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Community Care Changes in April 1993 (tapes also available in ethnic minority languages)Home Office
Practical Ways to Crack Crime
Prisoners Information Pack
Fire Safety in the Home
Social Security
Disability Living Allowance (tapes also available in ethnic minority languages)
Disability Working Allowance (tapes also available in ethnic minority languages)
People with Learning Difficulties
Care in the Community (tapes also available in ethnic minority languages)
Transport
Door to Door Transport--A Guide to Transport for People with Disabilities
How To Use A Puffin
Large print--
Health
Keep Warm, Keep Well (also available in audio cassette version) Community Care Changes in April 1993
Home Office
Fire Safety Advice
Fire Safety Advice for Disabled People
Social Security
The Guide to New Benefits for the Disabled
Care in the Community
Moreover the citizens charter, which calls on public services to make sure information about services is easily accessible to all their users, is putting fresh emphasis on the need for effective communication with those who have special needs, including people who are visually impaired.
Libya
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from Arab sources about the effect of sanctions on transport in Libya, with particular reference to the delay in the provision of non- banned medicines causing them to be ineffective.
The Prime Minister : So far as I am aware, I have receiial engagements for Tuesday 27 April.
The Prime Minister : This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Abattoirs
Mr. Gordon Prentice : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates have been made as to the number of abattoirs in the United Kingdom which will be unable to meet the standards set out in the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1992.
Mr. Soames : Nine abattoirs have been refused licences under the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection)
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Regulations 1992 because of serious hygiene deficiencies. Approximately 30 abattoirs have yet to agree a work plan to upgrade their premises to comply with the Regulations and have been given a time-limited licence to enable outstanding problems to be resolved. No further licences will be issued to these premises unless a work plan to remedy structure-related hygiene problems is agreed. Premises which are refused a licence may appeal to the meat hygiene appeals tribunal.Biofuels
Mr. Whittingdale : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures his Department is taking to promote the production and use of biofuels.
Mr. Curry : The Department is sponsoring research on a number of topics relevant to biofuels and other non-food uses of crops, and is working closely with other departments, in particular the Department of Trade and Industry's energy technology support unit. We are also pressing for perennial crops such as short rotation coppice and miscanthus to be eligible under the non-rotational option for set-aside.
Bovine Somatotropin
Dr. Wright : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration he has given to the 1990 report of the Veterinary Products Committee in deciding that BST should be licensed.
Mr. Soames : In 1990 the Veterinary Products Committee advised Ministers that, having assessed data on two BST products, it was satisfied that they were efficacious and that their use would not pose any health hazard to consumers of milk from treated animals. On the basis of the data before it, however, the committee was not completely satisfied with some aspects of the safety and welfare of treated animals if used commercially, and could not recommend that a licence be granted. In such circumstances, under the Medicines Act 1968, applicants have a right of appeal to the Medicines Commission before their application is determined. Additional scientific evidence can be generated and presented at such hearings. Both companies exercised that right and in January 1993, on the basis of the evidence then presented, the Medicines Commission advised that the Medicines Act criteria of safety, quality and efficacy were met. This advice was reflected by the United Kingdom delegation during the subsequent final scientific evaluations of the two BST products by the EC Committee on Veterinary Medicinal Products. However, no product licences under the Medicines Act may be issued so long as the licensing moratorium agreed by the European Community's Council of Ministers remains in force.
Broiler Chickens
Dr. Wright : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to make changes to slaughterhouse practices and legislation in relation to the treatment of broiler chickens.
Mr. Soames : The Department initiated discussion on an EC proposal on the welfare of animals at slaughter, including poultry, during the United Kingdom presidency. Discussions are continuing and we will be seeking high
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welfare standards to be implemented and enforced throughout the Community. Proposals to implement Council Directive 92/116/EEC on poultry meat hygiene are currently being prepared, in discussion with industry and enforcement interests, and will be issued for public consultation in due course.Integrated Administration and Control Scheme
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements have been made to pay any interest accrued where it is established through the integrated administration and control scheme that the applicant has been underpaid, erroneously, under any of the various CAP regimes established by the 1992 CAP reforms.
Mr. Curry : Cases involving erroneous underpayments would be dealt with on their merits, within the rules of Government accounting.
Foot and Mouth Disease
Dr. Strang : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the cost to date of the measures taken to prevent an outbreak of foot and mouth disease since the presence of vaccinated stock in the United Kingdom first came to his attention.
Mr. Gummer : The measures taken include the tracing and testing of some 850 cattle in some 27 consignments imported into Great Britain since last August and which are now located throughout the country. Information on the cost of such measures, which are still continuing, is only available at disproportionate cost.
Dr. Strang : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the most recent figure for the number of cattle presently in the United Kingdom which are known to have been vaccinated against foot and mouth disease ; from which country they originated ; if the precise location of each vaccinated animal is known to the authorities ; and what plans he has for removing vaccinated livestock from the United Kingdom.
Mr. Gummer : So far, a total of 238 imported cattle have been tested positive for the presence of antibodies to foot and mouth disease (FMD). In the absence of clinical disease, the positive test results indicate that the animals in question may have previously been vaccinated against FMD. Most of the seropositive animals originated in the Czech Republic and a small number in Poland. All seropositive animals are currently under restriction on their holdings while the tracing and testing of remaining animals is completed. In view of the long-standing policy not to permit the presence in the United Kingdom of animals which have been vaccinated against FMD, and the fact that the animals were imported in contravention of Community import rules, the seropositive animals will have to be either returned to their countries of origin or slaughtered. My veterinary officials have been in touch with their counterparts in the Czech Republic and Poland to discuss possible arrangements for the re-export of the animals in question.
Dr. Strang : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to compensate United Kingdom livestock farmers who came to be in possession of stock vaccinated against foot and mouth disease.
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Mr. Gummer : The resolution of the problem is a commercial matter between the exporters, the importers and the current owners. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is under no obligation to pay any form of compensation.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Benefits (Capital Limits)
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the full year cost of abolishing all the capital limits for all social security benefits.
Mr. Burt : Using data from the 1988, 1989 and 1990 Family Expenditure Surveys modelled at 1993-94 prices and benefit levels, we estimate that the cost would be approximately £1,590 million.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people would receive increased benefit payments if all the capital limits for social security benefits were abolished.
Mr. Burt : Using data from the 1988, 1989 and 1990 Family Expenditure Surveys modelled at 1993-94 prices and benefit levels, we estimate that the number of people who would receive increased payments (including those who currently receive no payment) would be as shown in the table.
Benefit |Gainers ---------------------------------------- Income support |800,000 Housing benefit |400,000 Council tax benefit |1,360,000 Family credit |50,000
Training Schemes
Ms Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances participants in training for work, learning for work and the community action programme who receive income support as part of their participation allowance will be eligible for the £10 a week voluntary payments disregard ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Burt : Participants in training for work and community action will receive an allowance equivalent to their benefit entitlement, plus £10 a week training premium. Participants in learning for work will receive an allowance equivalent to their benefit (without the £10 premium).
Participants on any of these schemes will be eligible for the £10 a week voluntary payments disregard, subject to the usual conditions.
Ms Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much end-of-training bonus training for work, learning for work and community action participants will be able to receive without its affecting their entitlement to income support ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Burt : Any payment not exceeding £200 received as a training bonus will be disregarded.
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Part-time Study
Ms Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the application of the 21-hour rule to unemployed income support claimants who wish to study courses of higher education, including undergraduate and post-graduate degree courses and higher national diploma courses ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Burt : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to her on 15 April at column 704.
Social Fund
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action his Department has undertaken following the research it has commissioned on the social fund ; and when a new system of entitlements to grants will be developed.
Mr. Scott : We are currently carefully considering the operation of the social fund, including grants provision, in response to the research commissioned from York university's social policy research unit, along with a number of other reports and our own close monitoring of the fund.
Disability Benefits
Ms Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will take steps to ensure that people in receipt of disability benefits who take up a place in the work activity element of training for work, or in the community action programme, will not have their subsequent eligibility for disability benefit challenged because of their participation in the programme ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : Participation in a training for work or community action programme will not in itself automatically debar a person from disability benefits. A trainee in receipt of disability living allowance or attendance allowance may have their entitlement reviewed after six months to establish whether their needs have changed.
Deafness Claims
Mr. Byers : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on the occupational deafness disability benefit scheme contained in Cm. 817 and Cm. 1245 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council's recommendations have been carefully considered. A number of administrative changes have been introduced, and new arrangements for audiometric tests are currently being evaluated. A decision on extending the scheme will be taken once we have the results of this study.
Mr. Byers : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to prevent delays in diagnosing and assessment of deafness claims by war pensioners in the Newcastle area.
Miss Widdecombe : Following a competitive tendering exercise a national contract for the provision of audiological testing will be awarded in May. This will provide a more efficient and speedier service, throughout the country.
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Retirement Pensions
Mr. Churchill : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many retirement pensioners qualify for the additional payments available to those aged 80 years and over ; and what percentage this represents of the overall total of retirement pensioners.
Miss Widdecombe : At September 1992 (the latest date in respect of which figures are available) 2,241,040, or 21.8 per cent. of, retirement pensioners were aged 80 or over and therefore qualified for an age addition of £0.25 to their pension.
Note : The term "retirement pensioner" includes those receiving non- contributory retirement pension and/or graduated retirement benefit only and pensioners residing overseas.
Retirement Age
Mr. Tipping : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to announce proposals which equalise the retirement age of men and women ; and if he will make a statement.
Miss Widdecombe : The Government are committed to the equalisation of state pension age. No decisions have yet been made on what option should be adopted.
We will announce our proposals for equalisation when we have fully considered the views expressed by both the public and interested organisations and its implications for related developments in the private pensions sector.
Disabled (Car Insurance)
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations the Minister for Disabled People has had from Artsline in regard to car insurance for vehicles driven by disabled people ; what reply he is sending ; what action he has taken ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : We have received a copy of a letter from Mr. Roger Robinson, director of Artsline, to the chief executive of the Association of British insurers about the costs of car insurance for disabled drivers. The issue of insurance policies and their terms are for the commercial judgment of insurance companies. In 1989, the Association of British Insurers produced a dossier of advice for disabled drivers and undertook to investigate individual cases of difficulty. We understand that it will be sending a full reply to this case and we have asked for a copy of its response, in the light of which we shall write to Mr. Robinson.
Fostering
Ms Coffey : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will extend the home responsibility protection to foster carers who do not receive a financial reward from fostering ; and if he will give reasons for his answer.
Mr. Burt : Eligibility for HRP is dependent on entitlement to certain benefits, primarily child benefit. To avoid double provision from public funds for the cost of child care, child benefit is not paid to foster carers who receive an allowance from the local authority. Consequently HRP is not available in these cases.
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Personal Injury Compensation
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how much in state benefits was recovered from legal damages in employer liability personal injury cases under section 22 of the Social Security Act 1989 in each quarter of 1990, 1991 and 1992 ; (2) how much in state benefits was recovered from legal damages in personal injury cases under section 22 of the Social Security Act 1989 in each quarter of 1990, 1991 and 1992.
Miss Widdecombe : The operation of the compensation recovery unit is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Mr. M. Bichard to Mr. Donald Dewar, dated 26 April 1993 :
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility for answering questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking how much in state benefits was recovered from legal damages in (i) personal injury cases and (ii) employer liability personal injury cases under section 22 of the Social Security Act 1989 in each quarter of 1990, 1991 and 1992.
The Compensation Recovery Scheme became effective on personal injury claims settled on or after 3 September 1990. Details of all recoveries made since that date are shown at Annex A by quarter and details of all recoveries made in employer liability cases are shown similarly at Annex B.
I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.
ANNEX A Recoveries on all personal injury claims Quarter ended |Recoveries (£s) -------------------------------------------------- 31 December 1990 |1,108,818.90 31 March 1991 |2,619,996.10 30 June 1991 |4,119,276.67 30 September 1991 |5,559,042.77 31 December 1991 |6,604,468.94 31 March 1992 |9,034,568.47 30 June 1992 |10,203,274.13 30 September 1992 |10,972,265.31 31 December 1992 |12,131,043.13
ANNEX B Recoveries in employer liability cases Quarter ended |Recoveries (£s) -------------------------------------------------- 31 December 1990 |504,600.09 31 March 1991 |1,206,281.02 30 June 1991 |2,099,802.83 30 September 1991 |2,630,944.11 31 December 1991 |3,441,977.44 31 March 1992 |5,020,164.86 30 June 1992 |5,742,871.01 30 September 1992 |5,913,562.40 31 December 1992 |6,833,390.53
Benefit Deductions
Mr. Bayley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of income support recipients are now having deductions made from benefits as a result of
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paying back social fund loans (a) nationally, (b) by territory, and (c) in each Department of Social Security -Benefits Agency district.Mr. Burt : The administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Mr. M. Bichard to Mr. Hugh Bayley, dated 26 April 1993 :
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking, what percentage of Income Support recipients are now having deductions made from benefits as a result of paying back Social Fund loans (a) nationally, (b) by territory, and (c) in each Department of Social Security-Benefits Agency district.
It is not possible to provide this information as it is not collected as a matter of routine ; also records relate to applications rather than applicants. I can, however, advise you that at 31 March 1993, some 680,000 loans nationally were being repaid from various sources. In the main, this was by deduction from Income Support.
I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this letter will appear in the Official Report and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Mrs. D. Milford
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the application for attendance allowance submitted by Mrs. D. Milford (NI JB 091986 C) in May 1992 will be considered ; and what reasons underlie the time taken in notifying Mrs. Milford.
Mr. Scott : The administration of attendance 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 Mr. M. Bichard to Mr. Anthony Steen, dated 26 April 1993 :
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking when the application for attendance allowance submitted by Mrs. D. Milford in May 1992 will be considered and the reasons for the delay in notifying Mrs. Milford.
Mrs. Milford has been in receipt of the lower rate of Attendance Allowance (AA) since 5 June 1989 and wrote to the Attendance Allowance Unit on 29 May 1992 requesting that she receive the higher rate of AA. Mrs. Milford's claim for the increased rate of AA has now been considered by the Adjudication Officer and she was notified of the result of the claim on 22 April 1993.
Whilst the delay in arriving at the decision on this claim has taken longer than is usual for these types of cases, an examination of the papers show that the main reason for this was the difficulty encountered in trying to obtain the dates of Mrs. Milford's hospitalisation. It was imperative not only that these dates were obtained, but also verified, as they did have a material effect on the award and payment of the allowance.
I thank you for the opportunity to explain this case. I hope that you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.
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EMPLOYMENT
Learning for Work
16. Mr. Rowe : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many places have been provided on the learning for work scheme announced in the Budget.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : Provision for 30,000 people to take part in learning for work will be available during the 1993-94 academic year starting in September in England and Wales and in August in Scotland.
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