth 31 17 29 16 36 20

Westminster, City of 35 29 38 30 41 31

12 months ending February 2004
12 months ending February 2005

London borough Inactive persons (Thousand) Inactivity Rate⁽¹⁷⁾
(Percentage) Inactive persons
Thousand) Inactivity Rate⁽¹⁷⁾
(Percentage)

Barking and Dagenham 29 29 31 31

Barnet 53 25 54 25

Bexley 26 20 25 .18

Brent 51 29 50 29

Bromley 37 20 30 17

Camden 34 24 43 31

City of London ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾— ⁽¹⁹⁾—

Croydon 43 20 40 18

Ealing 48 23 49 24

Enfield 42 24 52 29

Greenwich 38 28 38 28

Hackney 48 35 52 37

Hammersmith and Fulham 26 21 30 24

Haringey 57 38 46 31

Harrow 32 23 29 21

Havering 22 16 28 21

Hillingdon 36 23 32 20

Hounslow 33 23 34 24

Islington 35 29 35 28

Kensington and Chelsea 31 27 40 33

Kingston-upon-Thames 19 19 22 22

Lambeth 48 27 45 26

Lewisham 39 24 36 22

Merton 20 16 27 21

Newham 65 42 61 39

Redbridge 38 25 37 24

Richmond-upon-Thames 26 23 29 24

Southwark 42 26 45 28

Sutton 23 20 20 17

Tower Hamlets 48 37 51 38

Waltham Forest 41 30 41 30

Wandsworth 35 19 40 22

Westminster, City of 42 31 41 30

⁽¹⁷⁾Rate as a percentage of the resident population of working age (men aged 16 to 64, women aged 16 to 59).
⁽¹⁸⁾Rounded rate reflects small number in sample resident in City of London.
⁽¹⁹⁾Estimate not available, sample size less than three could be disclosive.
Source:
Annual local area Labour Force Survey; Annual Population Survey.

19 Jan 2006 : Column 1489W

	12 months ending February 2001	12 months ending February 2002	12 months ending February 2003
London borough	Inactive persons (Thousand)	Inactivity Rate⁽¹⁷⁾ (Percentage)	Inactive persons (Thousand)	Inactivity Rate⁽¹⁷⁾ (Percentage)	Inactive persons (Thousand)	Inactivity Rate⁽¹⁷⁾ (Percentage)
Barking and Dagenham	32	33	28	28	28	28
Barnet	43	22	42	21	42	21
Bexley	28	21	28	21	26	20
Brent	51	30	45	26	53	30
Bromley	30	17	34	19	41	23
Camden	37	28	39	28	38	27
City of London	1	⁽¹⁸⁾30	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—
Croydon	42	21	41	20	40	19
Ealing	59	30	54	27	53	26
Enfield	44	26	45	26	45	26
Greenwich	29	22	34	25	40	29
Hackney	45	35	46	34	45	33
Hammersmith and Fulham	28	25	26	22	29	24
Haringey	49	34	50	34	45	30
Harrow	23	18	31	24	32	24
Havering	24	18	26	19	23	17
Hillingdon	33	22	31	20	30	20
Hounslow	29	21	30	22	35	25
Islington	40	33	35	29	38	31
Kensington and Chelsea	27	26	33	30	35	31
Kingston-upon-Thames	20	21	18	19	18	18
Lambeth	40	22	45	24	44	24
Lewisham	37	23	43	26	38	23
Merton	26	22	24	19	20	16
Newham	62	41	61	39	63	40
Redbridge	40	27	35	23	36	24
Richmond-upon-Thames	14	13	19	17	17	15
Southwark	48	30	45	27	47	28
Sutton	14	12	15	13	19	17
Tower Hamlets	49	39	48	37	52	39
Waltham Forest	34	24	37	26	38	27
Wandsworth	31	17	29	16	36	20
Westminster, City of	35	29	38	30	41	31

	12 months ending February 2004	12 months ending February 2005
London borough	Inactive persons (Thousand)	Inactivity Rate⁽¹⁷⁾ (Percentage)	Inactive persons Thousand)	Inactivity Rate⁽¹⁷⁾ (Percentage)
Barking and Dagenham	29	29	31	31
Barnet	53	25	54	25
Bexley	26	20	25	.18
Brent	51	29	50	29
Bromley	37	20	30	17
Camden	34	24	43	31
City of London	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—	⁽¹⁹⁾—
Croydon	43	20	40	18
Ealing	48	23	49	24
Enfield	42	24	52	29
Greenwich	38	28	38	28
Hackney	48	35	52	37
Hammersmith and Fulham	26	21	30	24
Haringey	57	38	46	31
Harrow	32	23	29	21
Havering	22	16	28	21
Hillingdon	36	23	32	20
Hounslow	33	23	34	24
Islington	35	29	35	28
Kensington and Chelsea	31	27	40	33
Kingston-upon-Thames	19	19	22	22
Lambeth	48	27	45	26
Lewisham	39	24	36	22
Merton	20	16	27	21
Newham	65	42	61	39
Redbridge	38	25	37	24
Richmond-upon-Thames	26	23	29	24
Southwark	42	26	45	28
Sutton	23	20	20	17
Tower Hamlets	48	37	51	38
Waltham Forest	41	30	41	30
Wandsworth	35	19	40	22
Westminster, City of	42	31	41	30

Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were classed as economically inactive in Tamworth constituency in each of the last 10 years as (a) a percentage of the population of working age and (b) as a total; and if he will make a statement. [43472]

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 19 January 2006:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question concerning economic inactivity. (43472)

The attached table shows the number of economically inactive people of working age resident in the Tamworth Parliamentary Constituency, for the 12 month periods ending February 1997 to February 2004 from the annual local area LFS and for the 12 months ending March 2005 from the APS .The table also shows inactivity rates, as a percentage of the resident population of working age.

These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty. Changes in the estimates from year to year should be treated with particular caution.

Number and rates of working age persons resident in the Tamworth parliamentary constituency who are economically inactive

12 months ending Level (Thousand) Rate⁽²⁰⁾ (Percentage)

February

1997 12 20

1998 15 25

1999 9 16

2000 9 16

2001 10 16

2002 11 18

2003 11 17

2004 13 21

March

2005 11 18

⁽²⁰⁾Rate as a percentage of the resident population of working age (men aged 16 to 64, women aged 16 to 59).
Note:
Estimates are subject to sampling variability. Changes from year to year should be treated with particular caution.
Source:
Annual local area Labour Force Survey; Annual Population Survey.

19 Jan 2006 : Column 1490W

12 months ending	Level (Thousand)	Rate⁽²⁰⁾ (Percentage)
February
1997	12	20
1998	15	25
1999	9	16
2000	9	16
2001	10	16
2002	11	18
2003	11	17
2004	13	21

March
2005	11	18

Next Section

Index

Home Page