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Manufacturing Jobs
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many manufacturing jobs have been lost since May 1997. [7758]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
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Letter from Len Cook to Mr. John Bercow, dated 15 October 2001:
- As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of manufacturing jobs lost since May 1997 (7758).
- The table below shows the number of employee jobs in manufacturing for May 1997 and July 2001.
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| UK | Thousands(7) |
|---|---|
| May 1997 | 4,160 |
| July 2001 | 3,817 |
| Change between May 1997 and July 2001 | -343 (-8.2%) |
(7) Seasonally adjusted
These estimates are based on the results of regular sample surveys of employers which count the number of employee jobs. The data are published in Statbase on the National Statistics website www.statistics.gov.uk./statbase/tsdataset.asp?vlnk=342 under series identifier YEJL.
Excess Winter Deaths
Mr. Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of excess winter deaths which occurred in 2000–01 in (a) each English region, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Great Britain, by age band; and if he will provide corresponding estimates for each of the last five years. [7574]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 15 October 2001:
- As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking for estimates of the number of excess winter deaths in 2000–01 for each English region, Wales, Scotland and Great Britain broken down by age band and for corresponding estimates for each of the last five years (7574).
- Final figures for English Government Office Regions and for Wales for 1995–96 to 1998–99 and provisional figures for 1999–2000 were provided on 8 November 2000, Official Report, columns 269–272W. Figures for Scotland are now the responsibility of the Scottish Executive.
- The Office for National Statistics will be releasing provisional excess winter mortality figures for 2000–2001 and final figures for 1999–2000 on 18 October 2001. I will be placing a copy in the Libraries of the House at that time.
Domestic Service
Mr. Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people employed (a) legally and (b) illegally in domestic service in each of the last five years. [7214]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Graham Brady, dated October 2001:
- As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question concerning legal and illegal employment in domestic services. (7214)
- The Labour Force Survey (LFS) provides estimates of the total number of people who report themselves in the survey as being employed in domestic service. Figures for each of the last five years are shown in the table.
- The LFS does not collect information on whether people are employed legally or illegally.
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| Year | Thousand |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 159 |
| 1998 | 145 |
| 1999 | 138 |
| 2000 | 134 |
| 2001 | 115 |
(8) People employed in Standard Industrial Classification (1992) division P: Private households with employed person
Source:
ONS Labour Force Survey
Money Laundering
Peter Bradley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the role of lightly regulated financial regimes overseas in allowing money laundering in support of international drug trafficking, arms running and terrorism. [7440]
Ruth Kelly: The Financial Action Task Force, of which the UK is a member, carries out regular assessments on the financial regimes of countries and territories which it suspects may be used for laundering money related to drug trafficking, arms running and terrorism. Those countries and territories which are listed as non-co-operative are required to put in place adequate systems to prevent money laundering before they can be considered for removal from the list. So far four countries and territories have made sufficient improvements that they can be de-listed.
Peter Bradley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that the international community acts in concert to eliminate money laundering. [7441]
Ruth Kelly: The international standards against money laundering are set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The UK has promoted these standards and sought the maximum international exchange of information and judicial co-operation. We have also pressed the International Monetary Fund to recognise the FATF 40 recommendations as the international standard, which it has now done; and we have promoted a new European Union directive to strengthen community obligations to combat money laundering.
Peter Bradley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which countries he has identified as encouraging facilitating money laundering; and what progress has been made in persuading them to impose proper regulation on their financial regimes. [7442]
Ruth Kelly: On 7 September 2001, the Financial Action Task Force, of which the UK is a member, identified 19 non-co-operative countries or territories—Cook Islands, Dominica, Egypt, Grenada, Guatemala, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Lebanon, Marshall Islands, Myanmar, Nauru, Nigeria, Niue, Philippines, Russia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Ukraine. The FATF is engaged in constructive dialogue with all these countries and territories to improve their compliance with international anti-money laundering standards. Those countries and territories judged to be
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non-compliant with international anti-money laundering standards are identified as such and put on the list of non-co-operative countries and territories.
Means-tested Benefits and Tax Credits
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on the savings ratio of means-tested benefits and tax credits introduced since May 1997. [7757]
Ruth Kelly: The Government's strategy to encourage saving, published in November 2000 in "Helping People to Save", is to create the right environment for saving, including the right macro-economic environment, create the right incentives for people to save, and provide information and education to help people make the right saving choices. Government policies on means-tested benefits and tax credits target assistance to those most in need.
Trade in Goods Deficit
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the deficit on trade in goods for the UK was in 2000; and what his forecast is for 2001. [7647]
Ruth Kelly: Latest balance of payments and trade data were released by the ONS on 25 and 20 September. The Government will publish updated forecasts for the UK economy in this autumn's pre-Budget report.
Scottish Bus Group Pension Fund
Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what representations he received from the Scottish Executive prior to the decision being taken to transfer moneys from the Scottish Bus Group pension fund to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement; [7074]
- (2) regarding the decision to transfer moneys from the Scottish Bus Group pension fund to the Exchequer. [7073]
Mr. Andrew Smith: Following discussion between the Scottish Executive and the Treasury, the Scottish Executive announced in December 2000 that agreement had been reached with the Treasury that when the Scottish Transport Group pension schemes are wound up the Scottish Executive will make ex gratia payments to members. A total of around £100 million is expected to be available for distribution.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure Scottish Bus Group pension fund holders affected by the decision to transfer moneys from the Scottish Bus Group pension fund surplus to the Exchequer are compensated to the value of their policy on maturity; and if he will make a statement. [7076]
Mr. Andrew Smith: The Scottish Executive announced in December 2000 that they will make ex gratia payments to scheme members. A total of around £100 million is expected to be available for distribution. The payments are in addition to members' accrued pension rights.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason the National Bus Group Pension Fund has been treated differently from the Scottish Bus Group
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pension fund; what his policy is on payment of additional compensation to Scottish Bus Group pensioners; and if he will make a statement. [7075]
Mr. Andrew Smith: The circumstances of the National Bus Group pension fund are not the same as those of the Scottish Transport Group pension fund. However, while there is no legal entitlement for STG pension scheme members to share in the pension surplus at wind-up, the Scottish Executive have announced that they will make ex gratia payments to members, to achieve an outcome broadly comparable to that secured in England.
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