Written question asked by Brian Sedgemore (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 February 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 21 February 2005. It was answered by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Monday, 21 February 2005 on behalf of the Treasury.

Treasury

Question: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Maidenhead constituency, the effects on Maidenhead of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997. - Inc ref to ONS website.

Answer: Mr. Sedgemore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Maidenhead constituency, the effects on Maidenhead of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [216030] Mr. Timms: The Government have put in place a broad programme of both macroeconomic and microeconomic reform since our election in 1997 designed to better the economic performance of all parts of the UK. Since these policies were implemented, the economic performance of the Maidenhead constituency has improved considerably. For example, since May 1997, claimant unemployment has fallen by 30.5 per cent., long-term unemployment has fallen by 58 per cent. and youth unemployment has remained unchanged albeit at only 30 individuals. The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 Census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at http://neiqhbourhood.statistics. gov.uk./.

Secondary information