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10 Dec 2009 : Column 600W—continued
Unemployment: Graduates
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of graduates were unemployed six months after obtaining their degree in each year since 1997. [304164]
Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Jil Matheson, dated December 2009:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many and what proportion of graduates were unemployed six months after obtaining their degree in each year since 1997. (304164)
Estimates for unemployment are derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The economic status of graduates six months after obtaining their degree is not recorded in the LFS. However, estimates for unemployed graduates who have gained a degree in the last twelve months are available on an annual basis from quarter 2 2005.
The information provided in the attached table shows the unemployment level of those who gained a degree in the last twelve months, the proportion who are unemployed and their unemployment rate. The unemployment rate is the number of graduates who are unemployed divided by the number of graduates who are economically active (in employment or unemployed), in accordance with the International Labour Organization (ILO) convention.
As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
The figures in the table are derived from the LFS microdata which are weighted using the official population estimates published in autumn 2007. Consequently the estimates from Q3 2006 are not entirely consistent with the figures published in the monthly Labour Market Statistics First Release, which are weighted using more up-to-date population estimates.
| Unemployment level, rate and proportion of people who had gained a degree or equivalent in the previous 12 months, Quarter 2 each year, 2005 - 09, United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted | |||
| Thousand and per cent. | |||
| Level( 1) | Rate | Proportion( 2) | |
| (1 )Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates, as described below: Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV-for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent. we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220 Key Coefficient o f Variation (CV) (%) Statistical Robustness * 0 ≤ CV<5 Estimates are considered precise ** 5 ≤ CV <10 Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 ≤ CV <20 Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ≥ 20 Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes (2) The number of people who are unemployed divided by the total population. Notes: 1. The number of people who are unemployed divided by the number of people who are economically active. 2. It should be noted that the above estimates exclude people in most types of communal establishment (e.g. hotels, boarding houses, hostels mobile home sites, etc.). Source: Labour Force Survey | |||
Unemployment: Young People
Damian Green: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the (a) numerical and (b) percentage change in youth unemployment in Ashford constituency was in the most recent 12 months for which figures are available. [304922]
Ms Butler: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Jil Matheson, dated December 2009:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the (a) numerical and (b) percentage change in youth unemployment in Ashford Constituency was in the most recent 12 months for which figures are available (304922).
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions. However, estimates of unemployment for the requested age range and area are not available.
As an alternative, in Table 1 we have provided the numerical change and the percentage change in the number of persons aged
18 to 24 claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in the Ashford constituency, for the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
| Table 1. Change and percentage change in the number of persons aged 18 - 24 claiming jobseeker's allowance resident in Ashford parliamentary constituency between October 2008 and October 2009 | |
| October each year | Number/percentage |
| Note: Count data rounded to the nearest 5. Source: Jobcentre Plus Administrative System. | |
Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices: Finance
Mr. Benyon: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will issue a letter of intent to repay capped funds withheld by the Learning and Skills Council to the training providers of apprenticeships for those aged 19 years or more. [304263]
Kevin Brennan: We have no plans to issue any such letters. Funding of Apprenticeships is the responsibility of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The LSC contracts with FE colleges and training organisations to deliver training places funded up to a maximum contract value. In March 2009, providers were advised in writing by the LSC not to exceed or to further exceed Apprenticeship contract values for adults. Recruitment of new apprentices could continue up to maximum contract values and the LSC has committed to funding the training of apprentices who had already started on their programme.
The LSC has a clear responsibility to manage its finances within agreed budgets and made it clear to providers that any further commitments above their agreed maximum contract values would not be funded. However the LSC has sought to ensure, through performance management actions, that funding is moved to the highest performing providers. Where possible, for 19-24 provision this has resulted in increases to agreed contract levels, but as demand has been so high for those aged over 25 the LSC has had to continue to take actions to manage demand to remain within the overall funding limits it has available.
Business: Closures
Mr. Moss: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many small and medium-sized businesses have closed in (a) England and (b) North East Cambridgeshire since 1 January 2008. [304578]
Angela E. Smith: 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 Jil Matheson, dated December 2009:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many small and medium-sized businesses have closed in (a) England and (b) North East Cambridgeshire since 1 January 2008. (304578)
Annual statistics on business births, deaths and survival are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at www.statistics.gov.uk. The table below contains the latest statistics available on business deaths for England and the constituency of North East Cambridgeshire.
| Counts of deaths of enterprises in 2008 by employment size band | ||
| 0-49 | 50-249 | |
Mr. Moss: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many restaurants and cafés have closed in (a) England and (b) North East Cambridgeshire since 1 January 2008. [304579]
Angela E. Smith: 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 Jil Matheson, dated December 2009:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many restaurants and cafes have closed in (a) England and (b) North East Cambridgeshire since 1 January 2008. (304579)
Annual statistics on business births, deaths and survival are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at www.statistics.gov.uk. The table below contains the latest statistics available on business deaths for England and the constituency of North East Cambridgeshire. All counts are based on enterprises and not local units (i.e. sites). Where a local unit closes but the enterprise continues to trade at other sites, a death will not be recorded in this data.
| Counts of deaths of enterprises for 2008 | |
| Restaurants and cafes by England and North East Cambridgeshire c onstituency | |
| England | North East Cambridgeshire |
| Note: To avoid disclosure figures are rounded to the nearest 5. | |
Christmas
Mr. Vaizey: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department has budgeted for Christmas trees in 2009. [305720]
Mr. McFadden: This Department has spent £1,144 in 2009 on the purchase and installation of decorated Christmas trees for the reception areas in three of its buildings in central London and Sheffield.
Cybercrime
Mark Pritchard:
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to require utility companies which
operate within his Department's remit to put in place resilience measures sufficient to prevent cyber-attacks rendering their services temporarily ineffective. [303801]
Ian Lucas: BIS leads on policy for critical infrastructure in the communications sector, which encompasses the postal and telecommunications sectors.
BIS maintains close working links with the telecoms sector on resilience, primarily through the EC-RRG (Electronic Communications Resilience and Response Group) which is industry-led but with Government and regulator representation. The aim of this group is to enhance the resilience of UK telecommunications systems to all types of hazard or threat, including cyber attacks. Part of the work of this group is to carry out exercises responding to emergencies, in order to ensure any recovery can take place as soon as possible. Additionally, CPNI (the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure) facilitates the Network Security Information Exchange, a forum for telecoms industry providers to share information and good practice specific to digital security.
The Digital Economy Bill also proposes measures to enhance investment in telecoms infrastructure and overall resilience (as part of a report on the overall health of the telecoms system in the UK). These measures will involve sharing information on resilience matters with Ofcom, who will then provide a report to the Secretary of State on the ability of the UK telecoms system to withstand shocks.
BIS also works closely with Royal Mail on resilience issues and ensures that the company liaises with the appropriate Government agencies (including CPNI) for advice on proportionate measures to protect postal operations from threats and hazards, including risks associated with cyber attacks, and to maintain business continuity.
Departmental Assets
Dr. Cable: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what assets of his Department are planned to be sold in each year from 2009-10 to 2013-14; what the (a) description and (b) book value of each such asset is; what the expected revenue from each such sale is; and if he will make a statement. [300194]
Mr. McFadden: The Government have stated their intention to realise £16 billion in asset disposals over the period 2011-14 and will publish further details of opportunities to commercialise business assets and property in the coming weeks.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) currently has planned asset disposals of £9 million in 2009-10 and £21 million 2010-11.
Departmental Cost Effectiveness
Dr. Cable: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what efficiency savings projects (a) his Department and (b) its agencies put in place under the Operational Efficiency Programme; on what date each such project was initiated; how much each such project was expected to contribute to departmental savings; how much had been saved through each such project on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [300934]
Mr. McFadden: BIS has a significant Value for Money Programme (VfM) for CSR07, with a challenging three year set of targets of £732 million (2008-09), £1,113 million (2009-10) and £2,090 million (2010-11).
Most of the savings are due to be delivered by BIS partner organisations and examples include:
the further education sector savings of £29 million for 2008-09 through the modernisation of the further education estate and more efficient procurement.
Research Council savings of £168 million for 2008-09 include a reduction in the proportion of expenditure on administration, increasing the efficiency of Research Council institutes, growing co-funding of research and post graduate training and re-prioritising expenditure.
The target for 2008-09 has been exceeded, and we are forecasting the same for 2009-10. Further details of the VfM programme are contained in the BIS autumn performance report, published on 8 December:
BIS has a change management programme to drive out the further efficiency savings and improvements in service levels required over the coming years. This programme covers all the strands in the Operational Efficiency, Public Value and Service Transformation Programmes. The focus is on improving workforce planning, sharing common delivery platforms and channels, and making better use of existing infrastructure. This will contribute to the government-wide £9 billion which will be delivered in the next spending period.
I have approached the chief executives of the Department's agencies and they will response to the hon. Member directly.
Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 9 December 2009:
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