| Previous Section | Home Page |
Pensions
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what additional benefits are due to a pensioner couple in receipt of £83.25 state pension, £27.80 attendance allowance and occupational pension of £25.80.
Mr. Jack : The extent to which this pensioner couple might be eligible for additional benefits would depend on a range of factors, including the amount of any other income or capital they possess, the size of their family and household composition, their housing costs, if any, and the amount of community charge payable.
Transitional Additions
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were in receipt of transitional additions for each category for which such additions are payable at the latest date for which figures are available.
Miss Widdecombe : Shortly after the 1990 uprating, the number of people in each category who were in receipt of income support transitional additions were as follows :
|Number
------------------------------------------
Pensioners |42,000
Long-term sick and disabled |8,000
Families with children |7,000
Others |52,000
Social Fund
Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether the independent research commissioned from the social security research unit of the University of York to examine whether the social fund is meeting its objectives will be available for publication in either completed or interim form prior to the establishment of the benefits agency ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : The research into the operation of the social fund by the social policy research unit is not expected to be completed until the end of December 1991.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what procedures exist for his Department to
Column 285
monitor the local priority categories used for allocating grants from the social fund and changes which take place in those priorities.Mr. Scott : There are no centrally imposed procedures for monitoring local priority categories, or changes which take place in those priorities.
This function is the responsibility of the relevant local manager who, as the appointed area social fund officer and budget holder, is required to issue guidance on matters specified by the Secretary of State. That guidance must take account of local factors in specifying priority needs for grants and loans and the levels of priority which may be met from the expenditure allocation for the local social fund officers for the relevant period. The area social fund officer is also required to monitor and review at least monthly the planned level of expenditure and the priority needs and levels for his locality and to revise them as
Column 286
necessary. It follows that this guidance can vary from one local area to another, thus ensuring that the highest priority needs in a community are met.Unemployed Claimants
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for each of the past four years the total cost and number of unemployed claiming (a) unemployment benefit, (b) unemployment benefit and income support and (c) income support for Great Britain and each of the standard regions.
Mr. Jack : The information is not available in the form requested. The numbers of unemployed receiving benefits in November of each year are set out in tables 1(a) to 1(d). Total benefit expenditure for Great Britain on income support, unemployment benefit, rate rebates and community charge benefits paid to unemployed people is shown in table 2.
Column 285
Claimants in receipt of unemployment benefit, unemployment benefit
and supplemen-
tary benefit/income support and supplementary benefit/income
support only 1987 to
1990
(Figures are for November each year).
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 1(a)
1987
Great Britain |548,772 |126,609 |1,407,222
South East |124,000 |28,804 |335,009
East Anglia |15,185 |3,700 |30,160
South West |39,757 |9,127 |76,010
West Midlands |51,953 |12,215 |164,632
East Midlands |38,478 |7,938 |80,837
Yorkshire and Humberside |56,558 |13,633 |141,867
North West |70,279 |17,698 |218,740
Northern |45,124 |10,819 |105,359
Wales |31,312 |8,002 |77,895
Scotland |76,126 |14,673 |176,713
Table 1(b)
1988
Great Britain |384,769 |114,902 |1,065,930
London East |27,040 |9,406 |102,854
London South |27,301 |8,831 |93,460
London West |22,224 |5,548 |46,168
South West |27,696 |6,893 |54,087
West Midlands |34,987 |10,334 |117,850
East Midlands |35,853 |9,180 |79,457
Yorkshire and Humberside |42,300 |12,135 |108,953
North West |56,629 |17,849 |180,284
Northern |31,268 |9,661 |77,918
Wales |24,547 |7,988 |59,346
Scotland |54,924 |17,077 |145,553
Table 1(c)
1989
Great Britain |210,325 |78,457 |918,924
London East |15,974 |6,832 |83,952
London South |16,074 |6,624 |77,078
London West |12,882 |4,346 |36,771
South West |14,294 |4,875 |45,814
West Midlands |18,465 |6,801 |95,783
East Midlands |20,722 |6,997 |67,333
Yorkshire and Humberside |23,018 |8,225 |97,727
North West |30,389 |11,485 |158,546
Northern |15,771 |5,879 |71,903
Wales |12,512 |5,017 |50,383
Scotland |30,224 |11,376 |133,634
Table 1(d)
1990
Great Britain |282,726 |60,225 |969,315
London and South East |71,674 |16,017 |232,998
South West |20,491 |4,453 |56,875
West Midlands |25,420 |5,953 |97,022
East Midlands |28,096 |6,336 |77,672
Yorkshire and Humberside |29,725 |6,441 |99,043
North West |38,514 |7,728 |157,971
Northern |19,273 |4,069 |70,649
Wales |15,348 |3,694 |53,243
Scotland |34,185 |5,534 |123,842
Note: Standard regions changed in 1988 and 1990.
Table 2
Expenditure on unemployed people
1986-87 to 1989-90
|£ million
------------------------------------
1986-87 |7,310
1987-88 |6,650
1988-89 |5,240
1989-90 |4,280
Housing Benefit
Mr. Squire : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he plans to publish the research by the social policy research unit into the operation of housing benefit review procedures.
Miss Widdecombe : I have today placed a copy of the report in the Library. We shall be studying the research findings with care and considering whether there is a need to make changes to the current arrangements.
The report will be published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office and is expected to be available in the early summer.
EMPLOYMENT
Manufacturing Jobs
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs have been lost in manufacturing in each of the last twelve months.
Mr. Jackson : Changes in the number of employees in manufacturing industries are supplied in the table.
Employees in employment in
manufacturing industries
Great Britain
Seasonally adjusted
|Net monthly
1990 |change
|(Thousands)
------------------------------------
January |4.1
February |-13.7
March |-13.0
April |-7.6
May |-6.0
June |11.0
July |2.3
August |-2.0
September |-22.9
October |-18.6
November |-15.6
December |-30.4
Duty Workers
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report (a) the number of detached duty workers recruited and the numbers now operating in the south-east and south-west of England dealing with unemployed people claiming benefit, (b) the standard regions from which the detached workers were recruited and (c) the total costs, including travel, overnight allowances and any other premium payments, for each quarter between 1 January 1988 and 31 January 1991.
Mr. Jackson : Questions on operational matters in the Employment Service Executive Agency are the responsibility of Mike Fogden, the agency's chief executive, to whom I have referred this question for reply.
Employment Service
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps are being taken by the employment service to deal with the increased numbers of unemployed people claiming benefit in the south-east and south- west regions of England ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson : Questions on operational matters in the Employment Service Executive Agency are the responsibility of Mike Fogden, the agency's chief executive, to whom I have referred this question for reply.
Training
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give for employment training in each of the years 1988-89 and 1989-90 (a) the total outturn and planned expenditure in both cash and real terms and (b) the total number of places provided for Great Britain and each of the standard regions.
Mr. Jackson : The total outturn and planned expenditure on youth training in cash and constant prices for 1988-89 and 1989-90 is shown in table (a) . Table (b) gives the total number of youth training (YTS) places provided for Great Britain and each of the standard regions in 1988-89 and 1989-90.
Column 289
Table (a)
£ million
Outturn Planned expenditure
|Cash |Constant |Cash |Constant
|prices |prices<1>|prices |prices<2>
------------------------------------------------------------
1988-89 |993 |1,056 |1,141 |1,214
1989-90 |976 |976 |1,039 |1,039
<1> Cash figures adjusted to 1989-90 price levels by
excluding the effect of general inflation measured by the
GDP deflator shown in the Chancellor's autumn statement.
<2> Figures exclude community industry.
Table (b) Training Places |1988-90 |1989-90 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Britain |391,950 |359,469 South East |40,008 |38,613 London |21,207 |20,660 South West |30,503 |28,043 West Midlands |43,609 |39,394 East Midlands and Eastern |46,633 |42,592 Yorkshire and Humberside |45,228 |41,151 North West |60,703 |53,412 Northern |30,484 |27,790 Wales |23,779 |22,665 Scotland |49,796 |45,149
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give for youth training in each of the years 1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93 and 1993-94 (a) the total estimated planned expenditure and for 1990-91 the estimated outturn expenditure, in both cash and real terms, (b) the total estimated planned expenditure for credits included in the above and (c) the total estimated number of youth training places provided for Great Britain and each of the standard regions.
Mr. Jackson : The total estimated planned expenditure on youth training (YT) and training credits in 1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93 and 1993-94 in cash and constant prices is shown in the table. The estimated outturn expenditure for YT in 1990-91 is £833 million, which is equivalent to £771 million in constant prices . Information on the number of places provided is not available.
£ million
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for employment training in each of the years 1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93 and 1993-94 (a) the total estimated planned expenditure in both cash and real terms and (b) the total number of planned places, for Great Britain and each standard region ; and what is the estimated outturn expenditure for 1990-91 employment training in 1990-91 for Great Britain and each standard region.
Column 290
Mr. Jackson : Total planned expenditure on employment training in cash and constant prices in 1990-91 to 1993-94 is shown in the table. Information on the total number of planned places is not available. Estimated outturn expenditure in Great Britain for employment training in 1990-91 is £1,062 million. Regional expenditure forecasts are for internal management purposes only.
|Cash |Constant
------------------------------------
1990-91 |1,074 |995
1991-91 |877 |766
1992-93 |792 |661
1993-94 |881 |654
Notes:
(1) Cash figures for 1991-92 to
1993-94 are taken from the
departmental report (Cm. 1501 to
1519) and adjusted to take account
of recent additions to planned
expenditure in 1991-92.
(2) Cash figure for 1990-91 is the
spring supplementary estimate
published in February 1991.
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for youth training in each of the years 1988-89 and 1989-90 (a) the total outturn and planned expenditure in both cash and real terms and (b) the total number of places provided for Great Britain and each of the standard regions.
Mr. Jackson : The following table (a) shows the total outturn and planned expenditure on employment training in both cash and constant prices in 1988-89 and 1989-90. Table (b) shows the average number of filled places provided for Great Britain and each region in 1988-89 and 1989-90.
Table (a)
Outturn Planned Expenditure
|Cash |Constant |Cash |Constant
|prices |prices<1> |prices |prices<1>
|£ million|£ million|£ million|£ million
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988-89 |<2>425 |<2>452 |494 |526
1989-90 |1,107 |1,107 |1,210 |1,210
<1> Cash prices adjusted to 1989-90 price levels by excluding the
effect of general inflation as measured by the gross domestic product
deflator shown in the Chancellor's autumn statement.
<2> These figures do not include wages for those who continued on
community programme terms and conditions. ET was launched in September
1988, therefore these figures are only for six months of operation.
Table (b)
|1988-89|1989-90
--------------------------------------------------
South East |7,200 |13,800
London |10,900 |20,100
South West |7,000 |11,900
West Midlands |12,700 |22,800
East Midlands and Eastern |9,100 |16,300
Yorkshire and Humberside |16,500 |25,100
North West |15,900 |28,500
Northern |12,200 |23,600
Wales |7,800 |15,800
Scotland |12,100 |24,800
Great Britain<1> |111,400|203,200
<1> Great Britain total includes a small number
of trainees at residential training colleges and
large contractors not included in regional
figures.
Rochdale TEC
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list (a) the directors of Rochdale training and enterprise council and (b) any resignations which have taken place since the board was established.
Mr. Jackson : An up-to-date list of TEC directors including those of Rochdale TEC is held in the House of Commons Library. Resignations are a matter for the TEC.
DEFENCE
Equal Opportunities
Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department last conducted a survey of the ethnic origins of its employees ; when it next plans to do so ; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. Alan Clark : The last such survey was conducted in 1988. A further survey is being conducted at the moment.
Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of officers in each grade (1 to 7) and overall in the Department are (a) women and (b) from ethnic minorities, respectively. Mr. Alan Clark : The information on ethnic minorities is based on a voluntary survey conducted since 1988 to which not all staff responded. The figures as at January 1991 are as follows :
Table file CW910307.062 not available
Women Ethnic minorities
|Number |per cent.|Number |per cent.
------------------------------------------------------------
Grade 1 |0 |- |0 |-
Grade 2 |0 |- |0 |-
Grade 3 |1 |1.6 |0 |-
Grade 4 |0 |- |0 |-
Grade 5 |8 |2.5 |0 |-
Grade 6 |10 |1.2 |4 |0.5
Grade 7 |85 |2.9 |18 |0.6
Overall |40,202 |28.7 |1,847 |1.3
Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment at his Ministry.
Mr. Alan Clark : Recruitment at grade 7 level is undertaken by the Civil Service Commission on behalf of the MOD. Entry to grades above grade 7 is normally through internal promotion procedures.
Column 292
Challenger II Tank
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral answers of 19 February, Official Report, columns 137-38, when he now expects to make a decision on the Challenger II tank contract bid.
Mr. Alan Clark : I hope that a decision on the equipment for our future main battle tank fleet will not have to be delayed too long.
Territorial Army
Mr. Soley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what decision he has reached about the future size of the Territorial Army ; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) on 20 February 1991 at column 192.
The Gulf
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Gulf support groups are known to his Department ; and what advice and back-up support has been given to them.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : We know of 70 support groups. The Gulf amenities desk telephone line, which is open 24 hours a day, is available to provide information and advice.
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which areas of the country from which men and women now serving in the Gulf have been recruited there is no Gulf support group.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Information on areas of the country from which personnel now serving in the Gulf have been recruited is not held centrally, and we are not necessarily aware of all the Gulf support groups operating in the United Kingdom. The question could not, therefore, be answered without incurring disproportionate cost.
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the regiments serving in the Gulf and, in each case, indicate from which area of the country the majority of the men and women have been recruited.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The principal recruiting areas of the British Army regiments and corps serving in the Gulf are listed in table A. Regiments and corps which draw their recruits from across the country are listed in table B.
Column 291
Table A Regiments and corps which recruit nationwide Army Air Corps Corps of Royal Engineers Coldstream Guards Royal Army Ordnance Corps Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Royal Corps of Transport Royal Pioneer Corps Royal Military Police Womens Royal Army Corps
Table B Regiments and corps which recruit nationwide Army Air Corps
Corps of Royal Engineers
Coldstream Guards
Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Royal Corps of Transport
Royal Pioneer Corps
Royal Military Police
Womens Royal Army Corps
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to arrange for the clean up of military detritus, toxic wastes and redundant equipment in Kuwait, southern Iraq and northern Saudi Arabia as a result of Operation Granby.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : British forces are currently assisting in clearing hazards from the battlefield.
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department has taken to ensure the general welfare of the families of military personnel serving in the Gulf.
Mr. Archie Hamilton [holding answer 6 March 1991] : In addition to the normal welfare facilities provided by each service for the support of families and dependants, special arrangements have been made to provide help and
Column 294
support during Operation Granby, including the provision of a Gulf helpline service at military establishments, specialist counselling where needed, the issue of fact sheets and briefings to disseminate information and answer queries. Those who are remote from military establishments are kept in contact by regular telephone calls and information bulletins.Taylorplan Services Ltd.
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts have been awarded by his Department to Taylorplan Services Ltd. ; what hourly rates of pay were advertised by the company for any contract awarded by his Department ; what complaints he has received about pay rates offered by the company or its quality of work ; and whether the company has any current contracts with his Department.
Mr. Alan Clark : A total of 20 Ministry of Defence contracts for catering and cleaning work have been awarded to Taylorplan Services Limited ; 18 of these are still current.
The rates of pay offered by contractors for employment on their service contracts with the Ministry are a matter for the companies themselves. We have received no complaints about Taylorplan, either in relation to their pay rates or their contract performance.
|
| Home Page |