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Child Dependency Additions
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what saving in the cost of child dependency additions will result from deferring entitlement from 28 to 52 weeks of incapacity, in 1995-96 and each subsequent year for which estimates are available ; and what are the average numbers of families and children expected to be affected in each year.
Mr. Scott : The information is in the table :
|1995-96 |1996-97
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Savings<1> |£5 million|£5 million
Estimated number of families affected<2> |10,000 |10,000
Estimated number of children affected<2> |20,000 |20,000
<1> Estimates expressed in constant 1993-94 prices, rounded to the
nearest
£5 million, and are net of offsetting expenditure on income-related
benefits.
<2> Figures given are the average number of cases affected at a point in
time
in the years concerned, rounded to the nearest 10,000.
Advisory Panel on Assessment of Incapacity
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will consult the members of the Advisory Panel on Assessment of Incapacity as to their willingness to have their identity revealed to hon. Members ; and if he will publish the names of those who have no objection ;
(2) if he will make the briefing and background papers which are supplied to members of the Advisory Panel on Assessment of Incapacity available on request to organisations not represented on the panel ; (3) which organisations are represented on the Advisory Panel on Assessment of Incapacity ; and by what criteria they were selected.
Mr. Scott : I am not willing to consult or publish as suggested. The assessment panel members have not been selected as
representatives of particular organisations. I explained my reasons in Standing Committee E on the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Bill on 1 February at columns 27-28.
I can reassure the hon. Member that copies of the background paper used by the assessment panel are available from this Department.
European Law
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 26 January, Official Report, column 265, if he will outline what is meant by the referral to the European Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling on questions of European Law ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : If a court or tribunal isa member state is unclear on a question of European law in a case before it, the issue can be referred to the European Court of Justice for a definitive interpretation of the provisions of European law in question. Such a referral can be made by any court or tribunal if it considers that a decision on the issue is necessary to enable judgment to be given. Once the European Court of Justice has answered the question, it is sent back to the national court or tribunal, which then applies the ruling to the case before it. Such a ruling by the European Court of Justice, interpreting provisions of European law at the request of a national court or tribunal, is called a preliminary ruling.
Child Support Agency
Mr. Bayley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the projected expenditure in 1993-94 on staff wages for the Child Support Agency.
Mr. Burt : The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. Hugh Bayley, dated 3 February 1994 :
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking for details about the projected expenditure on staff wages in the Child Support Agency in 1993/94.
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Of the total budget of £116 million allocated for the Agency's capital and running costs in 1993/94, approximately £74 million is for staffing costs.I hope you find this information useful.
Mr. Ingram : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on how many occasions since April 1993 the Child Support Agency has issued letters alleging parenthood which have been subsequently withdrawn as being in error.
Mr. Burt : The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. Adam Ingram, dated 3 February 1994:
I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security, asking about maintenance enquiry forms (MEFs) sent in error by the Child Support Agency. The information requested is not collected. It is estimated, however, that of the 344,000 MEFs issued to the end of December 1993, less than 0.05 per cent. have been withdrawn owing to error. I hope that you find this reply helpful.
Child Support Act 1991
Miss Lestor : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to publish the report in connection with the operation of the Child Support Act 1991 in relation to ethnic minorities ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Burt [holding answer 28 January 1994] : Prior to the launch of the Child Support Agency, the Department of Social Security commissioned surveys on the new system of child maintenance among a number of groups, including Asian and Afro-Caribbean communities. These surveys were carried out with a view to developing specific publicity campaigns and were taken into account in addressing the information needs of the communities but were not intended for publication.
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Elderly People
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his Department's estimate of the number of people who will be aged (a) 65 years and over and (b) 80 years and over for each year to 2010.
Mr. Hague [pursuant to his reply, 28 January 1994, c. 446] : The information contained a typographical error. The estimate for the number of people--in thousands--aged 80 and over in 2001 should read "2,499".
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Industrial Research Establishments
Mr. Ingram : To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date he received a copy of the KPMG report on his Department's industrial research establishments ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Heseltine : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) on 4 May 1993, Official Report , column 4 , when I undertook to report the conclusions of the KPMG report to the House. An initial report was received from KPMG in November 1993 and further work has been commissioned which I expect to be completed in the near future.
Coal and Steel Industries
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total budget allocated by the European Community, under the European Coal and Steel Community treaty, to assist the improvement of economic and social conditions in the coal and steel-producing regions of the EC, giving figures separately, and in each year since their establishment, for (a) industrial loans, (b) conversion loans in areas where coal and steel industries h ave suffered severe job losses, (c) housing loans to improve living conditions for coal and steel workers, (d) readapation grants for workers made redundant in coal and steel industries, (e) RECHAR, (f) RESIDER and (g) coal and steel research ; and what proportion of each of these grants has been awarded to (i) the northern region and (ii) the United Kingdom as a whole.
Mr. Sainsbury : The information is as follows :
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|EC |All member |United Kingdom |United Kingdom
|states |share |percentage share
|(million ecu) |(million ecu) |(million ecu)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total ECSC loans advanced 1952-92 |19,670.4 |- |4,792.8 |24.0
Total disbursement of conversion loans at
31 December 1992 |- |5,485.2 |1,893.8 |34.5
Total disbursement of article 54 loans at
31 December 1992 |- |13,624.7 |2,862.8 |21.0
Total loans for workers' houses disbursed
at 31 December 1992 |- |560.5 |36.2 |6.5
Research Programmes
A total figure for the period 1952-92 and a breakdown by country is not readily available, figures for the last three years are given :
Steel industry |Coal industry ------------------------------------------------------------ 1990 |43 |36 1991 |62 |48 1992 |58 |48
|RECHAR |RESIDER
|(million ecu<1>)|(million ecu<1>)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total EC |325 |131
United Kingdom share |158 |5
Northern England |26 |5
<1> at 1993 prices.
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£ million
|ECSC
|contribution
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iron and steel employees readaptation benefits scheme
at 1990 prices-1974 to 1992 |282
Readaptation benefits to coal workers-1984 to 1993 |266
Source: Evaluation report EMIS 6.
A more detailed breakdown is not readily available but some further information is available in the ECSC financial report for 1992, which I am arranging to be placed in the Library of the House.
Special Advisers
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 17 December, Official Report, column 986, what are the special adviser Lady Strathnaver's particular qualifications, expertise or experience relating to his departmental responsibilities.
Mr. Heseltine : She does her job well.
Pension Funds
Mr. Nigel Jones : To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many court cases have involved superannuation scheme transfers by state- owned industries since 1988 ; and what were their outcomes ; (2) which state-owned industries have used superannuation scheme surpluses for uses other than those for which the funds were established since 1988 ; and if he will make a statement ; (3) how state-owned industries' pension fund trustees are consulted over changes to the funds ;
(4) how many trustees are appointed to each of the state-owned industries' pension funds ; how they are selected ; and if he will name the current trustees in each case.
Mr. Eggar : The management of the pension funds of state-owned industries is a matter for the individual industry concerned and for the fund trustees.
Public Bodies
Dr. Wright : To ask the President of the Board of Trade which non- departmental public bodies for which he is responsible have been (a) abolished or (b) created since 1979.
Mr. Eggar : I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 1 February 1994, Official Report, column 611.
British Gas
Mr. Hain : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total grant aid received by British Gas from the European Community for key infrastructure improvements prior to privatisation.
Mr. Eggar : This subject is a matter for the board of British Gas. I have therefore passed on this request to the chairman of British Gas.
Insurance
Mr. Cousins : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what review he makes of insurance companies' participation in block insurance schemes of insurance
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companies premium rate policies in respect of geographical areas and of insurance discounts for neighbourhood watch and allied schemes.Mr. Neil Hamilton : None. The Secretary of State's powers under the Insurance Companies Act 1982 are primarily concerned with the solvency of insurance companies and, except where such matters are concerned, he does not intervene in their day-to-day business.
Cash Limits
Mr. Burns : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes will be made to his Department's cash limits and running costs limits for 1993-94.
Mr. Heseltine : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class IV, vote 1--support for business, consumer and investor protection, energy programmes and administration--will be increased by £1,789,000 from £1,237,111,000 to £1,238,900,000.
An increase in the gross running costs limit for the Department of Trade and Industry from £328,299,000 to £330,088,000 fully accounts for this amount. The increase largely results from the take-up of £1, 528,000 under the end year flexibility arrangements announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 14 July 1993, Official Report, columns 512-17. The balance is accounted for by transfers from Property Holdings of £245,000 and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of £28,000 offset by a transfer to the Office of Public Service and Science of £12,000 in respect of machinery of government changes. There are some other changes in the allocation of provision. This includes a net increase of expenditure by the Warren Spring Laboratory and United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority merger costs amounting to £5,591,000 and £200,000 towards support for the mining equipment industry. These amounts are offset by a corresponding reduction on the fast reactor energy programme.
Chlorofluorocarbons
Mr. Cryer : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of CFCs was exported from the United Kigdom for each year from 1990 to 1993.
Mr. McLoughlin : In 1990 the United Kingdom exported 48,400 metric tonnes of CFCs. These are defined as chlorinated and fluorinated derivatives of acylic hydrocarbons and comprise commodity codes 290340100 to 290340600 of the combined nomenclature. More recent information is not available due to commercial confidentiality.
WALES
Teachers
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many full- time teachers were employed by Welsh local education authorities in the years 1991-92, 1992-93 and 1993-94.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The latest available data are for 1992-93. The information for that and earlier years is
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contained in "Statistics of Education and Training in Wales : Schools", No. 2, 1994,--tables 6.03 and 6.06--published on 2 February 1994.Channel Tunnel
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made as to the effect the operation of the channel tunnel will have on transport in Wales ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Road transport will have good access to the tunnel via the trunk road and motorway network. It is for the railway operators to assess the needs of their customers. Connections with the inter-capital services from Waterloo are expected this year. Services are expected to develop as British Rail's schedules become fully operational.
Gross Domestic Product
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current gross domestic product per head by constituency in Wales.
Mr. Redwood : Estimates of gross domestic product are not available for areas smaller than counties.
A470
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when plans will be brought forward to upgrade the A470 road between Betws y Coed and Blaenau Ffestiniog ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The draft orders for the first stage of the improvement, between Cancoed and Minffordd, were published on 30 November 1993. Further stages are being progressed.
Redundancy Payments
Mr. Ieun Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the total amounts spent on redundancy payments for each Welsh health authority or trust, and for Wales as a whole, for each year since 1987.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The information requested is not available centrally.
Equal Opportunities
Mr. Roger Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what he is doing to promote equal opportunities for women entrepreneuses in Wales ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Assistance for business start-ups and for existing businesses is of course available on an equal opportunities basis throughout Wales, but women entrepreneuses can face additional challenges and I am funding the consortium Chwarae Teg to report on the appropriateness of existing business support services in meeting the particular needs of women. In the light of these findings, Chwarae Teg will develop an action plan for improving those services.
Column 948
Landfill Sites
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the landfill refuse disposal sites in Wales (a) which are licensed for co- disposal and (b) for which applications for licences for co-disposal have been made but not yet granted.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : This information is not maintained centrally. I would refer the hon. Member to the district councils which are responsible for licensing waste disposal facilities.
Breast Cancer
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of women in the eligible target group have been screened for breast cancer in the last three years in Wales ; how many women have breast cancer ; and how many women died from breast cancer in Wales.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : As at 31 March 1993, 39 per cent. of the eligible women in Wales--women aged 50 to 64--were known to have been screened for breast cancer in the previous three years as part of the national screening programme. However, it should be noted that the screening centres for the populations in north and west Wales did not become operational until the end of 1991 and the beginning of 1992 respectively.
Estimates of the number of women who currently have breast cancer are not available centrally. However, an average of 1,685 new breast cancer cases per year were registered for Welsh residents for the period 1984 to 1988.
In the three years to 31 December 1992 there were 2,365 deaths of Welsh female residents from breast cancer.
Health Promotion Authority
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales concerning the calling in of the district auditor to investigate fraud and embezzlement in the authority ;
(2) on what date the district auditor was requested to investigate the travel budget of the health promotion for Wales ; and on what date he expects to receive the auditor's report.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : On 13 December 1993, following an internal enquiry, the chairman of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales requested the district audit service to carry out a full investigation of all expenses claims for international travel. Its investigation is continuing and a report is expected in mid-February. The chairman has kept the Department informed throughout and is continuing to do so.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales, the chairman of the South Glamorgan health authority and the provost of the Welsh National School of Medicine in relation to the total cumulative salary and terms and conditions of employment present and future of the executive director of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Professor Catford has resigned from both his authority and college posts with immediate
Column 949
effect from Wednesday 2 February 1994. He therefore has no present or future terms and conditions of employment in relation to the Health Promotion Authority for Wales.Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received in relation to the travel expenses of the executive director of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : To date, I have received one letter and 11 parliamentary questions from the hon. Member.
Cervical Cancer
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of women in the target group have had a cervical cancer smear test in Wales within the last five years ; how many women in Wales have cervical cancer ; and how many women died of cervical cancer.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : As at 31 March 1993 an estimated 84 per cent. of women in the target group--women aged 20 to 64 resident in the district but excluding those no longer required to be screened--were known to have had a cervical smear test in the previous five years as part of the national recall system.
Estimates of the number of women who currently have cervical cancer are not available centrally. However, an average of 373 new cervical cancer cases per year were registered for Welsh residents for the period 1984 to 1988.
In the five years to 31 December 1992 there were 611 deaths of Welsh residents from cervical cancer.
Cash Limits
Mr. Richards : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what changes he proposes to make to the cash limits for his Department in the current financial year.
Mr. Redwood : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limit on class XV, vote 2 will be increased by £4,500,000 from £173,940,000 to £178,440,000 ; the cash limit on class XV, vote 8 will be reduced by £22,145,000 from £1,381, 726,000 to £1,359,581,000 ; and the cash limit on class XV, vote 9 will be increased by £404,000 from £65,142,000 to £65,546,000. The local authority capital cash limit--WO/LACAP--will be increased by £358,000 from £409,185,000 to £409,543,000 and the cash limit on the European regional development fund--WO/ERDF--will be reduced by £18,116,000 from £50,650,000 to £32,534,000. The running costs limit for the Department will be increased by £165,000 from £77,284,000 to £77,449, 000.
The increase in the cash limit for class XV, vote 2 is required partly to offset a forecast shortfall in receipts by the Welsh Development Agency.
The net reduction in the cash limit for class XV, vote 8 arises mainly from the transfer of provision to class XV, vote 7 in respect of (i) a revised estimate of drug expenditure for GP fundholders--£6, 750,000--and (ii) NHS trusts--£16,182,000. These transfers comprise part of a spring supplementary estimate for class XV, vote 7 of £46, 178,000.
The increase in the cash limit for class XV, vote 9 comprises mainly a transfer of £147,000 from the Property Services Agency and additional resources for capital expenditure of £250,000.
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There are also changes to two non-voted cash limits. The increase in the cash limit for WO/LACAP is in respect of a transfer from HO/LACAP in respect of the replacement of fire service mobilisation and communication systems. The reduction in the cash limit for WO/ERDF reflects lower than expected expenditure on ERDF projects in 1993- 94.None of the proposed changes will add to the planned total of public expenditure.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Special Advisers
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 16 December, Official Report, column 871, what are the particular qualifications, experience or expertise relating to Northern Ireland of the special adviser Mr. Jonathon Caine.
Sir Patrick Mayhew : It is not my practice to comment on the qualifications, expertise or experience of my special adviser.
Public Bodies
Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible have been (a) abolished or (b) created since 1979.
Sir John Wheeler : I refer the hon. Member to the answer given him by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 1 February, Official Report, column 611.
Statutory Sick Pay
Mr. Ingram : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide figures for the amount his Department has been reimbursed by the Department of Social Security in respect of statutory sick pay provision for each of the past three years.
Sir John Wheeler : The information requested is as follows :
Year |Amount
|£
------------------------------
1990-91 |93,269.04
1991-92 |60,164.56
1992-93 |63,817.38
Cash Limits
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on cash and running costs limits for the Northern Ireland Office, Northern Ireland departmental services, the independent living fund and certain national agricultural schemes for 1993- 94.
Sir John Wheeler : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, it is proposed that the cash limit for class XVI, vote 1--the Northern Ireland Office--will be increased by £29,526,000 from £895,440,000 to £924,966,000.
The cash limit for most Northern Ireland departmental services will be decreased by £46,165,000 from
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£3,628,922,000 to £3,582,757,000. This decrease arises from the transfer of £22,333,000 to the Northern Ireland Office cash limit and other technical changes of £23,832,000 net.The cash limit for the independent living fund will decrease by £52,000 to reflect a reduction in provision earlier in the year. The cash limit covering national agricultural capital grant schemes and certain assistance for production, marketing and processing and the fishing industry will decrease by £1,063,000 from £11,027,000 to £9,964,000 mainly as a result of transfers to non-cash-limited areas.
The combined running cost limit for the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland departments will be increased by £6,869,000 from £723,455,000 to £730,324,000. This reflects the take-up of £3,582,000 end-year flexibility entitlement announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 14 July 1993, Official Report, columns 511-17, a net transfer of £1,610,000 from the Department of Social Security, mainly in respect of child
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