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20 Jun 2008 : Column 1216W—continued
DCMS also provided £3.6 million in each of these years to the eight regional development agencies outside of London and £1.9 million for each of these years to the London Development Agency for the support of tourism.
All of the DCMS funding for the London Development Agency is spent on the tourism marketing of the capital, and the promotion of its role as a gateway to the rest of the UK. It is for the regional development agencies outside London to decide on how best to use DCMS funding to support tourism in their regions. In 2007-08, all the agencies spent a total £43.5 million on supporting tourism.
Tourism: North West
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was allocated by his Department to tourism in the North West of England in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by category of expenditure. [209895]
Margaret Hodge: Central Government funding for the Regional Development Agencies (including the North West) is not ring-fenced for particular economic sectors, such as tourism. However, the Agencies have reported that their tourism spending totalled £43.5 million in 2007-08. Of that amount, DCMS contributed £3.6 million to DBERR’s Single Programme budget (the “Single Pot”) in respect of the tourism responsibilities of the eight Agencies outside London; and £1.9 million in support of the statutory tourism duties of the Greater London Authority.
Innovation, Universities and Skills
Dementia: Yorkshire and the Humber
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much the Medical Research Council plans to spend in 2009-10 on dementia research in (a) Leeds university and (b) Yorkshire and Humberside. [211175]
Ian Pearson: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. In 2006-07, MRC spent approximately £6.4 million on research on dementias in the UK. MRC is currently undertaking a strategic review on neurodegeneration. Recommendations from the review may help inform future levels of funding for dementias. MRC do not have set budgets for specific illnesses and research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. MRC welcome applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the scientific quality of the proposals made.
Departmental Manpower
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many and what proportion of his Department's employees are (a) male, (b) female, (c) from an ethnic minority, (d) disabled and (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement. [208395]
Mr. Lammy: In my Department, the breakdown of staff is as follows:
(a) 434 male (49.7 per cent. of all staff),
(b) 440 female (50.3 per cent. of all staff),
(c) 56 declared from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds (6.4 per cent. of all staff),
297 not known (34.0 per cent.), 16 prefer not to say (1.8 per cent.),
(d) 67 have declared a disability (7.7 per cent.), 451 not known (51.6 per cent.), 21 prefer not to say (2.4 per cent.),
(e) 66 declared as not heterosexual (7.6 per cent.), 337 not known (38.6 per cent.), 246 prefer not to say (28.1 per cent. ) - this category applies to ex-DFES figures only.
The percentage proportions are based on a total of 874 staff in DIUS.
Departmental records on the numbers of BME staff are based on voluntary self declaration on the basis of the categories used in the 2001 census. Records on the numbers of disabled staff are also solely based on voluntary self-declaration of being a disabled person as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act; and not connected in any way to a formal register of disability.
Olympic Games
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department plan to attend the Beijing Olympic Games; to what purpose in each case; and what estimate he has made of the cost. [212112]
Mr. Lammy: Five Government Ministers will attend the games. The Minister for the Olympics will attend the whole games. The Prime Minister; the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport; the Minister for Sport and the Minister for Trade Promotion and Investment will each attend a part of the games.
The number of Government officials attending has not yet been finalised.
Science: Museums and Galleries
Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what plans he has to assess the learning impact of science and discovery centres; and if he will make a statement. [212952]
Ian Pearson: DIUS and DCSF have funded Ecsite-UK as part of a £750,000 package. This funding supported a benchmarking project and grants for consortia of centres to explore new ways of collaborative working with each other to provide inreach and outreach activities to schools, and also included an assessment of available evidence on learning impact as part of a wider review of all impacts. The impact study element of the project can be viewed online at:
In response to the recommendations in the Science and Technology Committee's 2007 inquiry into the funding of science and discovery centres, and as subsequently discussed at the Westminster Hall debate on 15 May this year, my Department is currently commissioning independent research to assess the relative impact, effectiveness and value for money of science centres in comparison with other science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) delivery agents. Impact in this context will be measured in terms of effectiveness in delivering the Government's science and society (STEM and public engagement) goals. The procurement process for this work has begun, so it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage. However, the Terms of Reference for this project have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Welsh Language
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the level of demand for the services provided by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental bodies to be provided in the Welsh language; and if he will make a statement. [210541]
Mr. Lammy: DIUS makes an assessment of the need for provision of services in the Welsh language on a case by case basis. DirectGov, which provides on-line access to Government services and includes information for students in Further Education and Higher Education applying for courses and financial support, is available in Welsh. DIUS agencies and NDPBs also assess the need on a case-by-case basis.
Work and Pensions
Immigrants: Employment
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of migrants from (a) Poland, (b) Ukraine, (c) Pakistan and (d) Sri Lanka in Leeds Metropolitan District found full-time employment in each year since 2000. [211185]
Mr. Watson: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 20 June 2008:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on what percentage of migrants from (a) Poland (b) Ukraine (c) Pakistan and (d) Sri Lanka found full-time employment in Leeds Metropolitan District in each year since 2000. [211185]
The Office for National Statistics compiles statistics on migrant workers for local areas from the Annual Population survey (APS) and its predecessor the annual Labour Force
Survey (LFS). The National Statistics method for estimating the employment rate of migrant workers employed in the UK is based on the employment rate of people at a given time who were born outside the UK and of working age. This question has been answered on this basis. It means, for example, that some people who are UK nationals will be included in the figures. Those in full time employment are defined following International Labour Organisation definitions of employment with the respondent answering that they worked full time.
Table 1, attached, shows estimates of the employment rate of persons who live in the Leeds Local Authority District in full time employment who were born in Poland, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Figures for Ukraine are not available. Estimates are obtained for the 12 month periods ending in February, for 2001 to 2004, from the annual LFS. The APS estimates from 2004 to 2006 are provided covering the 12 month periods ending in December. The most recently released estimate is also included, which covers the 12 month period ending in September 2007.
The unweighted count (sample size) underpinning the estimates are also provided because at this geographic level they are inevitably small, especially for the earlier years. In addition some numbers in the table are not provided because the sample sizes are very small and risk being disclosive. The estimates are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty and special care should be taken on drawing conclusions on the basis of year-on-year comparisons.
| Table 1: Employment rate and unweighted count of working age( 1) people who were born in Poland, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, who were in full time( 2) employment( 3) , living in the Leeds local authority district, 2001-07 | ||||||
| Percentage and count | ||||||
| Poland | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | ||||
| Rates (percentage) | Unweighted count( 4) | Rates (percentage) | Unweighted count( 4) | Rates (percentage) | Unweighted count( 4) | |
| ‘—’ = Nil or negligible (1) Men aged 16-64, women aged 16-59. (2) Based on respondents’ answers. (3) Based on International Labour Organisation definitions. (4) Number of respondents for numerator (number of people in full time employment). (5) Sample too small to provide estimates. Note: The country of birth question in the APS/Annual LFS may undercount foreign born because: it excludes students in halls of residence who do not have a UK resident parent, it excludes people in most types of communal establishments (eg hotels, boarding houses, hostels, mobile home sites), it is grossed to population estimates that only include long term migrants (staying 12 months or more). Source: Annual Population Survey and local Labour Force Survey | ||||||
Jobseeker's Allowance
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to those circumstances when Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants are told they must accept a job, whether the conditions include jobs that are paid by 100 per cent. commission. [212821]
Mr. Plaskitt: Jobseeker's Allowance regulations treat all jobs classed as employed earners’ employment, including those based on 100 per cent commission, in the same way.
An employment officer, for example, may offer someone who has the relevant sales experience and looking for this type of work, a job based on 100 per cent. commission.
Where the offer of the job is refused it will be referred to an independent decision maker who will determine whether the jobseeker can demonstrate “good cause” for their decision. Each case is judged on its individual circumstances, taking all available evidence into account in reaching the decision.
Where the decision maker determines the jobseeker has not demonstrated good cause, they may lose entitlement to benefit for between one and 26 weeks.
National Insurance Contributions: Females
Steve Webb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by what means women who opted to pay the married woman's rate of national insurance
contributions prior to the abolition of the half test were advised of (a) its abolition and (b) the implications of its abolition for their continued election to pay contributions at the reduced rate. [211278]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 16 June 2008]: The abolition of the half test for women reaching state pension age after 5 April 1979 was part of a package to encourage married women to make independent pension arrangements and to revisit their election choice. The main thrust of the early publicity was a national press advertising campaign commissioned by DSS during February and March 1977. The programme was designed to give optimum, cost effective coverage of the main target group, working housewives. In addition, there was extensive editorial news and feature coverage in newspapers, magazines, and on radio and television. According to DSS records the published articles all stressed the importance of married women making decisions on their national insurance contributions position.
Leaflets, available at local offices, were distributed by DSS. Specifically, Leaflet NP25 entitled “PENSIONS: Britain's great step forward” issued in August 1975 and Leaflet NP31 entitled “New Pensions: a better deal for women” issued in January 1977 drew attention to the abolition of the half test. Leaflet NI1 entitled “National insurance guidance for married women” issued in February 1978 dealt extensively with the implications of election choice and invited women who were proposing to change their choice and were unsure that they would be able to satisfy the contribution conditions for basic pension to consult their local social security office who would usually get their individual contribution record before giving advice.
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