§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what statistics relating to the responsibilities of his Department are collated by parliamentary constituency, indicating the dates covered in each case. [123845]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson[holding answer 25 May 2000]: The Treasury uses a very wide range of statistics, many of which are collected by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Collection by the ONS is not specifically designed to produce statistics at the level of Parliamentary Constituencies, though statistics that the ONS can often provide at this level include economic status (employed, unemployed, inactive), the claimant count, employee jobs, average earnings, and Census data. Other government departments can also supply some statistics by Parliamentary Constituency. However, a comprehensive list of all statistics used by the Treasury that can be collated by Parliamentary Constituency is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.