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British Troops (UN Peacekeeping Forces)
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the figures for the total number of British troops (a) killed and (b) injured while on duty for the United Nations peacekeeping forces since the end of the Gulf war ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : A total of four United Kingdom service men have died while serving with the United Nations since the end of the Gulf conflict. A further seven have suffered serious or very serious injury over the same period. These figures include death or injury from all sources, not just those resulting from hostile action. Only one death was caused by hostile action.
British Troops (Northern Ireland)
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of British troops (a) killed and (b) injured while on duty in Northern Ireland during 1991-92 and 1992-93 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The total number of British troops killed as a result of terrorist action whilst on duty in Northern Ireland was as follows :
|Number
--------------------------------------------
1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992 |8
1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993 |5
Information about the number of British troops injured is not available in the form requested. The total number of troops injured in Northern Ireland as a result of terrorist action, both on and off duty, was as follows :
|Number
--------------------------------------------
1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992 |282
1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993 |267
Submarines
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number and class of submarines in service in the Royal Navy on 10 May.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Royal Navy's submarine fleet on 10 May consisted of three Polaris, one Valiant, five Swiftsure, seven Trafalgar, three Oberon and three Upholder Class submarines giving a total of 22 boats.
Landing Platform Helicopter Vessel
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, during the bid for the contract to build the landing platform helicopter vessel, personnel from Kvaerner Govan participated in the bid clarification process.
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Mr. Aitken : No. Kvaerner Govan is a sub-contractor to VSEL.
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, in the course of consideration of the landing platform helicopter vessel, the VSEL bid has been comprehensively costed.
Mr. Aitken : The commercial aspects of both bids were assessed against our normal criteria for competitive contracts.
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, during consideration of the tender for the landing platform helicopter vessel, there was a thorough evaluation of the best and final tenders from VSEL/Kvaerner Govan and Swan Hunter before a report was made to the Controller of the Royal Navy ; and how much time was taken on this evaluation before the first report was made on the outcome of the tendering process.
Mr. Aitken : A thorough evaluation was conducted over the period November 1992 to March 1993 culminating in an examination of the best and final offers which were received from the two companies on 22 April. The evaluation was completed in time for me to make the announcement on 11 May.
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance was given to both Swan Hunter and VSEL/Kvaerner Govan during clarification, prior to the best and final offer round, on reduced standards which would be acceptable in the bid for the contract to build the landing platform helicopter vessel.
Mr. Aitken : Both tenderers were given the same advice on standards during the clarification process and the best and final offer response had to be fully compliant with these standards.
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in considering the tender for the landing platform helicopter vessel, what checks were carried out on the ability of Kvaerner Govan to produce subsystems and the final ship to naval engineering standards.
Mr. Aitken : My officials visited Kvaerner Govan to verify that it was capable of producing subsystems and a ship to the required standards.
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in considering the tender for the landing platform helicopter vessel, what checks his Department has carried out concerning the bid submitted by Kvaerner Govan to VSEL and the specification placed on Kvaerner Govan by VSEL.
Mr. Aitken : My Department's contract is with VSEL and requires it to ensure that the work meets the required specifications.
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the bids for the landing platform helicopter vessel tendered by both Swan Hunter and VSEL/Kvaerner Govan included comprehensive drawings and other elements required of a technical data package.
Mr. Aitken : Both tenderers provided the required technical disclosure.
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what options from the first round bid for the
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landing platform helicopter vessel were taken up from both VSEL/Kvaerner Govan and Swan Hunter in the best and final offer round.Mr. Aitken : Costed options for certain equipments and facilities were taken up. The bids were compared on an equal basis.
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if there was a significant price gap between the first bids submitted for the landing platform helicopter vessel last autumn from Swan Hunter and VSEL.
Mr. Aitken : Yes. Details of the bids are commercially confidential, but will be provided to the National Audit Office.
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if, during consideration of the tender for the landing platform helicopter vessel, all elements of the tenders from VSEL/Kvaerner Govan and Swan Hunter were assessed for compliance with Ministry of Defence requirements ; and if either bidder submitted a global undertaking of compliance ;
(2) if the tenders from both VSEL/Kvaerner Govan and Swan Hunter for the landing platform helicopter vessel specifically state that pipework, machinery and electrical systems will be completed to the applicable naval engineering standards.
-11P Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further documentation is required from VSEL before a contract to build the landing platform helicopter vessel can be signed ; and when his Department expects the contract to be signed.
Mr. Aitken : The contract was placed on 11 May 1993.
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the tenders from both VSEL/Kvaerner and Swan Hunter for the landing platform helicopter vessel included all the changes required by his Department as a result of the first bidding round ; and if each tender included the additional requirements specified by his Department during the best and final offer.
Mr. Aitken : Both tenders offered a ship to meet the same requirements.
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the anticipated costs of Royal Navy overseeing teams which will have to be located at Kvaerner Govan to ensure compliance during the building of the landing platform helicopter vessel.
Mr. Aitken : Resident naval overseers will be employed on this task, augmented as necessary. There will be no net increase in cost.
VSEL (Submarine Contracts)
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current level of advance payments from his Department to VSEL for submarine contracts.
Mr. Aitken : Payments to VSEL under submarine contracts are made in arrears on the achievement of agreed milestones.
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Royal Navy (Engineering)
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what comparative assessment he has made of the lengths and cost of practical applications training of engineer officers for the Royal Navy if the engineering academic studies are concentrated on a civilian university.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I announced proposals on 25 May about the future of royal naval engineer officer training. These proposals are now the subject of consultation. Practical application training course lengths and the costs involved in running them will not be affected by these proposals although there will be a relocation cost which has been taken into account.
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the advantages of educating and training engineer officer undergraduates for the Royal Navy in an establishment located close to a major naval base.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : As was set out in the consultation document that I placed yesterday in the Library of the House, the education and training of royal naval engineer officer undergraduates is presently undertaken by a variety of methods, in-service and by universities. There is little interaction between engineer officers reading for degrees or undertaking application training courses, and a major naval base. Ready access to the sea is, of course, an important factor in their training as naval officers.
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of engineer officers in the Royal Navy do not possess an engineering degree.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Approximately 30 per cent. of engineer officers do not possess an engineering degree.
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times he has visited the Royal Naval Engineering college, Manadon, Plymouth, in the past 12 months.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : None. I last visited the Royal Naval Engineering college at Manadon on 14 November 1991.
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made regarding the costs and feasibility of transferring engineering training equipment and installations from the Royal Naval Engineering college, Manadon, Plymouth, to other establishments in the event of a decision to close the college at Manadon.
Mr. Archie Hamiliton : The proposals that I announced on 25 May were based on studies which inter alia assessed the practicalities of transferring equipment from Royal Naval Engineering college, Manadon in the event of a decision to relocate application training. Estimated costs involved would be approximately £9,000,000 and this includes costs relating to the additional building requirements at the receiving establishments.
Royal Navy (BA Degrees)
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the benefits of having an in-service Bachelor of Arts degree specifically tailored for the Royal Navy's needs
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Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Bachelor of Arts degree in maritime defence, management and technology was introduced in 1990 to make better use of the Royal Navy's degree training facilities at the Royal Naval Engineering college, Manadon and the Royal Naval college, Greenwich. The course allows for suitably qualified officers who do not undertake degree study at civilian university to develop their educational, intellectual and personnel potential in vocationally relevant fields.
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what has been the cost of running the Royal Navy's in-service BA degree for each of the last three years ;
(2) what has been the cost of setting up the Royal Navy's BA degree in maritime defence technology.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Royal Navy's BA degree in maritime defence, management and technology is conducted at Royal Naval Engineering college, Manadon with support from Britannia Royal Naval college, Dartmouth and Royal Naval college, Greenwich. The costs involved are minimal and are not readily identifiable separately.
EH101 Helicopters
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's estimate of the total number of EH101 Merlin anti-submarine warfare helicopters required to provide each of the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers with sufficient aircraft ; and what plans he has to order a second batch of EH101s.
Mr. Aitken : It is not our policy to discuss numbers of aircraft deployed on individual ships. The 44 Merlin EH101 anti-submarine warfare helicopters ordered in 1991 will enable us to set up training squadrons and introduce the first squadrons of aircraft into service with type 23 frigates and one carrier. No decision has yet been taken on the size or timing of a second order.
Royal Military College of Science
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times he has visited the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, in the past 12 months.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : In the past 12 months, I have visited the college twice.
Mines in the Next Century Project
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the mines in the next century project and United Kingdom participation in it.
Mr. Aitken : Mines in the next century--MINX--is the name given to the project to study the replacement for the United Kingdom's existing anti -tank mine from the year 2001. We are currently considering the options for this.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Disability Living Allowance
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the efficiency of the contingency plan for the introduction of disability living allowance.
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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. David Hinchliffe, dated 25 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 the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the efficiency of the contingency plan for the introduction of Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
Firstly, I should explain that DLA was launched in February 1992 with an extensive publicity campaign. As part of this campaign we wrote to all existing Mobility Allowance (MobA) and Attendance Allowance (AA) recipients (approximately 1 million customers). Changes in the benefit were explained and an invitation extended, where appropriate, for them to claim extra money under the new DLA rules. In the meantime other external take-up campaigns were also being run.
It had been expected that the initial launch of the new benefit would generate large numbers of claims in the months surrounding its introduction. Whilst planning had taken place for an increase in benefit claims, the success of the advertising campaign and the various take-up campaigns resulted in a much larger number of claims being attracted in the early stages than had been expected. There was also a huge increase in the number of claims to AA during the same period.
This sudden surge of claims occurred as staff were adjusting to the new benefit processes and procedures. It meant that a backlog of cases built up in the weeks following the introduction of DLA. A recovery plan was quickly instigated. This consisted of several facets and included :
The setting up of a seniour management task force.
An increase in the number of staff, devoted to handling claims, by over 800. This represented an increase of approximately 25 per cent. The use of overtime which equated to a further 300 staff. The establishment and equipping of four remote processing units to increase output.
The conducting of a detailed review of procedures and organisation to speed up the process wherever possible.
As a result of these measures the throughput of claims was increased. The first phase of the recovery programme was successfully completed by the end of October 1992. The number of outstanding DLA and top-up claims had been considerably reduced from a peak of nearly 250,000 at the end of June to less than 115,000 by the end of October. During the same period outstanding AA claims had also been reduced significantly from over 150,000 to just over 52,000. Further reductions in the number of claims on hand have been made and at the end of April 1993 the number of outstanding DLA (including top-ups) and AA new claims was 35,000 and 34,000 respectively. This represents less than four weeks intake of work i.e. less than the target clearance time for both benefits.
The majority of DLA new claims received since January 1993 have been cleared within their primary target. For the month of April 1993, 75 per cent. of DLA new claims were cleared within 30 days against the Secretary of State (SoS) primary target (65 per cent. in 30 days) and 91 per cent. were cleared in 55 days against the SoS secondary target (85 per cent. in 55 days).
The results outlined clearly illustrate the overall effectiveness of the measures undertaken. The Benefits Agency will continue to strive to produce a thoroughly efficient service for all customers of DLA and associated benefits.
I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report. A copy will also be placed in the Library.
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Pensions (Post Office)
Mr. Nigel Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many senior citizens used the Post Office to receive their pensions each year since 1990.
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 Michael Bichard to Mr. Nigel Evans, dated 25 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 the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking how many senior citizens used the Post Office to receive their pensions each year since 1990.
Pensioners receiving their pensions through the Post Office are paid by order book. The number of Retirement Pension customers paid by order book for each year are as follows :
|Number
----------------------------------
February 1990 |7,720,000
May 1991 |7,750,000
April 1992 |7,710,000
May 1993 |7,570,000
Figures are rounded to the
nearest 5,000.
I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report. A copy will also be placed in the Library.
Income Support
Mr. Nigel Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many senior citizens receive income support in (a) Lancashire, (b) the north-west and (c) Great Britain.
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. Nigel Evans, dated 25 May 1993 :
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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 senior citizens receive Income Support in (a) Lancashire, (b) the North West and (c) Great Britain.The information is not available in the form you have requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. This is because statistics that reflect the number of senior citizens (that is, those who have reached retirement age) in receipt of Income Support, either nationally or by region are not routinely collected.
However, I am able to tell you that there are 1,570,805 Income Support pensioners in Great Britain as a whole. An Income Support pensioner is defined as a customer aged 60 or over. The source of this information is the Income Support Mangagement Information Statistics.
I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report. A copy will also be placed in the Library.
Benefit Claimants
Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what were the target and the achieved accuracy rates for each social security benefit for each of the last five years ; (2) how many people made a claim for each social security benefit for each of the last five years.
Mr. Burt : The administration 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 with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Frank Field, dated 26 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 for details of the target and achieved accuracy rates for each social security benefit for each of the last five years ; and how many people made a claim for each social security benefit for each of the last five years. I have attached a list of targets and achievement at Annex A. At Annex B I attach a list of benefits and the number of claims made. I should point out that a number of these claims will have been made by the same person.
I hope you will find this information helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also appear in the Library.
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Benefits agency accuracy targets and achievement 1988-89 to 1992-93
Benefit area |Target 1988-89 |Year end achievement|Target 1989-90 |Year end achievement|Target 1990-91 |Year end achievement|Target 1991-92 |Year end achievement|Target 1992-93 |Year end achievement
|Per cent. |Per cent. |Per cent. |Per cent. |Per cent.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income support accuracy |90.0 |90.3 |91.0 |92.1 |92.0 |93.7 |93.0 |95.7 |94.0 |94.4
Short term benefits accuracy<1> |96.0 |96.0 |96.3 |96.2 |96.5 |96.2 |96.5 |96.5 |96.5 |96.5
Family credit accuracy |96.0 |91.4 |93.0 |91.6 |93.0 |92.2 |93.0 |91.5 |94.0 |88.9
War pensions disablement claims accuracy |97.3 |95.3 |96.8 |93.1 |95.0 |94.1 |95.0 |94.5 |95.0 |97.7
War widows claims accuracy |98.5 |94.4 |98.5 |88.9 |98.5 |97.5 |98.5 |97.4 |98.5 |97.6
DLA accuracy<3> |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |96.0 |92.0
DWA accuracy<3> |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |95.0 |100.0
Legal aid accuracy |92.0 |92.6 |92.0 |93.5 |94.0 |95.9 |94.0 |94.8 |94.0 |94.6
Operational targets-ie set by the relevant Benefits Directorate; not the BA Management Team or Secretary of State.
Attendance allowance |99.0 |99.3 |99.0 |99.5 |99.0 |98.2 |99.0 |94.7 |<2>- |<2>-
Mobility allowance accuracy |98.5 |97.4 |98.5 |98.0 |98.5 |97.6 |98.5 |98.7 |<2>- |<2>-
Invalid care allowance accuracy |93.0 |96.5 |96.0 |96.9 |96.0 |96.5 |96.0 |97.2 |96.0 |99.1
Child benefit claims accuracy (s/forward) |100.0 |100.0 |100.0 |100.0 |100.0 |100.0 |100.0 |100.0 |98.0 |98.0
Child benefit claims accuracy (non s/forward) |97.0 |97.2 |97.5 |98.1 |97.5 |97.9 |97.5 |98.5 |<4>- |<4>-
One parent benefit accuracy |96.0 |96.0 |96.0 |97.0 |96.0 |97.0 |96.0 |98.5 |96.0 |96.5
Change of circs accuracy |96.5 |97.1 |96.5 |96.6 |96.5 |97.1 |96.5 |99.5 |96.5 |98.0
Guardians allowance accuracy |98.0 |99.6 |98.0 |100.0 |98.0 |100.0 |98.0 |100.0 |98.0 |100.0
Claims reserved to CPB accuracy |97.0 |97.8 |97.0 |98.6 |97.5 |99.0 |97.5 |98.2 |97.5 |99.4
Change of circs accuracy (OBs) |98.0 |98.4 |98.0 |98.9 |98.0 |99.5 |98.0 |96.9 |<4>- |<4>-
Change of circs accuracy (periodic payments) |96.5 |98.2 |96.5 |98.5 |96.5 |84.1 |96.5 |100.0 |96.5 |98.7
LPG claims accuracy |98.0 |91.6 |98.0 |99.0 |98.0 |99.2 |98.0 |97.9 |98.0 |98.5
Agency benefit accuracy |}92.5 |91.5 |92.5 |93.3 |92.5 |95.8 |- |- |- |-
Health benefit unit accuracy |}
OVB Long term benefits accuracy |97.4 |97.2 |97.0 |98.4 |97.0 |99.1 |97.0 |96.2 |97.0 |98.8
OVB Short term benefits |98.0 |91.9 |98.0 |99.7 |98.0 |97.5 |98.0 |100.0 |98.0 |99.6
OVB medical benefits |- |- |99.0 |100.0 |99.0 |98.6 |98.0 |100.0 |98.0 |99.8
<1> Includes Sickness Benefit, Invalidity Benefit, SDA and Maternity Allowance.
<2> Benefit ceased from April 1992.
<3> New benefit from April 1992.
<4> Child Benefit straight forward and non straight forward claims accuracy and Central Pensions Branch change of circs (OBs) and (periodic payments) accuracy combined from April 1992.
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Benefits agency accuracy targets and achievement 1988-89 to 1992-93
Benefit area |Target 1988-89 |Year end achievement|Target 1989-90 |Year end achievement|Target 1990-91 |Year end achievement|Target 1991-92 |Year end achievement|Target 1992-93 |Year end achievement
|Per cent. |Per cent. |Per cent. |Per cent. |Per cent.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income support accuracy |90.0 |90.3 |91.0 |92.1 |92.0 |93.7 |93.0 |95.7 |94.0 |94.4
Short term benefits accuracy<1> |96.0 |96.0 |96.3 |96.2 |96.5 |96.2 |96.5 |96.5 |96.5 |96.5
Family credit accuracy |96.0 |91.4 |93.0 |91.6 |93.0 |92.2 |93.0 |91.5 |94.0 |88.9
War pensions disablement claims accuracy |97.3 |95.3 |96.8 |93.1 |95.0 |94.1 |95.0 |94.5 |95.0 |97.7
War widows claims accuracy |98.5 |94.4 |98.5 |88.9 |98.5 |97.5 |98.5 |97.4 |98.5 |97.6
DLA accuracy<3> |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |96.0 |92.0
DWA accuracy<3> |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |95.0 |100.0
Legal aid accuracy |92.0 |92.6 |92.0 |93.5 |94.0 |95.9 |94.0 |94.8 |94.0 |94.6
Operational targets-ie set by the relevant Benefits Directorate; not the BA Management Team or Secretary of State.
Attendance allowance |99.0 |99.3 |99.0 |99.5 |99.0 |98.2 |99.0 |94.7 |<2>- |<2>-
Mobility allowance accuracy |98.5 |97.4 |98.5 |98.0 |98.5 |97.6 |98.5 |98.7 |<2>- |<2>-
Invalid care allowance accuracy |93.0 |96.5 |96.0 |96.9 |96.0 |96.5 |96.0 |97.2 |96.0 |99.1
Child benefit claims accuracy (s/forward) |100.0 |100.0 |100.0 |100.0 |100.0 |100.0 |100.0 |100.0 |98.0 |98.0
Child benefit claims accuracy (non s/forward) |97.0 |97.2 |97.5 |98.1 |97.5 |97.9 |97.5 |98.5 |<4>- |<4>-
One parent benefit accuracy |96.0 |96.0 |96.0 |97.0 |96.0 |97.0 |96.0 |98.5 |96.0 |96.5
Change of circs accuracy |96.5 |97.1 |96.5 |96.6 |96.5 |97.1 |96.5 |99.5 |96.5 |98.0
Guardians allowance accuracy |98.0 |99.6 |98.0 |100.0 |98.0 |100.0 |98.0 |100.0 |98.0 |100.0
Claims reserved to CPB accuracy |97.0 |97.8 |97.0 |98.6 |97.5 |99.0 |97.5 |98.2 |97.5 |99.4
Change of circs accuracy (OBs) |98.0 |98.4 |98.0 |98.9 |98.0 |99.5 |98.0 |96.9 |<4>- |<4>-
Change of circs accuracy (periodic payments) |96.5 |98.2 |96.5 |98.5 |96.5 |84.1 |96.5 |100.0 |96.5 |98.7
LPG claims accuracy |98.0 |91.6 |98.0 |99.0 |98.0 |99.2 |98.0 |97.9 |98.0 |98.5
Agency benefit accuracy |}92.5 |91.5 |92.5 |93.3 |92.5 |95.8 |- |- |- |-
Health benefit unit accuracy |}
OVB Long term benefits accuracy |97.4 |97.2 |97.0 |98.4 |97.0 |99.1 |97.0 |96.2 |97.0 |98.8
OVB Short term benefits |98.0 |91.9 |98.0 |99.7 |98.0 |97.5 |98.0 |100.0 |98.0 |99.6
OVB medical benefits |- |- |99.0 |100.0 |99.0 |98.6 |98.0 |100.0 |98.0 |99.8
<1> Includes Sickness Benefit, Invalidity Benefit, SDA and Maternity Allowance.
<2> Benefit ceased from April 1992.
<3> New benefit from April 1992.
<4> Child Benefit straight forward and non straight forward claims accuracy and Central Pensions Branch change of circs (OBs) and (periodic payments) accuracy combined from April 1992.
Income Maintenance
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has of the overall cost of provisions for income maintenance in Wales ; and what are the total amounts of expenditure, or revenue forgone, on (a) benefits, (b) administering benefits, (c) student grants, (d) statutory sick pay and statutory maternity pay, (e) income tax allowances, (f) income tax reliefs and (g) the total value of contracted-out rebates and two per cent. incentives in respect of personal pensions and contracted -out schemes.
Mr. Burt : It is not possible to provide a reply in the precise form requested as some of the income maintenance information is not collected or maintained separately for Wales. The latest information available is as follows.
(i) Expenditure on Income Support in Wales in 1989-90 was £442 million.
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(ii) Expenditure on Housing Benefit in Wales in 1992-93 was £380 million.
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