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Mrs. Chalker : I assume that by "technology transfer fund" the hon. Gentleman means the know-how fund, Britain's programme of bilateral technical assistance to the countries of central and eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. The fund was first established for Poland in 1989 and subsequently, extended to Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, the Baltic states and the Soviet Union. We have made public commitments to spend £50 million in Poland, £25 million in Hungary and £50 million in the Soviet Union, but we have not set financial ceilings for any other country.
Know-how fund expenditure by country in the last financial year, and commitments made to date for 1991-92 are as follows :
Column 564
|Spent |Committed
|1990-91 |1991-92
|£ million|£ million
---------------------------------------------------
Poland |10.9 |12.1
Hungary |1.6 |5.9
Czechoslovakia |2.0 |4.3
Ex-GDR |0.5 |n/a
Bulgaria |n/a |1.3
Romania |n/a |1.3
Soviet Union |n/a |8.8
The funds have been used to finance some 390 projects, the overwhelming majority of which fall within a small number of priority sectors of key importance to the economic reform programme. These are principally : banking and financial services ; management development and training ; public administration, and employment and small business support. For the Soviet Union the four designated priority sectors are banking and financial services, small business creation, food distribution and energy. In addition to this, there are two schemes established to encourage British investments in the region (the pre-investment feasibility studies, and training for investment personnel schemes). To date £2.3 million has been allocated under these schemes.
The joint assistance unit, which was established to administer the know-how fund, is staffed by a total of 32 officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Overseas Development Administration, and the Department of Trade and Industry. Collectively they have a wide range of experience in administrative, aid and trade-related matters. A number of members of the unit have lived and worked in eastern Europe ; six of them speak Russian, one Polish, one Czech and one Slovak. The unit has access to a wide range of professional advisers, both in-house, and contracted to it by the Overseas Development Administration. An advisory board has also been established which comprises senior figures from
Column 565
industry, the trade unions, finance and journalism, as well as Members of Parliament and academics with a particular interest in eastern Europe.AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Bovine Tuberculosis
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of badgers culled each year since 1970 and the proportion culled each year which were found to be infected with bovine tuberculosis.
Mr. Maclean : From 1971 to 1982, a total of 6,075 badgers were culled, of which 803--13.22 per cent.--were found to be infected with bovine tuberculosis. Annual figures are not available for those years.
The annual figures for badgers culled and the percentage of those proven to be infected with bovine tuberculosis since 1983 are as follows :
$
|Number |Per cent
------------------------------------
1983 |1,239 |12.43
1984 |1,337 |16.89
1985 |1,115 |13.36
1986 |782 |15.86
1987 |711 |12.94
1988 |778 |27.25
1989 |727 |16.78
1990 |811 |19.24
This compares with some 20,000 badgers killed each year in road accidents and a total adult badger population of approximately 250, 000.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the estimated percentages of cattle in Great Britain infected with bovine tuberculosis in each year since 1965.
Mr. Maclean : The estimated percentage of the cattle population which reacted positively to the intradermal tuberculin test was as follows :
Year |per cent. ------------------------------ 1965 |0.029 1966 |0.027 1967 |0.025 1968 |0.018 1969 |0.020 1970 |0.016 1971 |0.014 1972 |0.004 1973 |0.011 1974 |0.011 1975 |0.011 1976 |0.008 1977 |0.005 1978 |0.005 1979 |0.005 1980 |0.007 1981 |0.007 1982 |0.004 1983 |0.005 1984 |0.005 1985 |0.005 1986 |0.004 1987 |0.007 1988 |0.006 1989 |0.008 1990 |0.009
Column 566
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether dairy and non-dairy cattle imported from Ireland are routinely tested for tuberculosis.
Mr. Maclean : Yes. Council directive 64/432/EEC established the testing requirements for cattle traded within the Community.
Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Mr. Jopling : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the cost of offering environmentally sensitive area grants to farmers in each of the national parks in England and Wales using similar take-up percentages as exist in those areas which are of a similar nature and region.
Mr. Curry : Figures are not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Jopling : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on his proposals to increase expenditure on the environmentally sensitive areas scheme over the three years to 1994- 95 giving estimates of the increased amount of land which will be included and the number of farms ; and if he will make it his policy to ensure that farms in the Lake District national park will be eligible for inclusion.
Mr. Curry : We have plans to increase expenditure on
environmentally sensitive areas in England by £75 million over the next three years. It is too soon to provide estimates of the resulting increase in coverage in terms of land and farms but announcements will be made shortly concerning improvements in existing areas and the designation of new ones. The Lake District is one of many new areas that have been suggested and full account will be taken of the information submitted on each.
Sheep Quotas
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is his policy to press for the introduction of sheep quotas within the common agricultural policy ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : Sheep quotas would create major administrative problems both on introduction and subsequently. They would inhibit improvements in the efficiency of the industry and would stifle the development of more market-oriented production. A reduction in the level of price support remains by far the best approach to reform of the CAP sheepmeat sector.
Lambs
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the gross value of fat lamb sales by farmers at live markets and direct to abattoirs, respectively, in England in each year since 1979 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : The table is drawn from information produced from the administration of the sheep variable premium scheme and therefore includes only fat lambs certified under the scheme. This information is available only on a Great Britain basis and only for the period since 1981.
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Year |Live Market|Abbatoirs
|£ million|£ million
------------------------------------------------
1981 |234.32 |93.62
1982 |240.35 |95.26
1983 |242.73 |99.95
1984 |268.81 |121.31
1985 |287.71 |124.37
1986 |300.84 |117.48
1987 |333.11 |129.19
1988 |339.73 |126.23
1989 |375.57 |143.93
1990 |352.77 |144.38
<1>1991 |313.21 |123.52
<1> Forecast.
Column 568
Import and Export Payments
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the amounts in pounds sterling received in the United Kingdom in import levies in each of the last five years by product, giving the amounts imported in each case ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gummer : The informaton is given in the table. A breakdown of the amounts by product could be produced only at disproportionate cost. Details of products imported into the United Kingdom are contained in the annual report published by the Central Statistical Ofice entitled "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom".
Column 567
Amounts received in the United Kingdom on import levies
Amounts received (£ '000)
|1986 |1987 |1988 |1989 |1990
--------------------------------------------------------------
Cereals |88,948 |84,310 |62,601 |47,393 |74,838
Beef |2,034 |2,890 |3,943 |3,569 |1,459
Pigmeat |2,437 |3,175 |2,076 |1,889 |346
Milk products |19,549 |17,217 |21,883 |28,458 |11,157
Rice |42,344 |20,810 |19,150 |25,272 |27,251
Other |52,590 |86,550 |68,896 |28,901 |12,111
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------
Total |207,902|214,952|178,549|135,482|127,162
Source: Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the amounts in pounds sterling paid out in the United Kingdom on export refunds
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in each of the last five years by product and give the amounts exported in each case ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Gummer : The information is given in the table.
Column 567
Amounts Paid out in the United Kingdom on Export Refunds By Product and Quantity
Amounts Paid (£ '000)
|1986(a) |1987(a) |1988(a) |1989(a) |1989-90(b)|1990-91(b)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cereals |95,022 |334,367 |187,386 |222,155 |251,071 |150,829
Sugar and Isoglucose |39,551 |33,807 |48,291 |30,600 |27,892 |35,547
Processed Fruit and Veg |1,400 |1,194 |1,838 |1,251 |976 |1,295
Milk and Milk Products |74,194 |117,932 |93,790 |100,238 |89,823 |83,915
Beef and Veal |43,672 |27,424 |22,225 |25,036 |24,571 |15,806
Pigmeat |1,253 |1,145 |1,038 |1,746 |1,988 |2,494
Pigs |430 |480 |559 |691 |677 |395
Poultry |1,195 |2,345 |3,219 |2,603 |2,586 |2,378
Processed Goods |37,248 |49,688 |42,777 |45,964 |38,504 |41,538
Other Commodities |61 |67 |21 |102 |116 |102
Amounts Exported ('000t)
|1986(c)|1987(c)|1988(c)|1989(c)|1990(c)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cereals |2,361 |3,929 |3,129 |4,861 |5,428
Sugar and Isoglucose |163 |98 |154 |117 |146
Processed Fruit and Veg |24 |16 |24 |21 |24
Milk and Milk Products |131 |171 |124 |164 |179
Beef and Veal |46 |33 |29 |27 |23
Pigmeat |7 |5 |4 |6 |10
Pigs<1> |6 |2 |2 |2 |3
Poultry<1> |10 |9 |12 |18 |18
Processed Goods |295 |288 |210 |404 |430
Other Commodities |<2>- |<2>- |<2>- |<2>- |2
Notes: The tables are not compatable as a mixture of (a) calendar, (b)
financial and (c) EC budget years have been used.
<1> =Excludes hatching eggs and live chicks.
<2>- =Less than 500 tonnes.
Source: Intervention Board Annual Reports.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the amounts in pounds sterling paid in the EC for (a) import levies and (b) export refunds in each of the last five years by product ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Gummer : The information is given in the table. A breakdown by product for import levies is not available.
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Total import levies and export refunds by product in £ million
|1986 |1987 |1988 |1989 |1990
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Import levies |762 |1,170 |1,021 |840 |818
Export refunds:
Cereals |1,070 |2,209 |1,984 |1,700 |1,735
Rice |39 |68 |41 |29 |21
Sugar |802 |1,090 |1,062 |950 |657
Olive oil |19 |17 |43 |61 |96
Oilseeds |1 |46 |17 |4 |1
Fruit and vegetables |50 |48 |43 |52 |58
Wine |7 |14 |30 |29 |39
Tobacco |21 |31 |29 |41 |44
Milk and milk
products |1,284 |1,624 |2,045 |1,878 |1,371
Beef |786 |632 |522 |879 |788
Pigmeat |49 |81 |117 |130 |124
Eggs and poultry |63 |109 |132 |153 |127
Non-annex II
products |326 |424 |408 |361 |363
MCA's |110 |163 |97 |37 |54
Food aid |171 |186 |165 |87 |61
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------
Total |4,799 |6,744 |6,735 |6,393 |5,538
Note: 1990 import levies figure is an estimate.
Sources: The Agricultural Situation in the Community 1989.
The European Court of Auditors' Report 1989.
EAGGF Financial Reports 1986-90.
Grant Aid
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Ministry pays out grant aid for the establishment of poultry businesses or slaughterhouses ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gummer : My Department administers EC grants under regulation 866/90 which, subject to Commission approval, will be available for the processing of meat, including poultry meat, but not the establishment of slaughterhouses. Grant aid is not available to assist the establishment of new poultry businesses.
Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances
Mr. Gill : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will consult interested parties on making the environmental benefits afforded by hill livestock compensatory allowances more specific.
Mr. Gummer : My right hon. Friends and I have today issued a consultation document, seeking the views of interested parties on a package of measures designed to enhance environmental aspects of support for hill farming. Copies have been placed in the Library. We will study the views put to us carefully before drawing final conclusions.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Pensioners
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals aged between 65 and 80 years are (a) not in receipt of a full pension and (b) losing more than £5 a week because they are not on his Department's files.
Mr. Jack : In a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on national insurance contributions--HOC 665
Column 570
--it was estimated that some 130,000 people between the ages of 60 to 65 and 80 years for whom the Department did not have a valid address might have an entitlement to state pension exceeding £5. The Department's analysis of a sample of the individuals has shown that most of these people's entitlements are small and stem from contributions paid many years ago. Some 5 per cent. have subsequently claimed their pension. Of the remaining 95 per cent., very few are thought to be still alive, living in the United Kingdom, or likely to benefit from making a claim. Around 50 per cent. appear to have emigrated at least 20 years ago or to have died and another 40 per cent. were women who may well be receiving a pension on their husband's contributions of an amount equal to or higher than that payable on their own contributions.Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners were in receipt of (a) pension income other than the basic retirement pension and (b) other income from savings in (i) 1979 and (ii) the most recent year for which figures are available ; and if he will estimate the figure for 1992.
Miss Widdecombe : In 1979 a total of 3 million individuals over state pension age were receiving income from an occupational pension ; the corresponding figure for 1988 was 4.5 million. For 1979 it is estimated that 4 million single pensioners and pensioner couples were receiving income from savings and investments ; the corresponding figure for 1988 is 5.1 million. In no case is it possible to give an estimate for 1992.
Sources :
Government Actuary's Survey of Occupational Pensions Schemes Family Expenditure Survey.
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average amount of the second pension received by newly retired pensioners in (a) 1979, (b) the most recent year for which figures are available and (c) giving an estimate of the figure for 1992.
Miss Widdecombe : In 1979, the average amount of income derived from occupational pensions by those pensioners and pensioner couples who had occupational pensions was £41.40 ; the corresponding figure for 1988 was £64.20. It is not possible to give an estimate for 1992.
Note : Figures given in 1988 prices.
Source : Family Expenditure Survey ; newly-retired pensioners are defined as single women aged 60-64, single men aged 65-69 and couples in which the man is aged 65-69.
Departmental Consultants
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the consultants currently undertaking work in his Department, the title of each project, its cost and its estimated finishing date.
Mr. Jack : The consultants currently undertaking work in this Department and agencies, the project and the estimated finishing date are as shown. We have not supplied information on the cost of individual projects as to do so could be a breach of commercial confidentiality.
Column 571
Project Title |Consultants |Estimated finishing
|date
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Activity Recording |Price Waterhouse |March 1992
Ad Hoc Quantity Surveyors |Appleyard & Trew |March 1992
Analytical Services Division-Analytical |Dame Image |December 1991
Services Statistical Information Systems
Administrative Resource Management |Sema Group |December 1991
System (Version 1)
Assist |Les Probert Ass. |February 1992
Building Management & Planned |Ulec Services Limited |July 1992
Maintenance Programme
Cable Design for Leeds Headquarters |Scheme Limited |March 1992
Capacity Planning |Ultracomp |December 1991
Catalysing Change Communications |Baddeley Associates Limited|December 1991
Project
Central Architectural Team |Crantex Limited |May 1992
Child Support Agency |PA Consulting Group |March 1992
Combined Services Architect |Triad Special Systems |March 1992
Competancies for Headquarters |KPMG Peat Marwick |February 1992
| McLintock
Communications Marketing Plan for |P Four Consultancy |December 1991
Benefits Agency Information Services | Limited
Contributions Agency Work Measurement |TOP-IX Limited |January 1992
Exercise
Contributions Agency |Andersen Consulting |January 1992
Corporate Brochure on Secondment |Redhouse Lane |November 1991
| Communications
| Limited
Current Year Monitoring System |Hollyhill |May 1992
Data Quality Convergence & Whole |Mr. J. M. Bankier |December 1991
Person Concept
Debt recovery |KPMG Peat Marwick |March 1992
| McLintock
Development of Complementing & |Urvashi Patel |February 1992
Monitoring Projects
Disablement Living Allowance |Andersen Consulting |March 1992
Earnings Related Supplement Project |Andersen Consulting |March 1992
EC-Related Work |Dianne Robbins |September 1992
Employment Services |Andersen Consulting |March 1992
Engagement of Professional Purchasing |SERCO Limited |March 1992
Staff
Equal Opportunities Audit |Pearn Kandola Downs |February 1992
Equal Opportunities Training |INLI-Institute for a New |March 1992
Development | Leadership Initiative
Essential Services Plant Level |Buro Rappold |November 1991
Executive Information System |H.M.G. Consulting |September 1992
| Limited
Executive Reporting System Project |Price Waterhouse |November 1991
Executive Reporting System Project |H.M.G. Consulting |March 1992
| Limited
Financial Accounting |Price Waterhouse |March 1992
Financial & Management Information |Price Waterhouse |November 1991
System
Financial & Management Information |Price Waterhouse |November 1991
System Accounting Policies Project
Financial & Management Information |Dun & Bradstreet |December 1991
System
Headquarters Information Systems |Ernst & Young |December 1991
Strategy (Implementation Phase)
IT User Development |Sema Group |October 1992
ITSA Core Curriculum |Impact |March 1992
ITSA Core Curriculum Functional |Andersen Consulting |December 1991
Training
ITSA Core Curriculum Functional |The Training Partnership |December 1991
Training
ITSA Core Curriculum Review of Analysis |Andersen Consulting |March 1992
& Design & Small Audience Group
ITSA Management Services |Andersen Consulting |March 1992
ITSA Security |Computer Sciences |December 1991
| Company
ITSA Security |Pathfinder |March 1992
ITSA Security |PA Consulting Group |March 1992
ITSA Security Training |Computer Sciences |March 1992
| Company
Local Office Project-Income Support |Andersen Consulting |March 1992
Local Office Project-Social Fund |Sema Group |March 1992
Management Accounting |Price Waterhouse |March 1992
Management Customer Service Seminars |Diane Bailey Associates |March 1992
and Workshops
Management Development Programme |Recruitment & Assessment |February 1992
Assessment Centre | Agency
Manpower Planning Workshops |Institute of Manpower |March 1992
| Studies
Marketing Strategy for Paying Social |Touche Ross |December 1992
Benefits
Monitoring Change Project |Kinsley Lord |December 1991
Motability |Easams Limited |May 1992
National Insurance Recording System- |Sema Group |March 1994
Social Fund
National Unemployment Benefit System 1 |Andersen Consulting |March 1992
National Unemployment Benefit System 1 |Williamson G K |December 1991
National Unemployment Benefit System 2 |Andersen Consulting |March 1992
Network Administration Centre |Insight Logistics |November 1991
Network/Comms |Level-7 Limited |March 1992
OPSTRAT Review |Hartley McMaster |March 1992
Office Small Systems Group |Easams Limited |April 1992
Office Small System Group |Telecommuting |April 1992
| Management
| Consultants
Outplacement Scheme for Senior Staff |KPMG Peat Marwick |March 1992
| McLintock
Pension Age Discussion Document |Redhouse Lane |Continuing
| Communications
| Limited
Pensions Strategy Project |Andersen Consulting |March 1992
Pensions Strategy Project (Overseas |Andersen Consulting |March 1992
Branch)
Policy and Planning Unit |Andersen Consulting |March 1992
Product Assurance |Dameimage |March 1992
Production Service Support Group |PSA Services |March 1992
Project Control |Astrac Limited |March 1992
Quality Management Group |W. S. Atkins |April 1992
Quality Management Services |Admiral Management |December 1991
| Systems
Retirement Counselling Courses for Senior |DPS Consultants Limited |March 1992
Staff
Review of Benefits Agency Central Office |PA Consulting Group |March 1992
Management
Reviews of the Benefits Agency Appraisal |Peter Byde Management |November 1991
System and Career Development | and Training
| Consultant
Review of Project Management in Social |Mrs. K. Limm |December 1991
Security Policy Group
Route 400 Training |Level-7 Limited |November 1991
Secondment of a Consultant to DSS for |British Coal Corporation |Continuing
Various Projects
Service Agreement Methodology |PA Consulting Group |February 1992
Service Delivery Security |S Computer Sciences |March 1992
| Company
Services Management |Andersen Consulting |March 1992
Services Management-Service Delivery |Andersen Consulting |March 1992
Single Terminal Access Project |Andersen Consulting |March 1992
Single Terminal Access Project |Computer Sciences |March 1992
| Company
Single Terminal Access Project |Discrealm Limited |November 1991
Single Terminal Access Project |Facilita Software |May 1992
Single Terminal Access Project-Integrated |Facilita Software |March 1992
Terminal Test System
Single Terminal Access Project X |ASE Consulting |March 1992
Software Systems |Ace Data Systems |March 1992
Space Standards Consultancy (Central |DEGW Limited |November 1991
Office Guidelines)
Strategy Help Desk |Price Waterhouse |February 1992
Strategy Operations Architecture Project |Easams Limited |March 1992
Support to ITSA |ASE Consulting |March 1992
The Resettlement Index |Office of Public |December 1991
| Management
Training of Internal Consultancy Staff |Morris Foster, Management |November 1991
| & Training Consultant
Training and Support Services |Andersen Consulting |March 1995
Wright Circuit |WS Atkins |November 1991
X-400 |Level-7 Limited |December 1991
Column 575
Child Support Agency
Mr. Robin Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if it has now been decided whether the Child Support Agency will require a mainframe computer system.
Mr. Jack : A study of the information technology requirements of the Child Support Agency is currently under way and no final decisions have been taken.
Social Fund
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications in the last year were made for assistance with the social fund ; how many and what percentage were turned down ; of those turned down, how many applied for review by the social fund officer ; how many were accepted ; how many and what percentage were rejected ; of those rejected, how many were reviewed by an HEO (SF) ; how many were accepted ; how many and what percentage were rejected ; of those rejected, how many were sent for review by a social fund inspector ; how many were accepted ; how many and what percentage rejected ; and what were the equivalent figures for the previous three years.
Mr. Scott : The information requested is provided in the tables. The information in table II has been provided by the social fund commissioner and is as published in her annual reports to the Secretary of State. Information for 1987-88 is not available since the social fund did not commence operation until April 1988.
Table 1
SFO and |1988-89 |1989-90 |1990-91
HEO(SF)
reviews
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Number of
applications to
Social Fund |1,749,000 |2,299,000 |2,317,000
(b) Number of
applications |521,000 |779,000 |895,000
refused |(30 per cent.)|(34 per cent.)|(39 per cent.)
SFO reviews
(c) Number of
applications<1>
for review as
percentage of |61,425 |96,584 |115,636
refusals |(12 per cent.)|(12 per cent.)|(13 per cent.)
(d) Number of
reviews-
decision
revised |20,260 |22,230 |25,837
(e) Number of
reviews-
decision |33,494 |60,402 |70,827
confirmed |(55 per cent.)|(63 per cent.)|(61 per cent.)
HEO(SF) reviews
(f) Number of
applications<1><2>
for review as |33,494 |60,402 |70,827
percentage of |(100 per |(100 per |(100 per
(e) |cent.) |cent.) |cent.)
(g) Number of
reviews-
decision
revised |4,846 |12,684 |18,211
(h) Number of
reviews-
decision |23,535 |45,726 |52,645
confirmed |(70 per cent.)|(76 per cent.)|(74 per cent.)
Table II
SFI review |1988-89 |1989-90 |1990-91
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Number of
applications<3>
for SFI review |2,954 |7,858 |9,775
(b) Number of
decisions<3><4>
made by SFIs |2,499 |6,238 |9,383
(c) Number of
decisions |1,205 |4,278 |7,689
revised<5> |48 per cent.|69 per cent.|82 per cent.
(d) Number of
decisions |1,294 |1,960 |1,694
confirmed |52 per cent.|31 per cent.|18 per cent.
<1> The difference between the sum of "decisions revised" plus
"decisions confirmed" and the number of applications received, is
attributable partly to applications being withdrawn by the applicant
and partly to applications which have been made, but have not been
decided in the statistical period.
<2> All applications for an SFO review that are not revised have been
automatically counted as an application for HEO(SF) review, as it is
not possible to identify whether review applications are withdrawn at
this stage.
<3> The difference between the number of applications and the total
number of decisions is attributable to a combination of different
factors; applications which have been made but not decided in the
statistical period; applications not being within the jurisdiction of
the
Office of the Social Fund Inspector; and applications not being within
the time, form or manner laid down by regulations.
<4> The method of counting decisions changed in April 1990-91.
Whilst each review application received counted as one case, the
number of decisions reviewed by SFIs were analysed by type (award,
refusals, etc.). It is possible therefore, that a case can result in
more
than one decision.
<5> Includes decisions made by the SFI to substitute his own decision
or to refer the application back to the HEO(SF) for redetermination.
Diminishing Options"
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has received a copy of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux report "Diminishing Options".
Miss Widdecombe : Yes. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to the assistant director of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux on 21 October.
Students (Benefits)
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review arrangements for benefit payments to students on sandwich courses who are unable to obtain work experience and receive no grant.
Miss Widdecombe : Full-time students should generally look to the education maintenance system for financial support. In common with other full-time students, those attending sandwich courses are excluded from housing benefit, income support and unemployment benefit for the
Column 577
duration of their course. This includes any periods designated for work experience, whether or not a placement is obtained. The social security system was never intended to finance those who are undertaking a course of full-time study, including those courses which combine practical expertise with classroom instruction.Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will reinstate housing benefit for students ; and if he will make a statement.
Miss Widdecombe : No. Financial support for full-time students is properly the responsibility of the educational maintenance system, although certain vulnerable students remain eligible for housing benefit.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will urgently review benefit payments for students who are carers and have special family responsibilities and are currently unable to claim benefits.
Miss Widdecombe : Full-time students should generally look to the education maintenance system for financial support. Students who are attending courses only part-time continue to be eligible for income support, housing benefit and invalid care allowance. We have no plans to change these arrangements.
Children
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow, of 7 November, Official Report, columns 243-46, if he will ensure that copies of his consultative document, "The Proposed Contents of the Child Support Regulations to be made under the Child Support Act 1991", are sent to the Association of Directors of Social Work and the Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
Mr. Jack : A copy of the consultation document has been sent to both organisations.
HEALTH
Cot Deaths
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Chief Medical Officer established the group of experts to examine evidence relating to cot deaths ; and what evidence it is asking them to examine.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 21 October at column 423.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the increase in cot deaths between 1986 and 1989 has been attributed to ; and what government-funded studies there have been into the sudden increase ;
(2) what assessment he has made of the reasons for the apparent reduction in cot death rates in the last two years.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : An increase in the number of deaths attributed to sudden infant death--SID--occurred between 1986 and 1988. The rate of sudden infant death per 1,000 live births came down from the 1988 level of 2.35 to 1.81 in 1990.
The reasons for fluctuations and trends in the incidence of SID nationally are not clear. SID is more common in
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the winter months and the rate may vary according to the severity of the winter ; but the relationship is not fully understood. There is now growing evidence that changes in child rearing practice have been accompanied by changes in mortality attributed to SID. These include : a reduction in the prone sleeping position for the infants ; attention to the risk of overheating ; and increased support to those infants thought to be at highest risk, for example, those children suffering from respiratory disease. In addition, it is believed that there is a trend in the pattern of certification of death towards certifying as sudden infant deaths, deaths that might previously have been certified as due to respiratory disease. The rates for respiratory disease fell over this period when SID was increasing.For information relating to government-funded studies into cot death research, I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science gave him on 7 November at column 206.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretaryt of State for Health how much money the Government have given to the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths since it was set up.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Since 1983-84, the foundation has received a total of £97,500 in grants under section 64 of the National Health Service and Public Health Act, 1968. The foundation also currently receives a grant of £25,000 per annum payable over the two financial years, 1991-92 and 1992-93.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the inquiry he has set up into stillbirths and deaths in infancy to report ; when it will issue a preliminary report on the recommended cot sleeping position for babies ; and what steps he will take to communicate that recommendation to health service professionals.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : On 21 October, I announced the setting up of an expert group to report to the chief medical officer following its examination and assessment of available evidence on reducing the risk of cot death. After studying the group's recommendations, the chief medical officer made its advice public in a press release issued on 31 October. He also announced that he and the chief nursing officer would be writing specifically to health professionals about the expert group's advice.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the group for the speed and clarity of their advice.
The confidential inquiry into stillbirths and deaths in infancy, which I announced on 2 July, is a longer-term and more wide-ranging initiative which will organise detailed investigations into foetal losses, stillbirths and infant deaths.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding was made available to the Avon study into infant deaths.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : I understand that the most recent study in Avon was funded with the assistance of the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths. The Department was not approached directly to provide
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funding for this particular study, though financial assistance is provided for the foundation's administrative costs.Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Medical Research Council was commissioned to review existing cot death research ; and to what end.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The Department commissioned the Medical Research Council in June 1989 to undertake a major review of the literature relating to sudden infant death syndrome--SIDS--and to advise on what further research was needed. This has been received and is under consideration.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much extra was spent on research into cot deaths as a result of the recommendation of the Select Committee on Social Services (HC 54 Session 1988-89) that further research into the causes of sudden infant death syndrome should be conducted as a matter of urgency.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Government expenditure on research into sudden infant death syndrome and
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respiratory distress syndrome in 1989-90 and 1990-91 amounted to £1,095,000, a 30 per cent. increase over the previous two-year period.NHS
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the national health service budget is spent on (a) consultants, (b) doctors, (c) nurses and (d) others ; how much this represents in cash terms ; what were the comparable figures in April 1979 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Dorrell : Information derived from annual accounts of health authorities and their predecessor authorities, as submitted to the Department and related to hospital and community health services--HCHS-- only, is shown in the table.
Expenditure on family health services has been excluded from the table as such expenditure consists principally of payments to general practitioners and other professionals contracted to the NHS to provide those services.
Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) Revenue Expenditure on salaries and wages
1989-90 1978-79
|£ million |As a proportion |£ million |As a proportion
|(cash) |of total revenue|(cash) |of total revenue
|expenditure |expenditure
|(per cent.) |(per cent.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medical and Dental Staff
Consultants
Medical |672.0 |5.0 |158.4 |3.6
Dental |13.7 |0.1 |3.7 |0.1
Total |--- |-- |--- |--
Other Medical Staff |765.7 |5.6 |212.4 |4.8
Other Dental Staff |49.1 |0.4 |17.1 |0.4
Nurses and Midwives |4,893.2 |36.0 |1,353.7 |30.6
All Other Staff |3,861.3 |28.5 |1,533.2 |34.7
|---- |-- |---- |--
Total |10,255.0 |75.6 |3,278.5 |74.7
Source:
Annual accounts of regional and district health authorities in England and those of the special health
authorities for the London
postgraduate teaching hospitals 1989-90 (predecessor authorities 1978-89).
Notes:
1. HCHS covers all services managed by the health authorities concerned including hospital, community health,
patient transport
(i.e. ambulance), blood transfusion and other services. Capital expenditure and all expenditure incurred by
Family Health Services
Authorities (FHSAs) and certain supporting special health authorities and other bodies is excluded; however
1978-79 figures
include small elements for administrative costs of the FHSA predecessor Family Practitioner Committees which
were at that time
included with the annual accounts of health authorities and were not separately identified.
2. The figures are gross salaries and wages costs and include employers' national insurance and
superannuation contributions.
3. "All other staff" includes professional, technical, scientific, ancillary, maintenance, ambulance and
administrative and clerical
staff. The correspondingly small total costs incurred by the health authorities on employing all non-NHS (
agency etc) staff are
also included-£ 297.5 million (cash) in 1989-90 and £ 40.6 million (cash) in 1978-89.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his advice that young babies should be laid on their back includes premature babies.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : In individual cases, such as premature babies, this must be a matter for the clinical judgment of the doctor concerned with the baby's care.
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Optical Charge Vouchers
Mr. Hannam : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the increase in the value of vouchers for glasses in each band from A to F since 1987, in (i) cash terms and (ii) real value, calculated using the GDP deflator.
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