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7 Jun 2006 : Column 632W—continued
| Conceptions to girls aged under 16: number and rate by area of usual residence, 2001-04( 1) | ||||||||
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004( 1) | |||||
| Number | Rate | Number | Rate | Number | Rate | Number | Rate | |
| (1 )Conceptions for 2004 are provisional. Note: Rates are per 1000 female population aged 13-15. | ||||||||
Departmental Annual Reports
David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in his Department did not achieve an acceptable mark in their annual report in each of the last three years; and what percentage this represented of the total number of staff in each case. [75089]
John Healey: The information is as follows:
| Staff not achieving an acceptable performance mark | ||
| Number | Percentage | |
| (1 )As there have been less than five cases in 2003-04 this information is suppressed on grounds of confidentiality. | ||
HM Treasury no longer has an unsatisfactory mark category for annual performance. Any member of staff whose performance is at an unsatisfactory level is dealt with under competency or probationary procedures at the time rather than waiting until the end of the appraisal year.
Inheritance Tax
Mr. Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what threshold level of inheritance tax would be required so as to produce the same tax revenue as in 1998, adjusted for inflation. [55226]
Dawn Primarolo: The level of inheritance tax remains unchanged since 1998, indeed since 1988.
Manufacturing Job Losses
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many jobs have been lost in manufacturing in (a) the UK and (b) Scotland since the second quarter of 1997. [74808]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 June 2006:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about job losses in manufacturing in the UK and Scotland since the second quarter of 1997 (74808)
While statistics of jobs lost or created are not available explicitly, statistics from surveys enable comparisons to be made of net changes in the number of jobs from year to year.
Comparative statistics for UK and Scotland for manufacturing are only available in terms of employee jobs, i.e. excluding the self-employed, and on a non seasonally adjusted basis. These are shown in the following table, using figures for June each year so that the comparison is not affected by seasonal influences.
| Employee jobs and change in jobs in manufacturing in UK and Scotland between June 1997 and June 2005 | ||
| Thousands, not seasonally adjusted | ||
| June | United Kingdom | Scotland |
As these results are mainly based on sample surveys, they are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to answer questions (a) 24586, (b) 46531, (c) 62787, (d) 62788, (e) 63040, (f) 63044 and (g) 63323, on tax credits, tabled by the hon. Member for Yeovil. [74824]
Dawn Primarolo: I answered question 63044 on 5 June 2006 and question 24586 as long ago as 10 January 2006. The other questions to which the hon. Gentleman refers are among 84 of the 535 questions he has tabled to the Chancellor in the present session which it has not yet been possible to answer.
75 of these unanswered questions were received yesterday and today alone. Determining precisely what information the hon. Member is seeking, whether it differs from or simply duplicates information which has already been provided to him (often on more than one occasion) and ascertaining whether the data concerned are in the process of being assembled in answer to earlier similar questions is a time-consuming task which is seldom capable of being accomplished quickly.
Tax Credits
Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the working tax credit child care element on child care costs; and if he will make a statement. [75178]
Dawn Primarolo: Child care costs are affected by a number of factors, such as the availability of child care provision, local wage levels, or land or rental prices where child care is offered. The child care element of the working tax credit has had a significant impact on the affordability of child care for low to moderate-income families, reducing the proportion of child care costs that they pay. Through the child care element of the working tax credit, working parents receive financial assistance with up to 80 per cent. of the costs of registered and approved child care, up to a maximum of £300 per week (£175 for one child). In April 2006 374,000 families were benefiting from the child care element, and they were receiving an average of £50 per week towards their child care costs.
The Government remain committed to its vision to ensure that all families are able to afford flexible, high quality child care services that are appropriate to their needs.
Vehicle Excise Duty Rates
Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many people his Department estimated would decide against buying a band G car on the basis of the new vehicle excise duty rate in its costings for the Finance Bill; at what cost; and with what expected effect on carbon emissions; [75180]
(2) how many people his Department estimated would decide in favour of buying a band A car based on the vehicle excise duty exemption in its costings for the Finance Bill; at what cost; and with what expected effect on carbon emissions. [75181]
John Healey: The Chancellor considers all relevant economic, social and environmental factors in deciding taxation policy.
The reforms to vehicle excise duty to strengthen environmental incentives announced in the Budget are expected to cost the Exchequer £10 million over six years. Graduated vehicle excise duty is designed to give a clear signal to motorists to consider environmental impacts when making their vehicle purchasing choice and to the motor industry about the direction of policy on vehicle emissions.
Wales
English Hospitals
8. Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent meetings he has had regarding the treatment of Welsh patients in hospitals in England. [74945]
Nick Ainger: I have regular discussions with the Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services on a range of matters, including the provision of services for Welsh patients in hospitals in England.
Respect Agenda
10. Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on progress with the respect agenda in Wales. [74947]
Mr. Hain: Through the respect action plan, the Government are building on the progress we have already made against antisocial behaviour and are now setting out to tackle its root cause.
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