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9 Feb 2011 : Column 285W—continued
Public Expenditure
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library the figures underlying the graph on page 21 of the June 2010 Budget showing estimates of the output gap based on alternative trend growth assumptions. [39103]
Justine Greening: The figures underlying the graph on page 21 of the June 2010 Budget, showing estimates of the output gap based on alternative trend growth assumptions, have now been placed in the Library.
Public Finance
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the size of the UK budget deficit. [38921]
Justine Greening: The latest outturn figure for the Public Sector Net Borrowing (PSNB) is 11.1 % of GDP, or £156.5 billion in 2009-10.
Outturn figures for PSNB can be found in the public finances databank on the Treasury website:
In their 'Economic and Fiscal forecast', published on 29 November, the independent Office for Budget Responsibility forecast Public Sector Net Borrowing to 2015-16. This is available at:
Public Sector: Redundancy
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 26 January 2011, Official Report, column 316W, on public sector: redundancies, if he will take steps to ensure that public sector workers aged over 50 years are not disproportionately adversely affected by public sector redundancies during the comprehensive spending review period. [39092]
Danny Alexander: It will be for individual employers to determine the exact workforce implications of their settlements.
The Government will support employers to do everything they can to mitigate the impact of public sector job losses by protecting jobs through pay and pensions reform, ensuring that staff in different public sector workforces and each region will have visibility of suitable vacancies, encouraging local employers to explore voluntary deals with staff on pay restraint or reduced hours in order to save jobs, and actively monitoring potential workforce reductions, enabling decisions to be taken in time to mitigate localised impacts.
VAT: Gravestones
Jason McCartney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much value added tax was raised on grave headstones in the last 12 months; [33782]
(2) if he will consider exempting value added tax on headstones for the graves of children who died when aged under 16 years; and if he will estimate the consequent loss of revenue to the Exchequer. [33783]
Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs does not hold data relating to VAT collected on specific goods or services such as grave headstones.
The services provided by an undertaker in connection with a burial or cremation are exempt from VAT. However, long-standing agreements with our EU partners, signed by successive governments, mean that we cannot extend the scope of this exemption to include headstones and similar commemorative items.
Northern Ireland
Fuel Prices
8. Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effect on economic growth in Northern Ireland of recent increases in fuel prices. [38261]
Mr Paterson: The sterling oil price has risen 28% over the past year. The Government consider a range of factors when making their assessment of economic activity and growth in the UK. The Office for Budget Responsibility's November forecast shows that the Government's plans will deliver sustainable growth for each of the next five years.
Capital Investment
10. Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he plans to take to ensure that commitments to capital investment in Northern Ireland made as part of the St Andrews agreement are delivered. [38263]
Mr Swire: Notwithstanding the dreadful financial situation, the Government stand by the commitment they gave to support the £18 billion capital investment strategy in Northern Ireland.
Over £9 billion has already been invested through a number of funding streams and we believe Northern Ireland is on target to meet the 2017-18 deadline.
Economic Affairs
11. Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the state of the Northern Ireland economy. [38264]
Mr Paterson: The economy in Northern Ireland is dominated by too large a public sector. Around 77% of GDP, according to one survey is dependent on public expenditure. We are working with Northern Ireland Ministers to rebalance the economy.
Inward Investment
12. John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had on inward investment into Northern Ireland. [38266]
Mr Paterson: This is largely a devolved matter but I work closely with Northern Ireland Ministers to explore ways to attract inward investment to Northern Ireland. Last week at Hillsborough, the Minister for Trade and Investment, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, my noble Friend Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, and I met with the Enterprise Minister (Arlene Foster) and a number of key business representatives to discuss investment and growth.
Human Trafficking
13. Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister of Northern Ireland on the incidence of cross-border human trafficking. [38267]
Mr Swire: The Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Northern Ireland Justice Minister have been working in close co-operation with the authorities in the Republic of Ireland to tackle this despicable activity. I stand ready to offer what assistance I can to ensure that we continue to tackle human trafficking.
Corporation Tax
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the Government's policy is on reductions to the rate of corporation tax in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [38265]
Mr Paterson: The Government aim to publish a consultation document setting out potential options for rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy, including a discussion of the potential costs and benefits of a reduction in the rate of corporation tax, as soon as possible. Treasury and Northern Ireland Office Ministers are in discussions with Northern Ireland Executive Ministers on the content of the paper.
Departmental Information Officers
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) press officers, (b) internal communications officers, (c) external communications officers, (d) communications strategy officers and (e) other positions with a communications remit were employed by (i) his Department, (ii) its agencies and (iii) each other non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department on the most recent date for which figures are available. [38961]
Mr Paterson: My Department employs a Director of Communications and has in place a secondment arrangement for two Information Officers from the Northern Ireland Civil Service. The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, which is sponsored by my Department, employs four full-time staff in communication roles including media engagement, publications and web management. No communications staff are employed by the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland or the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices: Greater London
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many (a) apprenticeship and (b) advanced apprenticeship starts there were in (i) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, (ii) the London borough of Bexley and (iii) Greater London in each of the last five years; [38666]
(2) what proportion of (a) apprenticeship and (b) advanced apprenticeship starts in (i) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, (ii) the London borough of Bexley and (iii) Greater London in each of the last five years were (A) men and (B) women; [38669]
(3) how many (a) apprenticeship and (b) advanced apprenticeship starts there were in each sector in (i) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, (ii) the London borough of Bexley and (iii) Greater London in each of the last five years. [38668]
Mr Hayes: The information is as follows:
Table 1 shows the number of apprenticeship starts by level and gender for Bexleyheath and Crayford parliamentary constituency, Bexley local authority and
Greater London region in academic years 2005/06 to 2009/10, the latest years for which full year data are available.
Table 2 shows apprenticeship starts by level and sector subject area for Bexleyheath and Crayford
parliamentary constituency and Bexley local authority in academic years 2005/06 to 2009/10, the latest years for which full year data are available.
| Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts by level, geography and gender, 2005/06 to 2009/10 | |||||||||||
| Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency | |||||||||||
| 2005/06 | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | |||||||
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | ||
| Bexley local authority | |||||||||||
| 2005/06 | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | |||||||
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | ||
| Greater London region | |||||||||||
| 2005/06 | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | |||||||
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | ||
| Bexley local authority | ||||||
| 2005/06 | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | ||
| Greater London region | ||||||
| 2005/06 | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | ||
| '-' indicates a base value of less than five (or related percentage). Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Geography information is based upon the home postcode of the learner. Information on the number of apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 27 January 2011 http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current Source: Individualised Learner Record | ||||||
Apprentices: Pay
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the average wage of an apprentice is in each region. [38667]
Mr Hayes: The most recent survey of apprentices' pay in England was undertaken in 2007, and estimated that the average net pay per week for an apprentice was £170. The report does not provide estimates of average pay by region.
The full report-'Apprenticeship Pay: 2007 Survey of Earnings by Sector'-can be accessed at:
The Department plans to undertake a UK-wide survey of apprenticeship pay this year.
The coalition Government recently strengthened the pay arrangements for apprentices by bringing them within the National Minimum Wage (NMW) framework and ending the exemption from the minimum wage for apprentices. A new minimum pay rate of £2.50 per hour came in from 1 October 2010 and applies to apprentices aged under 19, and those aged 19 and over in the first year of their apprenticeship. Apprentices aged 19 and over who have completed a year on their apprenticeship continue to remain eligible for the full NMW rate appropriate to their age.
BP
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with representatives of BP on company law and company reporting. [38661]
Mr Davey: In the past two months, there has been no meeting with BP alone. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and I had a meeting with business representatives, which included BP to discuss corporate governance issues. In addition BP were represented at one of the meetings that BIS officials had with business representatives about company reporting issues.
Departmental Information Officers
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) press officers, (b) internal communications officers, (c) external communications officers, (d) communications strategy officers and (e) other positions with a communications remit were employed by (i) his Department, (ii) its agencies and (iii) each other non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department on the most recent date for which figures are available. [38965]
Mr Davey: The Department currently employs in its central communications function:
(a) 26 press officers;
(b) 8.3 internal communications officers;
(c) 39 external communications officers;
(d) one communications strategy officer;
(e) five other positions with a communications remit-four speechwriters and a Director of Communications.
There are also 24 officers with a significant communications remit embedded in policy teams across the Department.
Data on present staffing levels in each of the Department's NDPB's cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service, Companies House, the National Measurement Office, the Intellectual Property Office and the Skills Funding Agency and they will respond to the hon. Member directly.
Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 7 February 2011:
The Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question how many (a) press officers, (b) internal communications officers, (c) external communications officers, (d) communications strategy officers and (e) other positions with a communications remit were employed by (i) his Department, (ii) its agencies and (iii) each other non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department or the most recent date for which figures are available.
The Insolvency Service Executive Agency of the Department for Business. Innovation and Skills at the current time has:
a. Three Press Officers
b. One Internal Communications Officer
c. Two External Communications Officers
d. None
e One Communications Team Assistant; 1 Head of Communications, and One Director of Strategy, Planning and Communications.
Letter from Peter Mason, dated 8 February 2011:
I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (formerly National Weights and Measures Laboratory) to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 02/02/2011 [reference 2010/3753] asking how many press officers, internal communications officers, external communications officers, communications strategy officers and other positions with a communications remit were employed on the most recent date for which figures are available.
The NMO defines communications in this Agency to cover the following disciplines:
Internal communications
Digital/social media
Strategic communications
Corporate communications
Marketing
Media and Press
Currently we employ two members of staff (2 FTE) whose roles cover all the above categories and one member of staff whose role is embedded in an operational delivery team and whose duties (equivalent to 0.3 FTE) include some of the above, more specifically dealing with the media and press, strategic communications and production of physical and electronic information.
Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 3 February 2011:
I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 2 February 2011, UIN 38965 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Companies House has a team of four people who act as both press officers and internal communications officers. As a customer facing organisation a large proportion of Companies House staff has a role in communications. For example, as of today's date we have a contact centre of approximately a hundred people who communicate with external customers on all aspects of our work. We also have teams who, as part of their overall work, provide customer support on specialist subjects such as search facilities, e-filing, liquidation, mortgage etc.
Letter from Skills Funding Agency, dated 9 February 2011:
Thank you for your named day question asking the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many staff in positions with a communications remit are currently employed by the Skills Funding Agency (the Agency).
In the Agency there are:
a) 4 press officers
b) 7 internal communications officers
c) none
d)none
e) 32 (including 4 from UK Skills).
In the National Apprenticeship Service there are:
a) none
b) none
c) none
d)none
e) 17
Letter from John Alty, dated 9 February 2011:
I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 02/02/2011, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
IPO, an executive agency of BIS has the following communications staff: -
(a) Press officers - 0 (however IPO currently funds a press officer based in BIS)
(b) Internal communications officers - 3 (2.5 FTE)
(c) External communications officers - 1
(d) Communications strategy officers - 0
(e) Other communications positions (marketing communications) - 2
Departmental Security
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which persons not employed by Government Departments or agencies hold passes entitling them to enter his Department's premises. [39258]
Mr Davey: Passes may be issued to those who are required to make frequent visits to specific Government sites, subject to the usual security checks. For security reasons it would not be appropriate to provide details of individuals who hold such passes.
Export Credit Guarantees: Egypt
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on what projects in Egypt supported by the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) in the last 30 years is debt owed to the ECGD; and how much is owed on each such project. [38816]
Mr Davey: There are outstanding debts owed by Egypt of £98.52 million, which are the subject of two rescheduling agreements dated 1987 and 1991, that relate to some 400 export contracts entered into before 31 October 1986. Details of the goods or services supplied under the individual contracts are no longer held nor the specific amount of outstanding debt under each contract.
ECGD also has a contingent exposure of £66.8 million relating to performing export contracts, mainly relating to the supply of Airbus aircraft.
Higher Education: Females
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many women in (a) Newcastle upon Tyne Central constituency, (b) the North East and (c) England (i) applied and (ii) were accepted onto science, technology, engineering or mathematics degree courses at each university in each of the last three years. [36824]
Mr Willetts: Information on female applicants to higher education to science, technology, engineering or mathematics degree courses is included in the following tables and is provided by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
Figures for Newcastle upon Tyne Central constituency and the north-east are not available for each individual institution as numbers are too small. Figures for English domiciles to individual institutions are suppressed in cases where there are less than five applicants, or less than five accepted applicants.
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