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Oil Exploration
Mr. Butterfill : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of exploration and appraisal relief claimed by oil companies for each of the last five years ; and what percentage of total exploration and appraisal expenditure this represents for each of the last five years.
Mr. Dorrell : The amounts of exploration and appraisal relief claimed against profits for petroleum revenue tax since 1988 have been as follows :
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Year |Amount, £ million |As a percentage of
|exploration and
|appraisal
|expenditure in the
|year<1>
|Per cent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988 |790 |70
1989 |900 |76
1990 |1,290 |79
1991 |1,200 |62
1992<2><3> |(540) |(74)
<1>Oil companies commonly do not claim expenditure incurred until a tax
liability is imminent. Figures cover the United Kingdom and its territorial
waters and continental shelf.
<2>Figures for the second half of 1992 are not available yet.
<3>January to June.
VAT
Ms. Harman : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue the Exchequer has received in penalties arising from misdeclaration of value added tax (a) in real terms and (b) as a percentage of the total tax take for value added tax in each year since 1987-88 ; and what is his estimate of such receipts for the years 1993-94 and 1994-95.
Sir John Cope [holding answer 29 April 1993] : The following figures are based on serious misdeclaration penalties assessed by Customs and Excise and start in 1990-91 when the serious misdeclaration penalty was introduced. The figures for 1992-93 are provisional ; figures for 1990-91 include default interest.
|£ million |Per cent. of net VAT
|receipts
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990-91 |45 |0.14
1991-92 |28 |0.08
1992-93 |15 |0.04
No figures are available on penalties for 1993-94 and 1994-95.
Purchasing Initiative
Mr. Burns : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in implementing the Government's purchasing initiative since 1990 -91.
Mr. Portillo : A report by the central unit on purchasing (CUP) on progress in Government procurement during 1991-92 is published today. A copy is being placed in the Library. CUP offers advice and guidance to Departments
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on best purchasing practice and the achievement of best value for money in purchasing and supply and management of works projects. The report notes that significant progress was made in 1991-92 but the initiatives need to be maintained if they are to become standard practice. CUP will continue to encourage and advise departments so that change is maintained and properly monitored.SOCIAL SECURITY
Benefits Agency
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions have taken place between the Benefits Agency and local authorities over the past year with regard to the preparation of a national service level agreement ; and what effects contacts have had in speeding up the payment of housing benefits.
Mr. Burt : Following consultations involving this Department, the Benefits Agency and the local authority associations, a national model liaison service level agreement was signed on 12 November 1992. The national model is now being used by Benefit Agency district managers and local authorities as the framework for formulating local agreements throughout the country. A copy of the relevant circular to local authorities is in the Library.
It is too early to say what effect agreements are having on speeding up the payment of housing benefit. Many local agreements were only finalised in March this year. I understand that negotiations are continuing in a few cases. A joint exercise involving the Benefits Agency and the local authority associations to assess the effectiveness of the agreements is planned for late 1993.
Benefit Deductions
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many deductions were made from income support payments in Wales to cover repayment of social fund loans, poll tax arrears and fuel debts in (a) 1990, (b) 1991 and (c) 1992.
Mr. Burt : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 30 November 1992 at column 72. Figures for the numbers of beneficiaries with deductions in May 1992 will be published shortly in the "Social Security Income Support Statistics Annual Statistical Inquiry, May 1992", a copy of which will be placed in the Library.
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Mr. Jon Owen Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security why ME is not listed in the disability living allowance handbook under the chapter heading certain neurological illnesses.
Mr. Scott : Although the Department recognises ME as a distinct clinical entity, it is also aware that the disabling effects of ME and chronic fatigue syndromes may be very similar. Entitlement to benefit is based on how a person's disability affects their daily life, in respect of care and mobility needs rather than the diagnosis, illness or disease giving rise to such needs.
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However the classification of benign myalgicencephalomyelitis--post-viral fatigue syndrome--under "Diseases of Nervous System" in the international classification of diseases will be taken into account in subsequent revisions of the disability handbook.
Housing Benefit
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total number of recipients of housing benefit for each English local authority in (a) 1990-91, (b) 1991-92, (c) 1992-93 ; and what is the number in (i) local authority, (ii) housing association and (iii) private rented accommodation.
Mr. Burt [holding answer 14 April 1993] : The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Mobility Allowance
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the average processing time for mobility allowance claims in each region ;
(2) what was the backlog for mobility allowance claims in each region as at 31 March 1993 and 31 October 1992.
Mr. Scott : The administration of mobility 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. Jim Cousins, dated 29 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 the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking (i) what is the average processing time for mobility allowance claims in each region as at 31 March 1993 and 31 October 1992.
Firstly, I should explain that on 6 April 1992 Disability Living Allowance (DLA) consisting of a mobility component and care component, replaced and extended Attendance Allowance for the under 65s and Mobility Allowance (MobA).
Prior to 6 April 1992 Mobility Allowance claims were processed centrally at the North Fylde Central Office. The average clearance time for MobA claims in March 1992 was 28.8 days. Performance on DLA is measured in terms of x of cases cleared in y days and it is therefore not possible to state an average Processing time for claims on the new benefit. However, the majority of DLA new claims have been cleared within the primary target of 60 in 30 days. The new claims performance for March 1993 was 71 of cases cleared within 30 days. The information on the number of MobA claims that remain uncleared for each region at 31 October 1992 and 31 March 1993 is not available for the reasons stated above. However, in the region of 1900 claims made to MobA are being rechecked to confirm that all necessary action has been taken. These will be acted upon as soon as possible and any which require payment will be considered for compensation under the appropriate scheme.
I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Offical Report. A copy will also be placed in the Library.
Disability Living Allowance
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many requests for reviews of disability living allowance have been received in each region to date ; how many have been cleared ; and how many are outstanding ;
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(2) what was the average clearance time for claims and for review requests, at each of the regional disability benefit centres ; and if he will list the various outcomes of disability living allowance reviews ;(3) how many claims for disability living allowance have been made at each regional disability benefit centre to date ; how many of these have resulted in an award, a refusal, or have still to be adjudicated on ; and if he will break down the figures for awards according to the component and rate awarded.
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. Nigel Griffiths, dated 29 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 the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking (i) how many requests for reviews of Disability Living Allowance have been received in each region to date; how many have been cleared and how many are outstanding. (ii) What was the average clearance time for claims and review requests at each of the Regional Disability Benefit Centres and if he will list the various outcomes of Disability Living Allowance reviews and (iii) how many Disability Living allowance claims have been made at each of the Regional Disability Living Allowance centres, how many of these resulted in an award, refusal or to be adjudicated on ; and if he will break down the figures for awards according to the component and rate awarded. Claims
New Disability Living Allowance claims are dealt with by the 11 Regional Disability Benefit Centres.
The number of new claims (including special rules) received, awarded, refused and on hand to month end March 1993, per Regional Disability Benefit Centre are shown in Table 1.
Total number of decisions does not equal the total number of clearances due to the fact that decisons does not take account of claims withdrawn or defective.
The outstanding figure includes claims that have been to an adjudication officer who has asked for further evidence before a decision can be made and also includes claims where the adjudication officer has made a decision but the decision has not as yet been recorded on the DLA computer system.
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A breakdown of awards by rate is in Table 2.Reviews
Disability Living Allowance reviews are dealt with by the Disability Living Allowance Unit at Blackpool.
It is only possible to provide the number of review requests received picking up the Disability Benefit Centre where the 1st tier decision was taken at disproportionate cost. This information is available once a decision is given on the request for a review. Reviews can be made within three months of the decision on the claim on any grounds, these are shown at (a).
Reviews made outwith the three month period can only be accepted where there are particular grounds for review, these are shown at (b).
As at Month end March 1993 the total number of requests for review of a Disability Living Allowance 1st tier decisions, cleared and outstanding were as follows :
|Received |Cleared |Outstanding
------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Review within
three months |79,088 |40,404 |38,684
(b) Review outwith
three months |17,714 |6,275 |11,439
|------- |------- |-------
Total |96,802 |46,679 |50,123
List of various outcomes of DLA reviews, relating to 1st tier decision made at each of the DBCs are shown in Table 3.
Performance for month of March 1993
Performance on DLA is measured in terms of x per cent. of cases cleared in y days and it is therefore not possible to state an average processing time for claims and reviews on the new Benefit. The majority (71 per cent.) of New DLA claims were cleared in 30 days (against a Secretary of State target of 60 per cent. in 30 days).
The majority (85 per cent.) of Special Rules claims were cleared in 10 days.
29 per cent. of reviews (within 3 months) were cleared in 75 days. 51 per cent. of reviews (outwith 3 months) were cleared in 75 days.
Reviews are being actively targeted with additional resources being deployed and clearing rates are increasing.
I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this reply will appear in the Official Report . Copies are also being placed in the Library.
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Table 1
Claims received and processed by 31 March 1993
Claims Claims Claims All decisions
|received|cleared |on hand |Total |Awards |Refusals
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edinburgh |51,247 |49,494 |1,753 |48,975 |24,788 |24,187
Newcastle |30,371 |28,979 |1,392 |28,675 |12,866 |15,809
Leeds |60,322 |57,218 |3,104 |56,618 |31,541 |25,076
Manchester |42,390 |40,257 |2,133 |39,834 |17,331 |22,503
Bootle |44,654 |42,021 |2,633 |41,579 |24,133 |17,447
Birmingham |76,936 |70,852 |6,084 |70,108 |44,531 |25,577
Bristol |29,349 |28,111 |1,238 |27,815 |16,925 |10,890
Cardiff |41,159 |38,500 |2,659 |38,096 |21,610 |16,486
Wembley |59,924 |56,504 |3,420 |55,911 |35,434 |20,477
Sutton |52,872 |48,961 |3,911 |48,447 |29,221 |19,226
Glasgow |8,076 |5,099 |2,977 |5,045 |1,980 |3,065
Other management units |26,395 |25,037 |1,358 |24,733 |16,788 |7,985
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Great Britain |523,695 |491,033 |32,662 |485,876 |277,148 |208,728
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Table 2
Awards by rates of care and mobility by 31 March 1993
Care Mobility
|Higher rate|Medium rate|Lower rate |Higher rate|Lower rate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edinburgh |655 |1,208 |2,442 |6,776 |1,561 |3,116 |610 |1,762 |1,797 |2,673 |2,196 |24,788
Newcastle |274 |490 |1,328 |5,005 |508 |1,508 |203 |622 |639 |1,490 |788 |12,866
Leeds |856 |1,524 |3,205 |9,643 |1,530 |4,142 |760 |2,037 |1,586 |3,747 |2,499 |31,541
Manchester |652 |1,180 |2,440 |4,490 |868 |2,248 |436 |1,096 |980 |1,523 |1,415 |17,331
Bootle |441 |968 |2,190 |8,605 |679 |2,441 |572 |1,922 |1,133 |3,605 |1,569 |24,133
Birmingham |1,807 |2,277 |3,737 |12,770 |2,277 |6,111 |1,201 |3,090 |2,836 |4,905 |3,525 |44,531
Bristol |546 |1,397 |1,594 |3,309 |1,246 |2,762 |588 |1,354 |1,627 |1,199 |1,322 |16,925
Cardiff |500 |897 |1,558 |9,200 |971 |2,018 |406 |1,418 |887 |2,600 |1,138 |21,610
Wembley |1,469 |2,041 |3,653 |6,848 |2,471 |5,305 |1,323 |2,591 |2,801 |3,327 |3,621 |35,434
Sutton |1,668 |2,093 |2,729 |5,207 |3,006 |3,739 |1,214 |1,819 |2,776 |2,059 |2,932 |29,221
Glasgow |46 |99 |215 |737 |76 |103 |43 |182 |125 |247 |106 |1,980
Other management units 609801 1,150 5,807 1,079 2,318 508 1,053 1,000 1,567 888 16,788
Great Britain |9,523 |14,975 |26,241 |78,387 |16,272 |35,811 |7,864 |18,946 |18,187 |28,942 |21,999 |277,148
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Table 3
All reviews on new DLA awards by 31 March 1993
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Social Fund
in the most recent period for which data are available, an application for (a) community care grant and (b) social fund loan, met the criteria but was refused because of budgetary constraints ; (2) how many applications for help from the social fund for budgetary loans and crisis loans were refused on the grounds of inability to pay ; and what that was as a proportion of the total number of (a) loan applications and (b) loan refusals for each year since April 1988 for each of the Benefit Agency districts in Scotland.
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 with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Henry McLeish, dated 29 April 1993 :
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsiblity to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your two recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking (i) in how many cases in each Benefit Agency
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District in Scotland in the most recent period for which data is available, an application for (a) community care grant and (b) social fund loan, met the criteria but was refused because of budgetary constraints and (ii) how many applications for help from the Social Fund for budgetary loans and crisis loans were refused on the grounds of inability to pay ; and what that was as a proportion of the total number of (a) loan applications and (b) loan refusals for each year since April 1988 for each of the Benefit Agency Districts in Scotland.Numbers of applications refused on the grounds of insufficient priority by each of the Scottish Districts in the period 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993 are given in Annex A.
In your second question, you seek information for each year since April 1988 for each of the BA Districts in Scotland. This information, which is attached at Annex B, is only available in this form from April 1991 when the Benefits Agency was created and local offices grouped into Districts. For the previous financial year 1990-1991 the information is available on the basis of the then existing DSS local office network. I regret that this information is not available for the previous financial years.
I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this letter will appear in the Official Report. A copy will also be placed in the Library.
Annex A CGCs and Loans refused on grounds of insufficient priority by Scottish Districts, 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993. District |BLs |CCGs |CLs --------------------------------------------------------------- Clyde Coast and Cowal |1,729 |76 |7 Clyde Valley |2,141 |1,623 |80 Coatbridge |3,373 |321 |34 East Lowlands |2,368 |481 |33 Fife |2,558 |664 |19 Forth Valley |1,996 |501 |23 Glasgow City |1,909 |652 |38 Glasgow East |4,087 |1,775 |23 Glasgow Laurieston |2,819 |384 |98 Glasgow Southwest |1,591 |399 |217 Glasgow West |1,626 |701 |22 Grampian and Shetland |907 |313 |11 Highlands and Islands |913 |368 |31 Irvine and Kilmarnock |2,085 |180 |0 Lomond and Argyll |1,679 |294 |7 Lothian Central |1,425 |603 |73 Lothian West |1,609 |314 |194 Renfrew |1,871 |181 |79 South West Scotland |1,960 |287 |24 Springburn and Cumbernauld |2,502 |1,465 |100 Tayside |3,294 |950 |72 Key:- BLs=Budgeting Loans CCGs=Community Care Grants CLs=Crisis Loans
Annex B Key A=Number of applications refused on grounds of inability to pay B=A as a proportion of the total number of loan applications C=A as a proportion of the total number of loan refusals 1990-91 Budgeting Loans Local Office |A |B |C ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aberdeen North |87 |3.1 |8.9 Aberdeen South |38 |2.3 |6.7 Airdrie |313 |7.8 |26.7 Arbroath |18 |1.3 |3.2 Ayr |250 |3.9 |10.2 Bathgate |126 |2.5 |6.4 Bellshill |123 |3.8 |12.5 Campbelltown |23 |4.6 |11.1 Clydebank |119 |3.4 |9.6 Coatbridge |156 |5.2 |15.6 Cowdenbeath |35 |2.1 |5.5 Cumbernauld |82 |2.8 |9.9 Dumbarton |123 |3.1 |8.1 Dumfries |66 |3.3 |0.8 Dundee East |74 |1.7 |5.1 Dundee West |58 |1.5 |4.1 Dunfermline |67 |2.9 |7.0 East Kilbride |46 |2.8 |8.7 Edinburgh City |128 |3.9 |10.1 Edinburgh East |87 |2.1 |5.3 Edinburgh North |125 |3.7 |9.7 Edinburgh South |50 |1.6 |4.3 Edinburgh West |58 |1.8 |5.1 Elgin |21 |1.6 |4.0 Falkirk |180 |3.5 |8.3 Fort William |10 |2.2 |5.9 Galashiels |13 |1.1 |2.5 Glasgow Anniesland |144 |2.5 |7.4 Glasgow Bridgeton |189 |4.0 |8.2 Glasgow City |149 |3.4 |8.9 Glasgow Craigton |273 |5.3 |16.9 Glasgow Cranstonhill |23 |2.1 |2.9 Glasgow Laurieston |134 |2.7 |9.0 Glasgow Maryhill |97 |2.3 |8.7 Glasgow Partick |87 |3.4 |9.4 Glasgow Provan |337 |3.4 |9.3 Glasgow Rutherglen |269 |3.0 |8.3 Glasgow Shettleston |311 |4.9 |14.0 Glasgow Southside |271 |3.9 |10.7 Glasgow Springburn |289 |3.6 |9.3 Greenock |146 |2.6 |5.9 Hamilton |216 |2.4 |8.2 Inverness |13 |0.6 |1.5 Irvine |110 |2.0 |6.0
Local office |A |B |C ----------------------------------------------------------------- Kilmarnock |135 |3.7 |9.8 Kirkaldy |92 |2.8 |7.4 Lerwick |0 |0.0 |0.0 Leven |31 |1.6 |3.3 Motherwell |95 |2.1 |6.2 Oban |7 |2.3 |6.1 Paisley |133 |2.2 |4.9 Perth |26 |1.5 |3.4 Peterhead |16 |1.6 |3.7 Port Glasgow |176 |6.4 |15.6 Stirling |29 |0.8 |1.9 Stornoway |10 |2.5 |7.7 Stranraer |10 |0.9 |1.9 Wick |5 |0.7 |1.5
1990-91 Crisis loans Local office |A |B |C ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aberdeen North |5 |0.3 |14.7 Aberdeen South |4 |0.2 |11.1 Airdrie |6 |0.2 |2.4 Arbroath |39 |3.7 |7.4 Ayr |4 |0.1 |1.5 Bathgate |59 |1.8 |18.3 Bellshill |21 |2.2 |20.0 Campbelltown |0 |0.0 |0.0 Clydebank |1 |0.1 |16.7 Coatbridge |28 |2.3 |27.2 Cowdenbeath |2 |0.2 |4.7 Cumbernauld |10 |0.5 |23.8 Dumbarton |2 |0.1 |2.0 Dumfries |8 |1.3 |8.9 Dundee East |5 |0.7 |5.7 Dundee West |2 |0.1 |3.4 Dunfermline |1 |0.1 |1.7 East Kilbride |3 |0.5 |11.5 Edinburgh City |5 |0.2 |13.2 Edinburgh East |6 |0.4 |4.3 Edinburgh North |46 |2.3 |16.0 Edinburgh South |3 |0.2 |3.5 Edinburgh West |5 |0.3 |5.8 Elgin |2 |0.1 |9.5 Falkirk |95 |4.6 |55.2 Fort William |1 |0.5 |2.0 Galashiels |0 |0.0 |0.0 Glasgow Anniesland |33 |1.6 |11.7 Glasgow Bridgeton |46 |1.5 |10.1 Glasgow City |3 |0.2 |9.4 Glasgow Craigton |142 |4.7 |44.5 Glasgow Cranstonhill |15 |0.5 |4.8 Glasgow Laurieston |11 |0.4 |7.7 Glasgow Maryhill |16 |0.7 |37.2 Glasgow Partick |74 |4.4 |32.9 Glasgow Provan |9 |0.2 |5.6
Local office |A |B |C ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Glasgow Rutherglen |14 |0.3 |1.9 Glasgow Shettlestone |4 |0.2 |3.5 Glasgow Southside |29 |0.8 |9.4 Glasgow Springburn |95 |1.9 |12.9 Greenock |14 |0.6 |8.9 Hamilton |12 |0.7 |24.5 Inverness |17 |0.7 |27.0 Irvine |5 |0.9 |20.8 Kilmarnock |0 |0.0 |0.0 Kirkaldy |4 |0.3 |3.1 Lerwick |2 |0.9 |16.7 Leven |0 |0.0 |0.0 Motherwell |24 |1.5 |14.0 Oban |0. |0.0 |0.0 Paisley |58 |1.4 |4.9 Perth |5 |0.3 |5.0 Peterhead |2 |0.2 |12.5 Port Glasgow |12 |1.2 |32.4 Stirling |3 |0.2 |1.0 Stornoway |0 |0.0 |0.0 Stranraer |6 |0.9 |6.0 Wick |0 |0.0 |0.0
1991-92 budgeting loans District |A |B |C --------------------------------------------------------------- Clyde Coast and Cowal |195 |2.1 |4.2 Clyde Valley |1,851 |2.9 |7.5 Coatbridge |726 |5.7 |13.3 East Lowlands |214 |2.1 |4.5 Fife |238 |2.3 |4.7 Forth Valley |221 |2.4 |6.1 Glasgow City |287 |2.7 |6.6 Glasgow East |1,027 |4.7 |10.7 Glasgow Laurieston |457 |3.0 |7.9 Glasgow Southwest |715 |5.7 |16.0 Glasgow West |283 |3.1 |7.5 Grampian and Shetland |144 |2.4 |5.3 Highlands and Islands |106 |1.9 |4.7 Irvine and Kilmarnock |273 |2.6 |6.6 Lomond and Argyll |276 |3.3 |7.7 Lothian Central |423 |5.3 |12.7 Lothian West |217 |2.2 |4.6 Renfrew |219 |2.3 |5.4 South West Scotland |487 |4.7 |10.5 Springburn and Cumbernauld |549 |4.3 |9.4 Tayside |182 |1.5 |3.3
1991-92 Crisis loans District |A |B |C ---------------------------------------------------------- Clyde Coast and Cowal |46 |0.8 |2.5 Clyde Valley |32 |0.8 |10.9 Coatbridge |219 |3.5 |14.5
District |A |B |C --------------------------------------------------------------- East Lowlands |32 |0.5 |4.8 Fife |12 |0.2 |2.0 Forth Valley |45 |1.0 |15.6 Glasgow City |25 |0.3 |6.0 Glasgow East |192 |1.7 |7.3 Glasgow Laurieston |67 |0.7 |4.8 Glasgow Southwest |267 |3.4 |19.0 Glasgow West |106 |2.4 |15.4 Grampian and Shetland |14 |0.3 |23.3 Highlands and Islands |20 |0.3 |9.1 Irvine and Kilmarnock |4 |0.3 |10.3 Lomond and Argyll |7 |0.3 |4.4 Lothian Central |119 |1.9 |27.6 Lothian West |123 |2.2 |11.5 Renfrew |82 |1.3 |4.9 South West Scotland |29 |0.8 |3.3 Springburn and Cumbernauld |198 |2.4 |13.6 Tayside |50 |0.9 |4.9
1992-93 Budgeting Loans District |A |B |C --------------------------------------------------------------- Clyde Coast and Cowal |114 |1.2 |2.7 Clyde Valley |471 |3.2 |8.6 Coatbridge |851 |6.3 |12.8 East Lowlands |140 |1.4 |2.7 Fife |253 |2.4 |5.2 Forth Valley |269 |2.9 |6.5 Glasgow City |430 |3.9 |8.6 Glasgow East |1,060 |5.1 |12.2 Glasgow Laurieston |496 |3.2 |8.2 Glasgow Southwest |904 |7.1 |20.8 Glasgow West |313 |3.4 |8.5 Grampian and Shetland |151 |2.5 |5.9 Highlands and Islands |136 |2.3 |5.9 Irvine and Kilmarnock |405 |3.4 |8.2 Lomond and Argyll |250 |3.0 |7.5 Lothian Central |510 |6.0 |13.7 Lothian West |186 |1.8 |4.5 Renfrew |206 |2.1 |4.8 South West Scotland |481 |4.6 |10.4 Springburn and Cumbernauld |586 |4.7 |10.8 Tayside |238 |1.9 |4.2
1992-93 Crisis Loans District |A |B |C ---------------------------------------------------------- Clyde Coast and Cowal |28 |0.5 |1.1 Clyde Valley |30 |0.7 |6.3 Coatbridge |188 |2.6 |10.4 East Lowlands |71 |1.0 |5.0
District |A |B |C --------------------------------------------------------------- Fife |75 |1.1 |6.9 Forth Valley |61 |1.6 |17.4 Glasgow City |58 |0.8 |8.3 Glasgow East |226 |1.8 |5.4 Glasgow Laurieston |142 |1.3 |7.9 Glasgow Southwest |318 |3.5 |12.4 Glasgow West |89 |1.7 |10.2 Grampian and Shetland |23 |0.4 |25.8 Highlands and Islands |22 |0.3 |7.0 Irvine and Kilmarnock |3 |0.1 |5.5 Lomond and Argyll |7 |0.2 |6.8 Lothian Central |244 |3.5 |13.2 Lothian West |112 |1.6 |5.7 Renfrew |111 |1.5 |6.2 South West Scotland |44 |1.1 |4.4 Springburn and Cumbernauld |195 |2.4 |7.9 Tayside |67 |0.8 |3.9
Income Support
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people were claiming income support in Scotland for the most recent date for which figures are available ; and what estimate he has made of the total number of partners and dependants of those claimants ;
(2) if he will give the most recently available figure for the income support live load in each of his Department's offices, and by each Benefit Agency district, in Scotland.
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 Michael Bichard to Mr. Henry McLeish, dated 29 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 Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking,
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how many people were claiming Income Support in Scotland for the most recent date for which figures are available ; and what estimate he has made of the total number of partners and dependants of those claimants.You also ask, if he will give the most recently available figure for the Income Support live load in each of his Department's offices, and by each Benefits Agency district, in Scotland.
The information is not available in the format you requested and some of it is only available at a disproportionate cost. This is because statistics relate to the number of Income Support recipients rather than the number of claims.
Information about the numbers of partners and dependants of people claiming Income Support is not routinely collected. However, estimates of the numbers of partners and dependants of Income Support recipients are available from the Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiry (ASE). This is a point in time survey based on a one per cent sample of all people in receipt of Income Support.
The latest information from the ASE relates to May 1991. The estimates from this were 487,000 recipients, 69,000 partners and 249, 000 dependants in Scotland.
I have appended the information relating to the Income Support live load per office and district as requested. This information is based on the Management Information Statistics as at 28 February 1993. I hope this reply is helpful. A copy of this letter will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.
Annex |Number
------------------------------------------------------------
Glasgow West District Office
Glasgow Anniesland |10,614
Glasgow Partick |7,701
|-------
District total |18,315
Glasgow City District Office
Glasgow City |8,673
Glasgow Cranstonhill |1,585
Glasgow Maryhill |10,085
|-------
District total |20,343
Glasgow East District Office
Glasgow Bridgeton |8,411
Glasgow Provan |12,841
Glasgow Shettleston |12,341
|-------
District total |33,593
Glasgow Laurieston District Office
East Kilbride |6,349
Glasgow Laurieston |15,202
Glasgow Rutherglen |12,969
|-------
District total |34,520
Glasgow South West District Office
Glasgow Craigton |11,492
Glasgow South West |12,952
|-------
District total |24,444
Renfrew District
Renfrew |22,592
|-------
District total |24,592
Springburn and Cumbernauld District Council
Glasgow Cumbernauld |10,404
Glasgow Springburn |13,925
|-------
District total |24,329
Clyde Coast and Cowal District Office
Greenock |12,557
Port Glasgow |4,489
|-------
District total |17,046
Coatbridge District Office
Airdrie |7,353
Belshill |6,796
Coatbridge |6,691
|-------
District total |20,840
Forth Valley District Office
Falkirk |12,939
Stirling |11,575
|-------
District total |24,514
Highlands and Islands District Office
Elgin |6,949
Fort William |2,939
Inverness |12,825
Stornoway |4,096
Wick |4,862
|-------
District total |31,671
Irvine and Kilmarnock District Office
Irvine |15,946
Kilmarnock |10,251
|-------
District total |26,197
Lomond and Argyll District Office
Campbeltown |1,554
Clydebank |15,651
Oban |1,911
|-------
District total |19,116
Clyde Valley District Office
Hamilton |16,676
Motherwell |12,317
|-------
District total |28,993
South West Scotland District Office
Ayr |16,365
Dumfries |8,795
Stranraer |3,349
|-------
District total |28,509
East Lowlands District Office
Edinburgh East |11,697
Edinburgh South |12,155
Galashiels |6,997
|-------
District total |30,849
Fife District Office
Cowdenbeath |4,786
Dunfermline |6,809
Kirkcaldy |12,613
Leven |5,581
|-------
District total |29,789
Grampian/Shetland District Office
Aberdeen |20,585
Lerwick |1,293
Peterhead |4,865
|-------
District total |26,743
Lothian and Borders District Office
Edinburgh City |11,161
Edinburgh North |10,760
|-------
District total |21,921
Lothian West District Office
Bathgate |14,180
Edinburgh West |11,062
|-------
District total |25,242
Tayside District Office
Arbroath |7,228
Dundee |22,841
Perth |9,281
|-------
District total |39,350
Scotland
Total live figure as at 28 February 1993=584,916
WALES
European Community Funding
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated total of European regional development fund grants allocated to Wales for the financial year 1993-94, analysed by county ; and if he will make it his policy that funding from this source will be treated as additional money by his Department, in line with his additionality agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the EC Commission.
Mr. David Hunt : ERDF is allocated to individual structural fund programmes on a calendar year basis. In 1992 and 1993 the following allocations were made to Wales :
,
£ million
|1992 |1993
--------------------------------------------
Industrial South Wales |21.88 |32.82
Dyfed, Gwynedd, Powys |11.90 |11.08
Clwyd |7.82 |11.66
RECHAR |13.46 |6.39
LEADER |0.543 |0.543
Figures are based on an exchange rate of
£1=1.435 ecu
Negotiations about the European Commission's ERDF allocation to Wales for 1994 onwards are underway.
The former Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced in February 1992 the new public expenditure arrangements to ensure that additionality of ERDF grants would be fully transparent. With effect from 1 April 1993 onwards full additional expenditure cover is being provided for all ERDF capital receipts and for all projects approved under the RECHAR programme from 1 April 1992.
Ogwr and Vale of Glamorgan
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the electorate of each community council in the boroughs of Ogwr and the Vale of Glamorgan ;
(2) how many community councils in (a) Ogwr and (b) the Vale of Glamorgan have electorates with fewer than 1,700 voters ;
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(3) how many community councils in (a) Ogwr and (b) the Vale of Glamorgan have electorates of (i) fewer than 4,000, (ii) fewer than 3,500, (iii) fewer than 3,000, (iv) fewer than 2,500, (v) fewer than 2, 000, (vi) fewer than 1,500 and (vii) fewer than 1,000.Mr. David Hunt : This information is not held centrally.
Water Disconnections
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of water disconnections in Wales in (a) 1990-91 and (b) 1991-92.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The information required cannot be given in the form requested.
The number of disconnections--domestic and non-domestic--in the water supply areas of Dwr Cymru Cyf, Chester Waterworks Company and Wrexham and East Denbighshire Water Company in 1990-91 and 1991-92 were 1,397 and 3,034 respectively.
Cancer Treatment
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to establish a cancer treatment centre for north Wales patients ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The provision of a cancer treatment centre in north Wales is the subject of an appraisal by Touche Ross. My right hon. Friend will make an announcement in due course.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment has been made of the adequacy of the number of medical house doctors and senior house officers in hospital trusts to cope with seriously ill patients under treatment by chemotherapy and requiring hospital admission ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : This is a matter for the national health service trust concerned to assess.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cancer patients from north Wales travel (a) to the Christie hospital, Manchester and (b) to Clatterbridge hospital, Wirral for treatment in each year ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Information on the number of cancer patients who travel from north Wales to English hospitals for treatment is not held centrally. However, the Christie hospital NHS trust and Clatterbridge centre for oncology report the following number of episodes (where an episode is the necessary sequence of treatment for one patient) :
Christie NHS |Clatterbridge<2> Trust<1> --------------------------------------------------- 417 |771 <1> Actual completed episodes 1991-92 <2> Projected 1992-93 episodes
Hospital Medical Units
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance is given to general practitioners as to where to refer patients in the event of the temporary closure of hospital medical units ; and if he will make a statement.
Column 583
Mr. Gwilym Jones : In such circumstances the decision to refer is a matter for the judgment of individual general practitioners, who should be informed of closures by the local family health services authority. If a bed bureau is in operation, GPs would normally contact the bureau who in turn would arrange admission to an appropriate alternative unit. In the absence of a bed bureau arrangement, GPs would contact the nearest alternative local unit ; and in the event of difficulties in admission the commissioning health authority would advise.
Column 584
Housing
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many dwellings were (a) started, (b) under construction and (c) completed in (i) 1974, (ii) 1979, (iii) 1984, (iv) 1989 and (v) 1990, distinguishing between private sector, housing association, local authority and total dwellings.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The information is given in the table.
Column 583
House building activity by tenure
|1974 |1979 |1984 |1989 |1990
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Dwellings started
Private sector |5,948 |7,586 |5,608 |9,938 |7,654
Housing Association<1> |161 |657 |326 |1,601 |2,204
Local authority |6,215 |3,019 |777 |501 |338
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------
Total dwellings<2> |13,098 |11,426 |6,842 |12,040 |10,196
(b) Dwellings under construction
Private sector |13,160 |10,523 |9,712 |13,146 |12,793
Housing Association<1> |224 |1,806 |742 |2,049 |2,600
Local authority |7,825 |5,194 |1,056 |731 |461
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------
Total dwellings<2> |21,972 |17,867 |11,596 |15,926 |15,854
(c) Dwellings completed
Private sector |8,137 |6,980 |6,276 |9,176 |7,931
Housing Association<1> |176 |1,016 |593 |1,642 |1,653
Local authority |3,046 |3,010 |1,997 |566 |608
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------
Total dwellings<2> |11,811 |11,331 |9,021 |11,448 |10,192
Source: As supplied on local authority returns.
<1>Excluding acquisitions, rehabilitations and hostel bedspaces.
<2>Including new towns' and Government Departments' dwellings not elsewhere
listed.
Trust Hospitals
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those trust hospitals in Wales where the hospital medical unit has been closed to general practitioner admission.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : All hospitals, whether NHS trust or directly managed units, may need to implement temporary closures for a variety of reasons. In Wales, four NHS trusts have had to do this : Llandough Hospital NHS Trust
(3 April, 12 hours ; 19 April, 6 hours ; 20 April, 6 hours) Llanelli Dinefwr NHS Trust
(7 April, 24 hours ; 25 April, 24 hours)
Wrexham Maelor NHS Trust
(17/18 April, 48 hours)
Carmarthen and District NHS Trust
(19 April)
On each occasion arrangements were made to admit emergency patients to the nearest alternative appropriate hospital.
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