To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what statistics her Department collects on the amount and proportion of unpaid council tax which is written off.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what statistics her Department collects on the amount and proportion of unpaid council tax which is written off.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will arrange for the Identity and Passport Service routinely to collect information on how many applicants for replacements for passports lost or stolen have previously reported a passport lost or stolen.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will arrange for the Identity and Passport Service routinely to collect information on how many applicants for replacements for passports lost or stolen have previously reported a passport lost or stolen.

I previously advised the House on 19 June 2007, Official Report, column 1752W, on 30 January 2007, Official Report, column 155W and on 8 January 2007, Official Report, column 91W that the Department has been reviewing its methods of collating figures on service personnel diagnosed with a mental health disorder....

I previously advised the House on 19 June 2007, Official Report, column 1752W, on 30 January 2007, Official Report, column 155W and on 8 January 2007, Official Report, column 91W that the Department has been reviewing its methods of collating figures on service personnel diagnosed with a mental health disorder....

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Derek Twigg) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement: I advised the House on 19 June 2007 (Official Report, Commons, col. 1752W), on 30 January 2007 (Official Report, Commons, col. 155W) and on 8 January (Official Report, Commons, col....

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Derek Twigg) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement: I advised the House on 19 June 2007 (Official Report, Commons, col. 1752W), on 30 January 2007 (Official Report, Commons, col. 155W) and on 8 January (Official Report, Commons, col....

Adjournment debate on the compilation of London population statistics by the Office of National Statistics.

Adjournment debate on the compilation of London population statistics by the Office of National Statistics.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for mentioning Croydon. The borough has also seen a downward revision on the various ONS calculations and assumptions. However, that has come at a time when the number of migrants registered with GPs was more than 37,000 in the five-year period to April...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for mentioning Croydon. The borough has also seen a downward revision on the various ONS calculations and assumptions. However, that has come at a time when the number of migrants registered with GPs was more than 37,000 in the five-year period to April...

I might have cut things a little fine for my question this morning, but I have had ample leisure to repent while waiting for the debate this evening. I am grateful for the opportunity to raise an important issue for many Londoners. It is appropriate to raise population statistics compilation...

I might have cut things a little fine for my question this morning, but I have had ample leisure to repent while waiting for the debate this evening. I am grateful for the opportunity to raise an important issue for many Londoners. It is appropriate to raise population statistics compilation...

Does the hon. Gentleman accept that this is not a matter of party political tension? It is a shared view across the parties and among independent people across Greater London. Is he also aware that there is a turnover of those registered in constituencies such as mine of between 25...

Does the hon. Gentleman accept that this is not a matter of party political tension? It is a shared view across the parties and among independent people across Greater London. Is he also aware that there is a turnover of those registered in constituencies such as mine of between 25...

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. There is consensus on this between all three parties in the Association of London Government, and this view was endorsed by its leaders’ committee in its most up-to-date report only a few weeks ago. I have set out why this matter is important for...

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. There is consensus on this between all three parties in the Association of London Government, and this view was endorsed by its leaders’ committee in its most up-to-date report only a few weeks ago. I have set out why this matter is important for...

First, I congratulate the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) on securing this evening’s debate. I thank him for raising the important issue of the compilation of statistics on London’s population. The hon. Gentleman explained that this is such an important issue because ONS population statistics are used...

First, I congratulate the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) on securing this evening’s debate. I thank him for raising the important issue of the compilation of statistics on London’s population. The hon. Gentleman explained that this is such an important issue because ONS population statistics are used...

Will the Minister accept, however, that she is missing an important point? It is important to have accuracy of statistics not just on who is coming into the country through the entry points, but in terms of calculating, for example, local need and grants when people are here. The IPS...

Will the Minister accept, however, that she is missing an important point? It is important to have accuracy of statistics not just on who is coming into the country through the entry points, but in terms of calculating, for example, local need and grants when people are here. The IPS...

The hon. Gentleman is right, and that is why the labour force survey offers extra insight, although I would be the first to say that it is not an actual count of all migrants wherever they are. Even if we could do that and afford to do it regularly, it...

The hon. Gentleman is right, and that is why the labour force survey offers extra insight, although I would be the first to say that it is not an actual count of all migrants wherever they are. Even if we could do that and afford to do it regularly, it...

There are several such indicators. The hon. Gentleman mentioned GP registrations. There are also school registrations, but that does not address the short-term or long-term issue. Each attempt to measure accurately at a disaggregated level must be looked at carefully for what it actually tells us. The national insurance numbers...

There are several such indicators. The hon. Gentleman mentioned GP registrations. There are also school registrations, but that does not address the short-term or long-term issue. Each attempt to measure accurately at a disaggregated level must be looked at carefully for what it actually tells us. The national insurance numbers...

They certainly are. My hon. Friend makes a valid point. It is not good enough for the Government to say, for example, that migrants frequently move on quickly. That is not demonstrated by the evidence on the ground and nor does it deal with the point that, for a period,...

They certainly are. My hon. Friend makes a valid point. It is not good enough for the Government to say, for example, that migrants frequently move on quickly. That is not demonstrated by the evidence on the ground and nor does it deal with the point that, for a period,...

The Minister suggested that there might be other indicators. I mentioned GP registrations as an example. What other possible indicators might be useful?

The Minister suggested that there might be other indicators. I mentioned GP registrations as an example. What other possible indicators might be useful?

Statement on crime reduction.

Statement on crime reduction.

I agree with my hon. Friend that very good work goes on in our crime reduction partnerships and I know that he has raised the matter with my hon. Friend—soon to be right hon. Friend—the Minister of State, Home Department, the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. McNulty). Despite the increased...

I agree with my hon. Friend that very good work goes on in our crime reduction partnerships and I know that he has raised the matter with my hon. Friend—soon to be right hon. Friend—the Minister of State, Home Department, the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. McNulty). Despite the increased...

I am obviously grateful to the Home Secretary for advance sight of the statement. She was quick in its early stages to take credit for the reduction in some categories of non-violent crime. Has she read the report of the Prime Minister’s strategy unit, which confirms that a full 80...

I am obviously grateful to the Home Secretary for advance sight of the statement. She was quick in its early stages to take credit for the reduction in some categories of non-violent crime. Has she read the report of the Prime Minister’s strategy unit, which confirms that a full 80...

Well, I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his welcome for quite a few elements of my statement. He is absolutely right about local crime statistics; they are an important way in which we can support local people to engage in partnerships that will help to bring down crime. The...

Well, I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his welcome for quite a few elements of my statement. He is absolutely right about local crime statistics; they are an important way in which we can support local people to engage in partnerships that will help to bring down crime. The...

May I applaud my right hon. Friend for the importance that she places on local crime reduction partnerships, such as the exemplary safer Hastings partnership, which has led to massive reductions in crime in Hastings? Seventy per cent. of the people even believe that there has been a reduction. I...

May I applaud my right hon. Friend for the importance that she places on local crime reduction partnerships, such as the exemplary safer Hastings partnership, which has led to massive reductions in crime in Hastings? Seventy per cent. of the people even believe that there has been a reduction. I...