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26 Nov 2008 : Column 1726W—continued
Capacitybuilders: Grants
Mr. Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library a copy of a table listing each grant given by Capacitybuilders to individual voluntary groups and organisations since its establishment. [238784]
Kevin Brennan: Capacitybuilders funds a wide range of grant holders to provide support services to third sector organisations. Lists of grant awards per programme are available from the following website links.
Capacitybuilders Improving Reach 2008 to 2011:
Consortia Development Grants funding allocation 2008 to 11:
Consortia Modernisation Projects funding allocation 2008 to 2011:
National Support Services funding allocation 2008 to 2011:
National Hubs funding allocation 2006 to 2008:
Consortia Projects Programme—funding allocation 2006 to 2008:
Improving Reach Programme—funding allocation 2006 to 2007:
This information has been placed in the Libraries in the House.
The grants given out under the different programmes by Capacitybuilders as aforementioned can also be found in their Annual Report and Accounts 2006-07 and 2007-08.
Census
Rob Marris: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) for which ethnic groups not included in the current Census 2011 Test questionnaire consultation on ethnic group, national identity, religion, and language there were the most requests for inclusion in the Census 2011; [221519]
(2) how many of the Sikh organisations which responded to the Census 2011 Test questionnaire consultation on ethnic group, national identity, religion, and language were (a) in favour of and (b) against the inclusion of Sikhs as a separate ethnic group on the Census 2011 itself; [221520]
(3) how many responses to the consultation on the Census 2011 questionnaire the Office for National Statistics received from (a) organisations representing Sikhs and (b) all organisations on possible questions in the 2011 Census on (i) ethnic group, (ii) national identity, (iii) religion and (iv) language. [221521]
Mr. Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated July 2008:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking 1) for which ethnic groups not included in the current Census 2011 Test questionnaire consultation on ethnic group, national identity, religion and language there were the most requests for inclusion in the Census 2011, 2) how many of the Sikh organisations which responded to the consultation on ethnic group, national identity, religion, and language were (a) in favour of and (b) against the inclusion of Sikhs as a separate ethnic group on the Census itself, 3) how many responses to the consultation on the Census 2011 questionnaire the Office for National Statistics received from (a) organisations representing Sikhs and (b) all organisations on possible questions in the 2011 Census on i) ethnic group, ii) national identity, iii) religion and iv) language. (221519, 221520,221521)
1) The ONS Ethnicity Identity, Language and Religion (EILR) consultation carried out between 2006 and 2007 invited comments and response from any organisation or individual with an interest in the topics, and did not exclude any ethnic groups. The most numerous requests to include ethnic group response categories not specifically covered in the 2007 Test question related to Cornish, Sikh and Kashmiri.
Some community organisations and special interest groups organised for copies of their response to be sent in by individuals as well, resulting in some duplication. This occurred particularly among organisations representing Sikh, Kashmiri and Cornish interests. As the main purpose of the consultation was to identify the range of views held and to understand user needs, the number of responses presented in our consultation reports(1) are based on the unique responses received, without the duplicates. The reports revealed a need amongst some Sikh Groups for a Sikh ethnic group tick box but not as strong a need for this amongst local and central government and service provider users.
ONS received requests for the inclusion of new response categories from a number of sources and not just consultation exercises. Many more requests for tick-boxes have been received than could possibly be included on the Census form, and so we
developed a set of principles by which tick-box categories for ethnic groups could be prioritised. These principles were based on the following criteria (in no particular order):
strength of need for information on the particular ethnic group;
lack of alternative sources of information;
clarity and quality of the information collected;
acceptability to respondents;
comparability with ethnicity data derived from the 2001 Census; and
operational considerations such as length of questions), speed and cost-effectiveness of processing, and ability to collect comparable information in surveys.
It should be noted that proposals for the question content for the 2011 Census have also taken account of an extensive programme of user consultation and question research, testing and development carried out over the period 2005-2007 wider than the recent EIRL consultation. The prioritising of questions and response categories therefore not only takes account of the volume of argument but also has had to ensure that there has been no disadvantage among those groups not able to mobilise themselves in large numbers.
However, ONS has considered all requests seriously and is sensitive to the strength of feeling within communities that have requested tick boxes. We are continuing to work to find alternative ways to provide information where specific tick boxes are not available, using other Census questions and write-in responses.
You will know as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for UK Sikhs that ONS is aware of the concerns raised by the Sikh community, and over the past years we have engaged with their representatives through a variety of events and public consultations on the content of the 2011 Census. These include:
1) A major consultation on 2011 Census content held in 2005
2) Specific consultation on Ethnicity, Identity, Language and Religion (EILR)—2006/2007
3) 2011 Census Open Meetings - March 2007
4) Meeting between ONS and British Sikh organisations, 24 April 2007
5) Correspondence
In addition, the 2011 Census Diversity Advisory Group which covers the interests of a range of special and minority groups includes the British Sikh Federation and the Inter Faith Network (the Network of Sikh Organisations is a member body).
2) There were some 154 responses from ‘Sikh’ organisations to the 2006/7 EILR consultation, which included responses from ‘Gurdwara’ and other related organisations supporting the inclusion of a specific ‘Sikh’ response category in the question. No Sikh organisations responding to the consultation opposed the inclusion of a Sikh tick box in the ethnic group question.
The consultation on the topic content for the 2011 Census has encompassed a wider scope than the recent EILR consultation, and the wording of the currently proposed question also takes account of a programme of small scale testing, cognitive research, focus groups and discussions with the several formal Census Advisory Groups over the period 2005-2007.
3 a) All of the 154 Sikh organisations noted in answer to (2) above, that replied to the EILR consultation, i) all asked for the inclusion of a Sikh tick box in the ethnic group question using the same standard wording. All these organisations also commented on each of the possible questions on ii) national identity, iii) religion and iv) language.
b) Of the 297 responses (excluding those that were repetitions and responses not related to topics), i) 283 commented on the ethnic group question, ii) 257 commented on the national identity question, iii) 266 commented on the religion question and iv) 271 commented on the language question.
(1) Published on 31 October 2007. Available from
Central Office of Information
Mr. Jeremy Browne: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many full-time equivalent members of staff were employed by the Central Office of Information (COI) in each year since 1997; what the staffing costs of the COI were over that period; and what budget the COI has been set for (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11. [237607]
Mr. Watson [holding answer 20 November 2008]: The number of full-time equivalent staff (FTE's) employed by the Central Office of Information (COI) and their cost since 1997 can be found in COI's Annual Report.
A budget is not set for future years because the number of staff employed is directly related to the demand for services. If demand increases, staff numbers will increase and vice versa.
Central Office of Information: Advertising
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the (a) name, (b) cost and (c) purpose was of each advertising campaign carried out by the Central Office of Information in 2005-06. [239580]
Mr. Watson: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2008, Official Report, columns 1138-44W, on Central Office of Information: advertising, what the (a) name, (b) cost and (c) purpose was of each advertising campaign carried out by the Central Office of Information. [239599]
Mr. Watson: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Central Office of Information: Iris London
Mr. Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much was paid by the Central Office of Information (COI) to Iris London in each financial year since 2001; which contracts were awarded by the COI to Iris London in each year since 2000-01; what the (a) purpose and (b) cost of each contract was; what penalties for default were imposed in contract provisions; what the length was of each contract; whether each contract was advertised; how many companies applied for each contract; how many companies were short-listed in each case; what criteria were used for selecting the successful tender in each case; what provision was made for renewal without re-tender in each case; and if he will make a statement. [225739]
Mr. Watson: The Central Office of Information (COI) contracts with either Iris Nation (sponsorship) or Iris Direct (Direct Marketing), not the holding group (Iris London).
With regards to the penalties for default imposed in contract provisions, our terms and conditions do not include standard penalty clauses. However, if a contract is terminated through a supplier being in default, COI
shall be entitled to recover from the contractor the cost of making other arrangements and any additional expenditure incurred by COI throughout the remainder of the contract period.
Regarding the advertising of each contract, as a Government Department, COI is subject to the EU Public Procurement Directive embodied in UK law by the Public Contract Regulations 2006. The regulations govern the way in which Government contracts are advertised and awarded. For contracts over a threshold value it is a requirement for them to be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), which imposes strict timescales that cannot be shortened. To assist our clients in appointing a supplier in the shortest possible time, we have a number of framework agreements in place. Frameworks are themselves advertised in the OJEU therefore contracts awarded under the terms and conditions of the framework do not need to be re-advertised or apply the strict timescales—as long as timescales are reasonable to allow the suppliers time to provide an adequate response. The majority of COI's spend with external suppliers is via our frameworks. We rarely procure off-framework and when we do and it is over the threshold value we advertise in the OJEU.
Contracts can be renewed without re-tender. Each contract awarded is for a specific term usually relating to the client's allocated budget for that current financial year. Where appropriate, contracts will include the following option for an extension.
"COI reserves the right to extend the contract beyond the period stated above. Payment for any extension shall be based upon the Contract Price subject to fair and reasonable adjustment, to be agreed between COI and the Contractor"
The other information requested by the hon. Member, including the agency pitch selection criteria, has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Civil Servants: Pensions
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of active members in the civil service pension scheme joined on or after 30 July 2007; and what projections he has made of changes to this figure over time. [233128]
Mr. Watson: Active members of the civil service pension scheme joining on or after 30 July 2007 participate in the nuvos section. For the proportion of active members of the scheme who are in the nuvos section, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Cardiff, Central (Jenny Willott) and the hon. Member for Rochdale (Paul Rowen) today to PQs 229520 and 236303.
No projections have been made of the changes over time to the proportion of active members who joined on or after 30 July 2007.
Projections of how the proportion of members who join after April 2006 would increase over time were made in the context of the Public Services Forum agreement in October 2005. I refer the hon. Member to the answer the then Chief Secretary to the Treasury gave to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on
8 November 2005, Official Report, column 330W, which indicated the staff turnover assumed across the pension schemes for teachers, the NHS and civil servants.
Death: Anorexia
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many deaths there have been from anorexia in (a) Norwich, (b) Norfolk and (c) the UK in each of the last five years. [238304]
Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated November 2008:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths there have been from anorexia in (a) Norwich, (b) Norfolk and (c) the UK in each of the last five years. (238304)
The attached table provides the number of deaths for which anorexia nervosa was the underlying cause of death in the United Kingdom, registered in the years 2003 to 2007 (the latest year available). There were no deaths of people resident in Norwich local authority from anorexia nervosa registered in these years, and one death in Norfolk county, in 2005. Deaths are not all registered in the year they happen. For example, deaths subject to inquest are not normally registered until the inquest is completed, after which the coroner sends a certificate to the registrar.
| Table 1. Number of deaths from anorexia nervosa( 1) , United Kingdom( 2) , 2003 to 2007( 3, 4) | |
| Deaths (persons) | |
| (1 )International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes for deaths with an underlying cause of anorexia nervosa are F50.0 Anorexia nervosa, F50.1 Atypical anorexia nervosa, or F50.2 Bulimia nervosa where the death certificate specified anorexia nervosa in combination with bulimia. (2 )Figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland have been provided by the Registrar Generals for these countries. (3 )Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. Where a death is referred to a Coroner and an inquest is held, the death can usually be registered only after the inquest has been concluded. (4 )The figure for Northern Ireland for 2007 is provisional. | |
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