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12 Jan 2009 : Column 468W—continued
Bowel Cancer
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many (a) men and (b) women were diagnosed with bowel cancer in each parliamentary constituency in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [242581]
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 17 December 2008:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many (a) men and (b) women were diagnosed with bowel cancer in each UK parliamentary constituency in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [242581]
The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of cancer (incidence) are for the year 2006 for England and Wales, and the year 2005 for Scotland and Northern Ireland. Table 1 showing the
numbers of newly diagnosed cases of bowel cancer for (a) men, and Table 2 for (b) women, in each UK parliamentary constituency for the years 2001 to 2005, and in each parliamentary constituency in England and Wales for 2006, have been placed in the House of Commons Library.
Census
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the timetable for the Census rehearsal is. [246060]
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 December 2008:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the timetable for the Census rehearsal is.(246060)
The rehearsal for the Census in England and Wales will take place on 11 October 2009 in some 61,000 households in Lancaster, 40,000 in Newham and 34,000 in the Isle of Anglesey.
The aims of the rehearsal are to rehearse the field operations and processing activities for a defined set of addresses; to pilot and evaluate all aspects of the 2011 Census design; to identify aspects for improvement and to develop effective ways of working with local authorities, community groups and other stakeholders.
We are already working closely with the local authorities in these areas to establish effective ways of working together in preparation for 2011 and are currently developing form-tracking and operational systems. Address checking in rehearsal areas begins in February and will continue until the end of April. The award of the contract for recruitment, payment and training of field staff is expected at the end of March. Publicity in rehearsal areas will be launched in April. In June the rehearsal questionnaires will be printed and field staff training will begin. Delivery of questionnaires, primarily by post-out but by hand in some areas and to communal establishments will start in September. Also in September the on line facility and contact centre will be available. Although the rehearsal is voluntary, some of the follow-up procedures will be rehearsed and this will begin soon after 11 October.
The questionnaires to be used in the 2009 rehearsal have recently been released and are available on the website at
Charities: Economic Situation
Christopher Fraser: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment his Department has made of the effect on charitable bodies of the economic downturn. [246145]
Kevin Brennan: On 24 November, the Minister for the third sector co-chaired a summit on the impact of the downturn on the third sector, including charitable bodies, at which a number of the key third sector representative bodies provided information. A summary of this discussion is available on the Office of the Third Sector website
Christopher Fraser: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps the Government is taking to support charities in the economic downturn. [246147]
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps the Government is taking to support charities during the economic downturn. [246535]
Kevin Brennan: On 24 November, the Minister for the third sector co-chaired a summit with NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) on the impact of the downturn on the third sector. At the summit, the Minister announced plans to publish a Government action plan in the new year. The action plan will embed a response to the downturn across the OTS’ existing activities and work across Government to develop responses to remaining unmet needs.
Charities: Finance
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps his Department is taking to ensure that charities receive money donated through street fundraisers. [245035]
Kevin Brennan: Effective public fundraising is important for the charity sector. Professional fundraisers are required to make a statement indicating that they are paid, when fundraising from members of the public. The Charities Act 2006 has strengthened this requirement, and professional fundraisers must now also state the amount of remuneration they receive in connection with an appeal. It also provides for a new licensing regime for public charitable collections and the Office of the Third Sector has announced plans to undertake independent research into the costs and benefits of implementing this regime.
Civil Service: Pensions
Mr. Brazier: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what procedures will be applied to overpayments of pensions to former civil servants. [246275]
Mr. Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement I made to the House on 16 December.
My statement explained that the Government would not be seeking to recover any pension overpayments, arising from the incorrect indexation of Guaranteed Minimum Pensions, made to former civil servants or other public service pensioners. It also set out the Government's intention to correct pensions in April, when pensions increase is applied to civil service and other public service pensions.
Commission for the Compact
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what role the Commission for the Compact has in relation to local government. [245925]
Kevin Brennan: The Commission for the Compact is responsible for overseeing the operation of the Compact at both national and local levels. It works with all stakeholders, including local government, promoting partnership working through the Compact. All top tier local authority areas have a Local Compact in place. The Commission's role is to increase awareness, share good practice and carry out research, looking at key themes that affect the relationship between the statutory and voluntary sector.
The Office of the Third Sector is taking forward the recommendations from the recent debate on the future of the Compact. As well as a refresh of the Compact,
and putting the Commission on a statutory footing, the Commission's board will be enlarged so that it is more representative. This will include local government representation.
Death: Carbon Monoxide
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning in (a) the UK and (b) Portsmouth in the last 10 years. [244508]
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, 16 December 2008:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning in (a) the UK and (b) Portsmouth in the last 10 years. (244508)
The attached table provides the number of deaths where the toxic effect of carbon monoxide was the cause of death for people in (a) the UK and (b) Portsmouth, from 1998 to 2007 (the latest year available).
| Table 1: Number of deaths with a cause of carbon monoxide poisoning( 1,2 ) and Portsmouth( 3) 1998 to 2007( 4) | ||
| Deaths (persons) | ||
| UK | Portsmouth | |
| (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 986 for the years 1997 to 2000, and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code T58 for 2001 onwards, for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and ICD-9 for the years 1997 to 1999 and ICD-10 for the years 2000 to 2006 for Scotland. (2) Figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland have been provided by the Registrars General for these countries. (3 )Based on boundaries as of 2008. (4) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. | ||
Death: Weather
Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many excess deaths from cold weather there were in each parliamentary constituency in England in each year since 1996-97. [240532]
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 December 2008:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many excess deaths from cold weather there were in England in each constituency in each year since 1996-97. (240532)
Estimates of excess winter deaths are based on the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding four months (August to November) and the following four months (April to July). It is not possible to say whether these
deaths were related to cold weather. The table provides the number of excess winter deaths in each parliamentary constituency in England, 1996/97 to 2005/06 (the latest available). A copy has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on what date statistical data will next be published on excess winter deaths; and if he will make a statement. [246098]
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 December 2008:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking on what date statistical data will next be published on excess winter deaths. (246098)
Currently, ONS publishes excess winter mortality figures in November each year. The most recent excess winter mortality figures for England and Wales were published on 27th November, which included final figures for winter 2006/07 and provisional figures for winter 2007/08.(1) The date for next year's publication has still to be fixed.
ONS also publishes weekly estimates of the numbers of deaths registered in England and Wales. These can be found on the National Statistics website at:
(1) Office for National Statistics (2008). Report: Excess winter mortality in England and Wales, 2007/08 (provisional) and 2006/07 (final). Health Statistics Quarterly 40, 66-76
Departmental Contracts
Mr. Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with how many faith-based organisations his Department has contracts to provide public services. [244842]
Kevin Brennan: In making contracts for the provision of public services, my Department selects those organisations that meet the proper criteria and have the most relevant expertise and experience to offer. The extent to which such organisations are faith-based is not evident in every case. An accurate total or comprehensive list could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Furniture
Mrs. Moon: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how much was spent by the Prime Minister's Office on furniture made by (a) British firms, (b) Remploy and (c) overseas firms in each year since 2000; [244353]
(2) how much was spent by his Department on furniture made by (a) British firms, (b) Remploy and (c) overseas firms in each year since 2000. [244362]
Kevin Brennan: The Prime Minister's Office forms an integral part of the Cabinet Office.
The information requested is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Gifts
Mr. Redwood:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many staff members in his Department have received gifts valued at £100 or higher in the
course of their duties in each of the last three years; what these gifts were; and from whom they were received. [241800]
Kevin Brennan: The rules and guidance on receipt of gifts by civil servants are set out in the Civil Service Management Code, and in departmental staff handbooks.
The information requested is not held centrally in my Department and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Official Hospitality
David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what records his Department maintains of its expenditure on (a) official hospitality and (b) alcohol for official hospitality. [240478]
Kevin Brennan: Expenditure on official hospitality including alcohol is recorded on the Cabinet Office Resource Accounting System.
All Cabinet Office expenditure on official hospitality is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on “Regularity and Propriety”.
Any proposal to purchase alcohol for hospitality purposes requires the prior approval of the Cabinet Office Finance Director.
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