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Column 952
support costs, a transfer of £1,657,000 from the Inland Revenue in respect of services provided and minor transfers totalling a net £20, 000. Of the revised running cost provision, £174,692,000 is for the NIO and £555,632,000 is the NI departments.These changes will not add to the planned total of PE.
Benefits
Sir David Knox : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentages of adults and children, distinguishing between claimants, adult dependants and child dependants, received (a) supplementary benefit or income support, (b) family income supplement or family credit, (c) rent rebates or rent allowances or (d) rate rebates or community charge benefit or council tax benefit in each year since 1978-79.
Mr. Ancram : The available information is set out in the tables. Housing benefit is the Northern Ireland equivalent to community charge benefit and council tax benefit.
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Supplementary Benefit and Income Support
Year ending |Type of Benefit|Claimants |Dependent |Children
|Partners
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 1978 |Supplementary |116,446 |29,279 |70,545
|Benefit
December 1979 |Supplementary |115,359 |26,326 |64,790
|Benefit
December 1980 |Supplementary |128,993 |32,443 |80,308
|Benefit
December 1981 |Supplementary |149,977 |38,133 |93,595
|Benefit
December 1982 |Supplementary |164,888 |44,888 |109,863
|Benefit
December 1983 |Supplementary |174,515 |48,812 |117,083
|Benefit
December 1984 |Supplementary |180,806 |49,091 |116,258
|Benefit
February 1986 |Supplementary |184,374 |52,802 |135,251
|Benefit
May 1987 |Supplementary |190,780 |51,815 |134,052
|Benefit
May 1988 |Income Support |184,140 |44,940 |118,240
May 1989 |Income Support |183,400 |42,420 |121,900
May 1990 |Income Support |179,000 |38,500 |118,580
May 1991 Income Support 180,773 Figures Not Available
May 1992 |Income Support |199,820 |40,400 |139,420
May 1993 Income Support Figures Not Yet Available
NB. Income support replaced supplementary benefit on 11 April 1988.
Family Income Supplement and Family Credit
Year and type of |Families |Children
benefit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1978
Family Income Supplement |8,426 |30,402
1979
Family Income Supplement |7,898 |27,493
1980
Family Income Supplement |8,534 |28,857
1981
Family Income Supplement |11,295 |36,378
1982
Family Income Supplement |12,678 |38,734
1983
Family Income Supplement |13,357 |39,557
1984
Family Income Supplement figures not available
1985
Family Income Supplement |14,777 |42,613
1986
Family Income Supplement |14,941 |41,322
1987
Family Income Supplement |14,818 |40,399
1988
Family Credit |13,451 |34,897
1989
Family Credit |14,224 |36,204
1990
Family Credit |14,039 |35,073
1991
Family Credit |15,244 |37,294
1992
Family Credit |17,984 |42,532
1993
Family Credit figures not yet available
NB: Family credit replaced family income supplement on
11 April 1988.
Housing benefit recipients
Financial |Rent/rates|Rent/rates|Rates |Totals
year |rebates |allowances|rebates
|(housing |(private |(owner
|executive |tenants) |occupiers)
|tenants)
------------------------------------------------------------------
1984-85 |119,200 |19,000 |49,200 |187,400
1985-86 |117,600 |19,200 |47,600 |184,400
1986-87 |117,600 |20,100 |51,700 |189,400
1987-88 |118,300 |21,100 |54,000 |193,400
1988-89 |109,273 |20,253 |35,538 |165,064
1989-90 |109,113 |21,585 |28,200 |158,898
1990-91 |109,113 |21,519 |35,471 |166,103
1991-92 |110,206 |17,595 |32,598 |160,399
1992-93 |110,439 |26,162 |28,512 |165,113
NB: Housing benefit was introduced on 21 November 1983
Note: Figures for 1984-85 to 1987-88-inclusive-rounded to
nearest hundred
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Family income supplement and family credit
Families and children receiving FIS/family credit as proportion of
families and children receiving child benefit
Year and type of |Families |Children
benefit
|Per cent. |Per cent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1978
Family income supplement |4 |6
1979
Family income supplement |4 |6
1980
Family income supplement |4 |6
1981
Family income supplement |5 |8
1982
Family income supplement |6 |8
1983
Family income supplement |6 |8
1984
Family income supplement Figures not available
1985
Family income supplement |7 |9
1986
Family income supplement |7 |9
1987
Family income supplement |7 |9
1988
Family credit |6 |8
1989
Family credit |7 |8
1990
Family credit |6 |8
1991
Family credit |7 |8
1992
Family credit |8 |9
1993
Family credit Figures not yet available
Note:Family credit replaced family income supplement on 11 April 1988.
Column 953
Supplementary Benefit and Income Support
|Children dependent
|on
|Supplementary |Income Support/
|Benefit/
|Income Support |Supplementary
|Benefit
|Mid-year total adult|claimants and |Total number of |as a percentage of
|dependent
|(16+) population |partners as a |children in receipt |children receiving
|percentage |of
Year and type of |estimates |of the adult |Child Benefit |Child Benefit
benefit |population
|Per cent. |Per cent.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1978
Supplementary Benefit |1,034,061 |14 |481,349 |15
1979
Supplementary Benefit |1,043,306 |14 |488,114 |13
1980
Supplementary Benefit |1,051,772 |15 |489,050 |16
1981
Supplementary Benefit |1,065,301 |18 |478,712 |20
1982
Supplementary Benefit |1,071,588 |20 |474,086 |23
1983
Supplementary Benefit |1,080,683 |21 |470,528 |25
1984
Supplementary Benefit |1,091,449 |21 |467,556 |25
1985
Supplementary Benefit |1,101,960 |<1>- |465,144 |<1>-
1986
Supplementary Benefit |1,112,556 |21 |463,178 |29
1987
Supplementary Benefit |1,122,715 |22 |459,962 |29
1988
Income Support |1,128,038 |20 |461,056 |26
1989
Income Support |1,135,388 |20 |459,274 |27
1990
Income Support |1,142,825 |19 |459,646 |26
1991
Income Support |1,156,767 |<1>- |461,314 |<1>-
1992
Income Support |1,171,347 |21 |463,098 |30
1993
Income Support |1,180,000 |<2>- |<2>- |<2>-
<1> Figures not available.
<2> Figures not yet available.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
St. Helena
Dr. Marek : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commowealth Affairs how many times property on St. Helena has fallen forfeit to Her Majesty's Government ; and if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which this occurs.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : We are aware of one case in which a real property has technically fallen forfeit to Her Majesty. However, under the relevant legislation the Government of St. Helena would have to follow further procedures in order to give effect to that forfeiture. The Government of St. Helena have declared that they have no plans to take these steps. I will write to the hon. Gentleman shortly setting out the legal background.
Ministers (Travel)
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the (a) budgeted and (b) actual expenditure by his Department on (1) internal and (2) overseas travel by the Secretary of State in 1989-90 and after 26 October 1989, 1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93 and so far in 1993-94.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : There is no separate budget for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs' internal travel, which is minimal.
Column 956
Similarly, his overseas travel is paid from a budget shared with other FCO Ministers. The figures for actual expenditure since 1989 on his overseas travel are :
|£
-----------------------------------------------------------
1 April 1989 to 26 October 1989 |287,856.86
27 October 1989 to 31 March 1990 |506,903.44
1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991 |694,404.04
1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992 |1,037,373.50
1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993 |1,569,712.00
1 April 1993 to date |1,021,503.70
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all the overseas visits that have been made by Foreign Office Ministers since June 1987 ; and what was the purpose of each visit.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The information is available in a table of 30 pages which has been placed in the Library.
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what ministerial visits have been made by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including the Overseas Development Administration, over each of the last three years to (a) Indonesia, (b) Jordan, (c) Oman, (d) Nigeria, (e) Ecuador, (f) Malaysia and (g) India ; and what was their main purpose in each case.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Over the last three years, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers including the Minister for Overseas Development have made the following visits to the named countries.
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Country |Minister |Date |Purpose of visit
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indonesia |Lord Caithness |April 1991 |Bilateral
|Mr. Goodlad |October 1992 |Bilateral
|Secretary of State |April 1993 |Bilateral
Jordan |Secretary of State |January 1991 |Bilateral
|Mr. Hogg |March 1991 |Bilateral
|Mr. Hogg |July 1993 |Bilateral
|Secretary of State |January 1994 |Bilateral
Oman |Nil
Nigeria |Mrs. Chalker |January 1991 |Bilateral
|Secretary of State |January 1993 |Bilateral
|Baroness Chalker |January 1993 |Bilateral
Ecuador |Mr. Garel-Jones |June 1993 |Bilateral
Malaysia |Lord Caithness |April 1991 |Bilateral
|Lord Caithness |October 1991 |Bilateral
|Secretary of State |July 1992 |Bilateral
|Mr. Goodlad |April 1993 |Bilateral
India |Secretary of State |May 1991 |Funeral of Rajiv Gandhi
|Mr. Lennox-Boyd |September 1991 |CPA Conference
|Secretary of State |January 1992 |Bilateral
|Mrs. Chalker |February 1992 |Bilateral
|Mr. Lennox-Boyd |March 1992 |EC Troika
|Secretary of State |November 1993 |Bilateral
Lockerbie Bombing
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Libya to make two of its citizens available to face charges concerning the Lockerbie bombing ; what responses he has recently received from the Libyan Government on this matter ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : I have made no such representations. The Libyan Government are fully aware of the requirements of the United Nations Security Council, and in particular that they should ensure the apearance of those accused of the Lockerbie bombing for trial before the appropriate United States or United Kingdom court.
South Pacific Commission
Dr. Marek : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the reasons for withdrawing from the South Pacific Commission.
Mr. Goodlad : Withdrawal from membership of the South Pacific Commission will allow us to concentrate limited financial resources where they will have most effect, on maintaining a bilateral diplomatic presence in a number of south Pacific countries, and on a continuing bilateral and multilateral aid programme. Since the New Hebrides became independent as Vanuatu in 1980 the United Kingdom's right to membership of the commission has depended solely on the existence of the Pitcairn island dependency. Withdrawal will not affect support for the commission's development projects, which is met from the Overseas Development Aministration's aid programme budget.
Column 958
Belize
Dr. Spink : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current security of Belize ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The sovereignty and independence of Belize are recognised by all members of the United Nations. Belize is also a member of the Organisation of American States. We have made clear our readiness to participate with others in any consultations arising from a future threat to Belize's security.
Dr. Spink : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise the issue of the security of Belize and the political instability in Guatemala at the United Nations Security Council ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : I have no plans to do so. Belize is a member of the United Nations and would be free to raise this issue if she so wished.
Korea
Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent talks have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and the United States of America concerning the current situation on the Korean peninsula.
Mr. Goodlad : We are in regular and continuous contact with the United States government on Korean matters.
Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on the peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula.
Mr. Goodlad : We have consistently supported efforts to achieve peaceful reunification of the two Koreas. This requires an early resumption of substantive discussions between them.
Column 959
Flight ULE 966
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 25 January, Official Report, column 145, how many Jamaican citizens intending to travel to the United Kingdom on flight ULE 966 arriving at Gatwick on 21 December checked special travel documentation, issued by Caribbean Gold, the tour operators, with officials at the British high commission ; and what advice these passengers received.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The British high commission in Kingston has no record of any enquiries from Jamaican citizens holding special travel documentation from Caribbean Gold.
Azerbaijan
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the supply of arms to Azerbaijan ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Since February 1992 a voluntary Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe embargo has been in place in the supply of military equipment to the parties in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We have stood by the terms of this embargo and will continue to do so.
As I made clear in my answer to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) on 27 January, Official Report, column 467 , it would be a serious matter if a British company were found to be breaking this embargo.
European Union
Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The following meetings are planned. 7-8 February : Foreign Affairs Council.
14 February : ECOFIN Council.
21-22 February : Agriculture Council.
The following subjects are likely to be discussed :
(a) Foreign Affairs Council : 7-8 February
Presidency priorities : open debate
EP resolutions
White Paper on Growth, Competitiveness and Employment : follow-up Accession negotiations : preparation for negotiating meetings CFSP financing
Appointments to Court of Auditors
Ombudsman decision
Relations with Baltic countries : negotiating mandate
Russia : progress of negotiations on partnership and co-operation agreement
Ukraine
Relations with EP, in particular
Legislative programme
Inter-institutional agreements
Ratification of decision on EP seats
Former Yugoslavia
Appointment of European observer in Cyprus
Relations with Algeria : Union position for Co-operation Council Council regulation on implementing EEA
Negotiating mandate for mid-term review of Lome IV
Trade policy problems
Trade policy instruments
Column 960
Transfer of jurisdiction to Court of First InstanceUruguay Round : preparation for Marrakesh meeting
Conclusion of US/EC agreement of spirits
Budget discipline
Dual use of goods
Other business : relations with Switzerland
(b) ECOFIN Council : 14 February
Presidency work programme (possible)
Portuguese convergence programme
Follow-up to White Paper on Growth, Competitiveness and Employment
EMU implementation
7th VAT Directive
(c) Agriculture Council : 21-22 February
Spanish and Portuguese accession--wine (possible)
Greek agricultural surveys (possible)
Genetic resources (possible)
European forestry information and communication system (possible) Wine balance sheets (possible)
Milk producers compensation (possible)
Price-fixing
Wine regime reform (possible)
Plant breeders rights
Cash Limits
Mr. Cyril D. Townsend : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further changes he proposes to make in his Department's diplomatic wing cash limits and running cost limits for 1993- 94.
Mr. Goodlad : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the following changes will be made. The cash limit for class II, vote 1--overseas representation--will be reduced by £2,027,000 from £818,609,000 to £816,582,000.
The gross running costs limit on class II, vote 1 will be reduced by £10,228,000 from £579,877,000 to £569,649,000 following a transfer of provision to class II, vote 2 and vote 4.
The cash limit for class II, vote 2--other external relations--will be increased by £100,827,000 from £301,230,000 to £402,057,000. The increase will be met by underspends of £9.2 million on vote 1, by underspends of £1.8 million on vote 2 and by increased appropriations in aid. The balance will be charged to the reserve.
The cash limit for class II, vote 4--the British Council--will be increased by £4,636,000 in respect of adverse foreign currency movements-- £2,636,000--and restructuring costs--£2,000,000. The amounts will be met by a claim on the reserve and by underspends on vote 1 respectively.
As the increases will be offset by savings and charges to the reserve, they will not add to the planned total of public expenditure.
LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
Cash Limits
Mr. Page : To ask the Lord President of the Council what changes he proposes to the Privy Council Office vote cash and running costs limits for 1993-94.
Mr. Newton : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit of class XIX, vote 3 will be increased by £7,000 from £2,308,000 to £2,315,000 and the running costs by £47,000 from £2,330,000 to £2,377,000.
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The increase in the cash limit reflects the transfer of funds from Property Holdings class VII vote 6 owing to increased accommodation costs and will not add to the planned total of public expenditure. The increase in the running costs reflects the transfer from Property Holdings ; the additional £40,000 is for the cost of the central drugs co-ordination unit and the ambit of class XIX, vote 3 is to be modified accordingly.SCOTLAND
Diabetics
Mr. Connarty : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what policy he has for targeting care towards insulin-dependent diabetics who are lone parents ;
(2) what measures he has in place, or intends to introduce, to encourage diabetics to be more open about their condition and to ensure adequate support in the community.
Mr. Stewart : As part of their treatment, insulin dependent diabetics are advised of the crucial importance of maintaining an injecting and dietary routine, and of regularly measuring blood sugar levels, in order to reduce the risk of falling into a diabetic coma. It is particularly important that those living alone, and lone parents, should follow this advice closely and consider keeping neighbours or relations informed of their movements.
A joint task force of the Department of Health and the British Diabetic Association, with Scottish and other United Kingdom Health Department representation, is currently considering the implementation in the United Kingdom of the St. Vincent declaration of the World Health Organisation on the care of diabetic patients. As part of its work, the task force is considering how best to promote the self-care and community support of diabetic citizens--including those living alone and lone parents--and their fullest possible integration into society.
Tups
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the cost to the Treasury of hiring out tups under the tup and bull scheme in the crofting counties ; and what are the projected savings if the tups were instead to be sold to crofters.
Sir Hector Monro : The various livestock improvement schemes for crofters, including the ram supply scheme, cost approximately £800, 000 in 1992-93 of which £300,000 was offset by charges and other income generated by the stud farms. The change from a ram supply to a ram purchase scheme should reduce the net annual deficit associated with the schemes by about £125,000.
Crofter Housing Scheme
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place a copy of the PIEDA report on the crofter housing scheme in the Library when it is completed ; and if he will state the cost of commissioning the report.
Sir Hector Monro : My Department has commissioned PIEDA plc to undertake an evaluation study of the crofters, etcetera, building grants and loans scheme. The report of the study will be published shortly and I shall arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library.
Column 962
For reasons of commercial confidentiality, I am unable to provide details of the cost of commissioning the report.Cervical Smear Tests
Mr. Donohoe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 20 January, Official Report, column 759, if he will make it his policy to monitor centrally the amount of time taken to notify women of the results of their cervical smear tests within each health board area.
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