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Export Credit Guarantees Department
Mrs. Lawrence: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will proceed with the second stage of the independent review of the implementation of the recommendations made by KPMG in December 1999 on the adequacy of the (a) risk management system and (b) processes of the Export Credit Guarantees Department. [20818]
Mr. Boateng: My predecessor announced to the House on 30 November 2000 that KPMG would carry out a post- implementation review of ECGD's progress in addressing the recommendations made by KPMG in December 1999. The first stage of that review was completed last January, and was reported to the House on 31 January. I am pleased to announce that the second stage has now commenced. The review is expected to take between four and six weeks, and I will place a copy of KPMG's report in the Library of the House.
Public Service Pensions
Barbara Follett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase public service pensions from April 2002. [20816]
Mr. Andrew Smith: Legislation governing public service pensions requires public service pensions to be increased annually by the same percentage as state earnings-related pensions (additional pensions). My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced on 28 November 2001, Official Report, column 894W that benefits such as additional pensions will be increased by 1.7 per cent., in line with the annual increase in the Retail Prices Index up to September 2001. Public service pensions will therefore be increased by 1.7 per cent. from 8 April 2002, except those which have been in payment for less than a year, which will receive a pro-rata increase.
Tax Credits
Mr. Blunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which tax credits he defines as public expenditure. [19838]
Mr. Andrew Smith: The Treasury's calculation of net taxes and social security contributions treats all tax credits as reductions in tax collected since the working families and business tax credits appear as reductions in their tax bills.
The Treasury's calculation of public sector receipts, drawn from ONS's national accounts treats some tax credits as public expenditure—mostly WFTC and DPTC.
Council Tax Payers
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many council tax payers there were in each year since 1997; and what his estimate is of this figure for the 2001–02 financial year. [19646]
Dr. Whitehead: I have been asked to reply.
3 Dec 2001 : Column: 61W
We do not collect information on the number of council tax payers in England. Figures for the number of properties in England subject to a council tax charge for each financial year from 1996–97 are given in the table.
| Number of chargeable dwellings as at: | In respect of financial year: | Total | Percentage increase over previous year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 November 1995 | 1996–97 | 19,755,865 | — |
| 1 November 1996 | 1997–98 | 19,933,603 | 0.9 |
| 3 November 1997 | 1998–99 | 20,055,311 | 0.6 |
| 3 November 1998 | 1999–2000 | 20,233,435 | 0.9 |
| 3 November 1999 | 2000–01 | 20,374,128 | 0.7 |
| 1 November 2000 | 2001–02 | 20,585,744 | 1.0 |
| 1 November 2001(16) | 2002–03 | 20,717,285 | 0.6 |
(16) Estimate
Mortality Ratios
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the standard mortality ratios for each (a) parliamentary constituency in Scotland and the north-eastern Government office region of England and
3 Dec 2001 : Column: 62W
(b) electoral ward in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne for all causes, for (i) respiratory disease, (ii) coronary disease, (iii) stroke and (iv) cancer. [19487]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 30 November 2001:
- The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking for the standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) for (a) each parliamentary constituency in Scotland and the North Eastern Government Office Region of England and (b) each electoral ward in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne, for all causes, and for (i) respiratory disease, (ii) coronary disease, (iii) stroke and (iv) cancer. I am replying in his absence (19487)
- Figures for Scotland are the responsibility of the Scottish Executive.
- SMRs for electoral wards and parliamentary constituencies can be calculated only on the basis of ward populations from the 1991 Census. This pre-dates the creation of Government Office Regions. Hence the available data on parliamentary constituencies does not match Government Office Regions.
- The attached table shows SMRs for all causes of death, and for (i) respiratory disease, (ii) coronary disease, (iii) stroke and (iv) cancer for each ward (as constituted at the time of the 1991 Census) in Newcastle upon Tyne District Metropolitan County District, in the years 1991–1993, based on populations from the 1991 Census.
| All Causes | Respiratory disease(18) | Coronary heart disease(18) | Stroke(18) | Cancers(18) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ward | Males | Females | Males | Females | Males | Females | Males | Females | Males | Females |
| Benwell | 141.5 | 148.6 | 183.9 | 182.3 | 137.6 | 147.9 | 160.8 | 171.6 | 139.9 | 122.1 |
| Blacklaw | 124.4 | 126.2 | 84.7 | 104.2 | 128.4 | 128.0 | 182.5 | 86.3 | 164.0 | 109.4 |
| Byker | 129.5 | 123.5 | 136.9 | 113.7 | 120.1 | 105.8 | 146.9 | 95.5 | 158.2 | 149.3 |
| Castle | 83.2 | 99.3 | 101.1 | 68.8 | 66.8 | 78.4 | 52.9 | 121.0 | 104.5 | 118.9 |
| Dene | 90.0 | 76.3 | 50.4 | 51.7 | 114.7 | 89.9 | 74.0 | 49.4 | 94.4 | 92.4 |
| Denton | 109.4 | 109.4 | 101.8 | 93.4 | 128.1 | 121.4 | 159.2 | 81.5 | 119.2 | 118.2 |
| Elswick | 173.2 | 122.3 | 209.4 | 125.4 | 126.7 | 111.9 | 156.6 | 105.6 | 183.3 | 138.8 |
| Fawdon | 109.5 | 93.9 | 99.6 | 80.6 | 119.3 | 130.1 | 86.6 | 67.6 | 125.8 | 95.7 |
| Fenham | 100.9 | 98.0 | 124.1 | 61.0 | 105.3 | 89.3 | 96.7 | 81.7 | 126.8 | 117.7 |
| Grange | 130.3 | 116.3 | 119.8 | 114.7 | 96.3 | 102.8 | 147.6 | 116.1 | 148.4 | 116.7 |
| Heaton | 99.1 | 96.6 | 85.2 | 86.3 | 105.9 | 97.4 | 58.8 | 95.8 | 114.0 | 118.1 |
| Jesmond | 132.9 | 104.0 | 112.8 | 92.2 | 96.1 | 139.4 | 130.5 | 109.4 | 101.8 | 98.4 |
| Kenton | 122.5 | 109.3 | 109.0 | 117.9 | 88.6 | 139.7 | 122.7 | 143.4 | 116.0 | 114.0 |
| Lemington | 131.5 | 124.5 | 125.0 | 55.0 | 109.8 | 93.6 | 153.0 | 211.18 | 100.8 | 115.0 |
| Monkchester | 161.6 | 139.1 | 144.5 | 197.3 | 163.0 | 166.8 | 123.0 | 122.1 | 162.1 | 172.2 |
| Moorside | 124.2 | 97.0 | 66.3 | 85.3 | 133.6 | 88.7 | 115.4 | 112.8 | 129.3 | 101.5 |
| Newburn | 129.7 | 103.4 | 104.0 | 128.5 | 139.5 | 116.9 | 114.0 | 64.5 | 128.3 | 131.5 |
| Sandyford | 120.0 | 106.7 | 81.7 | 85.9 | 102.6 | 118.0 | 160.2 | 114.5 | 103.6 | 144.7 |
| Scotswood | 128.2 | 97.4 | 90.8 | 144.0 | 107.4 | 110.6 | 104.2 | 65.8 | 155.2 | 95.4 |
| South Gosforth | 106.0 | 104.2 | 57.9 | 87.0 | 111.6 | 102.3 | 99.0 | 113.3 | 95.0 | 117.9 |
| Walker | 151.4 | 130.7 | 189.1 | 126.9 | 122.8 | 138.0 | 133.4 | 106.4 | 184.2 | 131.2 |
| Walkergate | 145.8 | 117.6 | 144.3 | 133.7 | 148.5 | 114.8 | 142.5 | 131.5 | 141.5 | 118.2 |
| West City | 171.4 | 151.4 | 190.6 | 151.0 | 165.4 | 126.5 | 178.6 | 140.7 | 185.8 | 130.6 |
| Westerhope | 94.4 | 98.1 | 71.6 | 70.5 | 93.1 | 109.6 | 153.3 | 96.9 | 101.0 | 120.3 |
| Wingrove | 117.6 | 107.5 | 119.0 | 94.6 | 124.7 | 104.9 | 106.5 | 81.7 | 106.4 | 132.9 |
| Woolsington | 109.7 | 99.3 | 71.0 | 41.5 | 136.6 | 122.3 | 39.0 | 114.6 | 126.2 | 87.4 |
(17) Standardised to the population of England and Wales
(18) International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes:
Respiratory disease—460–519
Coronary heart disease—410–414
Stroke—430–438
Cancer—140–208
3 Dec 2001 : Column: 63W
Economic Activity and Employment Rates
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate (a) the economy activity rate and (b) the employment rate of those aged over 21 years and up to pensionable age in each region and nation of the UK for each year since 1996, broken down by age and sex. [19488]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 30 November 2001:
- The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on economic activity and employment rates. I am replying in his absence (19488).
- The Labour Force Survey (LFS) provides estimates of economic activity and employment rates for people aged 16 and over. The economic activity rate is the number of people who are economically active as a percentage of the relevant population. The employment rate is the number of people in employment as a percentage of the relevant economically active population. The latest available LFS estimates are for summer (June to August) 2001.
- These estimates are available through the House of Commons Library.
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