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19 Feb 2008 : Column 616W—continued
Inflation
Mr. Cameron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage changes there were in (a) the retail price index, (b) the consumer price index, (c) fuel prices and (d) food prices in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007 and (iii) 2008 to date. [186895]
Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 19 February 2008:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what percentage of changes there were in a) the retail price index, b) the consumer price index, c) fuel prices and d) food prices in i) 2006, ii) 2007 and iii) 2008 to date. (186895)
In the table below I have provided the percentage changes over 12 months within a) the retail price index, b) the consumer price index, e) fuel prices and d) food prices.
| Annual growth rates | |||
| 2006 | 2007 | January 2008 | |
The 2006 and 2007 figures provided are annual growth rates based on average prices in each calendar year. The January 2008 figures are the latest figures available (published on 12 February 2008), the table shows the percentage increase in prices between January 2007 and January 2008.
The CPI and RPI both measure the average change from month to month in the prices of consumer goods and services purchased in the UK. However, they differ in both coverage and methodology. A detailed description of these differences is given in an article entitled “The New Inflation Target: the Statistical Perspective”:
Specifically when comparing petrol and oil (RPI) and fuels and lubricants (CPI), the major difference is the fact that the RPI measures pump prices on index day each month, whereas CPI measures the average pump price across the whole month.
The major difference between food in the RPI and CPI are the differences in the weights used to combine the low level indices.
Population
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the percentage change in (a) UK population growth and (b) population growth in England was in each of the last three years for which figures are available; [177452]
(2) what population increase has been attributable to migration in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) each region of the England since 1997; and what estimate he has made of the likely future increase in population attributable to migration in each case in the light of the Government Actuary Department's principal population projections; [177460]
(3) what estimate he has made of the proportion of population growth attributable to migration in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales and (e) Northern Ireland in each year since 1987; [177463]
(4) what the percentage change in (a) UK population growth and (b) population growth in England was in each of the last five years for which figures are available; what the average percentage change in population in EU member states was over the same period; and if he will rank EU member states according to change in population growth in the last year for which figures are available. [178331]
Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply. The reply will be placed in the Library.
Small businesses
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the most recent estimate is of the cost over the next comprehensive spending review period of reversing the small companies rate increases announced in the 2007 budget. [163258]
Jane Kennedy: In line with the Code for Fiscal Stability, at Budget 2007 the Government published the impact on Exchequer revenues of the increase in the small companies rate for the years 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10. These can be found in Table 1.2 of the Budget 2007 document.
Tax Yields: Cornwall
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Government has raised in tax from Cornwall in each of the last five years. [186505]
Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available.
Taxation: Immigrants
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount paid by migrants to the UK in taxes and national insurance in 2007. [186933]
Jane Kennedy: Information on taxes and national insurance contributions paid by migrants is not reported separately.
Culture, Media and Sport
Alcoholic Drinks: Supermarkets
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many discussions (a) he and (b) his predecessor have had with representatives from supermarkets where alcohol price, promotion and harm was discussed in the last 12 months. [186315]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Secretary of State and his predecessor have had no meetings with representatives from supermarkets over the last 12 months. However, my right hon. Friend the Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (James Purnell) did attend the Prime Minister’s seminar on alcohol on 21 November which was attended by individuals representing supermarkets.
Bingo
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications to open (a) bingo halls and (b) high street bookmakers were approved in each of the last five years. [186778]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The table shows the number of new bingo licences issued under the Gaming Act 1968 by licensing magistrates (licensing boards in Scotland) for the five years from 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2007.
| New bingo licences issued from 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2007 | |
| April to March each year | Licences issued |
Under the Gambling Act 2005 (the 2005 Act), the Gambling Commission (the Commission) is responsible for issuing bingo operating licences to operators; licensing authorities are responsible for issuing bingo premises licences in respect of individual bingo halls. Since 1 January 2007, the Commission has been able to accept applications for bingo operating licences; it has so far issued 218. (Under the 2005 Act the earliest date bingo operating licences or bingo premises licences could take effect was 1 September 2007.)
No figures are available for the period requested for the number of high street bookmakers to whom licences were issued. Prior to the introduction of the 2005 Act, high street bookmakers were authorised by permits issued by magistrates courts; no information was collated centrally. Since 1 January 2007 the Commission has been able to accept applications for general betting operating licences from operators wishing to run high street bookmakers; it has so far issued 691. Licensing authorities are responsible for issuing betting premises licences to high street bookmakers.
Under the 2005 Act the Commission is responsible for collecting information on the number of premises licences issued by licensing authorities. However, the Commission does not yet have figures for how many applications for bingo or betting premises licences have been granted by licensing authorities.
Departmental Freedom of Information
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of Freedom of Information requests received by his Department have given rise to responses that have been published by his Department. [180218]
Mr. Sutcliffe: Since the introduction of the Freedom of Information Act the Department has published 85 per cent. of responses on its website. Our Department has adopted a full disclosure log where we aim to publish all requests for information where information has been released.
Departmental Information Officers
Mr. Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) press and (b) communications officers his Department employed in each of the last 10 years. [182523]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The number of press officers employed by the Department in each of the last 10 years is shown in the table:
| Press officers | |
| (1) This includes press officers working on the Olympics. | |
The Department does not have a “communication officer” grade. The “White Book” of contacts in Government Departments and agencies contains listings for the Department and the book is updated twice yearly.
Departmental Internet
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many Wikipedia entries have been (a) created and (b) amended (i) by (A) special advisers, (B) Ministers and (C) communications officials and (ii) from IP addresses of (1) special advisers, (2) Ministers and (3) communications officials in his Department since August 2005. [185530]
Mr. Sutcliffe: 103 Wikipedia entries have been created or amended by people in my Department. We do not hold the information as to how many of these changes were made by (A) special advisers, (B) Ministers and (C) communications officials.
All staff in the Department are required to sign an acceptable use policy before they are given access to the internet. Occasional and reasonable personal use is permitted provided it does not interfere with the performance of duties. Any activity that would bring the Department into disrepute is prohibited.
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr. Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the special advisers employed in his Department since 6 May 1997; and what the (a) start and (b) end date of employment was in each case. [184364]
Andy Burnham: Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the names and numbers of special advisers in each pay band. For the most recent information I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 November 2007, Official Report, columns 147-50WS.
Information on the employment of special advisers prior to 2003 was provided at regular intervals and is available in the Library of the House.
Departmental Publications
Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what public information booklets were published by his Department in 2007; and what the (a) print run and (b) cost to the Department was in each case. [185797]
Margaret Hodge: The following publications were published by DCMS in the year 6 April 2007-5 April 2008:
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