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Mr. Maclean : Excluding cases over 12 months old, the average time taken in 1993 to complete consideration of an allegation of wrongful conviction was 43 days. On 1 January 1994, there were 23 cases which had been under consideration for more than 12 months.
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Court of Appeal (Referred Cases)
Ms Corston : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were referred to the Court of Appeal following investigation by his Department in each of the last five years.
Mr. Maclean : The information requested is provided in the following table :
Cases referred under section 17(1)(a) of
the Criminal Appeal Act 1968
|Number |Number of
|of cases |defendants
--------------------------------------------
(a) In respect of conviction:
1989 |3 |6
1990 |7 |20
1991 |10 |12
1992 |8 |11
1993 |8 |9
(b) In respect of sentence only:
1989 |7 |7
1990 |3 |3
1991 |4 |4
1992 |1 |1
1993 |1 |1
Criminal Cases Review Authority
Mr. Streeter : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made towards establishing the proposed criminal cases review authority recommended by the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice.
Mr. Howard : I have today published a discussion paper, "Criminal Appeals and the Establishment of a Criminal Cases Review Authority". The paper sets out the issues to be settled before any new arrangements for the investigation of alleged miscarriages of justice can be put in place, discusses how these might be resolved and asks those interested to comment by the end of May. I think the paper will be of considerable interest to a great many people and I look forward to hearing their views.
I have placed a copy of the paper in the Libraries of both Houses.
TREASURY
Advertising
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 10 March, Official Report, column 330, what was the statistical basis for his statements that the advertisements increased public awareness of the circulating standard £5 coronation anniversary crown and that there were significant increases in the number of crowns issued after the advertisements appeared.
Mr. Nelson : The advertising campaign for the circulation standard £5 coronation anniversary crown sought to encourage sales. The effectiveness of the advertising was measured by sample surveys. These showed that the numbers of people who knew about the coins increased from 10 per cent. to 43 per cent. after the advertisements had been shown. The surveys also showed that most people knew that the coins
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could be obtained from banks and post offices. Of those people who had seen the advertisements, 47 per cent. had seen them in the press, and 39 per cent. on television.The coins were issued to the public by banks and post offices and sample information given to the mint showed a fourfold increase in the demand for the coins after the television advertisements were shown.
Bank of England
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff are employed by the economics division of the Bank of England ; at what cost to the Exchequer directly or indirectly ; and whether he will propose that that division should be contracted out to the private sector.
Mr. Nelson : The Bank of England employs around 75 people in the economics division including secretarial, clerical and information technology staff. The costs of these functions are in effect met by the bank's income from non-interest bearing deposits placed with the bank by the banking sector. There is no cost to the Exchequer. I understand that the bank has no plans to contract out this function.
Economic Policies (Environmental Implications)
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what matters in regard to the environmental implications of economic policies were discussed during his dinner with Vice-President Gore in Detroit on 14 March.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : We discussed the environmental implications of a range of economic issues.
Economic and Finance Council
Mr. Burns : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the most recent Council meeting of European Economic and Finance Ministers.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : The Economic and Finance Council of the European Union (ECOFIN) met in Brussels on 21 March. I represented the United Kingdom.
The Council heard a report from the President of the Court of Auditors on the Community's 1992 budget. The Council agreed to recommend that the European Parliament grants a discharge to the Commission on the 1992 budget. The recommendation calls upon the Commission to report back on specific areas criticised by the Court of Auditors and on any follow-up action the Commission takes. I and others emphasised the importance the Council attached to improving financial management and tackling fraud in the Community budget. Later in the day the Commission trailed its forthcoming strategic programme for the fight against fraud in 1994. The Commission welcomed my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's proposal for action under title VI.
The Council reached political agreement on the budget discipline decision. It will now go to the European Parliament for conciliation. The text of the decision makes clear that the guideline limit may only be increased or exceeded by unanimous decision of the Council and a 1997 deadline will be applied to the special arrangements for dealing with agrimonetary costs. The Council also agreed a declaration providing for a formula-based adjustment of the guideline to take account of enlargement.
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The Council discussed the new own resources decision but agreement on this was not possible because Italy maintained a general political reserve.The Council discussed balance of payments assistance to the countries of central and eastern Europe. The Council agreed to provide 110 million ecus in assistance to Bulgaria in support of the proposed International Monetary Fund programme. The Commission indicated that it would put forward proposals for a further 40 million ecus of support to Bulgaria and 125 million ecus for Romania. These proposals will be considered in due course.
The Council discussed the convergence programme of Denmark which covers the period 1994 to 2000. The Council applauded the aim of the Danish authorities to fulfil the convergence criteria outlined in the treaty on European union in 1996, although Denmark is not committed to participating in stage 3 of economic and monetary union. However, it raised questions on some elements of the programme. In particular, it considered the assumptions on the revival of private sector expenditure slightly optimistic. These assumptions play an important role in the achievement of the programme's main targets, which include a reduction in unemployment and a reduction in the fiscal deficit following an initial temporary loosening.
The council took note of reports on follow-up work by the Commission on the White Paper and agreed to require the Economic Policy Committee to report regularly on member states' progress in implementing labour market reforms.
As requested by the December ECOFIN the Commission presented an interim report on contacts with non-member states on the proposed withholding tax on savings in the EU. The Commission's final report is expected later this year but it was made clear to the Council that any proposals on this subject would be unlikely to secure United Kingdom agreement.
The Council took note of an appeal by the Commission to make faster progress on the proposed directive on withholding taxes on interest and royalties.
The Commission presented its recommendation on the taxation of non- residents, noting that it would evaluate the extent to which member states had followed the recommendation.
There were no formal votes on issues discussed in the Council.
Personal Investment Authority
Mr. Darling : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to meet Mr. Joe Palmer and Ms Colette Bowe of the Personal Investment Authority to discuss its future.
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 24 March 1994] : My right hon. Friend and I meet members of the regulatory bodies from time to time.
Economic Forecasting
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider modifications to the Treasury's methods of economic forecasting in order to take into account the impact of environmental factors on the economy.
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 24 March 1994] : The Treasury will continue to use the current system of national accounts as the basis for its economic forecast. However,
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the Central Statistical Office and Department of the Environment are engaged in the long term development of environmental accounts and indicators to provide information about the impact of environmental factors on the economy. This work is still in its early stages, but an illustrative set of accounts was published in Economic Trends in November 1992.LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
Malaysian Airlines
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the dates on which occupants of his office or officials of the Council have used the Malaysian airline MAS for each year since 1985, including this year to date, on official business ; and what was the cost to his Department of each flight.
Mr. Newton : No occupants of my office and no Privy Council officials have used the Malaysian airline MAS in the course of official business since 1985.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Child Care Facilities
Mr. Soley : To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what proposals the Committee has to provide nappy changing facilities for the children of hon. Members and staff.
Mr. Ray Powell : The Committee has no proposals to meet this specific requirement.
Mr. Soley : To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what facilities exist in the House for child care.
Mr. Michael J. Martin : None. The matter is under consideration.
Mr. Soley : To ask the Committee of the Catering Committee what is the Committee's policy on special provision for children ; and how many child high chairs are available in each catering outlet at the House.
Mr. Colin Shepherd : The Committee has not so far considered any specific policy on provision for children. I understand from the Director of Catering Services that the Refreshment Department has two high chairs which are available on request.
Mr. Soley : To ask the Lord President of the Council what plans he has to make provision in the current year for day care for the children of hon. Members and their staff.
Mr. Newton : I have no plans to make such provision. It is up to individual Members to make arrangements to suit them and their staff.
Newspapers
Mr. Allen : To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what is his Committee's policy in respect of the removal of newspapers from 7 Millbank ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael J. Martin : This is a matter for the Serjeant at Arms.
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Paternity Leave
Mr. Soley : To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, whether male staff of the House are eligible for paternity leave.
Mr. Beith : Heads of Department may grant special leave, with or without pay, to staff for domestic or compassionate reasons, including up to two days special paid leave to fathers on the birth of a child or within a few weeks of the birth.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Lord President of the Council on how many occasions in the past five years he has knowingly provided incomplete information in answers to parliamentary questions other than on grounds of disproportionate cost ; and on what subjects.
Mr. Newton : I answer parliamentary questions on the basis set out in paragraph 27 of "Questions of Procedure for Ministers". I also seek to comply with the Speaker's guidance on the need for brief answers to oral questions.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Lord President of the Council what were the costs attributed for answering written parliamentary questions tabled by the hon. Member for Teignbridge (Mr. Nicholls) on 16 December 1991 at columns 22-25 , by the hon. Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) on 18 January 1990 at columns 382-89 , by the former hon. Member for Pembroke, Mr. Bennett on 25 May 1989 at columns 695-719, by the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Norris) on 6 May 1988 at columns 628-44 , and by the former hon. Member for Darlington, Mr. Fallon on 11 May 1987 at columns 4-14.
Mr. Newton : As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister stated in answer to a question from the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 13 January 1992 at column 468, the answer to my hon. Friend, the Member for Teignbridge (Mr. Nicholls) of 16 December 1991 was estimated to have cost £1,520. Figures for the other answers are not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Bill
Mr. Bradley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the estimated savings to his Department arising from the provisions in the Social Security (Incapacity For Work) Bill to abolish payment to claimants with adult dependants under the age of 60 years and where there is no payment for children.
Mr. Scott : The information is in the table.
|£ million
------------------------------
1995-96 |15
1996-97 |40
Note:
Estimates are expressed in
constant 1993-94 prices and
are net of offsetting
expenditure on income-related
benefits. They are rounded to
the nearest £5 million and
take account of all other
changes proposed in the
Social Security (Incapacity
for Work) Bill.
Sickness Benefit
Mr. Bradley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of sickness benefit now receive increases of benefit for adult dependants under the age of 60 years where there are no children in the household ; how many people on sickness benefit in April 1995 he estimates will fail to receive an increase for an adult dependant after that time ; and what are the estimated savings to his Department of abolishing increases for adult dependants to people on short-term incapacity benefit.
Mr. Scott : The information is as follows :
(i) it is estimated that around 10,000 adult dependency increases (ADIs) of sickness benefit (SB) are paid to people with a spouse under 60 with no dependent children ;
(ii) no one receiving an SB ADI at the point of change in April 1995 who continues to meet the existing entitlement conditions for payment of SB ADIs will have that increase withdrawn unless or until they become entitled to long-term incapacity benefit (IB) after 52 weeks incapacity ;
(iii) the proposals for payment of ADIs of short-term IB are expected to yield savings of around £10 million in 1995-96 and £15 million in 1996-97 .
Notes :
Estimate derived from 1 per cent. of SB recipients combined with information from the 1989, 1990 and 1991 Family Expenditure Surveys. Estimates are expressed in constant 1993-94 prices and are net of offsetting expenditure on income-related benefits. They are rounded to the nearest £5 million and take account of all other changes proposed in the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Bill.
Benefits (Take-up)
Lady Olga Maitland : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when benefit take-up figures for 1990 and 1991 will become available.
Mr. Hague : Estimates of income related benefit take-up for 1990 and 1991 have today been published by the Government statistical service. Copies of its report have been placed in the Library.
Invalidity Benefit
Ms Armstrong : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have applied for invalidity benefit on grounds of the new disability provision within the invalidity benefit rules, by benefit agency area, since the rule change in September 1993 ; how many of these applications have been on grounds of bronchitis and emphysema ; and, of these, how many applications have been (a) turned down and (b) accepted by benefit agency area.
Mr. Scott : The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Housing Benefit
Mr. Prescott : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were currently receiving housing benefit in (a) Durham, (b) Cleveland, (c) Tyne and Wear, (d) Cumbria, and (e) Northumberland, for each year from 1980 ; and if he will include the most recent figures for housing benefit claimants in these areas which are available.
Column 451
Mr. Hague : The available information is in the table.
Column 451
|1988-89 |1989-90 |1990-91 |1991-92 |1992-93 |August 1993
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Durham |57,000 |56,000 |56,000 |55,000 |56,000 |58,000
Cleveland |55,000 |54,000 |53,000 |54,000 |55,000 |57,000
Tyne and Wear |147,000 |143,000 |139,000 |138,000 |141,000 |143,000
Cumbria |27,000 |27,000 |27,000 |28,000 |30,000 |31,000
Northumberland |23,000 |22,000 |22,000 |22,000 |23,000 |23,000
Source: The Housing Benefit Management Information System Quarterly caseload counts.
Notes:
1. No reliable information is available prior to 1988.
2. Estimates are included for non-responding authorities.
3. Housing Benefit has been defined as rent rebate and rent allowance.
4. All figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000 and are in benefit units, not individuals;
couples are counted as one unit.
Child Support Agency
Mr. Matthew Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the financial target of the Child Support Agency for the current year ; and to what extent it has been met.
Mr. Scott : The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. Matthew Banks, dated 25 March 1994 :
I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security, about the financial target for the Child Support Agency in the current year.
The Secretary of State set the Agency a benefit savings target of £530 million for the year 1993-94.
We are not yet able to provide an assessment of the level of benefit savings that the Agency will achieve in the year because of uncertainties caused by the effect of the recent policy changes. I hope this reply is helpful.
Mr. Matthew Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many absent parents have been traced by the Child Support Agency ; how many are paying ; and how much money has been collected.
Mr. Scott : The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. Matthew Banks, dated 25 March 1994 :
I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number of absent parents traced by the Child Support Agency, the number paying, and the money collected.
As at 31 January, the Agency had issued maintenance enquiry forms to 381,000 absent parents. These included 19,000 absent parents whose whereabouts were not known prior to the Agency's involvement in tracing them. Two thirds of the enquiry forms have been returned leading to the completion of over 170,000 maintenance assessments. With regard to how many absent parents are paying, the Child Support Computer System records client's details on an individual case by case basis, and it is not currently configured to produce information on the total number of absent parents paying maintenance.
Information on the amount of money collected is, however, available. As at 31 January, £181 million had been collected. This includes money paid via the Agency, and also directly to the parent with care for the absent parent.
I hope this reply is helpful.
Column 452
Mr. Matthew Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what percentage of those who have been contacted by the Child Support Agency have previously made no contribution to the maintenance of their first family ;
(2) what percentage of those targeted by the Child Support Agency are subject to court orders and have already been contributing to the maintenance of their first families.
Mr. Scott : The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive, She will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. Matthew Banks, dated 25 March 1994 :
I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about absent parents and whether they were maintaining their children before the Child Support Agency assessed their cases.
Up to 31 January 1994, the latest date for which figures are available, the Agency issued maintenance enquiry forms to 381,300 absent parents, of which 170,700 have resulted in the assessment of maintenance. Figures are not kept on the number of cases in which a prior maintenance agreement existed. It is estimated however, that 56 per cent. of cases taken on will not have had an existing arrangement, and 44 per cent. will have had an existing maintenance agreement, a proportion of which would include court orders.
I hope this reply is helpful.
Mr. Ashby : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what money has been received as a result of the activities of the Child Support Agency.
Mr. Scott : The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. David Ashby, dated 25 March 1994 :
I am repling to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the money collected by the Child Support Agency.
As at 31 January, £181 million had been collected. This includes money paid via the Agency, and also directly to the parent with care from the absent parent.
I hope this reply is helpful.
Mr. Ashby : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the assessments carried out by the Child Support Agency are in respect of fathers who pay nothing towards the support of their children.
Mr. Scott : The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to my hon. Friend.
Column 453
Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. David Ashby, dated 25 March 1994 :I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number of absent parents who were not maintaining their children before the Child Support Agency assessed their cases.
Up to 31 January 1994, the latest date for which figures are available, the Agency issued maintenance enquiry forms to 381,300 absent parents, of which 170,700 have resulted in the assessment of maintenance. Figures are not kept on the number of cases in which a prior maintenance agreement existed. It is estimated however, that 56 per cent. of cases taken on will not have had an existing arrangement.
I hope this reply is helpful.
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