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Column 89
Five-year set-aside scheme
Country |Total arable area |Five year SA area |Five year SA area |Five year SA area as
|(thousand ha) |(ha)<3> |(acres)<3> |per cent. of
|national arable
|area
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Belgium |326 |880 |2,170 |0.3
Denmark |1,909 |12,810 |31,650 |0.7
France |11,859 |235,490 |581,670 |2.0
Germany<1> |8,218 |374,370 |924,700 |4.6
Greece |1,523 |710 |1,760 |-
Ireland |359 |3,450 |8,530 |1.0
Italy |5,429 |721,850 |1,782,960 |13.3
Luxembourg |33 |90 |220 |0.3
Netherlands |226 |15,370 |37,970 |6.8
Portugal<2> |833 |- |- |-
Spain |8,978 |103,170 |254,830 |1.1
United Kingdom |4,396 |155,120 |383,150 |3.5
|------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |44,087 |1,623,310 |4,007,440 |3.7
<1> Excludes former GDR.
<2> Portugal was exempt from the requirement to introduce a five year scheme.
<3> The figures for the five year scheme do not take account of withdrawals either after three years or in order to enter the
new arable regime.
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New arable support system
Total estimated
SA area
Country |Total arable area |(thousand ha) |(thousand acres) |As a percentage of
|(thousand ha) |arable area
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Belgium |326 |27 |67 |8
Denmark |1,909 |226 |558 |12
France |11,859 |1,463 |3,614 |12
Germany<1> |8,218 |915 |2,260 |11
Greece |1,523 |27 |67 |2
Ireland |359 |33 |82 |9
Italy |5,429 |236 |583 |4
Luxembourg |33 |1 |2 |3
Netherlands |226 |22 |54 |10
Portugal |833 |34 |84 |4
Spain |8,978 |764 |1,887 |9
United Kingdom |4,396 |634 |1,566 |14
|------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |44,087 |4,381 |10,821 |10
<1> Includes former German Democratic Republic.
Note: Minor discrepancies are due to rounding.
Source (both tables): Commission statistics.
Chlorpropham
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what publicly funded toxology tests on CIPC have been carried out in the United Kingdom ; and what notification he has had of toxology tests on CIPC carried out in the United Kingdom by companies.
Mr. Soames : No publicly funded toxicology tests on CIPC, also known as chlorpropham, have been carried out in the United Kingdom. It is the rule that an applicant for approval of a pesticide product is responsible for carrying out the necessary toxicology tests. Reports of toxicity tests performed in the United Kingdom on formulations containing CIPC have been submitted as part of a number of approvals for products containing CIPC. But the majority of studies submitted on the toxicology of CIPC are based on work performed in Europe, north America and Japan.
Column 90
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of whether the chemical CIPC is suitable for use in crisp manufacturing.
Mr. Soames : There is evidence that CIPC, also known as chlorpropham, is effective as a means of preventing sprouting of potatoes in store, and so helping to ensure a year-round supply of potatoes suitable for crisp manufacture. The EC pesticide review programme will in due course consider all aspects of the approval of CIPC, including its effectiveness and its toxicology.
Following recommendations from the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides, an average daily intake figure of 0.1 mg per kilogram body weight per day for CIPC has provisionally been set for consumer risk assessment purposes. Residues of CIPC found in total diet studies indicate that CIPC presents no risk to health.
Agriculture Council
Mr. Hague : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Agriculture Council held on 9 and 10 February.
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Mr. Gummer : I represented the United Kingdom at the meeting of the Agriculture Council which started on 9 February and, after a suspension, finished in the early hours of Saturday 13 February. The most difficult item was concerned with bananas, where the Council had before it a text which put into legal form the political agreement on a Community regime agreed at the December Council. That agreement fully protected United Kingdom interests and our traditional suppliers in the Caribbean and was therefore highly satisfactory for Her Majesty's Government.
Unfortunately, two delegations refused to confirm their earlier positive votes and opposed the adoption of the legal text. They sustained this position through many difficult hours of negotiation. Eventually matters were resolved, and the text adopted, because two other delegations, which had previously opposed the agreement, including the Danish delegation now in the chair, voted in favour so that the necessary qualified majority could be found. By this means the Danish presidency in particular ensured the maintenance of that integrity of Council decisions without which the Community could not function effectively. It is most unfortunate that two delegations changed their votes in this way. Such an attitude can only make future negotiations in the Council more difficult. However, on the substance, as indicated above, the regulation is a very satisfactory one for the United Kingdom.
The Council also had a first discussion of the 1993 farm price proposals. I regretted that these do not include reforms of those sectors such as sugar, wine, olive oil and fruit and vegetables where this is still outstanding.
In conclusion with the Commission in the margins of the Council, I was able to confirm that the supplementary ewe premium for flocks in our less favoured areas should be paid at the green rate applicable on 3 January. This means that this year United Kingdom producers will receive some £10.4 million more than previously expected. This was not an easy Council, but the outcome was a good one for the United Kingdom.
Sheep Dips
Ms. Corston : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports or information his Department has received concerning links between exposure to organo-phosphate sheep dips and chronic illness.
Mr. Soames : The veterinary medicines directorate operates a suspected adverse reaction reporting scheme for all veterinary medicines, including sheep dips. All reports are fully investigated. The results of those involving humans are assessed by an appraisal panel of Government doctors and scientists who evaluate potential links between human health and exposure to organophosphate sheep dips, before consideration by the Veterinary Products Committee, an independent scientific advisory committee.
In addition, a project to investigate possible chronic effects on farmers of occupational exposure to organophosphate dips is currently being carried out by the institute of occupational health at Birmingham university.
Ms. Corston : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice is currently given by his Department to people in the use of organo-phosphate sheep dip.
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Mr. Soames : The manufacturers of all licensed organophosphate sheep dips are required, as a condition of approval, to provide advice to users via product labels and product literature on the safe use of these products, including the need for protective clothing. Further advice is contained in the free leaflet "The Safe Handling and Disposal of Sheep Dips" published by the veterinary medicines directorate which has been distributed to all sheep farmers in England and Wales.
It is important that this advice is carefully followed by those using these products.
Young Farmers
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of people employed in agriculture are under 30 years of age ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : The results of the 1990 EC structure survey show that in England about 20 per cent. of people employed in agriculture are under 30 years of age. This includes farmers, working spouses and regularly employed workers. The survey is based on a sample covering approximately one quarter of all main holdings in England and is therefore subject to sampling error.
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans there are to increase the number of young people entering farming ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : The numbers of those becoming working farmers is entirely a matter for individual choice in response to personal circumstances and market forces.
Drainage Authorities
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what guidance is given to drainage authorities when they give information on the value for money and economic efficiency of the maintenance works that they carry out to interested parties ; (2) what rules drainage authorities follow upon the disclosures to interested parties of the investment appraisal submitted to his Department when seeking grant-aid ; and if he will extend the depth and quality of information made available to interested parties.
Mr. Curry : The Ministry encourages authorities to make aggregated results of appraisals of grant-aided flood defence works available to interested parties on request. Such works can include not only new construction and improvements, but also major repairs. Guidance on the form in which the information should be presented was set out in a Ministry paper on investment appraisal issued to drainage authorities in 1985, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House at the time. The Ministry plans to publish revised and updated project appraisal guidelines next month. Separately, consideration is being given to whether guidance on the provision of results of appraisals to interested parties should be revised.
There is no separate Ministry guidance on the economic appraisal by authorities of their own maintenance work.
Sheep Scab
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the number of sheep affected by sheep scab, by county and divided into less
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favoured areas and non less favoured areas in each month from October 1991 to the last month for which figures are available ; (2) if he will list the number of outbreaks of sheep scab, by county, by flock and divided into less favoured areas and non less favoured areas in each month from October 1991 to the last month for which figures are available.Column 94
Mr. Soames : The table below lists the number of recorded outbreaks on a flock basis by county for the months October 1991 to May 1992, which is the last month for which figures are available. The remaining information is either unavailable or could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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|October |November|December|January |February|March |April |May
|(1991) |(1992)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
England:
Avon |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1
Buckinghamshire |1 |1 |- |- |1 |- |- |-
Cheshire |- |- |- |1 |- |- |1 |-
Cornwall |1 |- |1 |1 |2 |- |1 |2
Cumbria |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |-
Derbyshire |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |-
Devon |1 |- |1 |2 |3 |1 |2 |5
Dorset |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |1
Hereford and Worcester |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |-
Lancashire |4 |6 |- |1 |2 |3 |1 |-
Leicestershire |1 |- |2 |- |4 |- |- |-
Lincolnshire |- |- |- |- |2 |- |- |1
Manchester MC |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |-
North Yorkshire |- |- |- |1 |3 |- |1 |-
Northumberland |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1
Nottinghamshire |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1
Shropshire |- |- |- |- |1 |- |1 |1
Somerset |- |- |- |- |1 |1 |1 |2
Staffordshire |- |- |1 |1 |1 |- |1 |-
Suffolk |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |-
Warwickshire |- |- |- |1 |1 |- |- |-
West Yorkshire MC |1 |1 |- |- |- |- |- |-
Wiltshire |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |1
Wales:
Clwyd |- |- |- |1 |- |- |1 |-
Dyfed |- |- |1 |2 |2 |2 |- |-
Gwynedd |- |- |1 |3 |- |1 |- |-
Powys |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |-
Scotland:
Borders |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |-
Central |- |- |- |5 |- |- |- |-
Dumfries and Galoway |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |-
Grampian |- |- |- |3 |2 |- |- |-
Lothian |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |1
Strathclyde |- |- |- |2 |1 |- |- |-
Tayside |- |- |2 |1 |- |- |- |-
|-- |-- |-- |-- |-- |-- |-- |--
Total |9 |9 |12 |27 |29 |8 |12 |17
Bovine Tuberculosis
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if all vehicles used by teams trapping badgers under the bovine tuberculosis control policy carry his Ministry's markings ; and whether personnel involved carry identification identifying themselves and giving them authority for their work at all times.
Mr. Soames : Ministry vehicles used in bovine TB control operations do not carry Ministry markings. All Ministry personnel are issued with identification cards bearing their photograph and written authority to carry out their official duties.
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the culling of badgers under the bovine tuberculosis control policy has been contracted out.
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Training Board (Wales)
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received regarding the future of the Agricultural Training Board in Wales ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : In response to the consultation document on the future status and operation of the Agricultural Training Board issued on 25 September 1992, representations were received from 80 organisations and individuals in Wales. Ministers expect to be in a position to make a statement on the future of the board later this month.
Fishing Vessels
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many fishing vessels were recorded in International Council for the Exploration of the Seas areas (a) vii(a), (b) vii(f) and (c) vii(g) in each month during each year since 1986.
Column 95
Mr. Curry [holding answer 11 February 1993] : The information requested is set out for numbers of individual vessels recorded during routine fishery surveillance within British fishery limits in the ICES areas stated. Surveillance is not continuous, so the figures do not represent total numbers of boats fishing the areas in question. Over the period, surveillance effort in ICES area VII has increased. This, together with an improvement in the quality of surveillance data, contributes to the increased numbers of vessels reported in more recent years.
1986
|Vlla|Vllf|Vllg
------------------------------
January |60 |53 |54
February |121 |78 |22
March |175 |71 |65
April |180 |109 |61
May |250 |95 |90
June |263 |81 |100
July |306 |104 |94
August |154 |89 |52
September |212 |107 |103
October |116 |58 |78
November |123 |57 |58
December |45 |38 |48
1987
|Vlla|Vllf|Vllg
------------------------------
January |48 |16 |1
February |234 |35 |34
March |215 |93 |54
April |270 |127 |66
May |318 |104 |90
June |311 |85 |40
July |327 |116 |121
August |198 |79 |121
September |269 |78 |117
October |205 |89 |130
November |152 |46 |87
December |173 |54 |72
1988
|Vlla|Vllf|Vllg
------------------------------
January |173 |61 |66
February |186 |125 |102
March |282 |176 |114
April |456 |189 |104
May |423 |144 |126
June |342 |95 |172
July |234 |78 |83
August |264 |153 |151
September |242 |121 |126
October |165 |93 |131
November |247 |95 |137
December |159 |61 |61
1989
|VIIa|VIIf|VIIg
------------------------------
January |164 |107 |107
February |188 |93 |87
March |134 |192 |120
April |416 |139 |164
May |268 |173 |238
June |275 |99 |159
July |220 |154 |181
August |243 |150 |144
September |270 |84 |88
October |212 |82 |126
November |242 |71 |107
December |113 |23 |90
1990
|VIIa|VIIf|VIIg
------------------------------
January |100 |89 |75
February |34 |101 |77
March |264 |291 |206
April |220 |130 |207
May |326 |196 |209
June |173 |138 |196
July |287 |119 |184
August |268 |109 |214
September |337 |123 |202
October |172 |100 |147
November |141 |116 |150
December |42 |77 |142
1991
|VIIa|VIIf|VIIg
------------------------------
January |138 |122 |78
February |181 |177 |94
March |268 |166 |63
April |279 |133 |140
May |448 |94 |187
June |131 |99 |128
July |104 |127 |136
August |341 |101 |179
September |181 |87 |170
October |113 |65 |96
November |233 |49 |107
December |257 |91 |142
SOCIAL SECURITY
Disability Living Allowance
9. Mr. Lewis : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the administration of claims for disability living allowance.
Mr. Scott : Introducing disability living allowance at a stroke was always going to be a difficult task. But since April 1992, the Benefits Agency has received over 1.25 million claims to disability living allowance and attendance allowance. Almost 1.2 million of these have been cleared and over 800,000 awards of benefit have been made.
17. Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to introduce any initiatives to speed the delivery of the disability living allowance to recipients.
Mr. Scott : The Benefits Agency, which is responsible for the administration of disability living allowance, is reviewing the procedures for processing claims, setting up additional processing centres and increasing the training of staff.
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to complete the review of the disability living allowance care component for Mr. Trevor Fowler, applied for on 22 October 1992.
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Mr. Scott : The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Bob Cryer, dated 12 February 1993.
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security, about Mr. Trevor Fowler's application for review of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) care component made on 22 October 1992.
I am pleased to tell you that the outstanding action was completed on Mr. Fowler's case on 10 February 1993 and the Disability Living Allowance Unit (DLAU) have already written to you separately and in greater detail about this.
The delay has resulted from the heavy volumes of work following the successful launch of the new benefit. Latterly delays were due to the backlog of reviews which had been building up. You will be aware from my letter of 19 October 1992 to all MPs of the problems the Benefits Agency has faced since the launch of DLA and the positive steps I have taken to improve the situation. Further steps taken to recruit additional, and redeploy existing, staff to clear the backlog of reviews.
I am sorry for the delay in dealing with Mr. Fowler's case. Mr. Fowler has clearly not received the standard of service to which he is entitled from the Agency. Such matters are not taken lightly when they fail to come up to the standard of service the Benefits Agency is trying to give all its customers and I offer my sincere apologies to Mr. Fowler for any distress and inconvenience caused by the delays.
I hope that you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report. A copy will also be placed in the Library.
European Court of Justice
13. Dr. Spink : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recent cases in the European Court of Justice have been won by his Department.
Mr. Burt : I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) on 23 November 1992, at column 532.
Independent Living Fund
14. Mr. Mandelson : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost of extending the replacement fund for the independent living fund to cover people over retirement age.
Mr. Scott : I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) on 11 December 1992, at column 153.
Mortgage Interest
15. Dr. Lynne Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consideration he has given to a scheme to enable unemployed households in receipt of income support covering mortgage interest payments to take up job opportunities that may be available to them.
Mr. Burt : We have considered carefully the proposals which have been made to pay mortgage interest for those in work. We have no plans for such a scheme.
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Homelessness
16. Mr. Hanson : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what studies his Department has made of the impact of the present benefit arrangements for 16 and 17-year-olds on homelessness among that age group.
Mr. Burt : The benefit arrangements for 16 and 17-year-olds are, like those of other recipients, kept under review. The Department of Employment guarantees a youth training place to all 16 and 17-year-olds who want one. Income support is not generally payable as youth training allowances are usually more generous. Income support is available to others who are vulnerable, either because they fulfil particular criteria, or by way of the severe hardship provision.
Pension Age
18. Mr. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress has been made on equalising the pension age, and introducing flexible retirement for men and women.
Miss Widdecombe : The Government are committed to the equalisation of state pension age. No decisions have been taken as to what option should be adopted but we shall be announcing our proposals for equalisation in due course following full consideration of the views both the public and interested organisations have expressed.
Housing Benefit (Lodgers)
19. Mr. Tredinnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to change housing benefit entitlement to include lodgers who are close relatives.
Mr. Burt : Housing benefit is payable only in respect of a commercial rent liability. Most people living with close relatives do not have a rent liability, but instead make contributions to the household's costs. It has never been the Government's intention that housing benefit should be payable for such contributions.
Pensions
20. Mr. Legg : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's policies to encourage personal pensions.
Miss Widdecombe : The success of the Government's policy in encouraging personal pensions is amply demonstrated by the fact that 5 million people are currently personal pension holders.
22. Mr. Mans : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures his Department is planning to encourage personal choice in pensions.
Miss Widdecombe : The Government are committed to encouraging choice and flexibility in pension provision. We have introduced measures to ensure that individuals are able to obtain the information they need to make informed choices, and we are considering whether more can be done in this area. It is clear that individuals wish to take advantage of the choices available to make provision for their own retirement--5 million people have used
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personal pensions to contract out of the state earnings-related pension scheme since we introduced the option in 1988.Care Allowances
21. Mr. Spring : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women are in receipt of mobility care allowance ; and what was the comparable figure in 1978-79.
Mr. Scott : The information requested is not available.
23. Mr. Pike : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of people in receipt of the carer premium as a percentage of those who are eligible.
Mr. Burt : I refer the hon. Member to the information given in my reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Burden) on 25 January 1993, at columns 585-86 .
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how much his Department spends on invalid care allowance and the carer premium ; and what percentage of the total social security budget this figure makes up.
Mr. Scott : Pursuant to my reply of 25 January at column 583, the percentage of the total social security budget spent on invalid care allowance and the carer premium in 1991-92 was 0.4 per cent.
Means Testing and Private Pensions
24. Mr. Rowe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about proposals to means test universal benefits and about his policies towards private pensions provision ; and if he will make a statement.
Miss Widdecombe : From time to time we receive representations relating to various aspects of the Government's benefits and pensions policies. These cover a wide range of topics and include suggestions for changes in the current schemes.
Pensioners
25. Mr. Riddick : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about the percentage of pensioners retiring (a) in 1979 and (b) in the latest year for which figures are available, who had incomes from savings ; and what was the real average level of savings on each of those two dates.
Miss Widdecombe : My ministerial colleagues and I receive representations from many people about pensioner issues. I am able to inform them that 68 per cent. of pensioners who had recently retired in 1979 had income from savings, rising to 78 per cent. by 1988. The average
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income from savings of all recently retired pensioners, at 1988 prices, was £12 per week in 1979 and £26.30 in 1988. Reliable information on the level of savings is not available in the form requested.Source : Family Expenditure Survey.
Pensions (Married Women)
26. Mr. Brandreth : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which EC countries provide a separate pension to married women who have never made their own contributions towards a pension.
Miss Widdecombe : The United Kingdom is the only country in the Community to pay a separate pension to a pensioner's wife in her own right on the strength of her husband's contributions. However, Denmark and the Netherlands also pay a pension to a wife on the basis of residence.
Disability
Mr. Luff : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures his Department has taken to maintain support for disabled people.
Mr. Scott : Since 1979 we have introduced a wide range of improvements, aimed at providing a wide ranging and coherent system of disability benefits. These improvements culminated in the introduction of disability living allowance and disability working allowance in April last year.
By the end of 1992-93, we expect expenditure on benefit for long-term sick and disabled people to have risen by more than 170 per cent. in real terms to £13.7 billion.
Income Support
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently estimated to be receiving income support ; what is the total cost to the Exchequer ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Burt : It is estimated that for 1992-93 there are 5.3 million claims for income support at a total benefit cost of £14.5 billion. This level of expenditure demonstrates our commitment to protect those on a low income.
Source : Social Security--Departmental Report--The Government's Expenditure Plans 1993-94 to 1995-96 (Cm 2213).
Housing Benefit, Lambeth
Mr. Fraser : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much refund of housing benefit was paid to Lambeth council in each of the 12 months of 1992.
Mr. Burt : Monthly payments on account of housing benefit subsidy made to Lambeth council in 1992 are shown in the table.
Column 99
Month (1992) |Rent Allowances<1>|Rent Rebates |Rent Rebates |Total
|(Non-HRA)<1> |(HRA)<2>
|£ |£ |£ |£
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January |1,450,750 |268,599 |3,688,722 |5,408,071
February |2,006,221 |268,599 |3,688,723 |5,963,543
March |2,006,221 |268,599 |no payment |2,274,820
April |2,516,687 |330,750 |no payment |2,847,437
May |2,516,687 |330,750 |4,277,595 |7,125,032
June |2,516,687 |-786,190<3> |4,277,595 |6,008,092
July |2,516,687 |-1,177,119<3> |4,277,595 |5,617,163
August |2,516,687 |163,209 |4,277,595 |6,957,491
September |2,516,687 |330,750 |4,277,595 |7,125,032
October |2,516,687 |210,714 |4,730,835 |7,458,236
November |2,516,687 |313,602 |3,311,740 |6,142,029
December |2,516,687 |313,602 |4,353,135 |7,183,424
|------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |28,113,375 |835,865 |41,161,130 |70,110,370
Notes:
<1> paid by the Department of Social Security
<2> paid by the Department of the Environment
<3> negative amounts, due to recovery from 1991-92
In addition, the Department paid £110,361 to Lambeth council in 1992 in respect of the direct administration subsidy for housing benefit. The monthly profile of this subsidy was as follows :
|£
--------------------------
January |36,787
February |36,787
March |36,787
April |79,179
May |79,179
June |79,179
July |79,179
August |79,179
September |79,179
October |79,179
November |79,179
December |79,179
|----
Total |110,361
The above table shows
administration subsidy
payments on account made
by DSS. Administration
subsidy for housing
benefit is paid in two
parts: 50 per cent.
direct grant from DSS and
50 per cent. through the
revenue support grant.
Mobility Allowance
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to respond to the application by Mr. Stanley Vauvert for mobility allowance, sent on 13 July 1992.
Mr. Scott : The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Bob Cryer, dated 12 February 1993.
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security, about Mr. Stanley Vauvert's application for review made on 13 July 1992 of the decision to disallow his Mobility Allowance claim.
I am pleased to tell you that a decision was made on Mr. Vauvert's application on the 10 February 1993 and the Disability Living Allowance Unit have already replied to you separately and in greater detail about this.
I am concerned about the delay in the handling of Mr. Vauvert's review application. You will be aware from my letter of 19 October 1992 to all MPs of the problems the Benefits Agency (BA) has faced since the launch of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and the positive steps I have taken to improve the situation. Since then further steps have been
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