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20 Jan 2006 : Column 1632W—continued
National Insurance Contributions
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much has been collected in each of the past five years in employer national insurance contributions for (a) males and (b) females over the state retirement age; and what additional revenue in each category would have been collected if employee contributions were also payable; [42658]
(2) what estimate he has made of the extra revenue from national insurance contributions that will accrue annually on account of the progressive raising of the state retirement age to 65 years for females. [43058]
Dawn Primarolo: Information on the amount of secondary contributions paid for males and females in work and above state retirement age for the past five years is not available except at a disproportionate cost.
Similarly, the amount of extra revenue from national insurance contributions that will accrue annually on account of raising the pension age on a phased basis between 2010 and 2020 for females to 65 years is not available except at a disproportionate cost.
Tax Relief
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax relief was received by persons in the top tax bracket in the last year for which figures are available. [44511]
Dawn Primarolo: Information on the amount of all tax reliefs received by higher rate taxpayers is not available, except at a disproportionate cost.
Thames Gateway Organisation
Bob Spink: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many paid directors there are in each branch of the Thames Gateway organisation; and what the total employment cost of each has been to date. [42914]
Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
Until 13 January, the senior staff of the Thames Gateway Directorate comprised one director (grade SCS 1A) and two divisional managers (grade SCSI). A further director has now been appointed on secondment reflecting increasing workload in preparation for the London Olympics. The total administrative costs of the Directorate are expected to be £2,474,000 in the current financial year, which includes the rental of the Thames Gateway office in Docklands.
Unemployment Statistics
Tim Farron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the levels of long-term (a) adult and (b) youth unemployment were in Westmorland and Lonsdale in each year since 1997. [44294]
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John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 20 January 2006:
As National Statistician, I have asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment. (44294)
The Office for National Statistics (OHS) compiles statistics of unemployment for local areas from the annual local area Labour Force Survey following International Labour Organisation definitions.
However, for the Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency sample numbers are insufficient to provide estimates of the levels of long-term adult and youth unemployment.
ONS also compiles statistics for local areas of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). The attached table shows the annual average number of JSA claimants claiming for over 12 months and those aged 18 to 24 claiming for over 12 months, resident in the Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency since 1997.
(5) Computerised claims only.
Note:
Data rounded to nearest 5 for disclosure control.
Source:
Jobcentre Plus administrative system.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what staffing reductions have occurred in the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council funded institutes in each of the last five years; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the reductions on the scientific skills base; [41362]
(2) what plans he has under the Shared Service Policy to merge Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council funded institutes; and if he will make a statement. [41363]
Barry Gardiner:
The BBSRC received an increased level of funding from the Science Budget following the 2004 Spending Review. Its initial allocation was £336.186 million in 2005–06, £371.644 million in 2006–07 and £381.829 million in 2007–08. An increased proportion of BBSRC's total budget over this period will support research in Higher Education Institutions.
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In the period 2000 to 2003 (the latest date statistics are available) the total number of staff employed in Biological Sciences in Higher Education Institutions increased by approximately 500 from 6,900 to 7,400.
The following table gives details of the net reduction in the number of posts in BBSRC Institutes in each of the past five years.
| Net reduction in posts | |
|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 0 |
| 2001–02 | An increase of 39 posts |
| 2002–03 | 84 |
| 2003–04 | 84 |
| 2004–05 | 61 |
| Total | 190 |
BBSRC has sought to ensure that past staff reductions do not have a material effect on the overall skills base in the UK. In the case of land based research, BBSRC is in active discussion with relevant Government Departments about the impact of staffing reductions.
BBSRC has no current plans to merge institutes but is considering the establishment of an Edinburgh BioScience Research Centre (EBRC) which would include researchers from the Roslin Institute and some from the Institute for Animal Health (those currently based in the Edinburgh Neuropathogenisis Unit). The EBRC would also involve closer collaboration with other research organisations in the area.
A number of BBSRC institutes are reviewing their administrative services to identify efficiency savings, including through the sharing of services between institutes, so as to enable additional funding to go into scientific research.
Herbal Medicines
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will assist small and medium-sized enterprises with the costs of compliance with the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive; and if he will make a statement. [42005]
Jane Kennedy: I have been asked to reply.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 11 January 2006, Official Report, column 724W to my hon. Friend, the Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell).
Natural Environment Research Council
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations the National Environment Research Council made to the Government concerning additional funding for the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in the past two years; what amounts were requested; and whether they were granted. [42553]
Barry Gardiner:
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) indicated, during the allocation process following the Spending Review 2004, that providing the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) with a sustainable future was a high priority and that it intended to examine options to achieve this. NERC's original allocation from the Department was £359.4 million and £367.2 million for the financial years
20 Jan 2006 : Column 1635W
2006–07 and 2007–08 respectively. The Department has indicated subsequently that it would be willing to increase NERC's allocation by £2.7 million and £11.5 million in these years so as to support the delivery of its core programmes in the event that the restructuring of CEH goes ahead.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) letters, (b) emails and (c) telephone calls (i) the Government, (ii) the Natural Environment Research Council and (iii) the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology received regarding the proposed closure of sites in the last two years; and how many in each case concerned Monks Wood in Cambridgeshire. [42554]
Barry Gardiner: Following the December 2005 announcement by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) to consult the public and staff on its proposed changes to the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), the number of communications received by 16 January 2006 is as follows:
| (i) Government(6) | (ii) NERC | (iii) CEH | Concerning Monks Wood(7) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (a) Letters(8) | 37 | 55 | 0 | 17 |
| (b) E-mails(8) | 29 | 207 | 0 | 43 |
| (c) Telephone calls | 8 | 43 | (9)0 | 0 |
(6) Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
(7) Specifically relating, or referring, to Monks Wood.
(8) Figures may contain duplications as some letters and e-mails have been copied to more than one recipient, and some individuals have written more than one letter or e-mail.
(9) CEH received 20 calls but these were passed on to NERC and are therefore included in the NERC figure.
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