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Soft Drinks
Mr. Shersby : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he intends to publish the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission into the supply of carbonated soft drinks.
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Mr. Redwood : The MMC's report on carbonated drinks is currently being considered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. The report will be published as quickly as practicable.
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Royal Ordnance
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many transactions with Royal Ordnance, prior to privatisation, were made using BCCI ; what were the transactions for ; and who were the purchasers.
Mr. Leigh : This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.
European Generics Forum
Mr. Michael Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the companies represented by the European Generics Forum other than those companies within the same holding company as Generics UK.
Mr. Leigh : I am informed that the European Generics Association has recently been created to represent the common interests of the generic pharmaceutical industry and bulk chemical producers across Europe. Generics (UK) and the Netherlands company BOGIN, which were members of the European Generics Forum, are now members of this association. The other companies and organisations which are involved are Eurogenerics (Belgium), Durascan (Denmark), Stada, Azupharma, TAD, IGG (Germany), FIS/Aschimfarma (Italy), Farmindustria (Portugal), Afaquim (Spain), Centrafarm (Netherlands) and Helvepharm AG (Switzerland).
Price Marking
Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from retailers about the implications of the Price Marking Order 1991--S.I., 1991, No. 1382 ; whether he intends to issue guidance about its implementation ; and if his officials will meet representatives of retailers to discuss the order.
Mr. Leigh : The Retail Consortium has made representations that the order, which implements EC directives requiring price indications for goods offered for sale to the final consumer, is unnecessary. I consider the order to be necessary since the directives require that price indications be given and that they must be legible. Our existing price marking requirements relate only to certain foods. My officials have prepared a four-page guidance note to the order which has been distributed to trade associations, trading standards departments, and others. I am asking them to arrange to meet representatives of the consortium to discuss its concerns.
BAe146 (Component Parts)
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made to the United States Government to remove their embargo on the sale of component parts of the BAe146 feeder airliner to Iran ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury : The Government have made a number of
representations to the United States Administration in support of British Aerospace's application for the re-export to Iran of the United States content of six BAe146 aircraft. The decision of the United States
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authorities to reject the application is disappointing. The Government will continue to press for the decision to be changed.Timeshare Promotion Schemes
Mr. Amess : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his reply to the Adjournment debate of 27 March, Official Report , columns 1092-4, if he will detail the action he has taken to outlaw unfair and misleading timeshare promotion schemes.
Mr. Leigh : We intend to make false or misleading descriptions in offers of free gifts (including offers which feature in timeshare award schemes) an offence under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968. The Government will legislate as soon as parliamentary time becomes available.
I have raised the issue of timeshare with the European Commission and it is considering putting forward a proposal for an EC directive. I would like to see such a directive include a requirement that prospective timeshare buyers should be given a written prospectus, a 14-day cooling-off period and protection of deposit moneys. A cooling-off period would help counterbalance the high pressure sales techniques employed by some timeshare operators.
Thomson CSF and GEC Airborne Radar
Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what account he is taking of state ownership in considering whether to refer the proposed merger of Thomson CSF and GEC Airborne Radar capabilities to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission ; (2) whether he has any plans to refer the proposed merger of Thomson CSF and GEC Airborne Radar capabilities to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission ;
(3) what factors he is taking into account in considering whether to refer the proposed merger of Thomson CSF and GEC Airborne Radar capabilities to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.
Mr. Redwood : The joint venture between GEC-Marconi and Thomson-CSF is being considered by the Director General of Fair Trading. If his office finds that it qualifies for investigation under the terms of the Fair Trading Act 1973, the Director General will advise the Secretary of State on whether it should be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. The main grounds for referring a merger to the MMC is its effect on competition in the United Kingdom. In addition, the Secretary of State announced on 26 July last year that he would pay particularly close attention to the degree of state control, if any, of acquiring companies when considering whether to refer merger situations to the MMC.
Barlow Clowes
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 19 July, Official Report, column 319, what evidence was received by the Le Quesne inquiry into the Barlow Clowes affair relating to the relationship between Barlow Clowes and the Bank of Credit and Commerce International and in respect of money laundering ; if he will (a) publish it and (b) make it available to the inquiry into the Bank of Credit and Commerce International.
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Mr. Redwood : I will write to the right hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.Development Area Status
Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the criteria for development area status ; and whether north Devon meets these criteria.
Mr. Leigh : This was set out in the 1983 White Paper "Regional Industrial Development" (Cmnd 9111) as follows :
"In considering the designation of an Assisted Area, the Government have regard to criteria first laid down in the Industrial Development Act 1966 (currently in section 1(3) of the Industrial Development Act 1982), namely :
"all the circumstances actual and expected, including the state of employment and unemployment, population changes, migration and the objectives of regional policies".
The current assisted areas map restricts development area status to 15 per cent. of the working population of Great Britain, and intermediate area status to a further 20 per cent.
On present unemployment rates in the travel-to-work areas which make up the hon. Member's north Devon constituency, there is unlikely to be justification for development area status.
Mergers and Takeovers
Mr. Shore : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to restore jurisdiction from the European Commission to the Department of Trade and Industry in dealing with proposed mergers or takeovers of very large undertakings where considerations of national or public interest are involved ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : The EC merger regulation allows member states to take action to protect legitimate or other public interests where these are not taken into consideration by the regulation. Public security, plurality of the media and prudential rules are recognised as such legitimate interests. Action to protect other public interests can be taken only with the European Commission's prior consent where the merger regulation allows. The introduction of legislation in the House of Commons to repatriate these matters would be invalid under the treaty and the regulation.
Equipment (Overseas Sales)
Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the United States Government over the past two years on the overseas sale of equipment by British companies ; and if he will list the company and the equipment concerned in each case.
Mr. Sainsbury : It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on individual licensing matters.
Written Questions
Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many parliamentary questions for written answer have been answered by his Department so far this Session, and in the comparable period for the last Session ;
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and if he will publish a table of how many answers (a) do not give the information requested because of (i) disproportionate cost or (ii) other reasons, (b) give an undertaking to write to the hon. Member who asked the question and (c) were referred for answer to the chief executive of each next steps agency.Mr. Lilley : A total of 1,234 written questions have been answered so far this Session, and the figure for the comparable period in the last Session was 1,983. The other information mentioned by the hon. Member is not held centrally, and an analysis of it could therefore be prepared only at disproportionate cost.
Package Travel (Green Paper)
Sir Robert McCrindle : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he now expects to publish his Green Paper on package travel.
Mr. Leigh : The Department's consultation document on the implementation of EC directive 90/314/EEC, on package travel, package holidays and package tours, was published yesterday.
Fibreoptic Transmission Technology Ltd.
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will instruct his officials in Leeds to ascertain what assistance may be made available to Fibreoptic Transmission Technology Ltd. of Bradford to remain trading ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Leigh : DTI officials have been in contact with the company on a number of occasions over the last two years. This has led to the company receiving two enterprise initiative consultancies, export assistance, and an offer of grant under the LINK scheme.
It is not DTI's role to provide financial assistance to enable individual companies to continue trading.
Telecom Networks
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the organisations which have applied to operate the Telecom networks following the end of the BT and Mercury duopoly.
Mr. Redwood : A list of applications for Telecommunications Act licences currently under consideration is kept at the Office of Telecommunications and updated weekly. The list is open to public inspection. It currently contains the following details :
Telecommunications Act 1984
Register of Licence applications under consideration
by the Secretary of State
(as at 19 July 1991)
Applicant |Services proposed
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cognito Group Ltd. |Provision of radio packet data links
|to fixed terminals via its existing
|network.
Ionica L3 Ltd. |Provision of a national telephone
|service offering PSTN facilities
|based on fixed wireless
|communication.
Meteor Communications |Provision of telemetry and
(Europe) Ltd. |telecontrol systems to fixed and
|mobile apparatus throughout the
|United Kingdom, and Western
|Europe, by means of a meteor burst
|radio network. No connection to
|other telecommunication system is
|sought.
National |Provision of broadband network
Transcommunications Ltd. |services in the United Kingdom for
|the transmission of vision, sound
|and data.
Paknet Ltd. |Provision of fixed and mobile data
|services using the company's
|existing fixed network.
RAM Mobile Data Ltd. |Provision of packet switched data
|services to fixed terminals via its
|existing radio network.
Satellite Information Services |Provision of two-way satellite
|circuits connected to the public
|switched telephone network for
|engineering and programme control
|purposes in connection with outside
|broadcasting activities.
Sound Broadcast Services |Provision of point-to-point radio
|and wire systems for radio
|broadcasters to allow transmission
|of programme material,
|communications and data to and
|from studios and transmitter sites
|on a permanent basis.
Racal Vodafone Ltd. |Provision of fixed links in its own
|network or to others. Provision of
|telecommunications services of
|every type on its network. Direct
|connections to overseas mobile and
|fixed networks.
In addition, over 20 other companies have expressed a strong interest in running new networks but they have yet to make a formal application.
Telephones
Mr. Henderson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he proposes to take to encourage the spread of hearing aid- compatible telephones.
Mr. Redwood : The licences issued to the public telecommunications operators British Telecommunications, Mercury Communications Ltd. and Kingston Communications (Hull) plc under the Telecommunications Act 1984 require them to ensure that telephones for the hearing impaired are available to meet all reasonable demands. The licensees are also required to install facilities for the hearing impaired in all their public call boxes.
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Spirits (Measures)
Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will be introducing any further legislation controlling the quantities of spirits or liqueurs sold for consumption on licensed premises ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Leigh : Legislation brought in last summer provided that 25 ml should be the metric measure to replace the existing imperial quantities of 1/6, 1/5, and 1/4 gill (23.7 ml, 28.4 ml, 35.5 ml). I am conscious, however, that parts of Scotland have traditionally used the larger imperial measures. Following consultation with interested parties, I therefore propose to introduce legislation to permit a second metric quantity of 35 ml for dispensing gin, rum, vodka and whisky. I do not propose, however, to extend prescribed quantities to other spirits and liqueurs.
Radio Spectrum Review
Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the stage two radio spectrum review was completed ; and if he will publish the Committee's report.
Mr. Lilley : I have received the report and it will be published shortly.
Carbonised Soft Drinks
Mr. Nicholls : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he can announce the date of publication of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report into carbonised soft drinks ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : The MMC's report on carbonated drinks is currently being considered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. The report will be published as quickly as practicable.
Auditors
Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now announce decisions on the recognition of supervisory bodies, and of professional qualifications for auditors under part II of the Companies Act 1989.
Mr. Redwood : Yes. I have decided to recognise four supervisory bodies for company auditors under section 30 of the Companies Act 1989--the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) ; the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) ; the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI) ; and the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (ACCA). I have also decided to recognise the accountancy qualifications offered by these four bodies as recognised professional qualifications for company auditors under section 32 of the Act. The rules and guidance of the four bodies, on the basis of which I have taken these decisions, include some amendments to those in the original applications. I shall be placing copies of the revised rules and guidance, excluding certain material supplied in confidence, in the Library of the House.
I am also actively considering an application from the Association of Authorised Public Accountants (AAPA) for recognition as a supervisory body, and expect to reach
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a decision soon. Consideration of the application is not yet complete, but I am not aware at this stage of any problems in connection with it.I have also received very recently an application from the Association of International Accountants (AIA) for recognition of its accountancy qualification. This application is under consideration. In taking these decisions, I have had regard to the reports of the Director General of Fair Trading. The Director General found that the rules and guidance of the applicants relating to their professional qualifications were not likely to have significant anti-competitive effects. He reached the same conclusion on the applications to be recognised as a supervisory body, apart from the rules on ownership and control of audit firms. In the case of ACCA, he recognised that the rules were in line with the minimum requirements of the Act. The Director General did however find that the rules of the three institutes on the ownership and control of audit firms, which are more restrictive than the Act requires, were likely significantly to restrict, prevent or distort competition. Although he has welcomed some of the changes which the institutes have now made to their rules, these changes have not led him to alter this finding. I shall be placing a copy of his latest report in the Library.
Having considered the arguments carefully, I was not convinced that the anti-competitive effects identified by the Director General were likely to be significant ; and I therefore decided to recognise the institutes as supervisory bodies on the basis of the revised ownership and control rules put forward by them ; but I have indicated to the Director General that I would welcome a decision by him to review the operation of the new ownership and control rules in practice after two years.
The recognition of supervisory bodies for company auditors, and of professional audit qualifications, will clear the way for the commencement of the new regulatory arrangements for company auditors established by part II of the Companies Act 1989. I intend to bring the main operative provisions of part II into force from 1 October 1991. From that date, only firms and individuals who are members of a recognised supervisory body, and eligible for appointment as company auditors under the rules of that body, may accept new or renewed appointments as company auditors. Persons qualified as company auditors under existing legislation will however be able to complete after 1 October audit engagements accepted before then.
The commencement of part II will implement the UK's obligations under the eighth EC company law directive. It is designed to establish a new and effective regulatory regime for company auditors which will safeguard the traditional professional qualities of independence and integrity ; introduce new monitoring arragements which will help the profession maintain high standards ; and enable the profession to respond decisively to complaints or other evidence that one of its members may be falling short of those standards.
Bank of Credit and Commerce International
Mr. Beith : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information led to the action of his Department in November 1990 in writing to non-departmental organisations funded by grants to ask them
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to supply as a matter of urgency details of all their banking arrangements, including any use of the overnight money market or any similar facility ; how many such organisations were found to have deposits with the Bank of Credit and Commerce International ; and whether those with such deposits were contacted about them by his Department.Mr. Redwood : My Department wrote as part of an annual review of banking arragements required by the Treasury. The exercise extends to the non-departmental bodies for which my Department is responsible. Replies received have not shown any dealings with the Bank of Credit and Commerce International.
Common Purpose Programme
Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration he has given to the value of the common purpose programme which his Department funds ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Leigh : My Department, together with other Departments in the action for cities initiative, has contributed funding to common purpose since its launch in 1989. Since then, common purpose has successfully established programmes in 15 cities : five more are due to become operational by early 1992. Five hundred and fifty people have been or are participating in common purpose programmes. My officials are in the process of commissioning an evaluation of common purpose.
Securities and Investments Board
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what criteria he adopted in agreeing the increases in the budget for the Securities and Investments Board for 1991-92 ;
(2) what consultation there has been between his Department, the Securities and Investments Board, the self-regulatory bodies and the recognised professional bodies on the increase in respective contributions to the Securities and Investments Board budget for 1991-92 ; and what changes were made as a result of those consultations.
Mr. Redwood : The Securities and Investments Board's budget is a matter for the board. I have had discussions with the chairman recently and have a further meeting planned next week. He has assured me that he and his board attach great importance to ensuring that costs are kept under firm control.
Trade Statistics
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a table showing imports and exports from the EEC and from the rest of the world of (a) manufactures and (b) manufactures less erratics in 1970, 1973, 1979, 1988, 1989, 1990 and the current year to date.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 23 July 1991] : The available information is shown in the following table.
-------------------------------------------
1970<2> |- |- |- |-
1973<2><3> |3.6 |5.1 |3.3 |6.8
1979 |16.1|13.6|12.9|18.0
less erratics |15.2|9.4 |11.5|13.3
1988 |45.9|37.6|32.4|33.8
less erratics |44.8|32.7|29.9|27.6
1989 |52.8|43.3|38.1|38.4
less erratics |51.6|37.7|35.6|31.1
1990 |54.1|44.1|44.3|40.2
less erratics |52.8|37.8|41.4|32.7
1991 (Jan-Mar) |12.3|10.1|11.1|8.6
less erratics |12.0|8.8 |10.4|7.1
1991 (Jan-May)<4> |20.6|17.5|19.7|15.2
Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the
United Kingdom.
<1> Manufactured goods have been defined
as Sections 5 to 8 of the Standard
International Trade Classification (Rev.
3). Erratics include:
Pearls, semi-precious stones, silver,
aircraft and associated equipment, ships
and boats.
<2> Statistics on trade in manufactured
goods for 1970, and erratics for 1973,
could not be provided without
disproportionate cost.
<3> The EC figures for 1973 exclude the
German Democratic Republic, which is
included in the rest of the world figures.
Erratics data for the current year to date are not yet available.
Exporters
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he is taking to notify exporters of any changes in the addresses, telephone numbers and facsimile numbers of sections of his Department supplying information and advice to exporters ; and where an up- to-date list of such information is currently available.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 23 July 1991] : We attach considerable importance to keeping our business customers informed. Through the overseas trade services network, under which the export work of my Department and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is carried out, a number of booklets and brochures are published which detail the advice and information available to United Kingdom exporters and the appropriate contact points from which this help can be accessed. These publications are updated on a regular basis, and new additions are currently being prepared for issue shortly. Contact information is also made available through the DTI enterprise initiative telephone hot-line.
At local level our network of regional offices, including DTI offices in the south-west in Bristol, Plymouth and Penzance, produce regular export newsletters which periodically detail the export section contacts within the office.
Full details of the regional network and other export-related contacts, including specific country inquiry points, are given in "The Guide to Exporting" (Fifth Edition), a copy of which is in the Library.
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Redundancy Payments
Mr. Soley : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether redundancy payments are counted as state aid by the EC when considering whether sales of companies meet their fair competition criteria.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 24 July 1991] : Government assistance towards redundancy payments could be regarded as state aid by the European Commission. This would depend on the individual circumstances of each case.
SOCIAL SECURITY
National Insurance
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what amount and proportion of national insurance contributions from (a) employees, (b) employers, (c) voluntary, (d) self-employed and (e) in total, were spent on (i) national insurance contributory benefits, (ii) non -contributory benefits and (iii) the national health service in each year since 1979-80.
Miss Widdecombe : The information is not available in the form requested. The available information is given in the tables. It is not possible to apportion expenditure between the classes of national insurance contributions in the way suggested by the question. However, the income to the national insurance fund is shown in table 1 and the expenditure from the fund is shown in table 2.
Table 1
National Insurance Contribution Income
£ million
|Class 1 |Class 1 |Class 2 |Class 3 |Class 4 |Total
|Employees|Employers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1978-80 |3,953 |6,153 |136 |11 |104 |10,357
1980-81 |5,162 |7,880 |173 |12 |133 |13,360
1981-82 |7,656 |10,661 |221 |14 |150 |18,702
1982-83 |7,923 |9,293 |283 |19 |184 |17,702
1983-84 |8,909 |10,094 |337 |28 |205 |19,573
1984-85 |9,570 |10,790 |380 |27 |242 |21,009
1985-86 |10,392 |12,020 |373 |40 |288 |23,113
1986-87 |11,103 |13,179 |366 |31 |331 |25,010
1987-88 |12,419 |14,724 |390 |30 |380 |27,943
1988-89 |13,850 |17,118 |437 |32 |474 |31,911
1989-90 |14,450 |19,050 |478 |36 |571 |34,585
1. Figures for 1987-88 to 1989-90 are provisional.
2. Figures for 1990-91 are not yet available.
3. Class 3 contributions are voluntary; Class 2 and Class 4 are self-employed.
4. There was also a Treasury Supplement to the National Insurance Fund, which
was progressively reduced from a rate of 18 per cent in 1979-80
until its abolition in April 1989.
Year |Housing |Benefit paid
|Benefit |£ million
|Caseload
----------------------------------------------------
1985-86 |30,700 |29.00
1986-87 |30,100 |33.90
1987-88 |30,400 |49.00
1988-89 |28,400 |53.20
1989-90 |26,900 |52.10
1990-91 |26,500 |57.4
(1) For 1985-86 to 1987-88, the figures are based
on rate rebate
caseload. Most people who get a rate rebate also
receive a rent rebate
or rent allowance, however this excludes a small
number who receive
rent rebate or rent allowance but not rate rebate.
(2) Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
(3) Figures for 1988-89 and 1989-90 are derived
from rebt rebate,
rent allowance and rate rebate caseload.
(4) Rounded to the nearest £ 100 thousand.
(5) Rent rebate and rent allowance only.
(6) Based on mid year subsidy claim estimate.
Elderly Men
Mr. Andrew Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the numbers of men aged 60 to 64 years who are not economically active.
Miss Widdecombe : It is estimated that, in May 1991, around 620,000 men aged between 60 and 64 years were economically inactive.
Maintenance Payments
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps his Department takes to notify an estranged spouse in receipt of maintenance payments paid by his Department that an agreed scheme of payments has ceased to be paid ; and if he will review the current situation.
Mr. Jack : Under the existing arrangements the Benefits Agency does not, as a matter of course, notify a customer when an agreement to pay maintenance which is collected by the Department breaks down, because the amount of income support in payment remains unaffected. As soon as it becomes apparent that the agreement is no longer working, steps are taken to discover the reason and to re-establish payments. We aim therefore to solve the problem without unnecessarily troubling the customer.
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But where the problem is more serious and requires enforcement or other action, the customer will normally be involved.As part of the new system of child maintenance being introduced by the Child Support Bill, parents with care will be able to benefit from the dedicated collection and enforcement services of the new Child Support Agency. We are still considering the detailed working procedures of the agency.
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on provision of income support and other social security benefits to people granted exceptional leave to remain ; and if he has any plans to revise the present arrangements.
Miss Widdecombe : There is full entitlement to social security benefits for people who are granted exceptional leave to remain, provided they satisfy the appropriate conditions of entitlement. We have no plans to amend the existing provisions.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will (1) give the reason for not granting the full rate of income support to asylum seekers ; and in what ways the financial needs of claimants who are asylum seekers are considered to differ from the financial needs of other claimants ;
(2) make a statement on the provision of income support and other social security benefits to asylum seekers ; and if he has any plans to revise the present arrangements.
Miss Widdecombe : Asylum seekers are among the groups of people who are not entitled to income support under the normal rules but whose circumstances make it appropriate for them to receive some benefit. They can receive social security benefits while their applications for asylum are being processed by the immigration authorities. For them, as for other comparable groups, 90 per cent. of the personal allowance is paid, together with full amounts for children and any appropriate premiums. If refugee status or exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom is granted, personal allowance becomes payable at the full rate. We have no plans to amend the existing provisions.
Benefits, Tower Hamlets
Ms. Gordon : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people claimed (a) housing benefit and (b) community charge benefit in Tower Hamlets for the last two years ;
(2) if he will list the numbers claiming housing benefit and the total benefit paid for each year since 1979 in Tower Hamlets.
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Miss Widdecombe : The table sets out the available information. Before 1983 assistance with housing costs was provided through the supplementary benefit scheme and through the rent rebate, rent allowance and rate rebate schemes, run by the Department of the Environment. Because of the split in responsibilities between Tower Hamlets and the Greater London council, the information for 1983-84 and 1984-85 is not available in the form requested. The number of individuals receiving community charge benefit in Tower Hamlets in 1990-91 was 40,300, rounded to the nearest 100.Year Housing Benefit Caseload Benefit paid
£ million
1985-86 30,700 29.00
1986-87 30,100 33.90
1987-88 30,400 49.00
1988-89 28,400 53.20
1989-90 26,900 52.10
1990-91 26,500 57.4
(1) For 1985-86 to 1987-88, the figures are based on rate rebate caseload. Most people who get a rate rebate also receive a rent rebate or rent allowance, however this excludes a small number who receive rent rebate or rent allowance but not rate rebate. (2) Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
(3) Figures for 1988-89 and 1989-90 are derived from rent rebate, rent allowance and rate rebate caseload.
(4) Rounded to the nearest £100 thousand.
(5) Rent rebate and rent allowance only.
(6) Based on mid year subsidy claim estimate.
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