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Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have (a) 40 per cent. or more disability and (b) 80 per cent. or more disability and how many in each category are aged (i) 60 to 65, (ii) 65 to 70, (iii) 70 to 75 and (iv) over 75 years in Great Britain.
Mr. Scott : The information requested is not available.
Small Businesses
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what arrangements his Department has to assess proposals for regulations relating to occupational pensions and national insurance contributions and their effect on existing small firms ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jack : The Department regularly consults with employers organisations including representatives of small firms. As part of the Government's deregulation initiative, the Department also carries out compliance cost assessments on new proposals in both these and other fields to identify any impact that they may have on businesses of all sizes.
Additionally, in the case of occupational pensions, there is a statutory duty to refer, with limited exceptions, proposals to make regulations to the Occupational Pensions Board. The board, in considering such proposals and reporting back, consults a number of representative bodies including the Confederation of British Industry.
Publicity
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all the television advertising campaigns and all other publicity campaigns costing over £100,000 to be carried out by his Department in February, March, April, May or June of the current year.
Mr. Jack : Campaigns being carried out by the Department during this period are :
New disability benefits.
Change in hours rule for family credit and income support. Advice to trustees of occupational pension schemes.
National Insurance
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost in 1991-92 and 1992-93 of abolishing the 2 per cent. rate of national insurance contributions on earnings below the lower earnings limit.
Mr. Jack : We estimate that the loss in revenue would be about £1 billion in both 1991-92 and 1992-93.
Column 416
NORTHERN IRELAND
Social Fund
Mr. Peter Robinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases were referred to the social fund inspectors seeking a review of decisions made by social fund officers in each of the past two years.
Mr. Hanley : Social security operational matters are the responsibility of Mr. Alec Wylie, chief executive of the Social Security Agency. He will write to the hon. Gentleman and copies of his reply will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.
Electors
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of electors in each (a) council area in Northern Ireland, (b) each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland, (c) the total for Northern Ireland, on the 1992 register of electors and (d) what are the areas of each constituency.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information is as follows :
District Council |Number of
|electors<1>
---------------------------------------------------
Belfast |209,126
Derry |63,309
Limavady |19,282
Coleraine |37,138
Ballymoney |17,610
Moyle |10,509
Larne |22,318
Ballymena |42,091
Magherafelt |25,611
Cookstown |21,637
Strabane |25,319
Omagh |30,973
Fermanagh |39,112
Dungannon |32,354
Craigavon |54,520
Armagh |36,222
Newry and Mourne |58,207
Banbridge |24,891
Down |40,656
Lisburn |69,472
Antrim |30,227
Newtownabbey |55,155
Carrickfergus |24,527
North Down |54,464
Ards |49,089
Castlereagh |47,505
|-------
Total |1,141,324
<1>Note:
(a) Figures are taken from the electoral register
published in
February 1992.
(b) Shows electors registered to vote in local
government elections
and young people who, reaching the age of 18
before 16 February
1992, will then be eligible to vote in local
government elections.
Constituency |Number of |Size in
|electors<1> |hectares<2>
--------------------------------------------------------
Belfast East |53,375 |2,908
Belfast North |55,587 |4,162
Belfast South |52,556 |2,371
Belfast West |55,280 |4,026
East Antrim |63,739 |43,055
East Londonderry |76,912 |145,839
Fermanagh and South Tyrone 71,4266,000
Foyle |75,970 |60,694
Lagan Valley |73,688 |45,546
Mid Ulster |70,410 |257,026
Newry and Armagh |68,716 |109,721
North Antrim |70,217 |154,490
North Down |69,604 |10,269
Strangford |69,855 |43,313
South Antrim |68,292 |69,885
South Down |77,371 |147,585
Upper Bann |68,422 |48,036
|---- |----
Total |1,141,466
<1> Note:
(a) Figures are taken from the electoral register
published in
February 1992.
(b) Shows electors registered to vote in parliamentary
elections
and young people who, reaching the age of 18 before 16
February 1993, will then be eligible to vote in a
Parliamentary
election.
<2> Including inland water.
Radioactivity, Glenshane
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by how many acres the designated area at Glenshane, County Londonderry has been reduced by Statutory order No. 527, 1991, what was the original level of radioactive contamination of the area now excluded and the present level of contamination ; what was the original level of contamination and the present level of contamination of the area still under restriction ; when he expects the remaining area to have its restrictions removed ; what other areas in Northern Ireland and of what acreage are still under restrictions ; when he expects those restrictions to be removed ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : SR 1991 No. 527 reduced the restricted area at Glenshane, Co Londonderry, by approximately 568 acres. The highest level of radiocaesium recorded in sheep in the derestricted area of Glenshane before derestriction was 504 kg. No monitoring has been done in this area since derestriction. The highest level of contamination in sheep found in the area of Glenshane still under restriction, 3,723 kg, was recorded in 1987 ; the highest level recorded in 1991 was 1,289 kg. This apparent diminution in monitored levels must be interpreted with caution. The 1991 figure was recorded in sheep put forward for monitoring prior to movement out of the restricted area. These sheep are usually grazed on lower, clean pastures before monitoring resulting in lower levels being detected and cannot be taken as a true reflection of change in the situation in the upland areas.
Approximately 1,305 acres at Belraugh, Co Londonderry and 8,620 acres at Glenwherry, Co Antrim still remain under restriction. It is not possible to predict when the remaining restrictions will be removed. They will be lifted as soon as it is possible to do so without compromising the food chain.
National Insurance
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what would be the cost in 1991-92 and 1992-93 of abolishing the 2 per cent. rate of national insurance contributions on earnings below the lower earnings limit.
Mr. Hanley : The estimated costs are £23 million and £24 million, respectively.
Column 418
Disability Statistics
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have (a) 40 per cent. or more disability and (b) 80 per cent. or more disability ; and how many in each category are aged (i) 60 to 65, (ii) 65 to 70, (iii) 70 to 75 and (iv) over 75 years in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Hanley : Social security operational matters are the responsibility of Mr. Alec Wylie, chief executive of the Social Security Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies of his reply will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.
Publicity
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all the television advertising campaigns and all other publicity campaigns costing over £100,000 to be carried out by his Department in February, March, April, May or June of the current year.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information is as follows :
Orange Halls (Damage)
Mr. Trimble : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will list all the Orange halls reported to the police as damaged or destroyed by fire since 1 January 1990 and also indicate whether a chief constable's certificate for the purposes of the criminal damage legislation has been issued in respect of any of the above incidents.
Dr. Mawhinney [holding answer 19 February 1992] : The available information is set out in the table :
Date and Orange halls which sustained serious damage
1. 14 July 1990
Allistragh, Armagh
2. 18 August 1990
Alexandra Park, Belfast
3. 21 August 1990
Alexandra Park, Belfast
4. 26 August 1990
Tullywhisker, Sion Mills
5. 4 October 1990
Downpatrick
6. 16 November 1990
Whitewell, Greencastle
7. 23 May 1991
Dundrum
8. 7 July 1991
Ballymoyer, Newtownhamilton
9. 14 July 1991
Carnagh, Keady
10. 20 July 1991
Kilmore, Moira
11. 28 July 1991
Dungonnell, Antrim
12. 31 August 1991
Donaghmore, Newry
13. 16 September 1991
Derryadd, Lurgan
14. 9 12 October 1991
Whitehill, Banbridge
15. 12 October 1991
Glasgar, Banbridge
16. 24 December 1991
Column 419
Charlemont, Moy17. 25 January 1992
Tanaghmore, Markethill
18. 1 February 1992
Tanvally, Banbridge
19. 7 February 1992
Glebe Hill, Tandragee
Chief constable's certificates have been issued in respect of Nos. 5, 10, 12 and 13.
Column 420
Agricultural Property (Damage)
Mr. Trimble : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will list the incidents of malicious damage to agricultural property reported to the police since 1 January 1990.
Dr. Mawhinney [holding answer 19 February 1992] : The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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