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12 July 2006 : Column 1841W—continued
The latest available figures for the incidence of melanoma skin cancer are for the year 2003. Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of cancer for 1994 for England and Wales, and from 1995 to 2003 for England, are available in Table 1 of the annual reference volumes, Cancer statistics: Registrations, Series MB1. These are available on the National Statistics website:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=8843&Pos=&ColRank=1&Rank=224
Mesothelioma
Mr. Nicholas Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the House of Lords judgment in the case of Barker v. Corus UK Ltd. on future plans for public expenditure in respect of compensation payments for those suffering from mesothelioma. [75767]
Mr. Timms: Mesothelioma cancer is a terrible disease that afflicts many families in this country. The disease can manifest many years after exposure, and once diagnosed the individual’s condition can rapidly deteriorate. In acknowledging the acute distress that this disease places upon families, the Government recognise the need for compensation to be paid in a timely manner.
In light of this the Government have been examining the implications for all those affected by the recent Law Lords ruling. The Prime Minister announced on 21 June that we have decided to amend the Compensation Bill. Officials in DCA are working at this moment to develop the right clause for the Bill.
National Minimum Wage
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people aged (a) over 22, (b) 18 to 21 and (c) under 18 years received the national minimum wage in (i) Thameside metropolitan borough, (ii) Stockport metropolitan borough and (iii) Denton and Reddish constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available. [84082]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 12 July 2006:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to ask how many people aged (a) 22 years and over, (b) 18 to 21 years and (c) under 18 years are
receiving the minimum wage in (i) Tameside metropolitan borough, (ii) Stockport metropolitan borough and (iii) Denton and Reddish constituency in the most recent period available. I am replying in her absence. (84082)
Estimates for the number of jobs paid at the minimum wage for Parliamentary Constituencies and Local Authorities are not available. However the Office for National Statistics calculates estimates of the number of jobs paid less than national minimum wage rates for the United Kingdom and Government Office Regions. A guide to measuring low pay and associated articles and data can be found on the National Statistics website at:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=5837&Pos=1&ColRank=1&Rank=272
Nuclear Deterrent
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to allocate funding additional to the current defence budget to meet the cost of a new generation of the nuclear deterrent. [82376]
Mr. Timms: Decisions on departmental funding beyond 2007-08 will be made in the CSR and published in summer 2007.
Official Residences
Mr. Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the official residences for which his Department is responsible; who occupies each one; what the annual cost is of running each property; what contribution the occupants of each make towards running costs; what the total capital and refurbishment expenditure was on those properties in 2004-05; how much was spent in each property on (a) flowers and plants, (b) wine and entertaining, (c) food, (d) telephone bills and (e) electricity and gas in 2004-05; how many (i) domestic and (ii) maintenance staff are employed at each property, broken down by post; and what the total cost of staff employment was in 2004-05. [50880]
Ed Balls: The Treasury is responsible for the upkeep of No. 11 Downing street and for the flat at No. 10 Downing street. No notable capital and refurbishment expenses were incurred in 2004-05. Electricity is estimated at £3,153, gas at £532 and water at £410.
The share of overall security costs is £26,204 and of maintenance is £14,773.
Information on the Treasury’s expenditure on official entertainment for 2004-05, the year in which Britain held the G8 Presidency, was given to the hon. Member by my colleague, the Under-Secretary of State for Health, the hon. Member for Bury, South (Mr. Lewis) on 14 February 2006, Official Report, column 1834. Further analysis in relation to food, alcohol, staff and accommodation could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
All expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in “Government Accounting”.
Telephone calls are included as part of the overall Downing street exchange.
Cleaning staff are part of the whole Downing street complex. There is one member of staff allocated to managing No.11 Downing street.
Mr. Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will answer Question 50880 tabled by the hon. Member for North East Hertfordshire on 7 February 2006, on official residences. [83032]
Oil Prices
John Hemming: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what oil price his Department predicts for each of the next 10 years. [84271]
John Healey: The Treasury does not make detailed predictions of future prices. In projecting the public finances, the Treasury adopts an oil price assumption based on the average of independent forecasts, which is set out in PBR and Budget documents. This assumption was audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General in December 2005, when he concluded that:
“There is no clearly better method available for use in the future, though large uncertainties in predicted oil prices remain”
(http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/F5D/46/pbr05_ nao_508.pdf).
Personal Debt
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total amount of personal debt was in (a) the UK, (b) Stockport metropolitan borough, (c) Tameside metropolitan borough and (d) Denton and Reddish constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [84083]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 12 July 2006:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on what the total amount of personal debt was in (a) the UK, (b) Stockport metropolitan borough, (c) Tameside metropolitan borough and (d) Denton and Reddish constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available. I am replying in her absence. (84083)
We are unable to provide levels of personal debt by region.
The total amount of personal debt in the UK in 2005 (end-year) is £1,275,740 million.
The estimate for total personal debt is a national accounts series for the combined household and non-profit institutions serving households (NPISH) sectors. Estimates for households alone are not available. NPISIIs are legal entities which are principally engaged in the production of non-market services for households and whose main resources are voluntary contributions by households. For example, charities; relief and aid organisations; educational establishments; trade unions, professional associations, political parties and religious organisations, and sports clubs and associations.
Further data are available from table A64 in United Kingdom Economic Accounts which is available at the following address:
Note: When using Table 64 of United Kingdom Economic Accounts (web link given below) the database identifier is NNPP
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=1904&Pos=&ColRank=1&Rank=422
Research and Development Tax Credits
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies have been investigated for fraud in the claiming of (a) research and development tax credits and (b) vaccines research relief since their inception; how many were found to be claiming fraudulently in each case; and if he will make a statement. [82155]
John Healey: Information regarding the underlying reasons for individual investigations and penalties is held locally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Published in December 2005, “Supporting growth in innovation: next steps for the R and D credit” announced that HMRC will set up specialist R and D units, which will develop expertise to ensure a more consistent handling of claims, together with an effective focus on non-compliance.
Stamp Duty
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were calculated as being liable for payment of stamp duty in 2005-06; and if he will make a statement. [83648]
Ed Balls: There were estimated to be 930,000 UK residential transactions in 2005-06 where the price was above the normal stamp duty threshold of £120,000. The number of transactions where stamp duty was payable will be lower due to the use of reliefs, e.g. disadvantaged area relief.
Unemployment
Rosemary McKenna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were unemployed in Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East (a) in each year since 1997 and (b) in the latest period for which figures are available. [83826]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 12 July 2006:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment. I am replying in her absence. (83826)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment for local areas from the annual local area Labour Force Survey (LFS) and Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
Table 1 shows the number of unemployed persons, aged 16 and over, resident in the Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East Parliamentary Constituency for the 12 months ending February 2004, from the annual local area LFS, and for the 12-month periods ending in December from 2004 to 2005, from the APS. Data are not available for earlier years for the Scottish constituencies introduced in May 2005.
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.
ONS also compiles statistics for local areas of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (ISA). The only available figures for the new Scottish constituencies on an annual average basis are for 2005 when there were 1,347 claimants of ISA resident in the Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East Parliamentary Constituency. Table 2 shows the figures for this constituency on a single month basis for May 2004 to 2006.
| Table 1: Number of unemployed resident in the Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East parliamentary constituency. | |
| Thousands | |
| 12 months ending | Level |
| Notes: Estimates are subject to sampling variability. Changes in the estimates from year to year should be treated with particular caution. Source: Annual local area Labour Force Survey; Annual Population Survey | |
| Table 2: Number of claimants of Jobseeker’s Allowance resident in the Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East parliamentary constituency. | |
| May | Level |
| Source: Jobcentre Plus Administrative system | |
VAT Exemptions
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether special VAT exemptions have been allowed to any non-profit-making organisations not registered as a charity in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [83967]
Dawn Primarolo: The VAT rules contain a range of exemptions and other reliefs for charities and non-profit making organisations, including those bodies not registered with the appropriate charity regulators and registrars.
Wages
Chris Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the (a) mean, and (b) median wage in (i) rural areas and (ii) non-rural areas; and if he will make a statement. [84617]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 12 July 2006:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to ask what the most recent estimate is of the (a) mean and (b) median wage in (i) rural and (ii) non rural areas. I am replying in her absence.
Average earnings by rural and non rural classifications are at present not available. New geographical methodologies mean,
however, that following the publication of 2006 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) results in October 2006 such analysis may be possible. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) will be considering this further in the autumn of 2006.
ONS does have analysis by Local Authority and Parliamentary Constituency published on the internet at:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=13101
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Animal Care Apprenticeships
Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Minister for Animal Welfare will reply to the letters of 12 April 2006 and 1 June 2006 from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire on animal care apprenticeships. [83537]
Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 10 July 2006]: I apologise for the long delay. A reply was sent on 28 June 2006.
Asda
Mr. Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date meetings have taken place between the Department and representatives of Asda, including Asda's parent company Wal-Mart, in the last 12 months; and if she will list the participants. [59959]Barry Gardiner: Pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member on 24 April, Official Report, Column 813w, the answer stated that a meeting was held on 11 November 2005. Due to an administrative error this was incorrect. The date should have read 8 November 2005. The rest of the answer remains correct and is detailed in full in the following paragraph.Because of the very wide range of goods and outlets involved, the retail sector is affected by more regulations than any other sector. Consequently, major retailers will have regular contact with many departments and may also be involved in working and consultative groups. To list every meeting would involve disproportionate cost, so the following information relates to key meetings only. In the last 12 months, meetings between Defra officials and Asda/Wal-Mart took place on: 22 July 2005; 11 November 2005; 11 February 2006; and 3 March 2006. In addition, a meeting with DEFRA Ministers took place on 8 December 2005. Data privacy legislation makes it inappropriate to list participants in those meetings.
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