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25 July 2006 : Column 1357W—continued
John Healey:
The Office for National Statistics publish trade volume figures for goods, rather than for goods and services, for the ED and non-EU. UK goods export volumes to EU-25 countries rose by 13.5 per cent. between 1998 and 2004, while imports from the ED increased by 39.6 per cent. These trends, which have taken place against a background of relatively strong world trade growth, are likely partly to reflect the relative weakness of domestic demand in the euro area over recent years, relatively robust domestic demand in the UK over much of the period in question, and some loss of UK export market share in the EU in the face of increasing competition from
emerging economies. More recently, growth in UK goods exports to the EU has picked up, rising by over 6 per cent. in 2005—the strongest growth rate for five years.
Household Statistics
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in the UK have three or more children, broken down by ethnic background. [87964]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated 25 July 2006:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your request for the number of families in the UK that have three or more children, broken down by ethnic background. I am replying in her absence. (87964)
The latest available figures are from the 2001 Census, as this is the only source that can be used to look at families in this detail. The data are taken from commissioned census table M502 which is available on request from Census Customer Services (census.customerservices@ons.gov.uk). Figures for the UK are given in the attached table, based on the ethnic groups that are available for all the constituent countries of the UK.
| Families( 1) with three of more dependent children( 2) : by ethnic group of family reference person( 3,4) , United Kingdom, 2001 | |||
| Percentage of families with dependent children that have three or more dependent children | Number of families with three or more dependent children | All families with dependent children All Ethnic Groups | |
| (1) A family consists of a couple (married or cohabiting) with or without children, or a lone parent and their children. Cohabiting couples includes same sex couples. (2 )A dependent child is a person in a household aged 0 to 15 (whether or not in a family) or a person aged 16 to 18 who is a full-time student in a family with parent(s). (3 )Family Reference Person (FRP) is used to identify a family and its characteristics. The FRP in a couple is based on economic activity, then age (oldest), then the first member of the couple on the Census form. (4 )The ethnic group of a family is given by the ethnic group of the FRP. It does not follow that everyone in the family will be of the same ethnic group as the FRP. Cells in this table have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data. Source: Census, April 2001, Office for National Statistics; Census, April 2001, General Register Office for Scotland; Census, April 2001, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. | |||
Financial Skills
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action the Government is taking to ensure that financial skills are increased among the adult population. [88688]
Mr. Timms: The FSA leads the national strategy on financial capability in partnership with the Government, the financial services industry and voluntary organisations.
In March 2006, the FSA published “Delivering Change”, setting out its initiatives to promote financial capability. (www.fsa.gov.uk/pubs/other/fincap_delivering.pdf). Most of these initiatives are aimed at the adult population.
The Government have given strong support to the strategy and the 2005 pre-Budget report announced that we would strengthen adult capability, especially for groups with particular needs, by including financial education in adult basic skills; and encouraging local authorities to provide more financial education to parents through Sure Start Children’s Centres and local family numeracy programmes.
The Government will publish a 10 year strategy in the autumn, setting out long term plans for improving financial capability in the adult population.
Fire (Fatalities)
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many fatalities were attributed to fires in each year since 2003. [88967]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated 25 July 2006:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many fatalities were attributed to fires in each year since 2003. I am replying in her absence. (88967)
The most recently available information for deaths is for 2004. Figures for deaths due to exposure to smoke, fire or flames are shown in the table below for 2003 and 2004.
| Number of deaths due to exposure to smoke, fire or flames( 1) , England and Wales( 2) , 2003 to 2004( 3) | |
| Number of deaths | |
| (1) The cause of death was defined using the Tenth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Deaths were selected using the following ICD-10 codes: X00-X09, X76, X97, Y26. These include deaths given a verdict of accident, assault, suicide or undetermined intent. (2) Including non-residents. (3 )Deaths occurring in each calendar year. | |
First-time Buyers
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate the Government have made of the proportion of first-time buyers with a loan-to-value mortgage ratio of 80 per cent. or over. [83005]
Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
Estimates using the Regulated Mortgage Survey for the first quarter of 2006 show that 78 per cent. of first time buyers buying with a mortgage have a mortgage loan to price ratio of 80 per cent. or more.
Gershon Review
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what processes there are in his Department to check Gershon efficiency savings figures before publishing them; and if he will make a statement. [88584]
Mr. Timms: Efficiency Technical Notes, developed in consultation with the National Audit Office, and published on departmental websites, set out how efficiencies are to be achieved.
Quarterly returns are provided to the Office of Government Commerce (OGC), signed off at senior level within the Department. These detail the value of efficiencies made to date on each programme against an agreed methodology and baseline. Evidence is also sought that there are no reductions in service quality as a result of the efficiency.
Headcount reductions and relocations to date are also reported quarterly. OGC scrutinises the data submitted against the delivery plan, the agreed methodologies, the expected forecasts and previous data submitted to ensure its robustness.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance he has given to departments to ensure that all reported Gershon efficiency savings are genuine; and if he will make a statement. [88588]
Mr. Timms: The Office of Government Commerce has provided guidance, developed in consultation with the National Audit Office, to departments on measuring and reporting their efficiency savings including guidance on the robustness of their data systems assurance and covering the measurement of productive time and procurement savings.
DCLG has issued guidance to local authorities regarding how they should prepare their Annual Efficiency Statements in order to report gains delivered locally.
The measurement and data robustness guidance is in use across the efficiency programme.
Graduate Unemployment
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many graduates from each of the last five academic years for which records are available are registered as unemployed. [88691]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated 25 July 2006:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about unemployed graduates. I am replying in her absence. (88691)
The attached table gives estimates of the numbers of unemployed among the people who graduated with a degree in the years 2001 to 2005. These estimates are from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) for the three month period ending March 2006.
As with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
| Unemployed graduates( 1 ) of working age( 2 ) according to year of graduation, United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted | |
| Year of graduation | Unemployed graduate—three months ending March 2006 (Thousand) |
| (1) People whose highest qualification is degree level or above (2) Men aged 16-64 and women aged 16-59 Source: ONS—Labour Force Survey | |
Greyhound Racing Levy
Mr. Moss: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much VAT was paid on the greyhound racing levy in each of the last three years. [87237]
Dawn Primarolo: The voluntary contributions paid to the British Greyhound Racing Fund by bookmakers are not liable to VAT.
HM Revenue and Customs
Mrs. Villiers:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what conference bookings were made by HM Revenue and Customs and its predecessors through Sabre-Holdings or its subsidiaries including
Travelocity-Business formerly known as First Option Events in each of the last three years; what the (a) location, (b) duration, (c) number of delegates and (d) cost was of each conference; and what fees were applicable to each booking where the event was (i) cancelled and (ii) scaled down. [85357]
Dawn Primarolo: The information requested cannot be easily extracted from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs own records.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which HM Revenue and Customs offices have been closed since January 2005; how many are planned to close before January 2007; and if he will make a statement. [83445]
Dawn Primarolo: Since January 2005 HMRC has closed, or is in the process of closing, the following offices:
| Building name | Town |
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