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9 Oct 2006 : Column 275W—continued
Departmental Expenditure
Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent by his Department on food and alcohol for its staff working out of office in each year since 2001-02. [91902]
John Healey: Amounts spent annually on food and alcohol for HM Treasury staff working out of the office are not recorded separately from other subsistence costs and could be disaggregated only at disproportionate cost.
Subsistence costs are incurred in accordance with the rules set out in the “Civil Service Management Code” as well as the Treasury’s internal guidance.
Departmental Publications
Mr. Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) circulation, (b) cost and (c) title is of each publication his Department has issued since 1 July 2005. [89467]
John Healey: Treasury publications are listed on the Treasury’s website. Details of command papers and parliamentary papers can be found on the website of the Stationery Office. Circulation figures and costs relating to individual publications are not readily available.
Departmental Staff
Mr. Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whom he employs to assist him in speech-writing; whether each person is employed on a (a) full-time and (b) part-time basis; and what the cost was in the most recent period for which figures are available. [89496]
John Healey: The Chancellor follows the practice of his predecessors. A private secretary assists in research on his speeches.
Mr. Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whom he employs as a consultant or adviser to assist him personally in fulfilling his official duties; whether each is employed (a) full-time and (b) part-time; and what the cost of employing each person was in the latest period for which figures are available. [89497]
John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister’s written statement of 24 July 2006, Official Report, columns 86-91WS, which gives details about those employed on special adviser terms.
James Duddridge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff have been employed by his Department in each of the last 10 years. [91400]
John Healey: Information on the number of staff employed can be found in the Treasury departmental reports available from the Treasury website at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/about/departmental_reports/
Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what tax efficient schemes for the purchase of bicycles his Department makes available to its employees; how many and what percentage of his Department’s staff purchased bicycles through such schemes in 2005-06; whether the schemes are available through a range of suppliers; and whether arrangements are made to enable staff with disabilities to purchase adapted bicycles from a specialist supplier. [90061]
John Healey: Treasury employees may apply for interest free loans for the purchase of bicycles, including bicycles adapted for people with disabilities, and the Treasury has a designated bicycle parking area within the premises. Neither the loans nor the provision of bicycle parking normally count as taxable benefits. During 2005-06, three (less than 1 per cent.) Treasury employees were advanced bicycle loans. The loans are paid to the employee and are not provided through the supplier of the bicycle.
Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of his Department’s employees have been (a) dismissed, (b) suspended and (c) subject to disciplinary action for criminal activity in each year since 1997. [88463]
John Healey: One employee in 1997 and one employee in 1999 were suspended whilst alleged criminal activity was investigated. Both were subsequently subject to disciplinary action and dismissed.
EDS (Compensation)
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contracts are to be offset with the £26.5 million compensation agreed with EDS in respect of the tax credits computer system; which Government Departments are involved; and if he will make a statement. [78957]
Dawn Primarolo: Under the terms of the settlement, EDS is required to make instalment payments to HMRC, and cannot offset these payments against any other contracts. The terms of the settlement have no part to play in whether or not a particular contract is awarded to EDS, which can only be determined by relevant Departments in accordance with the procurement rules.
Employer Provided Computing Scheme
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will implement an Employer Provided Computing Scheme; and what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on this matter [86257]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 25 July 2006]: The Government have no plans to implement an Employer Provided Computing Scheme. HM Treasury has discussed the Government’s digital strategy with the Department for Trade and Industry on a number of occasions.
Employment Equality Regulations
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the Treasury was in 2005-06 of subsidising the concession for pensioners in further education courses before the introduction of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006. [91694]
John Healey: Further Education (FE) providers have the discretion to offer different levels of subsidy to different groups of FE learners. There is also a national fee assumption for FE courses. In 2005-06, it was assumed that adult learners in FE contribute 27.5 per cent. of the basic course cost of their learning unless they are entitled to free tuition. Cost information on the different levels of subsidies offered by FE providers is not compiled centrally.
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated revenue gain in (a) 2006-07 and (b) a subsequent full year is from terminating the concession for pensioners in further education courses under the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations coming into effect on 1 October 2006. [91695]
John Healey:
Further education (FE) providers have the discretion to offer different levels of subsidy to different groups of FE learners. There is also a national
fee assumption for FE courses. In 2006-07, it is assumed that adult learners in FE contribute 32.5 per cent. of the basic course cost of their learning unless they are entitled to free tuition. With the introduction of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006, FE providers will need to ensure that their fees policy in relation to groups of learners of different ages is in line with the new regulations.
Employment Statistics
Hugh Bayley: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were (a) employed (i) full-time and (ii) part-time and (b) unemployed in (A) the City of York constituency, (B) City of York Council area, (C) Yorkshire and the Humber and (D) United Kingdom (1) at the latest date for which figures are available and (2) at the same date in each of the previous 10 years. [88924]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 9 October 2006:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about employment and unemployment. I am replying in her absence. (88924)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of employment and unemployment for local areas from the annual local area Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
Table 1, attached, shows the number of people in employment, by full-time and part time status, and the levels and rates of unemployment for people resident in the City of York Parliamentary Constituency for the 12 months ending in February from 1996 to 2004 from the annual local area LFS and for the 12 month periods ending in March 2005 and December 2005. Table 2, attached, shows corresponding data for the City of York Unitary Authority; Table 3 for the Yorkshire and the Humber region and Table 4 for the United Kingdom.
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 Jobseekers Allowance (JSA). Table 5, attached, shows the number of claimants of JSA resident in the City of York Parliamentary Constituency, City of York Unitary Authority. Yorkshire and the Humber region and the United Kingdom for each June from 1996 to 2006 and as a proportion of the resident working age population.
| Table 2: Employment, by full-time and part-time status, and unemployment; City of York Unitary Authority. | ||||||
| Employment (16+) (000) | Unemployment (16+) | |||||
| 12 months ending | ( 1) Total | Full-time | Part-time | Working age employment rate (percentage) | Total (000) | Rate (percentage) |
| (1)Includes people who did not state whether they worked full-time or part-time. Note: 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 | ||||||
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