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7 Feb 2006 : Column 1126W—continued

Suicides

Mrs. Moon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many suicides were committed by people aged 14 to 25 years in each region in the last three years, broken down by sex; and if he will make a statement. [48376]

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

Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 7 February 2006:

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many suicides were committed by people aged 14 to 25 years in each region in the last three years, broken down by sex. I am replying in her absence. (48376)

In routine statistics, ONS defines suicides as deaths from both intentional self-harm and 'injury of undetermined intent'. The most recent available figures are for the calendar year 2004. The figures in the table below show the number of deaths from intentional self harm and injury of undetermined intent by sex among those aged 14 to 25 for the calendar years 2002 to 2004.

Number of deaths among people aged 14 to 25 years from intentional self harm⁽²⁶⁾and injury of undetermined intent⁽²⁷⁾, by sex for government office regions⁽²⁸⁾ in England and Wales, 2002 to 2004⁽²⁹⁾

Government Office Region	2002	2003	2004
Males
North East	27	23	29
North West	51	59	57
Yorkshire and The Humber	27	28	35
East Midlands	34	37	30
West Midlands	46	35	37
East of England	39	42	31
London	54	58	48
South East	48	67	46
South West	36	35	34
Wales	37	44	26
Females
North East	5	6	6
North West	14	10	17
Yorkshire and The Humber	10	8	10
East Midlands	13	11	12
West Midlands	8	9	11
East of England	10	8	24
London	19	14	15
South East	21	18	18
South West	9	4	11
Wales	6	9	4

⁽²⁶⁾ The cause of death for intentional self harm was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84.
⁽²⁷⁾ The cause of death for injury of undetermined intent was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) cades Y10-Y34 excluding Y33.9 where the Coroner's verdict was pending. It is assumed likely that most of these deaths are cases where the harm is self-inflicted but there was insufficient evidence to prove that the deceased deliberately intended to kill themselves.
Deaths were selected using final underlying cause of death.
⁽²⁸⁾ Usual residents of these areas.
⁽²⁹⁾ Deaths occurring in each calendar year.


 
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Tax Credits

Mr. Randall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit claimants there have been in Uxbridge constituency since the scheme began, broken down by those who were (a) underpaid, (b) overpaid and (c) paid the correct amount. [48514]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mrs. Dorries) on 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 321W.

Anne Main: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit claimants there have been in St Albans constituency since the scheme began, broken down by those who were (a) underpaid, (b) overpaid and (c) paid the correct amount. [49330]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mrs. Domes) on 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 321W.

Transport

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of total projected public expenditure on transport in each year from 2006 to 2015. [48100]

Mr. Des Browne: The Government are committed to providing significant resources to maintain and modernise the transport network. Spending Review 2004 set out estimates of UK public expenditure on transport of £20.1 billion for 2006–07 and £19.3 billion for 2007–08. These totals included £13.6 billion and £12.9 billion allocated to the Department for Transport for 2006–07 and 2007–08 respectively. The remainder in each year is estimated expenditure by local authorities and the devolved Administrations. Actual local and devolved transport expenditure will be made according to their own spending decisions.

Over the period 2008–09 to 2014–15, a Long Term Funding Guideline has been agreed with the Department for Transport to provide a stable financial framework within which to plan transport improvements. This guideline is set out in The Future of Transport: A network for 2030," published by the Department for Transport in July 2004. This guideline does not include projections of future expenditure on transport by local authorities and the devolved Administrations, which they will determine according to their own spending priorities.
 
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Valuation Office Agency

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2005, Official Report, column 354W, on the Valuation Office Agency, what plans the Government have to use (a) computer assisted mass appraisal and (b) the automated valuation model for the next scheduled business rates revaluation. [47939]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Valuation Office Agency is considering setting up a feasibility study into whether the automated valuation model might be used to support some elements of the next business rates revaluation in 2010.

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 30 November 2005, Official Report, columns 529–30W, on the Valuation Office Agency, whether HM Revenue and Customs staff have access to the information and data collected for council tax valuation purposes for its general use in collecting taxes; and what guidelines apply to the use of that data. [49269]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: The use of information by HMRC is governed by sections 17 to 21 of The Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005.

The use of information and data collected for council tax valuation purposes is covered under the general guidance on the use of information within HMRC, and all HMRC staff are bound by strict confidentiality safeguards which protect HMRC information from being misused.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Legal Aid (Tamworth)

Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the availability of civil legal aid to people living in Tamworth constituency. [48660]

Bridget Prentice: The Legal Services Commission contracts with service providers throughout England and Wales to provide a range of legal and advice services across different categories of law.

There are currently three service providers with a contract to undertake civil legal aid work in Tamworth. Service providers in Tamworth may help people who live outside the area, and people who live in Tamworth may visit a service provider in a different area.

Any person residing in England or Wales can access free quality legal advice and information through Community Legal Service Direct. This service is available direct to the public through a telephone line, website and information leaflets.

Public Defender Service

Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans the Government have to extend the Public Defender Service. [49826]

 
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Bridget Prentice: The operation of the Public Defender Service will be reviewed in light of the independent research into the pilot which is expected to be published shortly.

Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what comparison the Government have made of the costs of the Public Defender Service and those of legal aid-funded solicitors. [49827]

Bridget Prentice: The independent research that has been commissioned to report on the Public Defender Service will compare and analyse the costs of the Public Defender Service with those of private practitioners specialising in criminal legal aid work. It is expected that the research will be published shortly.
 
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