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26 July 2010 : Column 714W—continued
Fisheries: EU Grants
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what EU grants are available for private storage of fisheries products; and if she will make a statement. [11212]
Richard Benyon: Under Council Regulation 104/2000 on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and agriculture products, private storage aid may be granted to producer organisations for certain frozen fish products. The regulation will be reformed along with the common fisheries policy.
Fishing Limits
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will withdraw her Department's restriction on fishing for sole and skate in respect of (a) Suffolk Coastal constituency and (b) England; and if she will make a statement. [10874]
Richard Benyon: Officials from the Marine Management Organisation are working very hard to secure additional North sea sole quota for the under 10 metre fleet. I have also asked representatives from across industry to consider possible options for immediate-term relief. If these prove successful, I hope that a limited reopening of the fishery may be possible in the near future. At this stage, I foresee little prospect of being able to reopen the skate fishery, where uptake has been consistent with previous years, and closure of the fishery occurred later than in 2009. I am committed to delivering the long-term reform of the inshore fleet that is clearly necessary to prevent a recurrence of the difficulties that it currently faces and to ensure its future sustainability. It is my intention that a public consultation on proposals for such reform will be launched in the latter part of this year.
Flood Control
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to publish guidance on national flood and coastal erosion risk management strategies in England pursuant to the Floods and Water Management Act 2010. [10850]
Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency will be responsible for developing the national strategy and guidance for England.
We expect the Agency to consult on the strategy and key guidance this autumn. This will give an opportunity for the public and parliamentary colleagues, including the EFRA committee, to provide comments and suggestions before a draft is submitted to Ministers for review.
The national strategy and guidance will also heed to be laid before Parliament prior to being issued.
Food: Procurement
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to promote the procurement of food produced with the lowest possible greenhouse gas emissions in the public sector. [5341]
Mr Paice:
We are in the process of considering criteria for Government Buying Standards (GBS) to ensure the public sector procures sustainable food and catering services. GBS are mandatory for central Government
Departments and their Executive agencies and the standards will be promoted to the wider public sector.
DEFRA supported the development of PAS2050, a publicly available standard for calculating greenhouse gas footprints, which suppliers can use to report the footprint of their products. DEFRA-funded research demonstrated its applicability for food products.
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2010, to question 4421, on procurement of food, which public sector bodies have improved the quality and sustainability of the food they serve whilst maintaining or reducing the overall cost. [6884]
Mr Paice: In October 2008 DEFRA commissioned accounting and consultancy firm Deloitte to carry out an independent evaluation of the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI).
Deloitte's evaluation of the PSFPI was published by DEFRA in March 2009, and includes examples of public sector bodies which have improved the quality and sustainability of food procurement while reducing the overall cost. For example, the North East Public Sector Food Programme made cashable savings of over £165,000, Bradford City delivered 'better quality school meals at no extra cost' and Shropshire School Meals Service improved the quality of school fruit and vegetables while making an overall saving of 11%.
Incinerators: Shrewsbury
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will meet residents of Shrewsbury constituency to discuss the prospect of the construction of a waste incinerator in Shrewsbury. [9338]
Richard Benyon: Local authorities, rather than the Government, are responsible for deciding how waste is managed in their respective areas. Choice of technology must reflect local circumstances, which will vary. It is important that any plans for waste to energy facilities emerge out of local waste strategies, so that all options for reuse, recycling and composting can be explored first.
Inshore Fisheries
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for the transitional funding for the creation of inshore fisheries and conservation authorities from former Sea Fisheries Committees. [10908]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA is launching the transitional funding scheme on Monday 26 July 2010. This scheme is designed to assist existing Sea Fisheries Committees in preparing for the additional duties and functions they will have to perform when they vest as Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.
Packaging: Waste Management
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the remit of her review of waste management policy extends to consideration of the merits of a levy on waste packaging which does not break down quickly. [10919]
Richard Benyon: The terms of reference for the review of waste policies will be published shortly. The review will consider all aspects of waste policy and delivery in England.
Primates: Ownership
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to bring forward proposals for the further regulation of the ownership of primates. [10861]
Mr Paice: The welfare of primates is already governed by the Animal Welfare Act 2006. A code of practice for the welfare of privately kept non-human primates, made under the Act, came into force on 6 April this year. We have no plans to introduce any further measures regarding the ownership of primates.
Reservoirs: Abingdon
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of the land proposed at the new reservoir site south of Abingdon by Thames Water is in each category of agricultural land classification. [11496]
Richard Benyon: Thames Water has produced a map giving this information for the current public inquiry into its draft water resources management plan. A copy of the map has been placed in the House Library.
Rivers: North-East
James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how much has been spent on clearing debris from the River (a) Tees, (b) the Tyne and (c) the Wear in each of the last five years; [10421]
(2) what responsibility the Environment Agency has for the clearance of debris from the River Tees; which other (a) parts of her Department and (b) bodies sponsored by her Department have responsibility for debris clearance from rivers; and if she will make a statement. [11113]
Richard Benyon: The following table shows the total cost to the Environment Agency for debris removal within the river catchments of the Tyne, Wear and Tees. This includes the cost of this activity on the main river and its major tributaries.
The costs indicated are associated with routine maintenance activities and do not include emergency response costs, such as emergency debris removal from trash screens and culverts.
Under the Water Resources Act 1991, the Environment Agency has the power, in connection with main rivers, to cleanse, repair or otherwise maintain any existing watercourse or drainage work.
The Environment Agency exercises this permissive power where it deems it necessary to remove debris from a main river for the purpose of alleviating the risk of flooding. The River Tees is classified as a main river and therefore falls within the jurisdiction of the Environment Agency.
DEFRA sponsors British Waterways, the Environment Agency and the Broads Authority, the three main navigation bodies which manage two-thirds of navigable inland waterways in England and Wales. These bodies maintain the waterways and are responsible for keeping them clear for navigation purposes.
| River catchment summary for debris removal | ||||||
| £ | ||||||
| River catchment | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 5 year total |
Task Force on Farming Regulations
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the Task Force on Farming Regulations to publish its terms of reference; and if she will make a statement. [7292]
Mr Paice: The terms of reference for the Task Force on Farming Regulation were published on 9 July and can be found at:
Thames Water: Water Supply
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much water was lost through leakage within the Thames Water supply area in the latest period for which figures are available. [11507]
Richard Benyon: Total leakage reported from the Thames Water supply area for the period 2008-09 was 700 million litres per day. This represents a rate of 195.3 litres per property per day, or 22.2 cubic metres per kilometre of mains pipe per day.
Waste Management
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the reason is for the time taken to publish the terms of reference for her Department's waste review. [10469]
Richard Benyon: The waste policy review is a cross-departmental review, and the terms are subject to discussions between Government Departments. We anticipate that the terms will be published very shortly.
Waste: Renewable Energy
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on amending the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 to recognise the concept of end of waste fuel. [9370]
Richard Benyon: Consultation will begin shortly on amendments to the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010. These amendments would remove the distinction between fuels which, although manufactured from waste, are deemed by the competent authority (the Environment Agency) to have ceased to be waste before combustion, and "virgin" fuels not derived from waste.
Wildlife: Crime
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the potential contribution of the proposed border police force to the (a) enforcement of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species conference agreements on trade in wildlife and (b) reducing smuggling and illegal trade in wildlife. [10887]
Richard Benyon: Home Office Ministers, who lead on this, are developing a model in consultation with other departments, including DEFRA, which will deliver the coalition agreement commitment.
Electoral Commission Committee
Electoral Register
Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission whether the Electoral Commission holds information on the number of local authorities which hold Plain English Campaign awards for their electoral registration forms. [10779]
Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it does not hold this information. The format of the annual canvass form for electoral registration is currently prescribed in legislation.
However, the Commission does provide guidance to electoral registration officers that plain English should be used when designing those forms not prescribed in legislation, including rolling registration forms.
The Commission further informs me that it sets performance standards for electoral registration officers in Great Britain. These include a standard about accessibility and communication of information which aims to ensure that electoral registration officers effectively communicate electoral registration information to all electors.
Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the merits of informing hon. Members of the under-performance of electoral administration officers in local authorities in their constituencies. [10781]
Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it believes it is very important for hon. Members to be informed about the performance of electoral administration officers. When each annual assessment of performance for electoral registration officers and returning officers is published, the Commission writes to hon. Members directing them to information on its website where they can review the individual performance of every authority in Great Britain.
The first set of published electoral registration officer performance data was placed in the House of Commons Library in May 2009, and since then all sets of data have been published on the Commission's website alongside information about the performance of electoral registration officers and returning officers.
Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what guidance the Electoral Commission provides to electoral registration officers on carrying out their duties. [10821]
Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it issues guidance to Electoral Registration Officers on their statutory duties, which is available to download from its website:
The commission further informs me that it publishes performance standards for Electoral Registration Officers in Great Britain and works with those who have fallen below the standards to improve their performance. The commission also provides a range of resources for Electoral Registration Officers to assist them in planning and conducting voter registration activities.
Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what eligibility criteria apply to those seeking employment as electoral registration staff; and what mechanisms are in place for the training of such staff. [10852]
Mr Streeter:
The Electoral Commission informs me that the appointment of electoral registration officers in Great Britain is the responsibility of local authorities. In Northern Ireland the Chief Electoral Officer is the electoral registration officer for each constituency, and
is responsible for appointing staff to assist him in his statutory duties. There are no eligibility criteria set out in law.
The Commission further informs me that it has issued guidance to electoral registration officers that all staff involved in registration should be fully trained in the relevant aspects of the registration process. The Commission also publishes performance standards for electoral registration officers in Great Britain, including a performance standard on training which aims to ensure that they have provided appropriate training for staff to deliver the rolling registration and annual canvass processes.
Electorate: Ethnic Groups
Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what recent estimate the Electoral Commission has made of the proportion of UK citizens from (a) white, (b) Bangladeshi, (c) Pakistani, (d) African and (e) Afro Caribbean ethnic backgrounds who are eligible to vote. [10780]
Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that with a small number of exceptions, such as those serving a sentence in prison or convicted of an electoral offence, all UK citizens over the age of 18 living in the UK are eligible to vote.
The Commission further informs me that the most recent national estimates for registration levels across England and Wales were published in its 2005 report, 'Understanding Electoral Registration', which was based on data from 2000. The report included the following estimates of non-registration.
| Group | Percentage non-registered |
| (1) Small base size. | |
Members: Correspondence
Ian Lucas: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if the Chair of the Electoral Commission will publish in unredacted form a copy of her letter of 26 May 2010 to the Secretary of State for Wales. [10805]
Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has placed a copy of the letter in the House of Commons Library.
National Assembly for Wales
Ian Lucas: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if the Electoral Commission will publish its advice to the Wales Office on the form of the question to be put on the extension of powers of the National Assembly for Wales. [10804]
Mr Streeter:
The commission informs me that it will make public its views in response to the consultation by
the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State for Wales is also required to lay before Parliament a report stating any views that Electoral Commission has expressed on the intelligibility of the referendum question. A copy of the report must also be sent to the First Minister for laying before the National Assembly for Wales.
National Assembly for Wales: Referendums
Ian Lucas: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, when the Electoral Commission will begin its consultation on the content of the question for the referendum extending the powers of the National Assembly for Wales; and for how long this consultation is expected to last. [10802]
Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it was consulted by the Secretary of State for Wales on the wording of the proposed referendum question on 24 June 2010.
The Commission began its assessment of the question on 24 June, when it wrote to interested groups to invite their views on the question.
The Commission's assessment process will take around 10 weeks to complete.
Ian Lucas: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whom the Electoral Commission plans to consult on the content of the question to be put in the referendum relating to the extension of powers of the National Assembly for Wales. [10803]
Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it wrote on 24 June to interested groups-including political parties in Wales and potential campaigners-to invite their views on the proposed referendum question.
The Commission is also carrying out research with the public in Wales, and seeking advice on the wording of the proposed question from experts on accessibility and plain language.
Treasury
Air Passenger Duty
Mr Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of the level of air passenger duty in respect of journeys to (a) the Caribbean and (b) the US. [10364]
Justine Greening: The existing air passenger duty rates, and scheduled 1 November 2010 increases, were set and legislated for by the previous Government.
The Budget announced that the Government will explore changes to the aviation tax system, including switching from a per-passenger to a per-plane duty, which could encourage fuller planes. Major changes will be subject to consultation.
Banks: Taxation
Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on (a) banks and (b) the banking sector of the measures proposed in the June 2010 Budget in respect of (i) the banking levy, (ii) changes to corporation tax, (iii) the rise in the rate of value added tax and (iv) other relevant measures. [7682]
Mr Gauke: The cost to the Exchequer from the reduction in the main rate of corporation tax for financial sector companies is £0.1 billion in 2011-12, £0.2 billion in 2012-13, £0.3 billion in 2013-14 and £0.4 billion in 2014-15. There is a negligible impact in 2010-11. The financial sector covers companies classified as 'Banking and Finance', 'Insurance and Pension funds' and 'Auxiliary Financial Services'.
The yield from the bank levy is estimated to be £1.15 billion in 2011-12, £2.32 billion in 2012-13, £2.5 billion in 2013-14 and £2.4 billion in 2014-15.
A robust estimate of the impact of the rise in the standard rate of VAT on the financial services sector is not available. Such estimates are subject to wide margins of error in terms of behavioural responses.
The key assumptions applied in all major policy costings announced in Budget 2010 are set out in the following document:
Child Benefit: Armed Forces
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on the families of service personnel who are in receipt of child benefit of the measures in the June 2010 Budget. [9646]
Justine Greening [holding answer 19 July 2010]: The families of service personnel will receive child benefit if they meet the relevant conditions. As announced at Budget, the Government will freeze child benefit for three years to help fund significant above indexation increases in the child tax credit. The child tax credit will increase by £150 above indexation in 2011-12 and by £60 above indexation in 2012-13. As a result of this, the Budget will have no measurable negative impact on child poverty over the next two years.
Child Tax Credit
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families resident in Dundee East constituency will be affected by changes to the child tax credit due to come into effect in April 2011; and what estimate he has made of the likely average change in the level of child tax credit. [10533]
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families resident in Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency will be affected by changes to child tax credit due to come into effect in April 2011; and what estimate he has made of the likely average change in the level of child tax credit. [10523]
Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families resident in Moray constituency will be affected by changes to child tax credit due to come into effect in April 2011; and what estimate he has made of the likely average change in the level of child tax credit. [10543]
Mr Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families resident in Angus constituency will be affected by changes to child tax credits due to come into effect in April 2011; and what estimate he has made of the likely average change in the level of child tax credit. [10526]
Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families resident in Perth and North Perthshire constituency will be affected by changes to child tax credit due to come into effect in April 2011; and what estimate he has made of the likely average change in the level of child tax credit. [10535]
Mr Gauke: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 28 June 2010, Official Report, column 461W.
Information on the average change in child tax credit within each constituency is available only at disproportionate cost.
Child Trust Fund and Saving Gateway
Kate Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a race equality impact assessment has been carried out on (a) the discontinuation of the Child Trust Fund and (b) the decision not to extend the Savings Gateway. [10403]
Mr Hoban: The Government announced on 24 May that they will reduce and then stop Government payments to Child Trust Funds. The Government also announced at the Budget that the Saving Gateway will not be introduced. Both measures will help to reduce the budget deficit.
Assessments of the race and other impacts of both measures will be published once primary legislation is brought forward to implement them.
Consumer Price Index
Annette Brooke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Bank of England on proposals to include housing costs in the Consumer Price Index measure of inflation. [11488]
Justine Greening: The Chancellor meets the Governor of the Bank of England regularly to discuss a range of policy and operational issues. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.
Departmental Accountancy
Derek Twigg: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2010, Official Report, column 715W, on departmental accountancy, what the monetary value was of each of the projects listed. [10968]
Justine Greening: The information requested is not held centrally and could not be provided within the disproportionate cost threshold.
Departmental Lighting
Graham Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on light bulbs in each year since 1997. [7617]
Justine Greening: The information requested is as follows:
A full PFI refurbishment of the Treasury's building was completed in 2002. The cost of any light bulbs since that date have been included in the annual unitary payment made to the PFI provider and is not separately recorded. As a result of the introduction of a new accounting system in 2002-03, provision of information prior to that date could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Debt Management Office and the Asset Protection Agency
Spending on light bulbs is not separately identifiable within their accounting systems and cannot be provided within the disproportionate costs threshold.
The Royal Mint Advisory Committee
The Royal Mint Advisory Committee has not incurred any spending on light bulbs.
Departmental Manpower
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of officials in the Office for Budget Responsibility were previously employed by his Department. [6668]
Justine Greening: The interim Office for Budget Responsibility has an eight-person secretariat of economists and public finance experts. The members of the secretariat are HM Treasury employees, redeployed from within the Department.
Departmental Marketing
Graham Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his (a) Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on logo design in each year since 1997. [7473]
Justine Greening: Neither the Treasury nor its agencies or non-departmental public body have any record of spending on logos since 2002-03. Information prior to that date is not available due to the introduction of a new accounting system at that time.
EC Budget
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last reviewed the mechanisms for provision by the Government of matched funding for EU funding committed to programmes in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [8186]
Justine Greening: The emergency Budget set the overall path for the public finances to 2015-16. Departmental allocations will be set at the Spending Review, after which we will be in a position to make spending decisions including for match funding for EU Structural Funds. The Spending Review will be published on 20 October and will cover the four-year period from April 2011 to March 2015.
Employment Tribunals Service: Legal Costs
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely costs to departments in the next 12 months of defending cases in employment tribunals arising from the discussions of terms and conditions of contracts of employment through procedures other than those recognised for that purpose by management and trades unions. [9474]
Mr Maude: I have been asked to reply.
This information is not held centrally. The funding and management of Employment Tribunal claims is a matter for individual Departments.
EU Budget
Mr Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the draft EU budget for 2011; and if he will make a statement. [10740]
Justine Greening: The Government are very concerned by the proposed increase of 5.8%, or €7 billion, in payment appropriations in the European Commission's draft EU budget for 2011. This level of increase is seriously out of step with the tough decisions being taken on fiscal consolidation by EU member state governments. The Government have repeatedly called for the EU budget in 2011 to be kept at cash levels equivalent to 2010, and will continue to work hard towards this goal.
Fraud: Alcoholic Drinks
Angela Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to co-ordinate Government policy on the level of alcohol fraud and its relationship to the overall level of serious organised crime. [10836]
Justine Greening: HMRC published latest estimates of the level of spirits fraud in "Measuring Tax Gaps 2009" which is available in the House of Commons Library and is available at
Policy on tackling serious organised crime is coordinated across law enforcement agencies through the Organised Crime Partnership Board, which considers individual threats such as alcohol duty fraud in relation to the overall level of criminality.
Government Departments: MITIE
Caroline Lucas:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Government departments hold contracts with Management Incentive Through Investment Equity
(MITIE) Group plc; what the annual cost has been of each Government contract with MITIE Group plc in each year since 1990; what the length of each contract was; and which Department held each contract. [11142]
Mr Maude: I have been asked to reply.
Data on MITIE's contracts with central Government for each year since 1990 are not available centrally. From 1 January 2011, the Government will publish details of all new contracts with their suppliers.
Mortgages: Income Support
Simon Hart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely effect of the proposed reduction in the level of income support mortgage interest on (a) the number of home repossessions and (b) the level of homelessness. [9948]
Steve Webb: I have been asked to reply.
We will continue to work closely with lenders and debt advice agencies to ensure repossession is only ever a last resort. The Council of Mortgage Lenders has told the Department that it expects lenders to continue to exercise forbearance where it is fair to do so for the borrower, and the borrower has a chance of paying off any arrears in the future. The Council of Mortgage Lenders thinks that where arrears levels increase for some borrowers as a result of the change in the standard interest rate this does not translate into an immediate possession risk.
The Department does not capture information on reasons for ending a benefit claim, including support for mortgage interest, so does not capture the number of claimants who no longer receive support for mortgage interest payments because their property has been repossessed.
The Department is in the process of developing a model to estimate the impact of changes to support for mortgage interest on the number of repossessions. However any estimates will always be limited since detailed case-by-case information, such as arrears at the start of a claim, is not collected by the Department.
The Department does not hold data to estimate of the level of homelessness as a result of this change.
Office for Budget Responsibility: Public Appointments
Mr Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that the Treasury Select Committee plays a role in the appointment of the new chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility. [10607]
Justine Greening: The Chancellor intends to provide in legislation for the Treasury Select Committee (TSC) to have the power of veto over the appointment of the Chair of the Office of Budget Responsibility. Before the legislation is passed, the Chancellor proposes that the TSC conduct a pre-appointment hearing of the proposed candidate and has committed to not appointing a candidate judged unsuitable by the TSC.
Pensions: Index Linking
Mary Creagh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on the level of tax revenue of adopting the consumer price index as the basis for indexation of pensions. [9231]
Mr Hoban [holding answer 19 July 2010]: No estimates are available on the tax revenue effects of adopting the consumer price index as a basis for indexation of pensions.
Public Expenditure
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2010, Official Report, column 658W, on public expenditure: Wales, what savings are being sought from each of the other devolved Administrations. [10068]
Danny Alexander: The savings from the Scottish Executive amount to £372.0 million, and from the Northern Ireland Executive £141.1 million.
The devolved Administrations are able to defer their share of the £6.2 billion cuts to 2011-12 if they wish.
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 12 July 2010, Official Report, column 541W, on public expenditure: Wales, if he will publish table 9.2 of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses, July 2010 in a form including figures relating to end year flexibility and reserve claims for Wales and Northern Ireland. [10249]
Danny Alexander: The country and regional analysis tables in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses have been prepared consistent with plans as at Winter Supplementary Estimates, as explained in the PESA publication, and there are no plans to revise the figures until PESA 2011.
Public Expenditure: Wales
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2010, Official Report, column 658W, on public expenditure: Wales, for what reasons a Barnett consequential was initially applied to Wales before savings relating to the Olympics were confirmed. [10069]
Danny Alexander: At the time of the 26 May announcement, the savings in respect of the Olympics programme had not been confirmed. The Barnett formula was therefore initially applied to all the DCMS savings, rather than the DCMS savings excluding the Olympics savings, which was done once the Olympics savings were confirmed.
Public Sector: Wales
Owen Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission research to assess the effect on Wales of public sector job losses in the next five years. [9597]
Danny Alexander: Spending plans will be published in the autumn. In devolved areas of spending in Wales it will be for the Welsh Assembly Government to make their own decisions on how it will allocate its block budget.
Radio Frequencies
Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made on (a) the revenue from the 800 MHz spectrum auctions and (b) the replacement cost for programme making and special events equipment that currently operates in the 800 MHz band. [7665]
Danny Alexander: It is not commercially sensible for the Government to make public their expectations of the outcome of a competitive auction process.
Representatives of programme making and special events users estimate that the cost of replacing equipment that is currently licensed for use in the 600MHz and 800MHz spectrum bands to be £73 million.
Regional Planning and Development: Tees Valley
James Wharton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to designate the Tees Valley as an accelerated development zone. [10342]
Danny Alexander: June's emergency Budget announced that the Government will publish a White Paper later in the summer setting out plans for a new approach to sub-national growth. Accelerated development zones will be considered alongside other proposals as part of this process. Treasury officials are working with representatives from local authorities within the Tees Valley area as they develop proposals to form a local enterprise partnership and consider suitable funding mechanisms to support economic growth. The Government cannot take decisions in relation to individual accelerated development zone project proposals until they have adopted a position on the wider policy proposal.
Saving Gateway
Mr Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what statistical research on the effectiveness of the Savings Gateway Scheme he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such item of evidence.; [10365]
(2) what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Saving Gateway scheme in increasing the level of saving. [10473]
Mr Hoban: The Government announced at the Budget that, to help reduce the deficit, the Saving Gateway would not be introduced nationally.
The Saving Gateway has previously been piloted twice. Both pilots were independently evaluated, and reports of these evaluations have been published. Follow up research on the second pilot has also been carried out, and has also been published. These documents can all be found at:
Taxation: Bingo
Luciana Berger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons gross profits tax on bingo clubs is set at 20 per cent. [10620]
Justine Greening: The rate of bingo duty was reduced from 22 per cent. to 20 per cent. at the March 2010 Budget.
All taxes, including gambling taxes, are kept under review.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons gross profits tax on high street bookmakers and UK licensed online bingo websites is set at 15 per cent. [10621]
Justine Greening: The existing rates of general betting duty and remote gaming duty were set by the previous Government. The June 2010 Budget left all rates unchanged.
All taxes, including gambling taxes, are kept under review.
Taxation: Bookmakers
Mr Lammy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the revenue accruing to the Exchequer from tax on the bookmaking industry in each year since 2000. [10985]
Justine Greening: Companies in the bookmaking industry are liable to various tax regimes, mainly to betting duty, corporation tax and VAT. From these, only betting duty receipts relate directly to the betting industry. They are published and are available at:
The yearly receipts from the betting duties since 2000 have been as follows:
| Calendar year | General and pool betting duties receipts |
VAT and corporation tax are not broken down sufficiently to provide information relating to the bookmaking sector explicitly.
Taxation: Environment Protection
Mr Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2010, Official Report, column 340W, on taxation: carbon emissions, whether an environmental impact assessment will be undertaken as part of the comprehensive Spending Review; and if he will make a statement. [11021]
Justine Greening: The spending review will include an assessment of the environmental impact of spending review decisions.
Terrorism: Finance
Patrick Mercer:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) pursuant to the written ministerial
statement of 15 July 2010, Official Report, columns 36-7WS, on the Terrorist Asset-Freezing Bill, if he will publish details on the public consultation exercise that took place in advance of the publication of the Bill; [10096]
(2) what steps he intends to take to ensure that state benefits awarded to spouses will not be used for terrorist purposes. [10100]
Mr Hoban: The public consultation exercise on draft terrorist asset freezing legislation opened on 18 March 2010 and concluded on 18 June 2010.
Copies of the consultation and the Government's response can be found in the Library and on HM Treasury's website:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/consult_terrorist _assetfreezing_bill.htm
The Government are committed to ensuring that persons subject to an asset freeze are not able to access funds for terrorist purposes. It is a criminal offence for a spouse, or any other person, to provide funds to someone subject to an asset freeze without a licence from the Treasury. The Treasury has written to spouses reminding them of the restrictions.
The Government investigate any potential breach of an asset freeze, and are committed to robust enforcement in any case where breaches are detected. These controls will ensure that asset freezing remains effective in preventing terrorist finance.
VAT: Churches
Luciana Berger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme beyond March 2011. [8970]
John Penrose: I have been asked to reply as this is a heritage issue which falls under my remit.
The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme has played a significant role in supporting repairs to places of worship and I am aware that a decision regarding the scheme's future would be appreciated by all involved. However, this decision can only be taken as part of the wider discussions about Government spending priorities in the next spending round.
The Government will hold a full spending review reporting this autumn, following a fully consultative process involving all tiers of government and the private sector.
VAT: Helmets
Mrs Main: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to zero-rate motorcycle crash helmet replacement visors for value added tax. [10200]
Mr Gauke: Motorcycle crash helmets are zero-rated for VAT. However, the zero rate does not extend to visors or any other components or accessories supplied separately.
The agreements with our EU partners under which we are allowed to maintain our existing zero rates preclude us from extending their scope, or introducing new ones.
Cabinet Office
British-Irish Council
Mark Durkan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which Minister has lead responsibility for the British-Irish Council. [9615]
Mr Maude: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has the lead responsibility within the UK Government for the British-Irish Council.
Census
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what consultation his Department has undertaken on the future of the Census. [11804]
Mr Maude: I have not undertaken any consultation on the future of the census. The development of alternatives to the census is the responsibility of the Office for National Statistics. They are taking this work forward through the Beyond 2011 project and will lead any future consultation.
Charity Commission: Public Consultation
Amber Rudd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what target time the Charity Commission sets for consideration of the outcome of a public consultation; [10912]
(2) whether the Charity Commission has taken a decision on its public consultation on the Hastings and St Leonard's Foreshore Charitable Trust which closed on 11 January 2010; when the decision will be announced; and if he will make a statement. [10913]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission for England and Wales. I have asked the commission to reply.
Letter from Andrew Hind, dated 22 July 2010:
As the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, I have been asked to respond to your written Parliamentary Question on what target time the Charity Commission sets for consideration of the outcome of a public consultation [10912].
The Commission has discretion, and in some cases is legally bound, to publicise its intention to make certain schemes and orders under the Charities Act 1993 (as amended by the Charities Act 2006). Representations received in response to public notice of draft schemes and orders are considered under the Commission's published Decision Review procedure. The Commission has made a commitment to complete all decision reviews of scheme and order representations within three months of the end of the period of notice, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
I hope this is helpful.
Letter from Andrew Hind, dated 22 July 2010:
As the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, I have been asked to respond to your written Parliamentary Question on whether the Charity Commission has taken a decision on its public consultation on the Hastings and St Leonard's Foreshore Charitable Trust which closed on 11 January 2010; when the decision will be announced; and if the Minister will make a statement [10913].
The Commission has conducted a formal review of our original proposed decision following the receipt of representations from members of the public regarding a draft scheme. Representatives of the Commission met with the trustees' representative and representatives of the Hastings Borough Council and the Commission has pursued questions through correspondence. The Commission
has given its full consideration to the trustees' request to return the trusteeship back to the Council and to all the representations received. The Commission has taken its formal decision and is in the final stage of preparing it for publication. We expect to publish this within the next two weeks.
I hope this is helpful.
Civil Servants: Liverpool
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent assessment he has made of the contribution of the work of civil servants based in Liverpool to public services in (a) that city and (b) the UK. [9477]
Mr Maude [holding answer 19 July 2010]: Civil servants deliver crucial services direct to the public across the UK. Civil servants in Liverpool, as in all regions, work in a wide range of areas that touch on everyone's day-to-day lives such as education, health, taxation and benefits.
Civil Servants: Redundancy Pay
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will ensure that his review of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme promotes protection for compensation arrangements for lower-paid workers in the public sector. [9968]
Mr Maude: I wrote to Paul Noon, Chairman of the Council of Civil Service Unions on 6 July 2010 inviting the unions to begin talks on a future compensation scheme with my officials. One key area for discussion is to what extent the future scheme can provide proportionately better terms for the lower paid.
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) when he expects to announce details of the protection to be afforded to low-paid civil servants under the revised Civil Service Compensation Scheme; [10920]
(2) what recent progress he has made in negotiations with civil service unions on changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme. [10921]
Mr Maude: I wrote to Paul Noon, chairman of the Council of Civil Service Unions on 6 July 2010 inviting the unions to begin talks on a future compensation scheme with my officials. One key area for discussion is to what extent the future scheme can provide proportionately better terms for the lower paid. I have since met the unions once and my officials have had further meetings with them.
Mary Creagh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil servants in each Department received as a redundancy settlement equivalent to or greater than six years salary in each of the last three years. [10963]
Mr Maude: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East (Mr Watson) on 21 July 2010, Official Report, column 375W.
Civil Servants: Retirement
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2010, Official Report, columns 19-20W, on senior civil servants: pensions, how many staff paid a lump sum on leaving the Civil Service are now employed (a) directly as consultants and (b) as non-executive directors in Government Departments and non-departmental government bodies; and what the posts are of each. [11650]
Mr Maude: This information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
Departmental Billing
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what percentage of payments made by his Department to (a) small and medium-sized enterprise suppliers and (b) all suppliers were made (i) within 10 days of receipt of invoice and (ii) on the agreed payment terms in the last three months for which information is available. [11161]
Mr Maude: The information is as follows:
(a) The information is available only at disproportionate costs.
(b) The Cabinet Office is fully committed to the Prompt Payment Code and aims to pay all compliant invoices as soon as possible. However, the agreed contractual payment terms are normally for payment within 30 days of receipt of a compliant invoice.
The percentage of compliant invoices from all suppliers which were paid within 10 and 30 days of receipt is as follows:
| Percentage | ||
| 2010 | Within 10 days | Within 30 days |
Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many payments to suppliers were made by (a) his Department, (b) its agency and (c) its non-departmental public bodies (i) within 30 days, (ii) over 30 days, (iii) over 60 days and (iv) over 90 days from the date of invoice in the last 12 months. [11199]
Mr Maude: The information requested is as follows:
(a) The number of compliant invoice payments made to suppliers by the Department for financial year 2009-10 are as follows:
| Period | Number of payments |
(b) The number of payments made to suppliers by the Cabinet Office's agency for financial year 2009-10 are as follows:
| Period | Number of payments |
(c) The number of compliant invoice payments made to suppliers by the Cabinet Office's non-departmental public bodies for financial year 2009-10 are as follows:
| Period | Number of payments |
Departmental Official Hospitality
Ian Austin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much his Department spent on hospitality for events hosted by each Minister in his Department in (a) May and (b) June 2010. [10105]
Mr Maude: Details of expenditure in 2010-11 will only be available when the Department's resource accounts are fully audited and laid before Parliament. This is expected to be before the 2011 summer recess.
Electoral Register
Mr Evennett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people were registered to vote in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, (b) the London borough of Bexley, (c) Greater London, (d) England, (e) Scotland, (f) Wales and (g) Northern Ireland in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [9586]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking how many people were registered to vote in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, (b) the London Borough of Bexley, (c) Greater London, (d) England, (e) Scotland, (f) Wales and (g) Northern Ireland in each of the last five years for which figures are available (9586).
The attached table shows the number of people registered to vote in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, the London Borough of Bexley, Greater London, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in local government and parliamentary elections. The figures provided are from 1 December 2005 to 1 December 2009, which are the latest available.
| 2008( 3,2) | 2009( 3) | |||
| Local Government Electors | Parliamentary Electors | Local Government Electors | Parliamentary Electors( 4) | |
| (1 )Figures for Scotland are based on the boundaries that came into effect on 10 February 2005. (2) Figures for Wales are based on the boundaries that were in place prior to the National Assembly for Wales elections in May 2007. (3) Some local authorities in England and Wales were unable to provide data, therefore previous years' data were used. (4) Figures for England and Wales are based on the boundaries that came into place at the general election in May 2010. Source: Office for National Statistics, General Register Office for Scotland, and Electoral Office for Northern Ireland. | ||||
Mr Evennett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of nationals of other EU member states in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, (b) the London borough of Bexley, (c) Greater London and (d) England who are registered to vote and are not eligible to vote in general elections. [9587]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what estimate has been made of the number of nationals of other EU member states in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, (b) the London Borough of Bexley, (c) Greater London and (d) England who are registered to vote and are not eligible to vote in general elections (9587).
The table shows the number of nationals of other EU states (excluding British, Irish, Cypriot and Maltese nationals) in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, the London Borough of Bexley, Greater London and England who are registered to vote in local and European elections as at 1 December 2009. These are the latest figures available. European citizens are not eligible to vote in parliamentary or general elections. In this context, it is assumed other EU states mean those other than Britain, Ireland, Cyprus or Malta. Cypriots and Maltese citizens are eligible to vote in local, European and general elections due to their Commonwealth status.
| Members of other EU member states registered to vote, 2009( 1) | |
| Area | Number |
| (1) Figures are based on the constituencies that came into effect at the general election in May 2010. Source: Office for National Statistics. | |
Mr Evennett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of non-EU nationals in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, (b) the London borough of Bexley, (c) Greater London and (d) England who are registered to vote in (i) general and (ii) local elections. [9588]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what estimate he has made of the number of non-EU nationals in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, (b) the London Borough of Bexley, (c) Greater London and (d) England who are registered to vote in (i) general and (ii) local elections (9588).
ONS does not hold data on non-EU nationals who are registered to vote.
Mr Brady: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate he has made of the number of citizens of (a) Commonwealth countries and (b) the Republic of Ireland on the electoral register in the UK. [11153]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, 1 have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what recent estimate he has made of the number of citizens of (a) Commonwealth countries and (b) the Republic of Ireland on the electoral register. (11153)
ONS docs not hold specific data on the number of Commonwealth citizens or Republic of Ireland citizens registered to vote.
Electoral Register: Greater London
Nick de Bois: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of non-EU nationals in (a) Enfield North constituency, (b) the London borough of Enfield and (c) Greater London who are registered to vote in (i) general and (ii) local elections. [9957]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what estimate he has made of the number of non-EU nationals in (a) Enfield North constituency, (b) the London Borough of Enfield, and (c) Greater London who are registered to vote in (i) general and (ii) local elections (9957).
ONS does not hold data on non-EU nationals who are registered to vote.
Nick de Bois: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of nationals of other EU member states in (a) Enfield North constituency, (b) the London borough of Enfield and (c) Greater London who are registered to vote and not eligible to vote in general elections. [9958]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what estimate has been made of the number of nationals of other EU member states in (a) Enfield North constituency, (b) the London Borough of Enfield and (c) Greater London who are registered to vote and are not eligible to vote in general elections (9958).
The table shows the number of nationals of other EU states (excluding British, Irish, Cypriot and Maltese nationals) in Enfield North constituency, the London Borough of Enfield and Greater London who are registered to vote in local and European elections as at 1 December 2009. These are the latest figures available. European citizens are not eligible to vote in parliamentary or general elections. In this context it is assumed other EU states mean those other than Britain, Ireland, Cyprus or Malta. Cypriots and Maltese citizens are eligible to vote in local, European and general elections due to their Commonwealth status.
| Members of other EU member states registered to vote | |
| Area | 2009( 1) |
| (1) Figures are based on the constituencies that came into effect at the general election in May 2010. Source: Office for National Statistics | |
Government Departments: Carbon Emissions
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his Department's responsibilities are for the implementation of the Government's commitment to a 10% year-on-year reduction in the level of carbon dioxide emissions from the central government estate in the next 12 months. [9649]
Mr Maude: The Centre of Expertise in Sustainable Procurement (CESP) within the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) has recently moved from Treasury to join the Efficiency Reform Group (ERG) part of the Cabinet Office following a machinery of government change. The CESP within ERG is responsible for setting departmental allocation of the pan-government 10% reduction in emissions as well as; tracking, reporting and monitoring the in-year delivery of this reduction commitment across Government.
In terms of carbon reduction, the Cabinet Office's responsibilities in the next 12 months are to make a 10% reduction and a further 1% contingency reduction in its estate based carbon emissions.
Government Departments: Construction
Mrs McGuire: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2010, Official Report, column 671W, on Office of Government Commerce common minimum standards for construction, if he will publish the Office of Government Commerce initial review into Common Minimum Standards. [10035]
Mr Maude: The initial review of the Common Minimum Standards referred to in the answer of 13 July 2010, Official Report, column 671W, relates to work undertaken by the Construction Category team of the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) to determine the work necessary to update the CMS. This informal assessment exercise led to the plan to fully update the existing CMS document later this year (2010-11).
I should clarify that the review of the content of CMS has yet to begin, so there is no further documentation to publish at this stage, however, a revised CMS will be published following the completion of the necessary revisions.
Life Expectancy: Bexley
Mr Evennett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate has been made of the average life expectancy for (a) men and (b) women in each ward in the London borough of Bexley. [9585]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated 16 July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what recent estimate has been made of the average life expectancy for (a) men and (b) women in each ward in the London Borough of Bexley. (9585)
ONS does not routinely calculate life expectancies for individual local authority wards. However, period life expectancy figures for 1999-2003 based on 2001 Census Standard Table wards in England
and Wales were published as experimental statistics in June 2006. Experimental statistics-which are in a testing or consultation phase and are not fully developed-should be treated with caution. Life expectancies for wards can be based on very small numbers of deaths and small populations. They may therefore be subject to large variations even when aggregated over five years, as shown by the width of the '95% confidence interval' in the tables. More information about these statistics can be found here:
The table attached provides life expectancy figures at birth for all wards in the London borough of Bexley for (a) males and (b) females, for the five year period 1999-2003, based on these experimental statistics.
| Table 1: Life expectancy at birth for males, by ward in the London borough of Bexley, 1999-2003( 1,2) | |||
| Ward | Life expectancy at birth (years) | 95% confidence interval( 3) | Communal establishment indicator( 4) |
| (1) Period life expectancy at birth is an estimate of the average number of years a newborn baby would survive if he or she experienced the area's age-specific mortality rates for that time period throughout his or her life. The figure reflects mortality among those living in the area in each time period, rather than mortality among those born in each area. It is not therefore the number of years a baby born in the area in each time period could actually expect to live, both because the death rates of the area are likely to change in the future and because many of those born in the area will live elsewhere for at least some part of their lives. (2) Five year averages, based on deaths registered in each year, and experimental ward population estimates based on the 2001 Census. The ward names and boundaries used are 2001 Census Standard Table wards. (3) Confidence intervals (CIs) are a measure of the statistical precision of an estimate and show the range of uncertainty around the estimated figure. Calculations based on small numbers of events are often subject to random fluctuations. As a general rule, if the confidence interval around one figure overlaps with the interval around another, we cannot say with certainty that there is more than a chance difference between the two figures. (4) The presence of medical and care communal establishments, such as nursing homes and hospices, can artificially depress the average life expectancy of the ward in which they are located. To aid interpretation of the figures, this indicator shows the proportion of the population of each ward, aged 65 and over, who were resident in such establishments in 2001. For this purpose, all wards in England and Wales (not only the wards in these boroughs) were divided into six groups which are numbered from 0 to 5: '0' means that none of the over-65 population lived in medical and care communal establishments; '1' means that the proportion of the over-65 population in such establishments was in the lowest fifth of all wards; '5' means that the proportion of the over-65 population in such establishments was in the highest fifth of all wards. | |||
Lone Parents: Hornchurch
Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many lone parents there are in Hornchurch and Upminster constituency. [9880]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many lone parents there are in Hornchurch and Upminster. (9880)
The number and type of families in the UK can be estimated using the Annual Population Survey (APS). Estimates are provided for lone parent families which include at least one child aged under 16.
The latest available figures are for 2008 and are shown in the table below. These are based on the 2008 parliamentary constituency boundaries. Hornchurch constituency, as constituted in 2008, consisted of 8 electoral wards, while Upminster constituency consisted of 7 electoral wards. However the 2010 parliamentary constituency 'Hornchurch and Upminster' consists of 8 wards drawn from both former constituencies. The breakdown of the data available is not sufficiently detailed to determine whether the newly constituted parliamentary constituency contains the same estimated number of lone parents as the two 2008 constituencies.
| Geographical area | Number of lone parent families-wi th at least one child under 16 (T housand) |
| n/a = Not available Source: APS January to December 2008 | |
Lone Parents: Liverpool
Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many lone parents there are in Liverpool, Wavertree constituency. [9686]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated 16 July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many lone parents there are in Liverpool, Wavertree constituency. (9686)
The number and type of families in the UK can be estimated using the Annual Population Survey (APS). Estimates are provided for lone parent families which include at least one child aged under 16.
The latest available figure is for 2008 and is shown in the table below. This is based on the 2008 parliamentary constituency boundary. Liverpool, Wavertree constituency, as constituted in 2008, consisted of 14 electoral wards, eight fewer than the current constituency. The breakdown of the data available is not sufficiently detailed to determine whether the newly constituted parliamentary constituency contains the same estimated number of lone parents as the 2008 constituency.
| Geographical area | Number of lone parent families with at least one child under 16 ( T housand)( 1) |
| (1) As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty and are therefore presented rounded to the nearest thousand. Source: APS January to December 2008 | |
Migration: Bedfordshire
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate his Department has made of the change to the level of the population of Bedfordshire (a) directly and (b) indirectly attributable to migration in each year since 1990. [9727]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what estimate his Department has made of the change to the level of the population of Bedfordshire (a) directly and (b) indirectly attributable to migration in each year since 1990 (9727)
The table shows the volume of population change in Bedfordshire directly attributable to migration in each year since mid-1991. Figures are not available below national level prior to 1991.
ONS does not have the necessary information to provide an estimate of the volume of population change indirectly attributable to migration.
| Population change due to net migration and other changes, Bedfordshire, mid-1991 to mid-2009 | |
| Net migration and other changes | |
| Note: 'Other changes' includes changes in the population due to changes in the number of armed forces (both foreign and home) and their dependents resident in the UK. Source: Office for National Statistics. | |
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