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14 Jan 2008 : Column 900W—continued
Housing: Carbon Emissions
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what records (a) the Valuation Office Agency and (b) his Department keep of the number and location of zero carbon homes. [176252]
Jane Kennedy: The stamp duty land tax relief for new zero carbon homes can be claimed using the stamp duty land tax return, which contains a specific code for this tax relief. HM Revenue and Customs is therefore able to monitor the number of claims and the amount of relief given. HM Treasury has access to these data in an aggregated form. The Valuation Office Agency does not collate information in respect of zero carbon homes.
Joint Child Poverty Unit
Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his responsibilities are in relation to the Joint Child Poverty Unit; and what arrangements are in place for liaison with other Departments on the work of the Unit. [178427]
Jane Kennedy: The Child Poverty Unit brings together the expertise of officials from both DWP and DCSF. HMT works closely with the Unit and officials are in regular contact. The Child Poverty Unit is a member of the PSA Board chaired by HMT.
The Child Poverty Unit will report to a child poverty board comprised of senior officials from across Whitehall. At ministerial level, this board will report to DA(FCY). The Unit is also currently setting up working groups with officials across a number of Government Departments and Local Government Offices.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Financial Secretary will provide a substantive reply to the letter of 31 October 2007, from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire (acknowledgement 10 October, reference 1/50946/07). [175408]
Jane Kennedy [holding answer 18 December 2007]: I have replied to the hon. Member.
Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when a reply will be sent to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire's letter of 29 November 2007, about paying VAT on flood defences, PO ref: 1/53090/2007. [179000]
Jane Kennedy: I replied to the hon. Member on 5 January.
Migration
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many estimates of long-term population growth attributable to migration have been made by the Government since 1997; what those estimates have been, including the most recent longest term estimate of population growth attributable to migration and total future population size; what assessment he has made of the environmental and housing implications of these estimates; and what the Government’s population policy is. [177459]
Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 January 2008:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question regarding how many estimates of long-term population growth attributable to migration have been made by the Government since 1997; what those estimates have been, including the most recent longest term estimate of population growth attributable to migration and total future population size; what assessment he has made of the environmental and housing implications of these estimates; and what the Government’s population policy is. (177459)
National population projections, based on a full review of all the underlying assumptions, are normally produced every two years. The most recent set is the 2006-based national projections published in October 2007. In the intervening year between these ‘full’ projections, special sets of 'interim' national projections may be produced. Two sets of interim projections (2001-based and 2003-based) have been produced in recent years.
The underlying assumptions for the projections are demographic trend based and should not be seen as predictions. If, as in recent years, there is an increase in migration levels then the assumptions are changed to reflect this. The long-term assumptions of annual net migration to the United Kingdom in these recent national population projections have been as follows:
| Based projections | |
Since the 2002-based projections, an analysis has been published of the impact of the assumed level of net migration on population growth in the period to 2031. These analyses are available from the following links:
2002-based projections
Interim 2003-based projections
2004-based projections
2006-based projections
The Office for National Statistics cannot comment on the policy issues raised in your question.
Money: Northern Ireland
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what recent estimate he has made of the amount of currency issued annually by Northern Irish banks; [177095]
(2) which Northern Irish banks have the right to issue bank notes; [177096]
(3) what funding reserves are required to back up the issue of currency by Northern Irish banks. [177291]
Angela Eagle: As at 24 November 2007 the total value of banknotes in circulation issued by banks in Northern Ireland was reported to be £1,607 million. The Treasury holds no estimate of the amounts issued annually by banks in Northern Ireland.
Commercial banks in Northern Ireland that currently issue their own banknotes are:
The Bank of Ireland
First Trust Bank
The Northern Bank Ltd
Ulster Bank Ltd
Under the legislation regulating banknotes issued in Northern Ireland, the Bankers (Ireland) Act 1845 and Bankers (Northern Ireland) Act 1928, those commercial banks permitted to issue banknotes are required to ensure that, at the close of business on each Saturday over specified four week periods, the average value of note-covering assets that they hold is not less than the average value of their banknotes that are in circulation (above a small fiduciary level) at the close of business on each Saturday during the same four week periods.
Non-domestic Rates: Microgeneration
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated yearly cost to the public purse is of the proposal in the pre-Budget report 2007 that microgeneration equipment in business premises will only trigger an increased liability for business rates when a property is revalued during the five-yearly revaluation process. [176250]
Jane Kennedy: The cost for not including microgeneration investments in ad hoc reassessments of business rates liability will be published at the Budget.
Office of Government Commerce: Departmental Records
Mr. Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) on what dates early versions of gateway reviews relating to (a) identity cards, (b) the NHS IT programme and (c) other projects were shredded by the Office of Government Commerce; [178541]
(2) whether the decision to shred early versions of gateway reviews relating to identity cards and the NHS IT programme was taken by Ministers; [178542]
(3) whether all versions prior to the final version of the gateway reviews relating to (a) identity cards and (b) the NHS IT programme were shredded by the Office of Government Commerce; and on what dates. [178543]
Angela Eagle: Working copies of Gateway reports are destroyed prior to the production of the final Gateway report to the SRO (senior responsible owner) of the project being reviewed. This ‘version control’ is to ensure that there is no confusion created between notes made during work in progress and the final Gateway report. Two copies of the final Gateway report are held, one by the SRO and another by the OGC, electronically, and kept on file permanently. This procedure is standard practice across all Gateway reviews. Ministers have approved the Gateway process.
Since the working copies of the Gateway reports are destroyed before the production of the final report on the last day of a review, documents will have been destroyed before the last day of the following reviews for the Identity Card Programme and the NHS:
National Programme for IT in the NHS (ID0217)
Gate 0, 24 June 2002 - 28 June 2002
Gate Oa, 25 October 2004 - 29 October 2004
Identity Cards Programme (ID0412)
Gate 0, 23 June 2003 - 25 June 2003
Gate Oa, 26 January 2004 - 29 January 2004
Gate l, 12 July 2005 - 15 July 2005
Gate Ob, 9 October 2006 - 13 January 2006
Pregnancy: Young People
Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the conception rate is for women aged 19 years and under; how many women aged 19 and under had (a) a live birth, (b) an abortion and (c) miscarried in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion of all live births were to teenage mothers in the last two years. [177195]
Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 January 2008:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the conception rate is for women aged 19 years and under; how many women aged 19 and under had (a) a live birth, (b) an abortion and (c) miscarried in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion of all live births were to teenage mothers in the last two years. (177195)
The overall number and rate of conceptions for women aged 19 years and under in England and Wales in 2005 (the most recent year for which figures are available) are shown in the
attached table. It is not possible to provide figures on conceptions leading to a live birth only as conception statistics are estimated using maternities (i.e. a pregnancy resulting in one or more live or still births) and notifications of legal abortions. Figures on conceptions leading to a maternity and conceptions leading to an abortion for women aged 19 and under in England and Wales in 2005 (the most recent year for which figures are available) are also shown in the attached table.
Figures for women who miscarried are not collected centrally.
The number and percentage of live births to mothers aged 19 and under for England and Wales in 2005-2006 (the most recent years for which figures are available) are also shown in the attached table.
| Conceptions to women aged 19 years and under, England and Wales, 2005 | ||||||
| All conceptions | Conceptions leading to a maternity | Conceptions leading to an abortion | ||||
| Number | Rate( 1) | Number | Rate( 1) | Number | Rate( 1) | |
| (1) Conceptions per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19. | ||||||
| Live births by age of mother, England and Wales, 2005-06 | |||
| All ages | 19 years and under | ||
| Number | Number | Percentage | |
Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the conception rate is for girls aged 15 years and under; how many women aged 15 and under had (a) a live birth, (b) an abortion and (c) miscarried in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion of all live births were to mothers aged 15 and under in the last two years. [177196]
Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 January 2008:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the conception rate is for women aged 15 years and under; how many women aged 15 and under had (a) a live birth, (b) an abortion and (c) miscarried in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion of all live births were to mothers aged 15 and under in the last two years. (177196)
The overall number and rate of conceptions for women aged 15 years and under in England and Wales in 2005 (the most recent year for which figures are available) are shown in the attached table. It is not possible to provide figures on conceptions leading to a live birth only as conception statistics are estimated using maternities (i.e. a pregnancy resulting in one or more live or still births) and notifications of legal abortions. Figures on conceptions leading to a maternity and conceptions leading to an abortion for women aged 15 and under in England and Wales in 2005 (the most recent year for which figures are available) are also shown in the attached table.
Figures for women who miscarried are not collected centrally.
The number and percentage of live births to mothers aged 15 and under for England and Wales in 2005-2006 (the most recent years for which figures are available) are also shown in the attached table.
| Conceptions to women aged 15 years and under, England and Wales, 2005 | ||||||
| All conceptions | Conceptions leading to a maternity | Conceptions leading to an abortion | ||||
| Number | Rate( 1) | Number | Rate( 1) | Number | Rate( 1) | |
| (1) Conceptions per 1,000 women aged 13 to 15. | ||||||
| Live births by age of mother, England and Wales, 2005-06 | |||
| All ages | 15 years and under | ||
| Number | Number | Percentage | |
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