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Mr. Redwood : Information is available only from 1988-89. Over this period the Welsh Office has awarded contracts to five of the firms mentioned for consultancy work, including market testing. Information on the number of contracts awarded is as follows :
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1988-89 to 1992-93
1991-92
|Market testing|Consultancy |Market testing|Consultancy
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coopers and Lybrand |1 |9 |1 |5
KPMG Peat-Marwick |- |5 |- |5
Ernst and Young |- |1 |- |-
Price Waterhouse |- |3 |1 |-
Touche Ross |- |13 |1 |5
Details of expenditure with individual firms cannot be disclosed for reasons of commercial confidentiality.
Medical Consultants (Merit Awards)
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what statutory basis he withheld the names of those medical consultants in Wales who currently hold merit awards.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The names of individual award holders have always been regarded as confidential on the ground that the earnings of individual members of staff are a matter between the employee and his or her employer. Publication of the names of award holders might also lead individual patients to judge the quality of the treatment afforded on the basis of the level of award held.
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to remove the confidential nature relating to the names of those medical consultants in Wales who currently hold merit awards.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The working party to review the consultant's distinction awards scheme set up by the Minister for Health in November 1993 was asked to consider as part of its deliberations whether the names of award holders should in future be published. The report of the working party is currently being considered, and an announcement will be made in due course.
Infertility, Gwent
Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what provision is made for infertility investigation in Gwent ; (2) what is the provision for infertility treatment in Gwent.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The provision for infertility investigation and treatment is a matter for Gwent health authority which will take into account need, competing demands and available resources.
Exports
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of Britain's manufacturing industry exports originated in Wales in the last year for which figures are available ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : Export statistics are collected on a United Kingdom basis by HM Customs and Excise at the point at which goods leave the country. It is not currently possible to routinely separate out figures for exports which originate from Wales.
Hospital Services
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales where is the highest recorded increase in the published extra-contractual raferrals tarrif between the
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tariff in 1993-94 and the tariff in 1994-95 and in the specialties of (a) ENT, (b) general surgery, (c) ophthalmology, (d) orthopaedics and (e) general medicine.Mr. Gwilym Jones : The highest average increase for general surgery is at Wrexham Maelor hospital NHS trust ; for general medicine it is at Llandough hospital NHS trust and for ENT, ophthalmology and orthopaedics it is at Carmarthen and District NHS trust.
These increases need to be interpreted with care as hospitals are refining both the classification of services and the way costs are allocated to them.
Boat Accidents
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many accidents involving motor-propelled craft and speed boats were reported off the coast of Wales during each year since 1990-91 ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : This information is not held centrally.
Commercial Property
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about the commercial property market in Wales.
Mr. Redwood : During the past 18 months, my Department has received about a dozen representations, on four main areas--rent reviews, confidentiality clauses in leases, dispute procedures and unfair leases.
SOCIAL SECURITY
National Insurance
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the estimated income of the national insurance fund for 1993-94, in total, from each class of contribution, from the Treasury and from other sources ; and what was the estimated expenditure of the fund for each benefit, administration and other outgoings.
Mr. Hague : The figures shown in the table are both provisional and estimated. The actual figures for 1993-94 will not be known until the autumn as full details of income and expenditure will not be available until then. The figures will also be subject to scrutiny by National Audit Office.
Income of the |£ million
National Insurance
Fund:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contributions
Class 1: Employees |12,224
Employers |19,576
|---
|31,800
Class 1A |430
Class 2 |464
Class 3 |43
Class 4 |560
|---
|33,297
LESS: Recovery of SSP |-679
Recovery of SMP |-434
Total Contributions |32,184
State scheme premiums |137
Investment income |500
Payment from Consolidated Fund |1,094
Exchequer grant |7,589
|---
Total Income |41,504
Expenditure of the National Insurance Fund:
Retirement Pension |28,169
Widows Benefit |1,046
Sickness Benefit |292
Invalidity Benefit |7,033
Unemployment Benefit |1,618
Xmas Bonus |116
Guardian's Allowance and
Childs Special Allowance |1.5
Maternity Allowance |33.5
|---
Total Benefit Expenditure |38,309
Administration |1,554
Other Outgoings |354
|---
Total Expenditure |40,217
Excess of income over outgo |1,287
Opening Balance 1 April 1993 |3,436
|---
Estimated Balance in Fund at the end of year |4,723
Note: The above figures are comprised of estimates from the Government Actuary
Department for contribution income, the latest departmental view, based on the
June in-year monitoring report of benefit expenditure and actual figures from the
Department's accounting system. National Audit Office has yet to audit the figures
which will be in the draft annual account and due to be presented to the
Department's accounting officer in October 1994.
Income Support
Ms Corston : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will specify the annual income entitlement, supplementary benefit or income support, excluding housing benefit for (a) a single unemployed person aged 24 years and (b) a man and a woman both aged 34 years with two children aged 12 and 11 years, for each year since 1979, at April 1994 prices on the Rossi index.
Mr. Burt : The figures requested are in the attached table. Part of our policy in replacing supplementary benefit was to target benefit on those groups most in need, and we succeeded. Since 1988 we have given extra help, over and above normal upratings, to families with children. The income support rates for single people aged 18 to 24 take account of the fact that the vast majority live as members of someone else's household.
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A |B |C
Financial year |Single |34 year old
|unemployed |couple with
|24 year old |children aged
|11 and 12
------------------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |1,974.53 |4,868.14
1980-81 |2,012.82 |5,124.23
1981-82 |2,064.88 |5,467.05
1982-83 |2,118.34 |5,606.61
1983-84 |2,182.33 |5,773.89
1984-85 |2,185.28 |5,782.62
1985-86 |2,188.14 |5,790.91
1986-87 |2,208.75 |5,852.50
1987-88 |2,185.95 |5,792.06
1988-89 |1,790.41 |6,171.93
1989-90 |1,785.39 |6,255.39
1990-91 |1,750.05 |6,164.66
1991-92 |1,764.48 |6,205.64
1992-93 |1,829.63 |6,463.59
1993-94 |1,838.64 |6,495.98
Notes:
Column B - shows for 1979 to 1988 the annual supplementary
benefit entitlement, at 1994 prices, for a single
householder. From April 1988 the figures are the annual
entitlement to income support, at 1994 prices, for a single
unemployed person aged 18-24. No additions which might have
been payable within supplementary benefit or income support
premiums for special needs have been included.
Column C - shows for 1979-88 the annual supplementary
benefit entitlement, at 1994 prices, for a couple (aged 18
or over) with two children aged 11 and 12. From April 1988
the figures are the annual income support entitlement, at
1994 prices, for the same family composition. No additions
which might have been payable within supplementary benefit
have been included. The income support figures included the
family premium which is paid automatically.
The Rossi index (ie the retail prices index less housing
costs) has been used to revalue at 1994 prices because
there is no housing element in the entitlement shown.
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were claiming income support in Scotland, Wales and for each of the standard English regions for the most recent date for which figures are available ; and what estimate he has made of the total number of partners and dependants of those income support recipients in each area.
Mr. Burt : The information is in the table.
|Number of |Number of |Number of
|claimants |partners |dependents
|000s |000s |000s
---------------------------------------------------------
North East |839 |153 |464
North West |812 |127 |455
Midlands |912 |178 |530
London North |1,018 |189 |595
London South |915 |155 |511
South West |411 |77 |210
Wales |312 |55 |174
Scotland |553 |79 |268
|------- |------- |-------
Total |5,771 |1,013 |3,207
Notes:
1. Source: Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry
August 1993
2. Figures are for DSS administrative Regions.
3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
Contributions Agency
Mr. Alan Howarth : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the present policy of the Contributions Agency towards the allocation of national insurance numbers to people seeking work.
Column 439
Mr. Hague : The Department's long-standing policy has been to allocate national insurance numbers, in accordance with regulation 44 of the Contributions Regulations 1979, to applicants who may be liable to pay NI contributions. This includes the employed, the self-employed, those who wish to pay voluntary contributions and those approaching the age of 16. The Department also uses the NI number as an administrative identifier within the social security benefit system and allocate NI numbers to people who claim certain benefits and who do not already have a number.
The Department has recently been reviewing the policy and procedures for allocating NI numbers to those who are seeking work. As a result, the Contributions Agency will shortly be issuing new guidance to its local offices. This will specify that they can accept applications from people who can demonstrate satisfactorily that they are seeking employment. If, however, the applicant cannot demonstrate satisfactorily why he needs a NI number, the Department may consider refusing the application. The Department's refusal to allocate a number in such cases does not prevent the applicant re-applying when it is appropriate to do so. Nor does it prevent anyone taking up employment before he receives a NI number.
Living Standards (Children)
Ms Corston : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research he has commissioned or undertaken in the past five years in specific relation to article 27(1) of the United Nations convention on the rights of the child on an adequate standard of living.
Mr. Burt : No research has been undertaken specifically as a result of article 27(1) of the convention. However, research is regularly conducted into the role of social security and its impact on those in low income households. A list of research projects sponsored by the Department is published in the "Social Security Research Yearbooks"--formally the "DHSS Handbook of Research and
Development"--copies of which are in the Library.
Income-related Benefits
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations he has received on the rate of deduction from income-related benefits for capital held by the claimant ; and what response he has made.
Mr. Burt : The Department has received correspondence on this issue from a variety of sources. We have no current plans to change the formula applied for taking account of capital in excess of £3,000 when calculating entitlement to income-related benefits.
Vaccine Damage
Mr. Burden : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims have been made on behalf of vaccine-damaged children for the vaccine-damaged payment, who have been accepted as vaccine damaged but were turned down because their disability was less than 80 per cent. ; and how many parents have applied but have been turned down because of the six year ruling.
Column 440
Mr. Hague : The administration of the vaccine damage payment scheme 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.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Richard Burden, dated 24 June 1994 :
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Vaccine Damage Scheme.
The information is not available in the exact format requested. I have been able to provide information from the first date from which figures are available, June 1981.
Since June 1981 there have been 853 claims made on behalf vaccine damaged children for the vaccine damaged payment. Of these, 8 have been accepted as vaccine damaged but were turned down because their disability was less than 80 per cent.
I am not able to provide you with details of the number of parents who have applied but been turned down because of the six year rule. This is because records held do not classify "parents" separately. However, I can tell you that since June 1981, with regard to all claims, the number of claims disallowed because of the six year rule is 209.
I hope you find this reply helpful.
Mr. McCartney : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost of vaccine damage payments and the financial cost of compensation paid out to victims and their families for each year since 1987.
Mr. Hague : The information is in the table .
Year |£ ------------------------ 1987 |150,000 1988 |80,000 1989 |70,000 1990 |10,000 1991 |50,000 1992 |360,000 1993 |60,000 Financial compensation is payable only when there has been a delay in dealing with the claim. Since 1987, approximately £25,000 has been paid in this way. Note: <1> Figures are subject to amendment as further awards may be made on review or appeal.
Mr. McCartney : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many vaccine damage cases seeking compensation have been rejected and how many approved, breaking down the figures by category of damage for which the payments were made, in each year since 1987.
Mr. Hague : The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is in the table .
Years |Awards |Disallowances -------------------------------------------------------- 1988 |5 |38 1989 |2 |53 1990 |Nil |40 1991 |2 |41 1992 |<2>16 |36 1993 |3 |46 <1>Figures are subject to amendment as further awards may be made on review or appeal. <2>The increase in awards for 1992 was due to a combination of factors and includes a number of awards for claims made in earlier years, some consequent upon Vaccine Damage Tribunal findings.
Mr. McCartney : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost of the vaccine damage scheme for each year since 1987.
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Mr. Hague : The information is not available in the form requested. The administrative costs of the vaccine damage payment unit are subsumed within those of a larger administrative unit at Fylde, Blackpool.
Benefits
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the live load in each of the area directorates in Scotland, Wales and England for sickness benefit, invalidity benefit and income support, of 16 to 17-year-olds, for the most recent date for which figures are available.
Mr. Burt : The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Industrial Injuries
Mr. Tipping : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the value of claims for industrial injuries disablement benefit for chronic bronchitis and emphysema paid in 1993-94 ; what is his estimate for 1994-95 ; and if he will break down the figures by social security districts.
Mr. Scott : The information is not available in the form requested. The estimated total annual benefit cost for the 12 months following prescription was £6 million. A similar cost, at 1993-94 prices, is estimated for the second and subsequent years.
DEFENCE
Landmines
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the incidents involving British troops who are serving with United Nation forces in Bosnia have been caused by landmines produced or supplied by United Kingdom companies.
Mr. Hanley : None of which we are aware.
Bases (Sales)
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the bases his Department has (a) sold since 1991, (b) is currently attempting to sell and (c) intends to sell in whole or in part ;
(2) if he will list the purchasers and purchase price of the bases his Department has sold since 1991.
Mr. Hanley : The bases that my Department sold between 31 March 1991 and 1 June 1994 are :
Base and Location
OFD Brixham, Devon
OFD Willand, Devon
OFD Swanvale, Cornwall
Hamoaze House, Plymouth
Royal William Yard, Plymouth
RAF Mount Batten, Plymouth
Mount Wise West, Plymouth
Old Infirmary, Plymouth
Leavesden Airfield, Hertfordshire
Stoughton Barracks, Guildford
RNSM Risley, Cheshire
Cove Radio Station, Hampshire
Filton Airfield, Avon
Former Wilmslow MU, Cheshire
RNAD Milford Haven, Dyfed :
1. Depot
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2. Land and Building3. Land
4. Farmland
5. Farmland
6. Houses
Wood Farm Camp, Malvern
Wood Top Mill, Burnley
Former Western District HQ, Shrewsbury :
1. Mess
2. MT Depot
3. HQ Houses
4. Land
Burniston Barracks, Scarborough
RAF Chessington, Surrey
HMS St. Vincent (Furze House), London
Harefield House
Former ARE Depot, Bapaume Road, Portsmouth
Ex RN Repair Depot, Fareham
Eastney Barracks, Portsmouth
HMS Mercury, Petersfield
Signals Training Centre,
Former RAF Sopley, Hampshire
Jellalabad Barracks, Taunton
RAF Escrick, North Yorkshire
OFD Invergordon :
1. Depot
2. Tomich Pumphouse
Storage Depot, Lathalmond
Primrose Camp, Rosyth, Fife
USN Radio Station, West Murkle, Thurso Bay
Radio Station, Inverkip, Strathclyde
SEMO Gillingham, Kent
RAF Ely, Cambridge
Gibraltar Barracks, Northampton
RAF Orfordness (Site included an area owned by FCO)
USN Facilities, Holy Loch :
1. Commissary, Queen Street, Dunoon
2. Dolphin Hall, Queen Street, Dunoon
3. Ardnadam Complex, Sandbank
4. Families Service Centre
5. Medical/Dental Centre
6. Land at Sandbank
7. Supply Depot and Pier
8. Sailing Club
9. Rankin Complex
Inveraray Pier
RAF Biggin Hill, Kent
Aerial Site, Hawklaw, Fife
RAF Greatworth, Northamptonshire :
1. Land and Buildings
2. Land
3. Land (2 plots)
4. Land
5. Land
RAF Northcoates, Lincolnshire
The bases that my Department intends to dispose of and is currently marketing are :
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