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Welsh Fourth Channel |}
Authority |}
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Broadcasting Complaints |}
Commission |} |Responsibility transferred to the
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Broadcasting Standards |} |Heritage in 1992-93
Council |}
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Football Licensing |}
Authority |}
|Responsibility transferred to the
Equal Opportunities | Employment Department in
Commission |} | 1992-93
Warning and monitoring |} |Up to 1992-93
Arson prevention |}
Budgets for 1994-95 have not yet been settled.
The criteria and information required before grants are approved are made available to applicant organisations in a variety of ways. The detailed information sought is not available centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Electoral Fraud
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has about how many votes were lost to their lawful recipients through electoral fraud in total in 1992 ; what percentage of these were due to misuse of proxy votes ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Information about the number of voting offences is not collected centrally.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans the Government have to review the format of the absent voter forms to prevent fraud by misappropriation of proxy votes ; and what systems are in place to monitor the number of people claiming proxy votes in elections ; and if he will make a statement ; (2) how many voters by constituency voted by proxy in each of the last three general elections ; and in each case what percentage difference this represented from 1979.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Information about the number of proxy voters is not collected centrally. Changes to absent voting applications forms are being considered by a working group of electoral registration officers and Home Office officials as part of our post-election review.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government have to increase the penalties for electoral fraud where the offence involves the deprivation of the vote to an elector who by reason of age, disability, language difficulties or other reason is particularly vulnerable to such fraud.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Penalties for election offences are set out in the Representation of the People Acts 1983 and 1985. We have no plans for any change.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to investigate possible electoral fraud regarding proxy votes in Brighton ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I understand that the electoral registration officer in Brighton has investigated a number of complaints relating to proxy voting applications. One case was referred to the police who have decided that there was no evidence of any fraud.
Mr. Leon Patterson
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Greater Manchester police force concerning the death of Leon Patterson in custody in Stockport police station ; and if he will make a statement on the action to be taken against the individual officers concerned.
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Mr. Charles Wardle : This is a matter for the chief constable of Greater Manchester.
Identity Cards
Mr. Luff : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has for (a) the cost of and (b) the time scale necessary for introducing a national identity card.
Mr. Jack [holding answer 6 May 1993] : In 1989 it was estimated that the cost (excluding initial capital costs) of issuing identity cards to all British citizens aged 12 or over could be around £350 million ; and that the annual running costs of the system would probably be between £50 million and £100 million. The time scale necessary for introducing a card has not been estimated.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Pensions (Payment Methods)
Ms Corston : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what meetings he has held, and what plans he has for meetings, with representatives of sub-postmasters to discuss his plan to encourage the payment of pensions into bank or building society accounts, rather than at post offices.
Mr. Burt : We have had no meetings with representatives of sub- postmasters but would consider any request for such a meeting.
Unemployment Benefit
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total number of people receiving unemployment benefit in each month since May 1991.
Mr. Burt : Information is not available in the form requested. The total number of people receiving unemployment benefit at quarterly dates from May 1991 to November 1992 is in the table.
Date |Numbers --------------------------------- 9 May 1991 |555,300 8 August 1991 |608,400 14 November 1991 |626,400 13 February 1992 |694,700 14 May 1992 |668,700 13 August 1992 |642,300 12 November 1992 |654,400 Source: Quarterly Analysis of Unemployed Claimants.
Residential Homes
Mr. Willetts : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to introduce regulations to extend the period for which residential allowance may remain in payment to people who are absent from residential care and nursing homes ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Burt : On 2 April we announced that the rules affecting payment of residential allowance (RA) would be changed to extend the period for which the allowance may
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remain in payment to such people from six days to six weeks, where the person enters hospital, and three weeks for other absences. The regulations, introducing this change are being laid today. The main provisions are :The amending regulations will apply to people who may already have been absent for more than six days and for whom RA has already stopped. For such people RA will be reinstated from the date the amendment comes into force and will continue in payment for a period up to six or three weeks (as appropriate) from that date. The necessary procedure are already in hand to identify such cases. A resident may be absent for up to six weeks in hospital and/or up to three weeks elsewhere (eg six weeks in hospital and three weeks with relatives) before returning to the home. Different periods in hospital separated by 28 days or less will be treated as being one continuous period.
The new provisions will apply to permanent residents who have left the home temporarily.
Maternity Payments
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for the future levels of maternity payments to women earning less than the national insurance threshold.
Miss Widdecombe : Women whose earnings are below the lower earnings limit for national insurance contributions do not qualify for maternity benefits. Without such a floor on entitlement, benefit payments could exceed earnings. The limit itself is regularly increased, but we have no plans to remove it.
Community Care Grants
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the levels of community care grants as a proportion of total social security expenditure for each year since 1988.
Mr. Scott : The information is in the table.
|Expenditure on |Expenditure on |Expenditure on
|social security |community care |community care
|benefits |grants |grants as a
|proportion of
|benefit expenditure
Year |£ million |£ million |Per cent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988-89 |47,332 |40 |0.08
1989-90 |50,100 |59 |0.12
1990-91 |56,236 |67 |0.12
1991-92 |65,336 |79 |0.12
<1>1992-93 |74,135 |90 |0.12
<1>Estimated outturn.
Source: Social Security Departmental Report-The Government's expenditure plans 1993-94 to 1995-96 (
Cm. 2213).
Members' Correspondence
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of letters received from hon. Members he has referred to the chief executive of the Benefits Agency in the last 12 months.
Miss Widdecombe : Between 1 April 1992 and 31 March 1993 a total of 14,316 letters were received from hon. Members. Of these, 2,770--19 per cent.--were referred to Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency.
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Departmental Staff
Mr. Garrett : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the numbers and percentages of his staff in grades 1 to 5 who have (a) arts degrees, (b) science degrees, (c) technical degrees, (d) who are qualified accountants and (e) have post-graduate qualifications in management.
Miss Widdecombe : The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Disability Allowances
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for disability working allowance have been successful ; how many have been unsuccessful ; and how many are pending.
Mr. Scott : The information is in the Library.
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will change the criteria by which claimants are eligible for disability working allowance so that take-up of the benefit can be improved ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : Further measures to encourage take-up were launched in April, including advertisements in the local press, mailings to advisers, and seminars for voluntary organisations. We have no plans to change the eligibility criteria.
Income Support (Under-25s)
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what policy considerations underlie the difference in income support for those aged 18 to 25 years and those over 25 years.
Miss Widdecombe : The levels of benefit for those aged 18 to 24 take account of the fact that a large majority of this group do not have the responsibility for running their own household ; the lower rates also reflect the lower earnings expectations of this age group generally.
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many income support recipients are aged between 18 and 24 years ; and how many receive the reduced £34.80 rate.
Miss Widdecombe : There are 810,000 recipients of income support aged 18 to 24. Of these, 520,000 receive the rate appropriate to a single claimant.
Source : Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiry, May 1991. Notes :
1. All figures have been rounded to the nearest ten thousand. 2. The number of recipients at the given rate has been estimated. The actual rate for 1991 does not correspond to the rate mentioned in the question.
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which living expenses the income support personal allowance (a) of £34.80 and (b) for those aged over 25 years is intended to provide.
Miss Widdecombe : Income support rates are intended to cover all normal day to day living expenses. They do not include separate amounts for specific items of expenditure.
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Mrs. Beckett : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of income support in each Benefits Agency office having customers in Derbyshire, have arrangements for (a) direct payment of housing costs, (b) attachment of community charge, (c) direct repayments to the social fund, (d) direct payments to the electricity companies and (e) direct payments to British Gas ; and what are the total counts of (a) to (e) for customers who are residents of Derbyshire.
Miss Widdecombe : The administration of Income Support and the Social Fund are matters 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 Mrs. Margaret Beckett, dated 7 May 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 how many claimants of Income Support in each Benefits Agency office having customers in Derbyshire, have arrangements for (a) direct payment of housing costs, (b) attachment of community charge, (c) direct re-payments to the Social fund, (d) direct payments to the electricity companies and (e) direct payments to British Gas ; and what are the total counts of (a) to (e) for customers who are residents of Derbyshire.
The complete range of information is not available except at a disproportionate cost. This is because statistics are not routinely collected to reflect the area of residence of customers with deductions. Statistics will shortly be available giving the numbers of benefit recipients whose mortgage interest is paid directly to their mortgage lender and I will be pleased to write to you further with this information when it is available. Statistics relating to Social Fund are only available on a District Office basis. These statistics show the number of loan applications for which a repayment was made during March 1993 and do not necessarily equate to the number of applicants. All the other figures show the position as at 28 February 1993.
I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this letter will appear in the official report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.
Social Fund-repayments from income support
|Number
-------------------------------------------------
Central Derbyshire district office |2,572
South Derbyshire district office |1,677
North Derbyshire district office |2,027
Stockport district office |2,286
Social Fund-repayments from income support
|Number
-------------------------------------------------
Central Derbyshire district office |2,572
South Derbyshire district office |1,677
North Derbyshire district office |2,027
Stockport district office |2,286
Boarder Allowances
Ms Glenda Jackson : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received from organisations and individuals in support of implementing a boarder premium for homeless families living in temporary accommodation ; and what plans he has to meet the London Homelessness Forum.
Mr. Burt : We receive representations on many aspects of social security, including a number about the benefit arrangements for people living in temporary accommodation. I shall be meeting the London Homelessness Forum on 13 May 1993.
Ms Glenda Jackson : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many boarder claimants received the eating out allowance in 1988-89 ; and what was the annual cost.
Miss Widdecombe : No data are available on either cost or the number of boarders who received an additional allowance for meals.
Judicial Review
Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications have been made in the past year for judicial review of social fund decisions, and what percentage were successful.
Mr. Scott : Pursuant to my reply of 14 April 1993 at column 668 the following information was incorrect :
"In 1992-93, five judicial review applications were made. So far, two of these have been heard : neither was successful.
There have been 12.5 million applications for discretionary social fund payments since they became available in 1988 : of these, only 25 have resulted in judicial review applications."
The correct information is as follows :
"In 1992-93 six judicial review applications were made. So far, two of these have been heard : neither was successful.
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There have been over 12.5 million applications for discretionary social fund payments since they became available in 1988 : of these, only 26 have resulted in judicial review applications."Benefits (Automatic Credit Transfer)
Mr. Gordon Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimates have been made about the amount of money which could be saved from the introduction of automatic credit transfer of benefit payments into claimants' bank accounts ; (2) how many persons in receipt of social security benefits do not have a bank account.
Miss Widdecombe : The payment of social security benefits 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. Gordon Prentice, dated 7 May 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 how many persons in receipt of social security benefits do not have bank accounts and what estimates have been made about the amount of money which could be saved from the introduction of automated credit transfer of benefit payments into claimants' bank accounts.
A survey undertaken in 1991 estimated that 30 per cent. of Social Security recipients did not have a bank or building society account. Payment by automated credit transfer (ACT) has been available to many of our customers for several years. In line with a commitment made in the Citizens Charter, ACT is being made available for a wider range of benefits. The savings resulting from this extension will depend how many recipients select ACT as a method of payment. If all social security recipients were paid in this manner, this would lead to administrative savings of around £475m a year.
I hope you will find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.
NORTHERN IRELAND
British Council Initiatives
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what initiatives have been taken by the British Council to raise the profile of Northern Ireland abroad.
Mr. Hanley : Since 1986 the British Council, with financial support from the Department of Education for Northern Ireland, has operated an annual programme of cultural events, study hours and exhibitions designed to raise the profile of Northern Ireland in the United States. In 1992-93, this was complemented by a similar programme in Europe.
Obscene Items
Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number of items seized on the grounds of obscenity by the Royal Ulster Constabulary in the latest year for which figures are available.
Mr. Mates : The question of whether an item is obscene is a matter for the courts. Police records indicate that,
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during the period 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993, a total of 690 pornographic tapes were seized by the RUC. Other pornographic items, such as magazines, may have been seized by police at local level but no central record is maintained of such seizures.Health and Social Services Boards
Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications have been lodged with the Office of Fair Employment and industrial
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tribunals alleging sex or religious discrimination by each of the area health and social services boards in Northern Ireland ; and how many, and for what reason, have not proceeded to a hearing by the tribunal over the last three years.Mr. Hanley : The requested information is given in the following table :
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Applications to OFE/Tribunals from 1 May 1990 to 30 April 1993
|Fair Employment |Sex Discrimination|Total
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern Board
Number of applications |43 |37 |80
Gone to tribunal |1 |2 |3
Pending |20 |15 |35
Withdrawn |17 |9 |26
Withdrawn following conciliated settlement |5 |11 |16
Northern Board
Number of applications |15 |15 |30
Gone to tribunal |<1>4 |0 |4
Pending |6 |11 |17
Withdrawn |5 |4 |9
Withdrawn following settlement or at hearing |<1>4 |0 |<1>4
Southern Board
Number of applications |19 |10 |29
Gone to tribunal |7 |9 |16
Pending |7 |9 |16
Withdrawn |12 |1 |13
Withdrawn following conciliated settlement |0 |0 |0
Western Board
Number of applications |20 |6 |26
Gone to tribunal |0 |1 |1
Pending |6 |1 |7
Withdrawn |13 |0 |13
Withdrawn following conciliated settlement |1 |4 |5
<1>Figures included with numbers "gone to tribunal".
ENVIRONMENT
Enterprise Zones
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange for PA Cambridge Economic Consultants to publish an interim report on the costs and benefits of enterprise zones before the publication of its final evaluation exercise report in 1995.
Mr. Robin Squire : An interim report has been commissioned and a final draft is being considered by my Department. No decision on publication has yet been made.
Recycling
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to publish a planning guidance note on the recycling of aggregate materials.
Mr. Baldry : The potential for increasing the use of waste and recycled materials as aggregates is a factor considered in the consultation draft of Minerals Planning Guidance Note 6 ("Guidelines for Provision of Aggregates
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in England and Wales"). Final guidance should be published in the summer. At present, I have no plans to issue separate guidance on recycling for aggregates.Acidic Aerosols
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take immediate steps to monitor and control acidic aerosols.
Mr. Maclean : Measurements of aerosol sulphate are made at 10 sites in the United Kingdom. We have no immediate plans to extend this monitoring to acid aerosols.
Public Bodies
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 28 April, Official Report, column 426, if he will list the public bodies to which he makes appointments and the number of people appointed to each.
Mr. Howard : The bodies, and the number of appointments, are as listed. Sixty-one of these posts are currently unfilled.
Column 347
Name of body |Number of
|appointments
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Advisory
Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment |20
Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment |25
Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances |11
Black Country Limestone Advisory Panel |6
Building Regulations Advisory Committee |16
Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council |14
Property Advisory Group |15
Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee |21
Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution |14
B Executive
Audit Commission |17
British Board of Agrement |17
Commission for the New Towns |13
Countryside Commission |11
English Nature |14
Housing Action Trust Liverpool |12
Housing Action Trust North Hull |11
Housing Action Trust Waltham Forest |11
Housing Corporation |15
Joint Nature Conservation Committee |4
Letchworth Garden City Corporation |6
Local Government Commission |15
London Pensions Fund Authority |8
London Residuary Body |4
National Rivers Authority |12
Rural Development Commission |8
United Kingdom Eco-Labelling Board |15
Urban Development Corporation Birmingham Heartlands |13
Urban Development Corporation, Black Country |13
Urban Development Corporation, Bristol |12
Urban Development Corporation, Central Manchester |10
Urban Development Corporation, Leeds |11
Urban Development Corporation, London Docklands |13
Urban Development Corporation, Merseyside |13
Urban Development Corporation, Plymouth |12
Urban Development Corporation, Sheffield |12
Urban Development Corporation, Teesside |12
Urban Development Corporation, Trafford Park |13
Urban Development Corporation, Tyne and Wear |13
C Proposed Executive NDPBs
Housing Action Trust, Birmingham, Castlevale |11
Housing Action Trust, Brent |11
Housing Action Trust, Tower Hamlets |11
D Nationalised Industry
British Waterways Board |7
E Tribunal
Rent Assessment Panels (13) |466
Council Tax
Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses/dwellings are there in each council tax band in the Chelmsford parliamentary constituency ; and how many people in each council tax band qualify for the 25 per cent. single person's discount.
Mr. Robin Squire : Information for Chelmsford parliamentary constituency is not available. However, comparable information for the area of Chelmsford district council is available, as follows :
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Council tax band |Number of dwellings|Number of single
|person discounts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A |3,980 |2,430
B |7,890 |4,150
C |19,110 |5,210
D |14,510 |2,770
E |8,660 |1,240
F |4,320 |490
G |3,230 |370
H |250 |30
|------- |-------
Total |61,960 |16,680
Notes:
Totals may not sum owing to rounding. The figures for numbers of dwellings
reflect the valuation list sent to Chelmsford district council as at 1 December
1992. Estimates for the number of single person discounts are derived from the
number of dwellings shown on the community charge register at 1 December 1992
as containing only one non-student chargepayer on 1 June 1992.
Fanfare for a New World Concert
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the circumstances which led to the staging of the Fanfare for a New World concert in Liverpool in 1992 ; on what basis a £2 shell company was appointed to oversee the event ; what creditors are now seeking satisfaction from the Merseyside development corporation ; and what representations he has received about the matter.
Mr. Robin Squire : The Fanfare for a New World concert was an important element in the Grand Regatta Columbus celebrations held in Liverpool last summer. From the earliest stages of planning the grand regatta, it had been recognised that a major flagship event of this kind would help to attract visitors and media attention to the city. The Merseyside development corporation took the decisions to act as sponsors, rather than organisers, of the concert following approaches made to them by a private sector consortium. This consortium, who had worked for them in various capacities since 1986, included a well-known London-based opera impresario and the organiser of the successful Symphony for A Spire at Salisbury Cathedral. In the light of the proven track record of the members of this consortium, and following a thorough appraisal of the proposed budget, a legal agreement was drawn up which, among other things, set a maximum level of sponsorship for the event. This maximum level was increased shortly before the concert when the corporation was advised that further sponsorship from the private sector had not been secured at the expected level.
I understand that the Merseyside development corporation has received no direct approaches from creditors. Apart from the hon. Member's question, the only representations that my right hon. and learned Friend has received are three further questions tabled by, and a letter from, the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Kilfoyle).
Council Tax
Mr. Lidington : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the average number of days it takes his Department to respond to a written request from
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an hon. Member or a member of the general public for copies of his Department's explanatory booklets on the council tax ; and if he will make a statement ;(2) what performance target he has set for his Department to respond to written requests from hon. Members and members of the general public for copies of his Department's explanatory booklets on the council tax.
Mr. Robin Squire [holding answer 7 May 1993] : The average number of days it takes my Department's contractor to respond to a written request from an hon. Member or a member of the general public is currently about 10 working days. This period allows for inward and outbound postal transit times.
The performance target for response, be it to an hon. Member or a member of the public, is that a request be fulfilled as quickly as reasonably possible, while seeking value for money.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Old Palace Yard
Mr. Higgins : To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee when the agreement for use by the House of Commons of Old Palace Yard expires.
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