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Mr. Jackson : In the period 1 April 1991 to 5 January 1992 it is provisionally estimated that here were 20,500 employment training (ET) entrants in the London region. Of these about 56 per cent. were men and 44 per cent. were women.
Absolute numbers are not available because information about gender is not provided for all trainees.
Training and enterprise councils (TECs) are required to ensure the promotion of equality of opportunity between all individuals in access to, treatment on, and outcome from the agreement between the Secretary of State and the TECs.
Trainees
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what guidance he gives to training and enterprise councils on the levels of output-related funding for organisations training trainees with severe learning difficulties ;
(2) what guidance he gives to TECs on developing performance indicators for output related funding specifically suited to providers training special needs trainees with learning difficulties.
Mr. Jackson : Output-related funding is paid to training and enterprise councils by the Department for a number of outputs under employment training and youth training. In 1992-93, these will include City and Guilds of London Institute wordpower and numberpower qualifications for trainees with severe literacy and numeracy difficulties, and national vocational qualifications at level 1 for YT trainees with special training needs for whom training aimed at NVQ level 2 is not thought to be realistic. It is entirely a matter for training and enterprise councils as to how they pass on funds to training providers.
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the level of funding for special needs training within the youth training and employment training budgets for 1992-93.
Mr. Jackson : TECs are obliged to take into account training needs of special needs clients within their business plans.
The proportion of training budgets allocated to provision for people with special training needs is the responsibility of individual training and enterprise councils (TECs) and is determined by local needs and priorities.
Older Workers
Mr. Andrew Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what will be the composition of the advisory group to assist in encouraging, identifying and disseminating good employment practice with regard to older workers, as proposed in "People, Jobs and Opportunity" (Cm. 1810).
Column 581
Mr. Jackson : I shall chair the advisory group for older workers as the Minister with responsibility for equal opportunity in employment. The membership will be chosen from a variety of sources, including voluntary sector organisations representing the interests of older people, and organisations representing the interests of employers and employees. I am particularly keen to see women well represented in the group. There may also be places for individuals known to have an interest in the field.Degrees
Mr. Squire : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the percentage of the population within each region of the country, including Greater London, who hold first degrees.
Mr. Jackson : The latest available estimates are given in the following table.
Percentage of persons of working age who hold a degree<1> Region |Percentage ----------------------------------------------- Great Britain |8.5 North |5.6 Yorkshire and Humberside |6.0 East Midlands |7.5 East Anglia |8.2 South East |12.1 Greater London |14.7 Rest of South East |10.4 South West |7.7 West Midlands |6.4 North West |7.2 Wales |6.0 Scotland |7.1 <1>Includes first degrees, higher degrees and other degree level qualifications such as graduate membership of a professional institute. Persons of working ages comprise men aged 16-64 and women aged 16-59. Labour Force Survey: Spring 1990.
Labour Statistics, York
Mr. Caborn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time males, part-time males, full-time females and part-time females in employment in the City of York currently earn less than £3.40 per hour.
Mr. Forth : The information from the "1991 New Earnings Survey" closest to that requested is given in the following table. Employees on adult rates whose pay was unaffected by absence : Percentage whose gross hourly earnings (excluding overtime) were less than £3.40.
North Yorkshire |April 1991 -------------------------------------------------- Full-time males |9.4 Part-time males |n/a Full-time females |18.3 Part-time females |45.5
Mr. Caborn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs were on offer in jobcentres in York in each month since January 1990.
Mr. Jackson : The information requested can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library.
Mr. Caborn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the total number of men and
Column 582
women in employment, both full and part- time, in the City of York, and the number in each of these categories who currently earn (a) more than £21,060 per annum, (b) more than £35,000 per annum, (c) more than £40,000 per annum and (d) more than £50,000 per annum.Mr. Forth : The latest available information about employment in local areas is from the 1989 census of employment and relates to employees only. The numbers of employees in employment in the York local authority district at September 1989 were as follows :
|Thousands
---------------------------------
Males
Full time |25.5
Part time |2.4
Females
Full time |15.6
Part time |15.0
Information on the percentages of employees earning more than certain amounts per week is available from the "1991 New Earnings Survey". Figures are available only at county level and for full-time employees. They are given in the following table, for the available levels of weekly earnings which correspond most closely to the annual amounts specified in the question.
Full-time employees on adult
rates whose pay
was unaffected by absence:
Percentage with gross weekly
earnings above the following
amounts
North YorkApril 1991
| £ | £ | £ | £
|390 |600 |700 |900
-------------------------------
Men |16.0|2.6 |1.2 |0.4
Women |4.1 |0.6 |0.2 |0.2
Mr. Caborn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the number of full-time employees in employment in the City of York in 1979 and in each year since (a) in all manufacturing jobs and (b) in each of the following industrial groups (i) railways, (ii) cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery, (iii) manufacturing of railway and tramway vehicles, (iv) printing and publishing, (v) scheduled road passenger transport, (vi) road haulage, (vii) postal services and (viii)
telecommunications.
Mr. Jackson : Information for employees in employment according to industry and by district is available only from the censuses of employment for 1981, 1984, 1987 and 1989. This can be obtained, subject to the confidentially restrictions of the Statistics of Trade Act 1947, from the NOMIS database in the Library.
Mr. Caborn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the average gross weekly earnings of full-time males, full-time females and part-time females on adult rates in (a) the City of York, (b) north Yorkshire, (c) England, (d) Greater London and (e) the City of Canterbury in 1979 and each year since then.
Mr. Forth : The available information is published in tables 110 and 113 of part E and table 180 of part F of the "New Earnings Survey" reports for each year since 1979, except for that shown in the following table. Information is not available for the cities of York or Canterbury.
Column 583
r Average gross weekly earnings of part time women employees on adult rates whose pay was unaffected by absence £ per week April each year County |1979 |1980 |1981 |1982 |1983 |1984 |1985 |1986 |1987 |1988 |1989 |1990 |1991 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ North Yorkshire |23.5 |29.9 |34.7 |37.9 |39.9 |42.8 |44.1 |47.8 |52.6 |54.1 |62.8 |68.2 |77.2 Kent |26.8 |32.8 |40.0 |42.0 |47.4 |49.7 |56.4 |59.9 |61.7 |67.8 |69.6 |79.7 |89.8 Source: New Earnings Survey. Note: It is estimated that around one fifth of part time women employees were not covered by the survey because their gross weekly earnings were below the PAYE threshold.
Job Centre, Stamford-le-Hope
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider re-opening the Stamford-le-Hope jobcentre.
Mr. Jackson : Questions on operational matters in the Employment Service executive agency are the responsibility of Mike Fogden, the agency's chief executive, to whom I have referred this question for reply.
HEALTH
Ozone Layer
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been undertaken to identify the groups most at risk from the consequences of the thinning of the ozone layer in the northern hemisphere.
Column 584
Mr. Dorrell : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mrs. Taylor) on 20 December 1991 at column 354.
Skin Cancer
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of cases and deaths from skin cancer in 1970, 1980 and between the years 1985 and 1990.
Mr. Dorrell : The available data are set out in the table. The upward trend in the number of both registrations and deaths from malignant melanoma of the skin is a matter of concern. The possible relation between this trend and exposure to UV radiation is one of the issues on which we are seeking advice from the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE), as announced in my reply to the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mrs. Taylor) on 20 February at column 272.
Column 583
The total number of: 1) Cases (registrations); and 2) deaths, from skin cancer (ICD's 172 and 173), by sex, 1971 1980, 1985 and
1986.
1987-1990, deaths only. England and Wales
ICD-Site description-Year |Sex |Registrations |Deaths
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
172-Malignant melanoma of skin
1971 |Male |357 |234
|Female |770 |370
1980 |Male |656 |361
|Female |1,264 |452
1985 |Male |931 |455
|Female |1,725 |532
1986 |Male |989 |445
|Female |1,813 |595
1987 |Male |- |464
|Female |- |566
1988 |Male |- |470
|Female |- |608
1989 |Male |- |493
|Female |- |606
1990 |Male |- |564
|Female |- |606
173-Other malignant neoplasm of skin
1971 |Male |8,633 |248
|Female |7,330 |209
1980 |Male |10,827 |193
|Female |9,388 |173
1985 |Male |12,597 |263
|Female |10,746 |199
1986 |Male |14,152 |229
|Female |12,615 |183
1987 |Male |- |263
|Female |- |178
1988 |Male |- |246
|Female |- |184
1989 |Male |- |255
|Female |- |192
1990 |Male |- |257
|Female |- |179
Column 585
Capital and Revenue Expenditure, Shropshire
Mr. Conway : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the capital and revenue expenditure by Shropshire health authority and its predecessor authority in 1978-79, 1982-83, 1986-87 and 1991-92 ;
(2) what was the capital and revenue expenditure on family practitioner services in Shropshire in 1978-79, 1982-83, 1986-87 and 1991-92.
Mr. Dorrell : The information requested and derived from annual accounts submitted to the Department for the financial years 1978-79, 1982- 83, 1986-87 and 1990-91 (the latest available) is shown in the table. Equivalent information for 1991-92 will be available in the autumn.
H
Shropshire health authority
Total revenue expenditurTotal capital expenditure
|£000 |£000 |£000 |£000
|(cash) |(at 1991-92|(cash) |(at 1991-92
|prices)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1978-79 |29,127 |79,017 |1,011 |2,742
1982-83 |52,346 |87,554 |3,651 |6,106
1986-87 |67,376 |94,117 |8,648 |12,054
1990-91 |100,730 |107,781 |8,629 |9,233
Shropshire family health services authority
Total expenditure on family health
services
|£000 |£000
|(cash) |(at 1991-92
|prices)
------------------------------------------------
1978-79 |10,956 |29,721
1982-83 |21,248 |35,540
1986-87 |28,777 |40,199
1990-91 |45,000 |48,150
Sources: Annual accounts of the Shropshire
health authority, the
West Midlands regional health authority and the
Shropshire
family health services authority and those of
the predecessor
health authorities and family practitioner
committee (FPC).
Notes:
1. The figures have been expressed at 1991-92
prices by the use
of the gross domestic product deflators.
2. The figures for total capital expenditure
include costs for
schemes within Shropshire which were accounted
for by the west
Midlands regional health authority (RHA). All
expenditure
incurred by that RHA for its region as a whole
is excluded.
3. Capital expenditure in particular localities
tends to vary
from year to year mainly reflecting changes in
the pattern of
capital investment throughout the country.
4. All expenditure on family health
services-FHS (formerly
family practitioner services)-is essentially
regarded as current
(i.e. revenue) expenditure. It is not strictly
attributable to
particular districts and is recorded in annual
accounts after the
deduction of charges to patients.
5. The FHS figures for 1986-87 and 1990-91 also
include the
administrative expenses of the Shropshire
family health services
authority-£268,000 (cash) revenue, and £145,000
(cash) capital,
in 1986-87 and £799,000 (cash) revenue, in
1990-91. Prior to
1 April 1985 the Shropshire FPC was associated
with the
Shropshire district (formerly area) health
authority and its
administrative costs formed a comparatively
small part of the
health authority's total expenditure and are
not separately
identifiable.
Chemists (Drug Purchases)
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the value to the NHS of the discount claw-back on drug purchases privately negotiated by pharmaceutical chemists in each of the past four years for which figures are available.
Column 586
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The discount recovered from community pharmacists in England and Wales in each of the past four years is given in the table.
Year |Discount
|recovered
|£ million
------------------------------
1987-88 |134.0
1988-89 |154.7
1989-90 |171.5
1990-91 |220.5
The discount recovery scheme ensures that the NHS benefits from the discounts pharmacists receive from wholesalers and manufacturers. The increase over the four years is due partly to increased drug costs and partly to increased discounts achieved.
Health Authorities (Staff)
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for (a) each regional health authority and (b) each district health authority the number of (i) nurses and midwives, (ii) medical staff, (iii) general and senior managers, (iv) administrative and clerical staff, (v) ancillary staff and (vi) ambulance staff for 1991.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The regional health authority data are not yet available. District data could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Generic Drugs
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new initiatives he intends to produce to increase the proportions of generic drugs prescribed by general practitioners.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The proportion of prescriptions written generically has risen from 20 per cent. in 1979 to 44 per cent. in 1990 as a result of the policies pursued by this Government. Further initiatives were introduced this year, with the indicative prescribing scheme and the appointment by each family health services authority of prescribing medical advisers. Medical advisers encourage general practitioners to prescribe drugs by their generic names for reasons of good professional practice and because of the opportunities for savings such prescribing creates.
Eye Tests and Dental Checks
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what would be the full year cost to the Exchequer in 1991-92 of introducing free eye tests and dental checks for (a) all people over state retirement age, (b) all those in receipt of a disability benefit and (c) both (a) and (b) together.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The estimated cost of introducing free sight tests for all people aged 65 and over in England for 1991-92 is approximately £25 million, and for introducing free dental examinations approximately £7 million. No estimate is available for people in receipt of a disability benefit. About 40 per cent. of the population are exempt from charges for dental examinations and sight tests.
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the estimated saving to the Exchequer
Column 587
from the abolition of free dental check-ups in the financial years (a) 1990-91, (b) 1991-92 and (c) 1992-93, in the United Kingdom ;(2) what would be the cost of every 10p reduction in the charges for (a) eye tests, (b) dental check-ups and (c) prescriptions, in 1991-92 and 1992- 93, in the United Kingdom ;
(3) what is the estimated saving to the Exchequer from the abolition of free eye tests in the financial years (a) 1990-91, (b) 1991-92 and (c) 1992 -93 in the United Kingdom.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 24 February 1992] : The estimated income from dental examination charges in England was about £55 million in 1990-91. We currently anticipate revenue of some £58 million in 1991-92, and £61 million in 1992-93. About 40 per cent. of the population are exempt from dental examination charges. The cost of each 10p reduction in the charge for dental examinations is estimated at about £1.5 million in England in 1991-92 ; costs in 1992- 93 would be similar. The cost of a notional 10p reduction from the current prescription charge level is estimated at a minimum of about £4 million in England in 1991-92, rising to about £5 million in 1992-93.
Costs would accelerate for each subsequent incremental reduction. There are no charges for NHS sight tests which are available to approximately 40 per cent. of the population.
Restricting entitlements to NHS sight tests to priority groups has resulted in estimated savings in England of about £90 million in 1990-91, with projected savings of about £100 million in 1991-92 and £110 million in 1992-93. The full year cost of re-introducing free NHS sight tests for everyone is estimated to be £165 million. Information on Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Departmental Staff
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the number of (a) men and (b) women in his Department in each of grades (i) 1, (ii) 2, (iii) 3, (iv) 4, (v) 5, (vi) 6, (vii) 7, (viii) SEO, (ix) HEO, (x) administrative trainee, (xi) EO, (xii) CO and (xiii) CA.
Miss Widdecombe : The information for the Department, including its agencies, at 31 January 1992 is in the table.
Grade<1> |Men |Women |Total
-----------------------------------------------
1 |1 |0 |1
2 |4 |0 |4
3 |9 |6 |15
4 |5 |2 |7
5 |38 |16 |54
6 |72 |19 |91
7 |432 |94 |526
SEO |1,164 |302 |1,466
HEO |3,518 |1,901 |5,419
HEO (D)<2> |7 |12 |19
EO |9,142 |13,600 |22,742
AO<3> |9,049 |29,407 |38,456
AA<3> |3,147 |9,456 |12,603
|--- |--- |---
Total |26,500 |54,793 |81,293
<1> For each grade we have included equivalent
professional grades.
<2> Includes Administrative Trainees.
<3> The AO and AA grades have replaced the CO
and CA grades.
Claimants, Leeds
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in the month of January in the Leeds metropolitan district how many people in receipt of income support or housing benefit were registered as being in receipt of retirement pension, disabled, or having children aged under five years ; and how many of those so registered received cold weather payments.
Miss Widdecombe : I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Benefits, York
Mr. Caborn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in York were in receipt of supplementary benefit in each year from 1979 to 1987 ; and how many were in receipt of income support in each year since then.
Miss Widdecombe : The complete range of information requested in this question is not available. This is because statistics of a local nature are destroyed at regular intervals ranging from 18 months to five years. The information available from 1987 has been drawn from the income support management information statistics.
Statistics relating to supplementary benefit and income support recipients are collected from benefit offices on a quarterly basis. The figures show the number of recipients at a given date rather than for a particular period.
The York benefit office covers an area of approximately 450 square miles. It is not possible, except at disproportionate cost, to identify those customers who were living in the city of York itself. The figures for York benefit office since May 1987 are in the table.
Customers in receipt of Supplementary Benefit or
Income Support
from York benefit office since May 1987
Year |February|May |August |November
------------------------------------------------------
Supplementary Benefit (Predecessor of Income Support)
1987 |- |15,109 |15,423 |14,705
Income Support
1988 |<1>- |13,784 |14,252 |13,507
1989 |14,063 |13,660 |14,251 |13,979
1990 |14,344 |12,723 |13,734 |13,826
1991 |14,445 |13,893 |14,637 |14,705
<1>A quarterly supplementary benefit count was not
conducted in
February 1988.
Community Care, York
Mr. Caborn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table indicating (a) the number of applications for community care grants received, (b) the number of community care grants paid and (c) the cash value of community care grants paid by the York local office in each month from January 1990 to
Column 589
December 1991 for each of the (i) elderly, (ii) mentally ill/handicaped, (iii) disabled/chronically sick, (iv) young persons leaving local authority care, (v) persons who have misused drugs/alcohol, (vi) ex-offenders, (vii) persons without a settled way of life and (viii) families under exceptional pressure priority groups.Mr. Scott : I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency that the information is not available in the form requested.
Social Fund, York
Mr. Caborn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will (a) state how many applications for social fund loans from the York local office were refused on the grounds of inability to pay and (b) show this figure as a percentage of all applications for loans from the York local office in 1988-89, 1989-90, 1990-91 and so far in 1991-92.
Mr. Scott : The administration of the social fund 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.
Social Security Benefits
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for each social security benefit what has been (a) the number of claimants, (b) the cash expenditure and (c) the expenditure expressed in 1991 prices for each year since 1979.
Miss Widdecombe : The available information is in the following tables.
Table 1: Estimated average numbers receiving benefit
at any one time
(thousands)
|1978-79|1979-80
-------------------------------------------------------
Benefit
Retirement Pension |8,530 |8,680
Widows' Benefit |495 |490
Unemployment Benefit |570 |550
Sickness Benefit |560 |490
Statutory Sick Pay |- |-
Invalidity Benefit |600 |620
Death Grant |- |-
Industrial Disablement Benefit |270 |270
Industrial Death Benefit |30 |30
Other II Benefits |- |-
Maternity Allowance |100 |115
Statutory Maternity Pay |- |-
Non-contributory RP |65 |55
War Pension |385 |370
Attendance Allowance |265 |285
Invalid Care Allowance |5 |5
Severe Disablement Allowance |150 |165
Mobility Allowance |95 |140
Income Support/Support Benefit |3,020 |2,920
Child Benefit (Children) |13,480 |13,330
One Parent Benefit |290 |370
Family Credit/FIS |85 |80
Rate Rebate |3,055 |3,065
Rent Allowance |225 |220
Rent Rebate |1,210 |1,205
Community Charge Benefit |- |-
|1980-81|1981-82
-------------------------------------------------------------
Benefit
Retirement Pension |8,880 |9,015
Widows' Benefit |475 |460
Unemployment Benefit |960 |1,220
Sickness Benefit |435 |445
Statutory Sick Pay |- |-
Invalidity Benefit |620 |660
Death Grant |- |-
Industrial Disablement Benefit |265 |260
Industrial Death Benefit |30 |30
Other II Benefits |- |-
Maternity Allowance |120 |125
Statutory Maternity Pay |- |-
Non-contributory RP |50 |50
War Pension |360 |345
Attendance Allowance |315 |350
Invalid Care Allowance |5 |5
Severe Disablement Allowance |175 |180
Mobility Allowance |185 |210
Income Support/Supplementary Benefit |3,110 |3,725
Child Benefit (Children) |13,160 |13,145
One Parent Benefit |430 |470
Family Credit/FIS |95 |125
Rate Rebate |3,350 |3,700
Rent Allowance |240 |250
Rent Rebate |1,330 |1,590
Community Charge Benefit |- |-
|1982-83|1983-84
-------------------------------------------------------------
Benefit
Retirement Pension |9,115 |9,210
Widows' Benefit |445 |440
Unemployment Benefit |1,090 |1,020
Sickness Benefit |395 |170
Statutory Sick Pay |- |-
Invalidity Benefit |700 |760
Death Grant |- |-
Industrial Disablement Benefit |265 |265
Industrial Death Benefit |30 |30
Other II Benefits |- |-
Maternity Allowance |125 |110
Statutory Maternity Pay |- |-
Non-contributory RP |45 |40
War Pension |330 |315
Attendance Allowance |390 |445
Invalid Care Allowance |10 |10
Severe Disablement Allowance |195 |210
Mobility Allowance |265 |315
Income Support/Supplementary Benefit |4,165 |4,435
Child Benefit (Children) |12,890 |12,660
One Parent Benefit |510 |540
Family Credit/FIS |165 |200
Rate Rebate |5,320 |7,020
Rent Allowance |260 |1,015
Rent Rebate |3,050 |3,735
Community Charge Benefit |- |-
|1984-85|1985-86
-------------------------------------------------------------
Benefit
Retirement Pension |9,350 |9,400
Widows' Benefit |425 |410
Unemployment Benefit |1,020 |955
Sickness Benefit |180 |160
Statutory Sick Pay |240 |245
Invalidity Benefit |825 |865
Death Grant |- |-
Industrial Disablement Benefit |260 |265
Industrial Death Benefit |30 |30
Other II Benefits |- |-
Maternity Allowance |120 |115
Statutory Maternity Pay |- |-
Non-contributory RP |35 |35
War Pension |305 |295
Attendance Allowance |490 |555
Invalid Care Allowance |10 |10
Severe Disablement Allowance |245 |245
Mobility Allowance |390 |420
Income Support/Supplementary Benefit |4,665 |4,765
Child Benefit (Children) |12,430 |12,375
One Parent Benefit |565 |590
Family Credit/FIS |205 |205
Rate Rebate |7,230 |7,020
Rent Allowance |1,080 |1,150
Rent Rebate |3,745 |3,710
Community Charge Benefit |- |-
|1986-87|1987-88
-------------------------------------------------------------
Benefit
Retirement Pension |9,575 |9,685
Widows' Benefit |400 |385
Unemployment Benefit |1,005 |815
Sickness Benefit |100 |105
Statutory Sick Pay |320 |345
Invalidity Benefit |935 |1,010
Death Grant |- |-
Industrial Disablement Benefit |285 |290
Industrial Death Benefit |30 |25
Other II Benefits |- |-
Maternity Allowance |110 |30
Statutory Maternity Pay |- |80
Non-contributory RP |40 |35
War Pension |280 |270
Attendance Allowance |605 |670
Invalid Care Allowance |25 |80
Severe Disablement Allowance |265 |265
Mobility Allowance |460 |515
Income Support/Supplementary Benefit |5,095 |5,020
Child Benefit (Children) |12,175 |12,040
One Parent Benefit |615 |660
Family Credit/FIS |215 |220
Rate Rebate |7,050 |6,875
Rent Allowance |1,180 |1,195
Rent Rebate |3,720 |3,665
Community Charge Benefit |- |-
|1988-89|1989-90
-------------------------------------------------------------
Benefit
Retirement Pension |9,710 |9,795
Widows' Benefit |370 |375
Unemployment Benefit |600 |375
Sickness Benefit |105 |105
Statutory Sick Pay |365 |360
Invalidity Benefit |1,100 |1,190
Death Grant |- |-
Industrial Disablement Benefit |295 |295
Industrial Death Benefit |30 |30
Other II Benefits |- |-
Maternity Allowance |15 |20
Statutory Maternity Pay |80 |90
Non-contributory RP |35 |35
War Pension |265 |265
Attendance Allowance |730 |795
Invalid Care Allowance |100 |115
Severe Disablement Allowance |270 |280
Mobility Allowance |560 |585
Income Support/Supplementary Benefit |4,310 |4,155
Child Benefit (Children) |12,010 |12,000
One Parent Benefit |705 |735
Family Credit/FIS |280 |305
Rate Rebate |5,150 |4,320
Rent Allowance |965 |955
Rent Rebate |3,125 |2,950
Community Charge Benefit |- |865
|1990-91|1991-92
-------------------------------------------------------------
Benefit
Retirement Pension |9,895 |9,9920
Widows' Benefit |350 |350
Unemployment Benefit |425 |650
Sickness Benefit |105 |120
Statutory Sick Pay |355 |345
Invalidity Benefit |1,265 |1,325
Death Grant |- |-
Industrial Disablement Benefit |305 |330
Industrial Death Benefit |25 |25
Other II Benefits |- |-
Maternity Allowance |20 |20
Statutory Maternity Pay |80 |85
Non-contributory RP |35 |35
War Pension |255 |260
Attendance Allowance |875 |970
Invalid Care Allowance |135 |155
Severe Disablement Allowance |290 |300
Mobility Allowance |620 |660
Income Support/Supplementary Benefit |4,190 |4,820
Child Benefit (Children) |12,135 |12,185
One Parent Benefit |760 |835
Family Credit/FIS |320 |250
Rate Rebate |- |-
Rent Allowance |1,030 |1,115
Rent Rebate |2,925 |3,085
Community Charge Benefit |6,740 |6,570
Table 2
Expenditure in cash terms
(£ million)
|1978-79|1979-80
---------------------------------------------------------
Benefit
Retirement Pension |7,552 |8,816
Christmas Bonus-Contributory |96 |96
Widows' Benefit |505 |563
Unemployment Benefit |632 |653
Sickness Benefit |696 |655
Statutory Sick Pay |- |-
Invalidity Benefit |840 |995
Death Grant |16 |16
Industrial Disablement Benefit |216 |244
Industrial Death Benefit |32 |36
Other II Benefits |5 |5
Maternity Allowance |105 |125
Maternity Grant |16 |16
Statutory Maternity Pay |- |-
Guardian's Allowance/CSA |2 |2
Non-contributory RP |37 |36
Christmas Bonus-Non-Contributory |5 |5
War Pension |340 |375
Attendance Allowance |168 |201
Invalid Care Allowance |4 |4
Severe Disablement Allowance |69 |85
Mobility Allowance |47 |79
Income Support/Support Benefit |2,256 |2,436
Child Benefit |1,776 |2,787
One Parent Benefit |22 |43
Family Credit/FIS |24 |27
Maternity Grant |16 |16
Independent Living Fund |- |-
Motability |- |-
Rate Rebate |165 |201
Rent Allowance |38 |40
Rent Rebate |207 |238
Community Charge Benefit |- |-
|1980-81|1981-82
-------------------------------------------------------------
Benefit
Retirement Pension |10,526 |12,126
Christmas Bonus-Contributory |98 |101
Widows' Benefit |638 |691
Unemployment Benefit |1,280 |1,702
Sickness Benefit |654 |680
Statutory Sick Pay |- |-
Invalidity Benefit |1,150 |1,370
Death Grant |16 |17
Industrial Disablement Benefit |282 |315
Industrial Death Benefit |42 |47
Other II Benefits |5 |5
Maternity Allowance |149 |158
Maternity Grant |16 |16
Statutory Maternity Pay |- |-
Guardian's Allowance/CSA |2 |2
Non-contributory RP |38 |39
Christmas Bonus-Non-Contributory |5 |6
War Pension |424 |479
Attendance Allowance |260 |330
Invalid Care Allowance |5 |6
Severe Disablement Allowance |108 |130
Mobility Allowance |125 |173
Income Support/Supplementary Benefit |3,172 |4,840
Child Benefit |2,944 |3,372
One Parent Benefit |61 |76
Family Credit/FIS |42 |66
Maternity Grant |16 |16
Independent Living Fund |- |-
Motability |- |-
Rate Rebate |271 |381
Rent Allowance |48 |65
Rent Rebate |317 |497
Community Charge Benefit |- |-
|1982-83|1983-84
-------------------------------------------------------------
Benefit
Retirement Pension |13,549 |14,613
Christmas Bonus-Contributory |102 |103
Widows' Benefit |725 |771
Unemployment Benefit |1,500 |1,497
Sickness Benefit |554 |265
Statutory Sick Pay |- |-
Invalidity Benefit |1,593 |1,872
Death Grant |17 |17
Industrial Disablement Benefit |343 |369
Industrial Death Benefit |51 |54
Other II Benefits |5 |5
Maternity Allowance |152 |141
Maternity Grant |16 |17
Statutory Maternity Pay |- |-
Guardian's Allowance/CSA |2 |2
Non-contributory RP |40 |41
Christmas Bonus-Non-Contributory |6 |6
War Pension |504 |524
Attendance Allowance |403 |495
Invalid Care Allowance |8 |10
Severe Disablement Allowance |154 |182
Mobility Allowance |236 |304
Income Support/Supplementary Benefit |6,261 |5,591
Child Benefit |3,660 |3,988
One Parent Benefit |91 |107
Family Credit/FIS |94 |123
Maternity Grant |16 |17
Independent Living Fund |- |-
Motability |- |-
Rate Rebate |550 |1,220
Rent Allowance |74 |536
Rent Rebate |929 |1,980
Community Charge Benefit |- |-
|1984-85|1985-86
-------------------------------------------------------------
Benefit
Retirement Pension |15,268 |16,584
Christmas Bonus-Contributory |105 |105
Widows' Benefit |785 |800
Unemployment Benefit |1,578 |1,589
Sickness Benefit |279 |276
Statutory Sick Pay |508 |545
Invalidity Benefit |2,142 |2,349
Death Grant |17 |18
Industrial Disablement Benefit |381 |407
Industrial Death Benefit |55 |58
Other II Benefits |5 |5
Maternity Allowance |161 |164
Maternity Grant |18 |17
Statutory Maternity Pay |- |-
Guardian's Allowance/CSA |2 |1
Non-contributory RP |39 |41
Christmas Bonus-Non-Contributory |6 |7
War Pension |544 |581
Attendance Allowance |576 |686
Invalid Care Allowance |11 |13
Severe Disablement Allowance |236 |266
Mobility Allowance |356 |422
Income Support/Supplementary Benefit |6,444 |7,377
Child Benefit |4,276 |4,468
One Parent Benefit |120 |134
Family Credit/FIS |126 |130
Maternity Grant |18 |17
Independent Living Fund |- |-
Motability |- |-
Rate Rebate |1,291 |1,442
Rent Allowance |645 |792
Rent Rebate |2,065 |2,225
Community Charge Benefit |- |-
|1986-87|1987-88
-------------------------------------------------------------
Benefit
Retirement Pension |17,779 |18,648
Christmas Bonus-Contributory |107 |107
Widows' Benefit |825 |839
Unemployment Benefit |1,734 |1,468
Sickness Benefit |179 |193
Statutory Sick Pay |757 |840
Invalidity Benefit |2,673 |2,968
Death Grant |18 |3
Industrial Disablement Benefit |440 |453
Industrial Death Benefit |61 |56
Other II Benefits |4 |4
Maternity Allowance |168 |51
Maternity Grant |14 |-
Statutory Maternity Pay |- |193
Guardian's Allowance/CSA |2 |1
Non-contributory RP |37 |37
Christmas Bonus-Non-Contributory |8 |9
War Pension |590 |599
Attendance Allowance |779 |897
Invalid Care Allowance |104 |184
Severe Disablement Allowance |285 |295
Mobility Allowance |514 |596
Income Support/Supplementary Benefit |7,962 |7,952
Child Benefit |4,513 |4,598
One Parent Benefit |148 |163
Family Credit/FIS |161 |180
Maternity Grant |14 |-
Independent Living Fund |- |-
Motability |1 |1
Rate Rebate |1,562 |1,677
Rent Allowance |951 |1,012
Rent Rebate |2,356 |2,461
Community Charge Benefit |- |-
|1988-89|1989-90
-------------------------------------------------------------
Benefit
Retirement Pension |19,237 |20,697
Christmas Bonus-Contributory |109 |112
Widows' Benefit |850 |852
Unemployment Benefit |1,107 |733
Sickness Benefit |192 |204
Statutory Sick Pay |898 |949
Invalidity Benefit |3,359 |3,837
Death Grant |- |-
Industrial Disablement Benefit |451 |470
Industrial Death Benefit |59 |59
Other II Benefits |4 |4
Maternity Allowance |27 |30
Maternity Grant |- |-
Statutory Maternity Pay |250 |286
Guardian's Allowance/CSA |1 |1
Non-contributory RP |36 |35
Christmas Bonus-Non-Contributory |9 |9
War Pension |610 |641
Attendance Allowance |1,003 |1,159
Invalid Care Allowance |173 |184
Severe Disablement Allowance |316 |346
Mobility Allowance |675 |769
Income Support/Supplementary Benefit |7,575 |7,675
Child Benefit |4,515 |4,537
One Parent Benefit |179 |199
Family Credit/FIS |394 |425
Maternity Grant |- |-
Independent Living Fund |1 |11
Motability |1 |1
Rate Rebate |1,336 |1,142
Rent Allowance |1,035 |1,171
Rent Rebate |2,565 |2,733
Community Charge Benefit |- |190
|1990-91|1991-92
-------------------------------------------------------------
Benefit
Retirement Pension |22,699 |25,538
Christmas Bonus-Contributory |112 |114
Widows' Benefit |889 |983
Unemployment Benefit |870 |1,506
Sickness Benefit |216 |268
Statutory Sick Pay |941 |724
Invalidity Benefit |4,431 |5,255
Death Grant |- |-
Industrial Disablement Benefit |520 |600
Industrial Death Benefit |60 |65
Other II Benefits |4 |4
Maternity Allowance |34 |39
Maternity Grant- |-
Statutory Maternity Pay |314 |344
Guardian's Allowance/CSA |2 |2
Non-contributory RP |36 |37
Christmas Bonus-Non-Contributory |9 |8
War Pension |708 |805
Attendance Allowance |1,382 |1,706
Invalid Care Allowance |208 |262
Severe Disablement Allowance |429 |583
Mobility Allowance |883 |1,061
Income Support/Supplementary Benefit |8,891 |11,891
Child Benefit |4,591 |5,206
One Parent Benefit |229 |247
Family Credit/FIS |494 |617
Maternity Grant |- |-
Independent Living Fund |24 |54
Motability |1 |3
Rate Rebate |- |-
Rent Allowance |1,530 |1,976
Rent Rebate |465 |583
Community Charge Benefit |2,085 |1,228
Note.-1991-92 figures are estimated outturn. Most central
Government support for rent rebates appears in the
Department of
the Environment and Welsh Office programmes in 1990-92, and
subsequent years, as rent rebate subsidy in England and
Wales and is
now paid from local authorities' housing revenue accounts.
Table 3: Expenditure in 1991-92 terms
£ million
|1978-79|1979-80
---------------------------------------------------------
Benefit
Retirement Pension |20,487 |20,497
Christmas Bonus-Contributory |260 |223
Widows' Benefit |1,370 |1,309
Unemployment Benefit |1,714 |1,518
Sickness Benefit |1,888 |1,523
Statutory Sick Pay |- |-
Invalidity Benefit |2,279 |2,313
Death Grant |43 |37
Industrial Disablement Benefit |586 |567
Industrial Death Benefit |87 |84
Other II Benefits |14 |12
Maternity Allowance |285 |291
Maternity Grant |43 |37
Statutory Maternity Pay |- |-
Guardian's Allowance/CSA |5 |5
Non-contributory RP |100 |84
Christmas Bonus-Non-Contributory |14 |12
War Pension |922 |872
Attendance Allowance |456 |467
Invalid Care Allowance |11 |9
Severe Disablement Allowance |187 |198
Mobility Allowance |128 |184
Income Support/Support Benefit |6,120 |5,664
Child Benefit |4,818 |6,480
One Parent Benefit |60 |100
Family Credit/FIS |65 |63
Maternity Grant |43 |37
Independent Living Fund |- |-
Motability |- |-
Rate Rebate |448 |467
Rent Allowance |103 |93
Rent Rebate |562 |553
Community Charge Benefit |- |-
|1980-81|1981-82
-------------------------------------------------------------
Benefit
Retirement Pension |20,682 |21,728
Christmas Bonus-Contributory |193 |181
Widows' Benefit |1,254 |1,238
Unemployment Benefit |2,515 |3,050
Sickness Benefit |1,285 |1,218
Statutory Sick Pay |- |-
Invalidity Benefit |2,260 |2,455
Death Grant |31 |30
Industrial Disablement Benefit |554 |564
Industrial Death Benefit |83 |84
Other II Benefits |10 |9
Maternity Allowance |293 |283
Maternity Grant |31 |29
Statutory Maternity Pay |- |-
Guardian's Allowance/CSA |4 |4
Non-contributory RP |75 |70
Christmas Bonus-Non-Contributory |10 |11
War Pension |833 |858
Attendance Allowance |511 |591
Invalid Care Allowance |10 |11
Severe Disablement Allowance |212 |233
Mobility Allowance |246 |310
Income Support/Supplementary Benefit |6,232 |8,672
Child Benefit |5,784 |6,042
One Parent Benefit |120 |136
Family Credit/FIS |83 |118
Maternity Grant |31 |29
Independent Living Fund |- |-
Motability |- |-
Rate Rebate |532 |683
Rent Allowance |94 |116
Rent Rebate |623 |891
Community Charge Benefit |- |-
|1982-83|1983-84
-------------------------------------------------------------
Benefit
Retirement Pension |22,663 |23,360
Christmas Bonus-Contributory |171 |165
Widows' Benefit |1,213 |1,233
Unemployment Benefit |2,509 |2,393
Sickness Benefit |927 |424
Statutory Sick Pay |- |-
Invalidity Benefit |2,665 |2,993
Death Grant |28 |27
Industrial Disablement Benefit |574 |590
Industrial Death Benefit |85 |86
Other II Benefits |8 |8
Maternity Allowance |254 |225
Maternity Grant |27 |27
Statutory Maternity Pay |- |-
Guardian's Allowance/CSA |3 |3
Non-contributory RP |67 |66
Christmas Bonus-Non-Contributory |10 |10
War Pension |843 |838
Attendance Allowance |674 |791
Invalid Care Allowance |13 |16
Severe Disablement Allowance |258 |291
Mobility Allowance |395 |486
Income Support/Supplementary Benefit |10,473 |8,938
Child Benefit (Children) |6,122 |6,375
One Parent Benefit |152 |171
Family Credit/FIS |157 |197
Maternity Grant |27 |27
Independent Living Fund |- |-
Motability |- |-
Rate Rebate |920 |1,950
Rent Allowance |124 |857
Rent Rebate |1,554 |3,165
Community Charge Benefit |- |-
|1984-85|1985-86
-------------------------------------------------------------
Benefit
Retirement Pension |23,244 |23,928
Christmas Bonus-Contributory |160 |151
Widows' Benefit |1,195 |1,154
Unemployment Benefit |2,402 |2,293
Sickness Benefit |425 |398
Statutory Sick Pay |773 |786
Invalidity Benefit |3,261 |3,389
Death Grant |26 |26
Industrial Disablement Benefit |580 |587
Industrial Death Benefit |84 |84
Other II Benefits |8 |7
Maternity Allowance |245 |237
Maternity Grant |27 |25
Statutory Maternity Pay |- |-
Guardian's Allowance/CSA |3 |1
Non-contributory RP |59 |59
Christmas Bonus-Non-Contributory |9 |10
War Pension |828 |838
Attendance Allowance |877 |990
Invalid Care Allowance |17 |19
Severe Disablement Allowance |359 |384
Mobility Allowance |542 |609
Income Support/Supplementary Benefit |9,810 |10,644
Child Benefit |6,510 |6,446
One Parent Benefit |183 |193
Family Credit/FIS |192 |188
Maternity Grant |27 |25
Independent Living Fund |- |-
Motability |- |-
Rate Rebate |1,965 |2,081
Rent Allowance |982 |1,143
Rent Rebate |3,144 |3,210
Community Charge Benefit |- |-
|1986-87|1987-88
-------------------------------------------------------------
Benefit
Retirement Pension |24,835 |24,705
Christmas Bonus-Contributory |149 |142
Widows' Benefit |1,152 |1,112
Unemployment Benefit |2,422 |1,945
Sickness Benefit |250 |256
Statutory Sick Pay |1,057 |1,113
Invalidity Benefit |3,734 |3,932
Death Grant |25 |4
Industrial Disablement Benefit |615 |600
Industrial Death Benefit |85 |74
Other II Benefits |6 |5
Maternity Allowance |235 |68
Maternity Grant |20 |-
Statutory Maternity Pay |- |256
Guardian's Allowance/CSA |3 |1
Non-contributory RP |52 |49
Christmas Bonus-Non-Contributory |11 |12
War Pension |824 |794
Attendance Allowance |1,088 |1,188
Invalid Care Allowance |145 |244
Severe Disablement Allowance |398 |391
Mobility Allowance |718 |790
Income Support/Supplementary Benefit |11,122 |10,535
Child Benefit |6,304 |6,092
One Parent Benefit |207 |216
Family Credit/FIS |225 |238
Maternity Grant |20 |-
Independent Living Fund |- |-
Motability |1 |1
Rate Rebate |2,182 |2,222
Rent Allowance |1,328 |1,341
Rent Rebate |3,291 |3,260
Community Charge Benefit |- |-
Benefit |1988-89|1989-90 ------------------------------------------------------------- Retirement Pension |23,778 |24,025 Christmas Bonus-Contributory |135 |130 Widows' Benefit |1,051 |989 Unemployment Benefit |1,368 |851 Sickness Benefit |237 |237 Statutory Sick Pay |1,110 |1,102 Invalidity Benefit |4,152 |4,454 Death Grant |- |- Industrial Disablement Benefit |557 |546 Industrial Death Benefit |73 |68 Other II Benefits |5 |5 Maternity Allowance |33 |35 Maternity Grant |- |- Statutory Maternity Pay |309 |332 Guardian's Allowance/CSA |1 |1 Non-contributory RP |44 |41 Christmas Bonus-Non-Contributory |11 |10 War Pension |754 |744 Attendance Allowance |1,240 |1,345 Invalid Care Allowance |214 |214 Severe Disablement Allowance |391 |402 Mobility Allowance |834 |893 Income Support/Supplementary Benefit |9,363 |8,909 Child Benefit |5,581 |5,266 One Parent Benefit |221 |231 Family Credit/FIS |487 |493 Maternity Grant |- |- Independent Living Fund |1 |13 Motability |1 |1 Rate Rebate |1,651 |1,326 Rent Allowance |1,279 |1,359 Rent Rebate |3,171 |3,172 Community Charge Benefit |- |221
|1990-91|1991-92
-------------------------------------------------------------
Benefit
Retirement Pension |24,288 |25,538
Christmas Bonus-Contributory |120 |114
Widows' Benefit |951 |983
Unemployment Benefit |931 |1,506
Sickness Benefit |231 |268
Statutory Sick Pay |1,007 |724
Invalidity Benefit |4,741 |5,255
Death Grant |- |-
Industrial Disablement Benefit |556 |600
Industrial Death Benefit |64 |65
Other II Benefits |4 |4
Maternity Allowance |36 |39
Maternity Grant |- |-
Statutory Maternity Pay |336 |344
Guardian's Allowance/CSA |2 |2
Non-contributory RP |39 |37
Christmas Bonus-Non-Contributory |10 |8
War Pension |758 |805
Attendance Allowance |1,479 |1,706
Invalid Care Allowance |232 |262
Severe Disablement Allowance |459 |583
Mobility Allowance |945 |1,061
Income Support/Supplementary Benefit |9,513 |11,8911
Child Benefit |4,912 |5,206
One Parent Benefit |245 |247
Family Credit/FIS |529 |617
Maternity Grant |- |-
Independent Living Fund |26 |54
Motability |1 |3
Rate Rebate |- |-
Rent Allowance |1,637 |1,976
Rent Rebate |498 |583
Community Charge Benefit |2,231 |1,228
War Pensions Scheme
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest position regarding discussions to simplify the war pensions scheme.
Miss Widdecombe : Proposals for simplifying the war pensions scheme and improving its administration were discussed with the war pensions central advisory committee on 5 December 1991. Its response was broadly to welcome the thrust of the proposed changes. Final decisions will be made and announced after consideration of the many detailed comments is completed. We have previously indicated that resources available to the war pensions scheme and individual cash entitlements of war pensioners will not be reduced as a result. That remains the position.
Income Support
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many income support claimants who work between 16 and 24 hours a week currently (a) receive direct help with mortgage interest payments and (b) are eligible to apply to the social fund for help with the cost of furniture and other essential household items ; and if he will subdivide the figures into childless, couples with children, and lone parent household categories ;
(2) whether income support claimaints who work between 16 and 24 hours a week and who currently (a) receive direct help with mortgage interest payments and (b) are eligible to apply to the social fund for help with the cost of furniture and other items will have their eligibility for assistance fully protected after April 1992 by special protection arrangements.
Miss Widdecombe : We estimate that around 15,000 people currently receiving income support and working between 16 and 24 hours a week are receiving help with mortgage interest payments. Because of the small size of the sample, it is not possible to subdivide this number into household categories. Anyone receiving income support, whether or not they are working, is eligible to apply to the social fund for help under the normal rules.
People whose entitlement to income support is protected when the hours rule changes from 24 to 16 a week from 7 April will have the same rights to help with their mortgage interest payments and to apply for social fund payments as they do at present.
Business Reply Envelopes
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of DSS agency offices have withdrawn business reply envelopes ; how many people
Column 600
were affected by the withdrawal of business reply envelopes ; and what are the estimated savings for the agency in the year 1992-93 from the withdrawal of these envelopes.Miss Widdecombe : Customer services are 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.
Independent Tribunal Service
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what influence the president of the Independent Tribunal Service has over allocation of resources from the DSS ; to whom the president is accountable ; and to whom complaints about dissatisfaction about the administrative arrangements of the independent Tribunal Service may be addressed.
Miss Widdecombe : The president of the Independent Tribunal Service, his honour Judge Holden, is appointed by the Lord Chancellor. He may appoint such officers and staff as he thinks fit to carry out his statutory duties, with the consent of the Secretary of State and the Treasury as to numbers, remuneration and other terms and conditions of service. In using the resources so provided he is accountable to the departmental accounting officer. Complaints about dissatisfaction with the administrative arrangements of the Independent Tribunal Service should be addressed to the president, his honour Judge Holden.
Mirror Group Pension Fund
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the cost of underwriting the guaranteed minimum pension for the Mirror Group pension fund ; and if he has agreed to underwrite the guaranteed minimum pension for the Mirror Group pension fund.
Miss Widdecombe : It is too early to make any assessment of the possible costs involved. Existing legislation provides protection for those members of pension schemes who have been contracted out of the state earnings related pensions scheme (SERPS) introduced in 1978. If any scheme is wound up there is a statutory provision designed to protect the guaranteed minimum pension which contracted out schemes are required to provide.
Personal Pensions
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest information available on the level of earnings of people with personal pensions.
Miss Widdecombe : The latest available information for the year ended April 1990 is that the average pay of appropriate personal pension holders, including those in part-time work, is £9,740.
Pension Contributions
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether the protocol to the treaty of Rome deeming pension contributions paid before May 1990 not to be deferred pay in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands includes employee pension contributions which are deducted from the employee's pay packet or salary.
Column 601
Mr. Jack : The protocol to article 119 of the treaty of Rome, agreed at Maastricht, will, when ratified, apply to all member states and relates to benefits under occupational social security schemes attributable to periods of employment prior to 17 May 1990. Contributions to occupational pension schemes before 17 May 1990 will continue to qualify scheme members for benefits on the same basis as when their contributions were made.Pensions (Christmas Bonus)
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the rationale for paying the Christmas bonus to people in receipt of their pension in the week commencing 2 December and excluding those whose pensions were first payable in the Christmas week.
Miss Widdecombe : Since the Christmas bonus was introduced in 1972 the practice has been to make payments to those who qualify no later than the first week in December. This ensures the bonus reaches all 12 million recipients in time for Christmas.
Benefits (Expenditure)
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the spending on (a) disabled people's benefits and (b) retired people's benefit in (i) 1979-80, (ii) 1983-84, (iii) 1987-88 and (iv) 1991-92 at September 1991 prices.
Mr. Scott : Total benefit spending on long-term sick and disabled people and on elderly people, in cash and in 1991-92 prices, is given in the table.
<
Disabled people Elderly people
|Cash |1991-92 |Cash |1991-92
|prices |prices
|£ million|£ million|£ million|£ million
------------------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |2.1 |4.9 |10.1 |23.6
1983-84 |4.1 |6.6 |17.7 |28.2
1987-88 |6.7 |8.8 |23.1 |30.5
1991-92 |12.3 |12.3 |31.4 |31.4
Note: 1991-92 figures are estimated outturn.
Income Support Disability Premium
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will ensure that all claimants in receipt of attendance allowance or the new disability housing allowance are informed that their benefit acts as a passport to the income support disability premium.
Mr. Scott : When customers are awarded either attendance allowance or disability living allowance they will receive an information sheet with their award notice explaining that if they are on income support they may be able to get more money because of their disability, or indeed that they may now qualify for income support if they did not get it previously. More fundamentally, we are introducing special procedures so that income support entitlement can be reassessed automatically following the award of either attendance allowance or disability living allowance.
Column 602
Statutory Sick Pay
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of (a) men and (b) women who will lose in real terms as a result of the freezing of statutory sick pay for 1991-92 and 1992-93.
Mr. Scott : The information requested is not available and cannot be accurately estimated. Over 90 per cent. of employees work for employers with occupational sick pay (OSP) schemes and will have their statutory sick pay (SSP) topped up by OSP. The 1988 survey of occupational sick pay schemes found that the majority of employers with such schemes top up SSP to full pay. Most employees affected by the freezing of the higher rate of SSP will, therefore, have experienced no reduction in the amount they received when sick. Those employees on the lower rate have had their SSP entitlement fully protected by full retail prices index increases.
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the total savings to the Exchequer for each year as a result of freezing higher rate statutory sick pay in 1991-92 and 1992-93.
Mr. Scott : The total estimated savings are :
|£ million
------------------------------
1991-92 |67
1992-93 |89
Pensioners (Home Owners)
Mr. Michael Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of pensioners are owner occupiers and have paid off their mortgage.
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