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6 July 2006 : Column 1260W—continued
Biodiesel
Mark Hunter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken through the taxation system to encourage the production and availability to the motorist of biodiesel. [82322]
John Healey: The Government are committed to supporting biofuels as part of a long-term strategy to promote low carbon transport. The Budget announced the extension of the 20 pence per litre duty differential for biofuels until 2008-09, and set out a range of announcements about the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, which will begin in 2008-09 and will ensure biofuels comprise 5 per cent. of the road fuels market by 2010-11. Furthermore, we are awaiting state aid clearance to introduce an enhanced capital allowance (ECA) for the cleanest biofuels production plant, to support innovation and help develop the lowest-carbon biofuels production methods.
Birth/Death Statistics
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) age-standardised mortality rates, (b) still-birth rate and (c) pregnancy (i) termination and (ii) miscarriage rate was for each electoral ward in Shropshire, in each year from 2000 to 2005. [82402]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 6 July 2006
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the (a) age-standardised mortality rates, (b) stillbirth rate and (c) pregnancy (i) termination and (ii) miscarriage rates for each electoral ward in Shropshire, in each year from 2000 to 2005. (82402)
Information on stillbirths and on conceptions leading to terminations is routinely published for local authorities and strategic health authorities. Figures cannot be provided by electoral ward because of the risk of disclosing individual's information due to very small number of events.
(a) Age-Standardised mortality rates for electoral ward are not available. However, Standardised Mortality Ratios (SMRs) and life expectancy at birth for wards in England and Wales for the period 1999-2003 are available on the National Statistics website at the addresses below.
SMRs:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=14359
Life expectancy:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=14466
(b) Stillbirth rates for Shropshire County and county districts within Shropshire for each year from 2000 to 2004 are shown in the table below.
(c)(i) Conceptions leading to termination rates for all ages for Shropshire County and county districts within Shropshire for each year from 2000 to 2004 (latest year for which figures are available) are shown in the table below. Figures for 2004 are provisional.
(c)(ii) Figures on conceptions leading to miscarriages are not available because
| (b) Stillbirth rate( 1) , 2000-04 | |||||
| Area | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
| (1) per 1,000 total births Source: VS Tables | |||||
| (c)(i) Conceptions leading to termination: All age rate( 1) , 2000-04 | |||||
| Area | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004( 2) |
| (1) per 1,000 women aged 15-44 (2) Provisional | |||||
Competitiveness
David Tredinnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the principal factors affecting the competitiveness of UK businesses. [82823]
John Healey: The Budget Report provided an assessment of all areas of the UK economy, and action needed by Government to provide the right environment for businesses competing in the global environment.
The Government’s strategy for advancing productivity growth is based on two pillars: providing macroeconomic stability to allow firms and individuals to invest in the future, and making microeconomic reforms to ensure that markets function efficiently and that barriers to productivity growth are tackled.
Contributions Agency
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on failures by the Contributions Agency to collect and credit national insurance contributions in 2004-05; and what action is being taken (a) to avoid the issue of incorrect notices of deficient contributions and (b) to restore contribution records to individuals affected by such failures. [82928]
Dawn Primarolo: There have been well publicised delays in processing 2004-05 Employer’s Annual Returns. HM Revenue and Customs has now processed all error free returns.
HMRC has posted 99 per cent. of the 42.7 million relevant individual national insurance records for employment to its National Insurance Recording System (NIRS) by June 2006. The number of records yet to be processed is in line with what HMRC would normally expect to have at this point in the year.
HMRC is working hard to get the remaining data through to NIRS prior to the commencement of the Deficiency Notice (DN) exercise which is planned for September. It is anticipated that there will not be any increase in the amount of DNs issued than in any other normal year.
Correspondence
Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Paymaster General will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 15 May 2006, on the tax credit system (PO Ref: 4/25865/2006). [81932]
Dawn Primarolo: I expect to be in a position to write to the hon. Member very shortly.
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Chief Secretary to the Treasury will reply to the letter of 22 May from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan regarding civil service pay and conditions. [82683]
Council Tax/Regional Rate
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of (a) council tax in England and (b) the regional rate in Northern Ireland was returned to central Government in each of the last three years. [82597]
Mr. Timms: Council tax is collected and retained by English local authorities and contributes towards their expenditure.
The Northern Ireland regional rate is collected by the Rates Collection Agency and is paid into the Northern Ireland Consolidated Fund. This income contributes towards the funding of public services in Northern Ireland.
ECOFIN Meeting
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date he agreed to attend the ECOFIN meeting on 7 June 2006; and if he will make a statement. [76944]
John Healey: It is the Chancellor who holds the UK seat at the European Council of Finance Ministers.
Engagements
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next plans to visit Coventry. [71276]
John Healey [holding answer 18 May 2006]: As part of his official duties the Chancellor of the Exchequer visits the regions and nations of the United Kingdom and will be continuing to do so over the coming months.
EU Nationals
Mr. Davidson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many nationals from the EU accession states have applied for (a) child benefit and (b) tax credits since May 2004; and how many such applications have been (i) approved, (ii) rejected and (iii) terminated in each case. [82905]
Dawn Primarolo: These figures are included in the joint Accession Monitoring Report produced by the Home Office, Department for Work and Pensions, HM Revenue and Customs and Department for Communities and Local Government on 23 May 2006 and published on the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate’s website (http://www. ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/reports/accession_ monitoring_report)
Families (Father Involvement)
Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Government have to include consideration of ways to encourage fathers’ involvement within the family in the cross-cutting review of support for children and young people being conducted as part of the 2007 comprehensive spending review. [82785]
Ed Balls: Budget 2006 launched a policy review of children and young people to inform the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review. Copies of the review's terms of reference have been placed in the House of Commons Library.
In “Support for parents: the best start for children”, published at the pre-Budget report, HM Treasury and the Department for Education and Skills recognised the contributions that mothers and fathers make and their potentially different needs for support as parents. As part of wider examination of the role of and support for parents in improving outcomes for children and young people, the review will consider the contribution of fathers and other male carers.
Life Expectancy
Joan Walley:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the
long-term trend for life expectancy in Stoke-on-Trent; and if he will make a statement. [80603]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 6 July 2006:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the long-term trend for life expectancy is in Stoke-on-Trent. I am replying in her absence. (80603)'
Figures for life expectancy at birth for English regions and local authorities are published annually by ONS based on three-year rolling averages. Results are available from 1991-1993 to 2002-2004 and are included in the table below.
| Life expectancy at birth (years) by sex in Stoke-on-Trent, 1991-93 to 2002-04( 1) | ||
| Males | Females | |
| (1 )Results are based on death registrations and mid-year population estimates for each three year period. | ||
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