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Earnings
Mr. Bernie Grant : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many people in each of the constituencies of Edmonton, Hornsey and Wood Green and Tottenham, are earning less than £3.40 an hour broken down by (a) gender, (b) manual and non-manual work and (c) age, expressed as numbers and as percentages of each group at all wage levels ;
(2) how much many people in each of the constituencies of Edmonton, Hornsey and Wood Green and Tottenham, are earning less than £3.40 an hour for (a) full-time and (b) part-time work, expressed as numbers and as percentages of each group at all wage levels.
Mr. Jackson : The information available from the 1991 New Earnings Survey is given in the following table.
Full time employees on adult rates whose pay was unaffected
by
absence and whose gross hourly earnings (excluding overtime)
were
below £3.40
April 1991
Enfield Haringey
|Sample |Per cent.|Sample |Per cent.
|numbers |of total |numbers |of total
-------------------------------------------------------------
Men
Manual |- |- |4 |5.7
Non-manual |- |- |- |-
All |3 |1.1 |5 |3.2
Women
Manual |- |- |- |-
Non-manual |5 |4.0 |3 |3.4
All |14 |8.7 |8 |7.3
Adults
Manual |10 |6.5 |9 |9.8
Non-manual |7 |2.6 |4 |2.3
All |17 |4.0 |13 |4.9
Source: New Earnings Survey
Notes:
(1) "-" denotes sampling error too large or sample size too
small for reliable estimate.
(2) Due to small sample numbers, the information may be
unreliable.
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will show for part-timers the number of women earning less than £2 per hour, £2.20 per hour, £2.40 per hour, £2.50 per hour, £2.80 per hour, £3 per
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hour, £3.20 per hour, £3.40 per hour, £3.50 per hour, £4 per hour, £4.40 per hour, £4.50 per hour, £4.80 per hour, £4.90 per hour, £5 per hour and £5.10 per hour for (i) manual, (ii) non-manual and (iii) all women in (i) West Yorkshire, (ii) South Yorkshire, (iii) North Yorkshire, (iv) Humberside and (v) Great Britain ;(2) if he will show for full-time workers the percentages with hourly earnings less than £2.50, £3, £3.40, £3.50, £4, £4.40, £4.50, £4.80, £4.90, £5 and £5.10 per hour, giving the information for (a) women and (b) men, (i) manual, (ii) non manual and (iii) all, both including and excluding overtime in the following regions (1) West Yorkshire, (2) South Yorkshire, (3) North Yorkshire, (4) Humberside and (5) Great Britain ;
(3) if he will show for full-time workers the percentage earning less than (a) £100, (b) £110, (c) £120, (d) £130, (e) £140, (f) £150, (g) £160, (h) £170, (i) £180, (j) £190 and (k) £200 giving the ratio for (i) women and (ii) men, (1) manual, (2) non-manual and (3) both including and excluding overtime in the following regions (A) West Yorkshire, (B) South Yorkshire, (C) North Yorkshire, (D) Humberside and (E) Great Britain.
Mr. Jackson : In view of the considerable amount of information requested, I will write to the hon. Member.
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of employees who earn less than (a) £5,000, (b) £7,500, (c) £10,000, (d) £12,500, (e) £15,000, (f) £17,500 and (g) £20,000.
Mr. Jackson : The information available closest to that requested is published in table 14 of part A of the 1991 New Earnings Survey results, a copy of which is in the Library.
Health and Safety
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the Health and Safety Executive's policy with regard to interviewing injured persons when investigating an accident ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson : Health and Safety Executive inspectors use their professional judgment and discretion when deciding whether it is necessary to interview injured persons as part of their investigations into accidents. It is the policy of HSE's field operations division that, wherever possible, injured persons should be interviewed if legal proceedings are proposed or where it is alleged that the injured person has made a substantial contribution to the cause of the accident.
Schools
Mrs. Maureen Hicks : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much funding is allocated to individal compacts operating in urban areas ; and what consideration is being given to providing additional funding in response to the increasing numbers of schools now included in the original schemes.
Mr. Jackson : A compact operating in an urban programme authority (UPA) area in England receives up to £450,0000 of pump-priming funding over five years to assist its establishment. The existing funding arrangements encourage the expansion of the compact to cover further schools in the area, and to raise resources which will lead to self- sufficiency after Government funding ceases.
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SCOTLAND
Haddington Bypass
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his plans for the extension of the A1 dual carriageway from Tranent to Haddington will incorporate a new Haddington bypass ; and if he will make a further statement on the time scale for this work.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The provision of a bypass of Haddington has been included as part of the feasibility study being conducted by consultants. The report which has been submitted will have to be considered very carefully and no decisions can yet be taken on whether or not a bypass should be incorporated in the first phase of the proposed extension of the A1 dual carriageway between Tranent and Haddington. Once a preferred scheme has been identified, decisions on the timing of the work will be dependent on satisfactory completion of the public consultation and statutory procedures. The views of those directly affected by the detailed proposals will be a major factor in how quickly the scheme can be taken forward. However, the Government are keen to see early progress on this route and, subject to the conclusions of the consultants' report, I expect to be able to publish draft orders for the scheme in the first half of next year.
Schoolchildren (Statistics)
Mr. Norman Hogg : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children are on the school roll in Scotland ; and how many of those receive free school meals in primary, secondary and special schools, respectively.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The information requested, taken from the 1991 annual school meals census returns, is as follows :
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Number of pupils
Present on census day
|On school |Total |Receiving free
|register |meals
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Primary |<1>438,688 |<1>404,910 |<1>72,437
Secondary |<1>283,326 |<2>245,986 |<2>23,505
Special |7,984 |7,042 |4,418
<1> Includes 9 special departments where special data has been included in
primary school figures.
<2> Includes 10 special departments where special data has been included
in secondary school figures.
CAP
Sir David Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what response he proposes to make in respect of the Scottish agricultural college's preliminary report on common agricultural policy reform and its impact on the Borders region of Scotland.
Mr. Lang : My Department has received a copy of this report which was commissioned by Borders regional council. Its findings on the initial impact of the reform proposals are broadly in line with the Government's assessment and help to illustrate why the Government have opposed the discriminatory features of those proposals.
Crime Rates, Strathclyde
Mr. Maxton : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide an updated version of the tables on the change in crime rates in Strathclyde since 1979 published in his answer of 30 October, Official Report , column 475-78 .
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information requested is given in the following table.
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Number of crimes and offences recorded by the police
and percentage change: 1979-90
K Division, Strathclyde Regional Police Authority
Percentage
|change
|1979 |1980 |1981 |1982 |1983 |1984 |1985 |1986 |1987 |1988 |1989 |1990 |1979-90
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total crimes and offences |25,585 |29,068 |28,784 |31,390 |30,256 |33,534 |32,758 |34,372 |36,125 |33,301 |36,007 |37,332 |46
Total crimes |15,064 |16,224 |17,330 |19,491 |19,113 |21,633 |21,350 |22,031 |23,346 |21,758 |23,555 |25,943 |72
Group 1
Non-sexual crimes of
violence |394 |337 |419 |443 |499 |575 |584 |595 |820 |714 |630 |749 |90
Group 2
Crimes of indecency |134 |173 |178 |148 |128 |163 |162 |130 |150 |117 |138 |134 |0
Group 3
Crimes of dishonesty |11,415 |12,430 |13,662 |15,500 |14,831 |16,526 |15,998 |16,594 |17,901 |16,738 |18,048 |19,948 |75
Group 4
Fireraising, vandalism, etc. 2,963,081 2,817 3,103 3,342 4,007 4,141 4,238 3,857 3,443 3,912 3,967 34
Group 5
Other crimes |155 |203 |254 |297 |313 |362 |465 |474 |618 |746 |827 |1,145 |639
Total offences |10,521 |12,844 |11,454 |11,899 |11,143 |11,901 |11,408 |12,341 |12,779 |11,543 |12,452 |11,389 |8
Group 6
Miscellaneous offences |5,187 |5,334 |5,291 |5,170 |5,071 |5,305 |5,500 |5,893 |5,844 |5,412 |5,169 |4,594 |-11
Group 7
Motor vehicle offences |5,334 |7,510 |6,163 |6,729 |6,072 |6,596 |5,908 |6,448 |6,935 |6,131 |7,283 |6,795 |27
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Number of crimes and offences recorded by the police\#\
and percentage change: 1979-90
Strathclyde regional police authority
Percentage
|1979 |1980 |1981 |1982 |1983 |1984 |1985 |1986 |1987 |1988 |1989 |1990
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total crimes and offences |351,269|374,904|384,143|393,682|407,659|417,077|403,637|412,971|435,444|431,863|465,187|487,575
Total crimes |195,485|198,826|223,685|240,349|243,160|259,502|250,062|246,610|257,722|259,666|275,134|293,655
Group 1
Non-sexual crimes of
violence |7,008 |6,715 |7,535 |7,446 |7,895 |8,472 |9,062 |8,852 |10,630 |10,237 |10,519 |10,918
Group 2
Crimes of indecency |2,619 |3,027 |2,916 |2,925 |3,099 |3,233 |3,013 |2,648 |2,627 |2,425 |2,601 |3,026
Group 3
Crimes of dishonesty |151,073|152,937|175,998|188,435|187,349|197,784|187,950|185,150|195,625|197,105|207,053|219,434
Group 4
Fireraising, vandalism, etc. 31,261 31,787 32,158 34,757 37,307 41,685 40,958 40,832 38,845 37,773 40,012 42,571
Group 5
Other crimes |3,524 |4,360 |5,078 |6,786 |7,510 |8,328 |9,079 |9,128 |9,995 |12,126 |14,949 |17,706
Total offences |155,784|176,078|160,458|153,333|164,499|157,575|153,575|166,361|177,722|172,197|190,053|193,920
Group 6
Miscellaneous offences |68,908 |69,069 |66,592 |64,798 |63,880 |63,662 |65,013 |66,414 |69,297 |64,460 |65,453 |64,024
Group 7
Motor vehicle offences |86,876 |107,009|93,866 |88,535 |100,619|93,913 |88,562 |99,947 |108,425|107,737|124,600|129,896
Notes:
Data for 1979 have been regrouped on the basis of the current Scottish Office Home and Health Department classification of crimes
and offences which was revised in 1980.
Prior to 1980, the return included crimes and offences reported to the Procurator Fiscal by agencies other than the police in which
a prosecution was taken. Since 1980, these cases have been excluded. In 1982, there were about 6,400 such cases in the whole of
Scotland, of a total of 762,483 crimes and offences.
Most of the increase in crimes in Group 5 is in recorded cases of re-offending while on bail which may in part be explained by
changes in recording practice.
Stobhill Hospital
Mr. Michael J. Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the future of the urology department at Stobhill hospital.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Greater Glasgow health board's acute services strategy approved by my right hon. Friend in February this year envisaged the rationalisation of urology services on three sites, instead of the present five, by 1996. Thereafter, urology services currently provided from Stobhill hospital would be withdrawn.
Catholic Schools
Mr. Trimble : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for each of the last 10 years which was the percentage of all the costs, capital and recurring, of all Catholic church schools paid by the trustees of such schools.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : In Scotland, denominational education is provided in local authority schools, the costs of which are fully met by the authorities.
Disability
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many disabled people are currently employed in his Department ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang : The Scottish Office and associated departments currently employ 89 registered disabled persons as well as an unrecorded number of disabled persons who have chosen not to register.
The Scottish Office is fully aware of its obligations in this area. In common with other Government
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Departments it implements the policies set out in the code of practice on the employment of people with disabilities, and participates in the Employment Service's "More Than Just a Symbol" initiative.Knitwear and Textiles
Sir David Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he intends to make to ensure that Scottish knitwear and textile businesses receive adequate and fair support from the European Community.
Mr. Lang : The EC Commission is giving consideration to a Community initiative (RETEX) to provide European structural fund grants in textile areas. I am drawing the Commission's attention to the high dependence on textiles employment in the right hon. Gentleman's constituency. It is not yet clear how far the proposed initiative may offer assistance to textiles businesses themselves, but in that event I would attach importance to avoiding any unfair competition against Scottish producers.
Capital Expenditure
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the capital expenditure on central institutions in cash and constant prices in every year since 1979.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The information is set out in the table :
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£ million
|Cash |1990-91
|prices
--------------------------------
1979-80 |3.4 |7.3
1980-81 |4.8 |8.8
1981-82 |6.6 |11.1
1982-83 |6.0 |9.4
1983-84 |6.7 |10.0
1984-85 |7.0 |10.0
1985-86 |9.1 |12.3
1986-87 |17.2 |22.4
1987-88 |15.9 |19.7
1988-89 |10.5 |12.1
1989-90 |12.2 |13.2
1990-91 |14.9 |14.9
Notes:
1. Capital expenditure includes
expenditure on buildings and
major items of equipment.
2. The 12 central institutions
together with the five colleges
of education form the
grant-aided colleges and are
treated as one sector for
funding purposes.
3. The figures reflect the
transfer into the grant-aided
colleges sector of Napier
Polytechnic of Edinburgh and
Glasgow Polytechnic on 1
September 1985 and the transfer
to the local authority sector
of Leith Nautical College with
effect from 1 August 1987.
4. The figures reflect the
inevitably uneven pattern of
expenditure on capital
projects.
DEFENCE
Verification Demands
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his verification research centre at Blacknest has made any recent substantive contribution to the outstanding verification demands of (a) the START 1 agreement, (b) a comprehensive nuclear test ban draft and (c) an international fissile material store for materials removed from redundant nuclear warheads.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Blacknest facility of the Atomic Weapons Establishment continues to conduct work of international importance in exploring how seismology can contribute to the verification of a comprehensive test ban treaty.
Scientists Against Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what publications produced by Scientists Against Nuclear Weapons are held in his Department's library ; and in what numbers.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : MOD headquarters library can find no record of any publications produced by Scientists Against Nuclear Weapons, but holds one copy of three publications produced by Scientists Against Nuclear Arms (SANA) : "Ground Zero" ; "Star Wars" ; and "Nuclear Illusions". It also holds two copies of the SANA publication "Nuclear Winter". Two of these titles, "Nuclear Winter" and "Star Wars", later formed the basis of expanded commercial publications and two copies of "Nuclear Winter" (Polity Press, 1985) and three copies of "Star Wars" (Penguin, 1985) are held by the MOD headquarters library.
Nuclear Testing
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his oral replies to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Rutherglen (Mr. McAvoy) of 19 November,
Column 348
Official Report, column 136, if he will list all the relevant international treaties on nuclear testing ; what are the reasons for the practice of refusing to confirm or deny that a British nuclear warhead test is to take place ; how the operational safety of nuclear weapons benefits from nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada nuclear test site ; and what proportion of British nuclear tests conducted at Nevada have been for the purpose of safety tests.Mr. Archie Hamilton : International treaties related directly to nuclear testing are :
a. The Partial Test Ban Treaty ;
b. The Peaceful Nuclear Explosions Treaty ;
c. The Threshold Test Ban Treaty.
The United Kingdom is party only to the first of these. The second and third are bilateral between the United States and Soviet Union. As United Kingdom nuclear tests are carried out at the United States test site in Nevada, however, we invariably respect their provisions. In addition, nuclear testing is covered in the preamble to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
For reasons of safety and national security it has been the practice of successive Governments not to make a prior announcement of forthcoming United Kingdom nuclear tests. The development of new safety features is an important element of the United Kingdom nuclear test programme, but I am not prepared to give further details.
Environmental Exhibition
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration was given to using recycled or recyclable materials and low energy lighting at his Department's exhibition stall at the recent environmental exhibition at Olympia,
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : In accordance with the Department's policy of promoting recycling and the use of recycled products, the MOD publications made available to the public at the Olympia environmental exhibition were all printed on some form of recycled paper. The exhibition stand itself was fitted with energy-saving lighting.
Non-proliferation Treaty
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give further details concerning paragraph 323 of the Annual Statement on the Defence Estimates vol. I, stating that a final consensus document on the fourth review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty was blocked by the Mexican delegation.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I have nothing further to add to the statement made at paragraph 323 of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1991.
Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to announce the percentage changes in the TAVR in Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Consultations with those concerned about the proposed restructuring of the Territorial Army were completed recently. Recommendations are being prepared as a result. It is hoped to make a further announcement on the future organisation and structure of the TA shortly.
Column 349
Royal Naval Reserve
Mr. Wiggin : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what savings in actual and real terms have been produced by cuts in the Royal Naval Reserve in the last three years ; and what savings he projects in the future by cuts that are now under consideration by the Admiralty board ;
(2) what sum has been identified as the cost of the Royal Naval Reserve in each of the last 10 years, in actual and real terms ; (3) what he estimates will be the cost of the Royal Naval Reserve in the year ending 31 March 1992.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State for Defence will write to my hon. Friend.
Household Division
Mr. John Browne : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the broad outline of his plan to cut the public duties of the Household Division.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I have nothing to add to the answer I gave my hon. Friend on 14 October at columns 60-61.
Armed Forces (Injuries Compensation)
Mr. John Browne : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bring forward proposals to amend the present legislation concerning injuries compensation for armed forces personnel so as to put the onus of proof for negligence upon the Ministry of Defence rather than on the injured personnel.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : There are no plans to introduce such legislation.
Pearl Harbour
Mr. Amos : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to mark the 50th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl harbour and to commemorate the allied service men and civilians killed in the war by the Japanese ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My Department has not been invited to participate in any activities organised by the United States to mark the Japanese attack on Pearl harbour. It is our usual practice to remember personnel killed in past conflicts at the annual Remembrance day ceremony at the Cenotaph.
HMS Revenge
Mr. Hind : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for the future of HMS Revenge.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : HMS Revenge will be paid off at the end of her present commission.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Means-tested Benefits
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what number and proportion of his Department's work force, including its agencies, have recourse to means-tested benefit top-ups.
Column 350
Mr. Jack : On 31 October 1991, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 684 families receiving family credit where the main earner or their partner was a member of staff of the Department of Social Security. Staff might have an entitlement to housing benefit and community charge benefit, but as these benefits are administered by local authorities, figures for the numbers of departmental staff receiving them are not available.
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families with children will be brought into means-tested benefits in 1992-93 as a result of the benefit uprating statement of 21 October 1991.
Mr. Jack : Estimates of those unable to receive income-related benefits immediately before the uprating, but who could qualify for awards, often for very small amounts, as a result of the statement are as follows :
|Number
-------------------------------
Income Support |15,000
Community Charge
Benefit |25,000
Housing Benefit |5,000
Family Credit |70,000
These figures are rounded to the nearest 5,000 benefit units and are derived from modelling using data drawn from the 1986-87-88 family expenditure surveys.
Cold Weather Payments
Mr. Andrew Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans the Government have to publicise the changes to the cold weather payment system announced last June.
Mr. Scott : On 14 June we announced major improvements to the cold weather payments scheme including automatic payment, removal of the need to make a claim, abolition of the capital rule and introduction of a forward trigger. On 23 July we announced improvements to the weather station linkages. All these improvements were publicised again at the launch of the "Keep Warm Keep Well" campaign on 16 October. Each Benefits Agency district office will place announcements in the local press informing people when payments are to be made under the scheme.
Pensions
Mr. Andrew Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what plans he has to enable the retirement pension to be paid from the date on which a person reaches pensionable age, rather than from the first payday ; and if he will make a statement ; (2) what would be the additional expenditure incurred by paying the state pension from the date of retirement in terms of (a) payments of retirement pension and (b) additional costs of administration.
Miss Widdecombe : We have no plans to do so. Retirement pension is a regular weekly payment and is not paid for part weeks. The current provisions ensure that everyone is entitled to a full week's pension within a week of retirement. Having fixed pay days for different benefits enables the Post Office to spread the load over the week and ensure that it has the necessary cash available to provide a satisfactory service.
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The additional expenditure incurred by paying the state pension for the odd days between the 60/65th birthday and the first pay day is estimated to be £9 million . This figure does not include any corresponding savings in income support. The additional administration costs are estimated to be £10,000.Costs are at April 1992 benefit rate terms and are for 1992-93.
Housing Benefit
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will conduct an inquiry into how much housing benefit has been paid to tenants towards the cost of their accommodation which has then not been paid to their landlords ;
(2) what information he has as to the amount of money owing to private landlords as a result of the failure of tenants receiving housing benefit to pay their landlords for rent due.
Miss Widdecombe : The Department does not collect information relating to third parties, such as the level of debts owed to landlords. Representations received from landlords and their organisations indicate that the number of housing benefit recipients who persistently default on rent payments is relatively small. Regulations already give local authorities powers to pay benefit direct to a person's landlord, for example where rent arrears have accrued or where social or medical problems clearly indicate that help with budgeting is needed. We therefore have no plans to conduct an inquiry into the alleged misuse of housing benefit by private tenants.
Carer's Premium
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether details of the carer's premium have now been entered on to the mainframe computer system ; and whether this information is available to all his Department's officers who consider income support claims.
Miss Widdecombe : The administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.
Disability Benefits
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the transitional arrangements for claimants currently in receipt of mobility and attendance allowance after April 1992 when the disability living allowance and disability working allowance benefits come into being.
Mr. Scott : The arrangements are set out in the Social Security (Introduction of Disability Living Allowance) Regulations 1991. All current beneficiaries will be sent a mailshot in January about the introduction of disability living allowance in April. People who are in receipt of either mobility allowance or attendance allowance or both will be automatically transferred to the comparable components and rates of disability living allowance. People who are in receipt of one or other of the current benefits will also be invited to claim the other component
Column 352
if they think they will be entitled to it. If they do wish to claim, they will be able to do so on a special "one component" claim form, rather than needing to request a general review of their benefit. No transitional arrangements are needed for disability working allowance as it is an entirely new benefit.Invalid Care Allowance
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for invalid care allowance were received in 1988, 1989 and 1990 ; and how many people are currently in receipt of invalid care allowance.
Mr. Scott : The information requested is shown in the table.
L
Year |Claims |Numbers in Receipt
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988-89 |53,000 |112,000 (31 March
|1989)
1989-90 |53,000 |123,000 (31 March
|1990)
1990-91 |63,000 |136,000 (31 March
|1991)
|155,000 (31
|September 1991)
Family Credit
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families receiving family credit are (a) tenants or (b) homeowners.
Mr. Jack : This information is not available from family credit records. A survey by NOP for the National Audit Office report about support for low-income families published in January 1991 suggests that around two thirds of families receiving family credit are tenants and around one third are owner occupiers.
Algebra Group
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he last met the Algebra group ; who attended ; what was discussed ; when he will next meet its members ; and if he will make a statement.
Miss Widdecombe : The "Algebra" group comprises officials from several central Government Departments and representatives of local authority associations. Its discussions are part of the process of implementing the Government's community care reforms as set out in the White Paper "Caring for People". Meetings are held at official level only ; Ministers do not attend. I understand the next meeting will take place on 12 December.
Income Support
Mr. Bradley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what savings have resulted from the abolition of income support for 16 and 17- year-olds in each year since 1988.
Mr. Jack : For the individual the value of training allowance at the time of the policy change was greater than the income support payable to the young people concerned. Expenditure on youth training amounted to £1 billion in the first full year. As a consequence this meant that benefit payments to 16 and 17-year-olds were reduced by £51 million in 1988-89, £88 million in 1989-90 and £83 million in 1990-91.
Column 353
Young People (Benefits)
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the total income of an unemployed person aged 18 to 24 years through income support and housing benefit would be if he had taken a room at £40 per week.
Miss Widdecombe : The income support applicable amount for a single person aged between 18 and 24 years who is not entitled to any premiums is £31.40. A person in receipt of income support is usually entitled to maximum housing benefit, that is, 100 per cent. of eligible rent. The overall benefit entitlement of such a person with housing costs of £40 would therefore be £71.40. This assumes a rent of £40 which is fully eligible for housing benefit and is not considered unreasonably expensive by the local authority.
Mr. Bradley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what were the findings of his Department's research into 16 and 17-year- olds, and their benefits about the means they used to survive ;
(2) if he will review his decision to withdraw benefits from 16 and 17-year -olds who are unable to obtain a youth training place to take account of the findings of the fifth report of the Select Committee on Employment, 1990-91, about training and enterprise councils and the youth training guarantee ;
(3) what plans he has to review severe hardship applications following the large increase in applications between July 1990 and September 1991 ;
(4) what plans he has to change the rules regarding severe hardship payments in response to his Department's research into 16 and 17-year-olds and their benefits with particular reference to young pregnant women ;
(5) what his Department's research into 16 and 17-year-olds and their benefits found about the incidence of physical or sexual abuse they had suffered ;
(6) whether his proposal to make a specific assistant manager in each of his Department's district offices responsible for services to 16 and 17- year-olds has been implemented.
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