Written Answers
Tuesday, 10th November 1998.
Gcse Data For Schools In England
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish data for England showing for comprehensive schools, modern schools, grammar schools, all state schools, independent
| GCSE achievements of 15 year old pupils in schools 1994 to 1997 | ||||||||
| Percentage of 15 year old pupils achieving at least 1 GCSE grade A*-C | Percentage of 15 year olds achieving at least 1 GCSE grade A*-G | |||||||
| 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | |
| Comprehensive | ||||||||
| Boys | 62.3 | 62.0 | 63.6 | 64.2 | 92.9 | 92.7 | 93.2 | 93.4 |
| Girls | 74.0 | 73.9 | 74.8 | 75.0 | 94.0 | 94.0 | 94.3 | 94.4 |
| Total | 68.1 | 67.8 | 69.2 | 69.5 | 93.4 | 93.4 | 93.8 | 93.9 |
| Selective | ||||||||
| Boys | 98.4 | 98.1 | 97.8 | 98.1 | 98.9 | 99.1 | 99.0 | 99.1 |
| Girls | 99.2 | 98.7 | 98.6 | 99.1 | 99.4 | 99.1 | 99.1 | 99.5 |
| Total | 98.9 | 98.4 | 98.2 | 98.6 | 99.1 | 99.1 | 99.1 | 99.3 |
| Modern | ||||||||
| Boys | 53.5 | 55.3 | 58.0 | 58.4 | 93.1 | 92.7 | 93.2 | 93.2 |
| Girls | 67.7 | 68.8 | 70.4 | 70.8 | 94.2 | 94.3 | 94.0 | 94.4 |
| Total | 60.7 | 62.0 | 64.3 | 64.6 | 93.7 | 93.5 | 93.6 | 93.8 |
| Maintained schools (excluding special schools) | ||||||||
| Boys | 63.2 | 63.0 | 64.6 | 65.3 | 93.1 | 92.9 | 93.4 | 93.6 |
| Girls | 74.6 | 74.6 | 75.6 | 75.8 | 94.2 | 94.2 | 94.5 | 94.6 |
| Total | 68.8 | 68.7 | 70.0 | 70.5 | 93.7 | 93.6 | 94.0 | 94.1 |
| Independent Schools | ||||||||
| Boys | 88.7 | 88.3 | 87.3 | 88.1 | 91.6 | 91.2 | 88.9 | 91.0 |
| Girls | 93.3 | 93.2 | 92.4 | 93.1 | 94.5 | 94.4 | 93.4 | 94.4 |
| Total | 90.8 | 90.6 | 89.7 | 90.5 | 92.9 | 92.7 | 91.0 | 92.6 |
| All schools | ||||||||
| Boys | 64.1 | 63.5 | 64.6 | 65.2 | 91.2 | 90.7 | 90.3 | 91.2 |
| Girls | 75.3 | 75.1 | 75.7 | 76.0 | 93.3 | 93.2 | 93.1 | 93.5 |
| Total | 69.6 | 69.2 | 70.0 | 70.5 | 92.2 | 91.9 | 91.6 | 92.3 |
| Number of 15 year old pupils | Number of schools | |||||||
| 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | |
| Comprehensive | ||||||||
| Boys | 223,693 | 242,946 | 249,856 | 246,380 | — | — | — | — |
| Girls | 217,106 | 235,634 | 247,723 | 240,561 | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 440,799 | 478,580 | 493,579 | 486,941 | 2,855 | 2,849 | 2,850 | 2,841 |
| Selective | ||||||||
| Boys | 8,036 | 9,236 | 9,543 | 9,988 | — | — | — | — |
| Girls | 8,591 | 9,854 | 10,134 | 10,461 | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 16,627 | 19,090 | 19,677 | 20,449 | 159 | 164 | 164 | 168 |
| Modern | ||||||||
| Boys | 9,570 | 10,627 | 10,328 | 10,322 | — | — | — | — |
| Girls | 9,938 | 10,488 | 10,481 | 10,391 | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 19,508 | 21,115 | 20,809 | 20,713 | 167 | 163 | 156 | 160 |
| Maintained schools (excluding special schools) | ||||||||
| Boys | 241,299 | 262,809 | 269,727 | 266,690 | — | — | — | — |
| Girls | 235,635 | 255,976 | 264,338 | 261,413 | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 476,934 | 518,785 | 534,065 | 528,103 | 3,181 | 3,176 | 3,170 | 3 169 |
schools and all schools separately, the percentage of all 16 year old pupils in each of the years 1994 to 1997 obtaining one or more GCSE passes at grades A* to C and one or more passes at grades A* to G, showing data separately for boys, girls and all pupils and including for each category of school, the number of schools and the number of 16 year old pupils. [HL3713]
The GCSE data requested for schools in England is shown in the attached table.
Number of 15 year old pupils
| Number of schools
| |||||||
1994
| 1995
| 1996
| 1997
| 1994
| 1995
| 1996
| 1997
| |
Independent Schools
| ||||||||
| Boys | 24,576 | 25,277 | 24,626 | 23,672 | — | — | — | — |
| Girls | 21,474 | 22,214 | 22,153 | 21,383 | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 46,050 | 47,491 | 46,779 | 45,055 | 1,060 | 1,062 | 1,061 | 1,055 |
All schools
| ||||||||
| Boys | 272,139 | 296,188 | 303,327 | 299,509 | — | — | — | — |
| Girls | 260,134 | 282,009 | 290,708 | 287,257 | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 532,273 | 578,197 | 594,035 | 586,766 | 5,228 | 5,361 | 5,353 | 5,358 |
Gce A-Level Data
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish data for England for all state institutions, independent schools, and all institutions giving the number of 17 year olds entering for two or more A levels and the number of 17 year olds obtaining two or more A levels,
| GCE A level achievements of 17 year olds | |||||||||
| Maintained schools in England | |||||||||
| Numbers in thousands | |||||||||
| 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | |
| Male | |||||||||
| Entered 2 or more | 55.6 | 55.2 | 52.1 | 50.5 | 49.6 | 49.6 | 50.0 | 53.2 | 52.3 |
| Achieved 2 or more passes | 40.9 | 40.6 | 39.4 | 37.3 | 37.9 | 38.7 | 38.9 | 41.7 | 41.1 |
| Achieved 3 or more passes | 28.8 | 28.4 | 27.8 | 26.2 | 27.0 | 27.9 | 28.0 | 29.4 | 29.2 |
| Number of school leavers | 365.4 | 357.4 | 349.0 | 341.2 | 340.9 | 313.8 | 377.1 | 361.4 | 346.6 |
| Female | |||||||||
| Entered 2 or more | 57.0 | 54.9 | 52.0 | 49.0 | 49.0 | 48.2 | 51.2 | 56.8 | 56.1 |
| Achieved 2 or more passes | 40.7 | 39.6 | 37.5 | 35.3 | 36.5 | 36.9 | 39.4 | 44.9 | 44.9 |
| Achieved 3 or more passes | 25.8 | 24.8 | 24.0 | 23.7 | 23.8 | 24.3 | 26.1 | 30.1 | 30.2 |
| Number of school leavers | 356.5 | 351.2 | 342.0 | 332.4 | 330.3 | 300.9 | 371.9 | 358.8 | 344.6 |
| Total | |||||||||
| Entered 2 or more | 112.7 | 110.1 | 104.1 | 99.5 | 98.7 | 97.8 | 101.2 | 110.0 | 108.5 |
| Achieved 2 or more passes | 81.6 | 80.2 | 76.9 | 72.6 | 74.4 | 75.6 | 78.3 | 86.6 | 86.0 |
| Achieved 3 or more passes | 54.6 | 53.3 | 51.8 | 50.0 | 50.8 | 52.2 | 54.2 | 59.5 | 59.4 |
| Number of school leavers | 721.6 | 708.6 | 691.0 | 673.6 | 671.2 | 614.8 | 749.0 | 720.2 | 691.2 |
| 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | |
| Boys | ||||||
| Entered 2 or more | 50,950 | 40,507 | 39,935 | 39,695 | 41,183 | 44,570 |
| Achieved 2 or more passes | 39,913 | 32,214 | 32,744 | 33,450 | 35,415 | 39,153 |
| Achieved 3 or more passes | 28,343 | 23,245 | 24,079 | 25,382 | 27,546 | 30,543 |
| Achieved 3 Grade A | 2,688 | 2,308 | 2,460 | 2,703 | 2,713 | 2,943 |
| Number of 17 year olds pupils | 64,374 | 50,768 | 51,019 | 51,447 | 53,702 | 58,970 |
| Girls | ||||||
| Entered 2 or more | 58,000 | 44,929 | 45,523 | 45,573 | 46,252 | 50,663 |
| Achieved 2 or more passes | 46,292 | 36,243 | 37,920 | 38,917 | 40,886 | 45,571 |
| Achieved 3 or more passes | 32,075 | 25,438 | 27,450 | 29,089 | 31,705 | 35,725 |
| Achieved 3 Grade A | 1,877 | 1,722 | 1,967 | 2,262 | 2,571 | 2,722 |
| Number of 17 year olds pupils | 70,507 | 54,963 | 55,921 | 56,564 | 58,312 | 64,679 |
| Total | ||||||
| Entered 2 or more | 108,950 | 85,436 | 85,458 | 85,268 | 87,435 | 95,233 |
| Achieved 2 or more passes | 86,205 | 68,457 | 70,664 | 72,367 | 76,301 | 84,724 |
| Achieved 3 or more passes | 60,418 | 48,683 | 51,529 | 54,471 | 59,251 | 66,268 |
| Achieved 3 Grade A | 4,565 | 4,030 | 4,427 | 4,965 | 5,284 | 5,665 |
| Number of 17 year olds pupils | 134,881 | 105,731 | 106,940 | 108,011 | 112,014 | 123,649 |
three or more A levels and three or more A levels at A grade in each of the years 1983 to 1998 showing data separately for boys, girls and all students and including, for each year, and if possible, for each category of institution, the size of the relevant 17 year old cohort. [HL3717]
The GCE A-level data for 17 year-olds requested is shown in the attached tables.
GCE A level achievements of 17 year olds
| |||||||||
Independent Schools in England
| |||||||||
Numbers in thousands
| |||||||||
1983
| 1984
| 1985
| 1986
| 1987
| 1988
| 1989
| 1990
| 1991
| |
Male
| |||||||||
| Entered 2 or more | 17.1 | 17.5 | 18.5 | 17.3 | 17.1 | 17.1 | 18.1 | 18.2 | 18.8 |
| Achieved 2 or more passes | 15.0 | 15.3 | 16.4 | 15.2 | 15.0 | 15.1 | 16.1 | 16.5 | 17.3 |
| Achieved 3 or more passes | 11.5 | 12.7 | 13.8 | 12.7 | 12.4 | 12.6 | 13.7 | 13.8 | 15.0 |
| Number of school leavers | 24.6 | 24.5 | 25.6 | 24.7 | 24.4 | 22.3 | 47.2 | 44.4 | 46.9 |
Female
| |||||||||
| Entered 2 or more | 11.4 | 11.7 | 12.2 | 11.9 | 12.5 | 13.1 | 14.2 | 14.7 | 16.0 |
| Achieved 2 or more passes | 9.7 | 10.3 | 10.2 | 10.3 | 10.9 | 11.5 | 12.9 | 13.2 | 14.8 |
| Achieved 3 or more passes | 7.2 | 7.8 | 8.1 | 8.0 | 8.4 | 9.1 | 10.4 | 11.1 | 12.3 |
| Number of school leavers | 19.1 | 19.7 | 19.7 | 19.9 | 20.4 | 18.9 | 38.5 | 36.9 | 39.3 |
Total
| |||||||||
| Entered 2 or more | 28.5 | 29.2 | 30.6 | 29.2 | 29.6 | 30.2 | 32.4 | 32.9 | 34.8 |
| Achieved 2 or more passes | 24.7 | 25.6 | 26.6 | 25.6 | 25.9 | 26.6 | 29.0 | 29.7 | 32.0 |
| Achieved 3 or more passes | 18.7 | 20.5 | 21.8 | 20.7 | 20.7 | 21.7 | 24.1 | 24.9 | 27.3 |
| Number of school leavers | 43.7 | 44.2 | 45.2 | 44.6 | 44.8 | 41.2 | 85.7 | 81.4 | 86.2 |
1992
| 1993
| 1994
| 1995
| 1996
| 1997
| |
Boys
| ||||||
| Entered 2 or more | 15,642 | 15,618 | 14,988 | 15,056 | 15,188 | 15,521 |
| Achieved 2 or more passes | 14,515 | 14,568 | 14,072 | 14,236 | 14,534 | 14,905 |
| Achieved 3 or more passes | 12,608 | 12,804 | 12,397 | 12,673 | 13,120 | 13,533 |
| Achieved 3 Grade A | 2,126 | 2,302 | 2,438 | 2,700 | 2,695 | 2,800 |
| Number of 17 year old pupils | 18,504 | 18,452 | 17,998 | 18,130 | 18,235 | 18,947 |
Girls
| ||||||
| Entered 2 or more | 12,751 | 12,682 | 12,638 | 12,484 | 13,190 | 13,504 |
| Achieved 2 or more passes | 11,785 | 11,860 | 11,897 | 11,860 | 12,710 | 13,077 |
| Achieved 3 or more passes | 9,897 | 10,148 | 10,354 | 10,472 | 11,400 | 11,836 |
| Achieved 3 Grade A | 1,319 | 1,427 | 1,725 | 1,875 | 2,027 | 2,222 |
| Number of 17 year old pupils | 15,108 | 14,994 | 14,922 | 14,768 | 15,453 | 16,071 |
Total
| ||||||
| Entered 2 or more | 28,393 | 28,300 | 27,626 | 27,540 | 28,378 | 29,025 |
| Achieved 2 or more passes | 26,300 | 26,428 | 25,969 | 26,096 | 27,244 | 27,982 |
| Achieved 3 or more passes | 22,505 | 22,952 | 22,751 | 23,145 | 24,520 | 25,369 |
| Achieved 3 Grade A | 3,445 | 3,729 | 4,163 | 4,575 | 4,722 | 5,022 |
| Number of 17 year old pupils | 33,612 | 33,446 | 32,920 | 32,898 | 33,688 | 35,018 |
Figures for 1983 to 1991 relate to school leavers of any age and are in thousands.
Figures from 1992 onwards relate to 17 year old pupils in schools.
GCE A level achievements of 17 year olds
| |||||||||
All Schools in England
| |||||||||
Numbers in thousands
| |||||||||
1983
| 1984
| 1985
| 1986
| 1987
| 1988
| 1989
| 1990
| 1991
| |
Male
| |||||||||
| Entered 2 or more | 72.8 | 72.7 | 70.6 | 67.8 | 66.7 | 66.7 | 68.2 | 70.3 | 69.1 |
| Achieved 2 or more passes | 55.9 | 55.9 | 55.8 | 52.5 | 52.9 | 53.8 | 55.0 | 57.3 | 56.6 |
| Achieved 3 or more passes | 40.3 | 41.1 | 41.5 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 40.5 | 41.7 | 42.5 | 42.8 |
| Number of school leavers | 389.9 | 381.9 | 374.6 | 365.9 | 365.2 | 336.2 | 424.3 | 402.2 | 387.6 |
Female
| |||||||||
| Entered 2 or more | 68.5 | 66.6 | 64.2 | 60.9 | 61.5 | 61.3 | 65.4 | 71.0 | 70.7 |
| Achieved 2 or more passes | 50.4 | 49.9 | 47.7 | 45.6 | 47.4 | 48.4 | 52.3 | 57.7 | 58.4 |
| Achieved 3 or more passes | 33.0 | 32.7 | 32.1 | 31.8 | 32.1 | 33.4 | 36.5 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Number of school leavers | 375.6 | 370.9 | 361.6 | 352.3 | 350.8 | 319.8 | 410.4 | 393.4 | 379.7 |
Total
| |||||||||
| Entered 2 or more | 141.2 | 139.3 | 134.8 | 128.7 | 128.3 | 128.1 | 133.6 | 141.3 | 139.8 |
| Achieved 2 or more passes | 106.3 | 105.8 | 103.5 | 98.2 | 100.2 | 102.2 | 107.3 | 115.0 | 115.1 |
| Achieved 3 or more passes | 73.3 | 73.8 | 73.6 | 70.7 | 71.5 | 73.9 | 78.2 | 83.3 | 84.4 |
| Number of school leavers | 765.5 | 752.8 | 736.2 | 718.2 | 716.0 | 656.0 | 834.7 | 795.6 | 767.2 |
1992
| 1993
| 1994
| 1995
| 1996
| 1997
| |
Boys
| ||||||
| Entered 2 or more | 66,592 | 56,125 | 54,923 | 54,751 | 56,371 | 60,091 |
| Achieved 2 or more passes | 54,428 | 46,782 | 46,816 | 47,686 | 49,949 | 54,058 |
| Achieved 3 or more passes | 40,951 | 36,049 | 36,476 | 38,055 | 40,666 | 44,076 |
| Achieved 3 Grade A | 4,814 | 4,610 | 4,898 | 5,403 | 5,408 | 5,743 |
| Number of 17 year old pupils | 82,878 | 69,220 | 69,017 | 69,577 | 71,937 | 77,917 |
Girls
| ||||||
| Entered 2 or more | 70,751 | 57,611 | 58,161 | 58,057 | 59,442 | 64,167 |
| Achieved 2 or more passes | 58,077 | 48,103 | 49,817 | 50,777 | 53,596 | 58,648 |
| Achieved 3 or more passes | 41,972 | 35,586 | 37,804 | 39,561 | 43,105 | 47,561 |
| Achieved 3 Grade A | 3,196 | 3,149 | 3,692 | 4,137 | 4,598 | 4,944 |
| Number of 17 year old pupils | 85,615 | 69,957 | 70,843 | 71,332 | 73,765 | 80,750 |
Total
| ||||||
| Entered 2 or more | 137,343 | 113,736 | 113,084 | 112,808 | 115,813 | 124,258 |
| Achieved 2 or more passes | 112,505 | 94,885 | 96,633 | 98,463 | 103,545 | 112,706 |
| Achieved 3 or more passes | 82,923 | 71,635 | 74,280 | 77,616 | 83,771 | 91,637 |
| Achieved 3 Grade A | 8,010 | 7,759 | 8,590 | 9,540 | 10,006 | 10,687 |
| Number of 17 year old pupils | 168,493 | 139,177 | 139,860 | 140,909 | 145,702 | 158,667 |
Figures for 1983 to 1991 relate to school leavers of any age and are in thousands.
Figures from 1992 onwards relate to 17 year old pupils in schools.
Student Loans Helpline
asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the average length of time taken to answer calls to the Student Loans Helpline. [HL3710]
The average length of time to respond to each incoming call on the Student Loans Company's helpline is currently about two minutes. Delays may be longer at peak time. The company is now in its peak processing period and expects the volume of incoming calls to start dropping shortly: this will lead to a quicker response time to calls.
Head Of Defence Export Services
asked Her Majesty's Government:When the contract of the current Head of Defence Export Services finishes; who his successor will be; and what the salary of the post is. [HL3813]
We are announcing today that the Prime Minister has approved the appointment of Mr. Tony Edwards as the next Head of Defence Export Services in succession to Sir Charles Masefield. Mr. Edwards, who will be seconded to the Ministry of Defence from TI Group plc, will formally take up appointment on 14 December 1998 when Sir Charles Masefield, who has been seconded to the Ministry from British Aerospace, will take up a new appointment in industry.Mr. Edwards will receive a salary from the Ministry of Defence of £165,000 a year plus an annual performance related bonus of up to £15,000. In addition, the Defence Industries Council, acting on behalf of the defence industry as a whole, will provide a top-up element so that Mr. Edwards' basic remuneration package will remain on a par with what he is currently receiving from TI Group plc.
Nhs Director Of Counter Fraud Services
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the new NHS Fraud Supremo has yet developed a strategy; if so, what are its key targets; and when it will be published. [HL3668]
The new National Health Service Director of Counter Fraud Services, who took up his post on 1 September, has been developing a comprehensive, integrated and professional counter fraud strategy. This document will be published shortly and will contain details of targets.
"Delivering For Women: Progress So Far"
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish a report on the progress made on issues affecting women since May 1997. [HL3801]
We have published our report, Delivering for women: Progress so far. This charts what has been achieved in the first 18 months of this Government to improve the lives of women. Copies of this report have been placed in the Libraries of the House, together with two research documents, Researching Women's Attitudes and Tackling Violence Against Women which summarises reported action already taken by local authorities to protect women from violence. In addition I have, together with my right honourable friends the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, issued new guidelines on policy appraisal for equal treatment to relevant officials throughout government. Copies of this have also been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Real Earnings Growth: Average Annual Rate
asked Her Majesty's Government:What has been the average annual rate of real earnings growth in each year since 1985 of employees in the following categories—
The civil service; education (including further education and higher education); prisons; the fire service; local authority manual and non-manual workers; NHS manual, non-manual and managerial staff (if available); and other relevant categories;
(c) private sector employees in the following categories:
Male manual workers, female manual workers, male non-manual workers, female non-manual workers. [HL3600]
New Earnings Survey, April 1990 to 1998 (GB) Employees on adult rates, whose pay for the survey period was unaffected by absence. Percentage increase in gross weekly earnings. Matched sample.
| ||||||||
Percentage increase
| ||||||||
1990–91
| 1991–92
| 1992–93
| 1993–94
| 1994–95
| 1995–96
| 1996–97
| 1997–98
| |
Question (a)—public sector employees covered by each of the separate pay review bodies
| ||||||||
| Doctors and dentists | — | — | — | 4.3 | 6.3 | 8.3 | 5.5 | 8.4 |
| Nursing staff, midwives etc. | 14.7 | 10.0 | 2.9 | 5.8 | 2.6 | 6.4 | 5.3 | 3.8 |
| School teachers | 16.3 | 15.2 | 3.2 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 4.8 |
| Senior salaries | — | — | — | — | — | 4.1 | 4.7 | — |
Question (b)—public sector employees not covered by pay review
| ||||||||
| Civil Service | 11.6 | 13.7 | 7.1 | 2.9 | 4.7 | 6.2 | 5.9 | 3.9 |
| Education1 | 11.1 | 9.6 | 6.7 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 2.7 | 3.7 |
| Prisons | 6.0 | 5.6 | 3.5 | 2.6 | 4.0 | 2.2 | 4.8 | 3.8 |
| Fire service | 13.2 | 4.7 | 8.2 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 7.0 | 7.5 | 2.1 |
| Local authority manuals | 9.2 | 6.5 | 5.4 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 3.0 |
| Local authority non-manuals | 13.1 | 9.5 | 7.3 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 5.4 | 3.9 | 4.4 |
| NHS manuals | 8.6 | 9.9 | 6.1 | 2.8 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.6 |
| NHS non-manuals | 14.1 | 10.6 | 7.8 | 4.7 | 4.0 | 6.5 | 5.1 | 4.9 |
| NHS managers | — | 11.0 | 10.0 | 6.0 | 5.2 | 6.0 | 3.2 | 6.6 |
Question (c)—private sector employees
| ||||||||
| Non-manual males | 11.6 | 7.3 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 6.2 | 6.8 | 7.3 | 8.1 |
| Manual males | 4.3 | 6.3 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 5.5 | 4.1 | 5.0 | 5.2 |
| Non-manual females | 14.3 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 5.6 | 6.4 | 7.3 | 8.9 | 7.4 |
| Manual females | 5.8 | 7.6 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 5.7 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 5.0 |
1 Including further and higher education. | ||||||||
Vat Top Rate In Member States
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will state the top rate of value added tax in each country of the European Union, indicating in each case the range of goods and services to which it applies. [HL3722]
The top rate of VAT in each member state of the European Union is its
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
Letter to Lord McCarthy from the Director of the Office for National Statistics, Mr. T. Holt, dated 10 November 1998.
As the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on the average annual rate of real earnings growth. I apologise for the delay in replying to you. This was due to the complex nature of the question.
In the attached table, I have provided information from the New Earnings Survey for each year from 1990 to 1998. The change in occupational coding prior to 1990 prevents the production of consistent analyses for earlier years.
For the growth of earnings in real terms please refer to the RPI index in the ONS Business Monitor MM23, a copy of which is in the House Library.
standard rate. The current standard rates, which apply to most goods and services, are set out in the following table.
Standard rates of VAT in EU Member States
| |
EC Member State
| Standard rate of VAT (%)
|
| Austria | 20.0 |
| Belgium | 21.0 |
| Denmark | 25.0 |
Standard rates of VAT in EU Member States
| |
EC Member State
| Standard rate of VAT (%)
|
| Finland | 22.0 |
| France | 20.6 |
| Germany | 16.0 |
| Greece | 18.0 |
| Ireland | 21.0 |
| Italy | 20.0 |
| Luxembourg | 15.0 |
| Netherlands | 17.5 |
| Portugal | 17.0 |
| Spain | 16.0 |
| Sweden | 25.0 |
| UK | 17.5 |
Vat Grouping And Universities
asked Her Majesty's Government:Following the consultation process which ended on 30 September, whether the proposals from Customs and Excise regarding VAT grouping treatment will be so modified that the potentially damaging effect on the activities of universities will be eliminated. [HL3709]
The consultation exercise on VAT grouping is at the stage where taxpayers' representations are being analysed and evaluated. No decisions have yet been made on which, if any, of the options contained in the consultation paper will be adopted. The views of universities are being taken fully into account as part of this process.