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Column 692
population of the United Kingdom. Appendix 3 of the latest HBAI report gives further information. We have no reliable information on the income characteristics of survey non-participants to enable the effect of a rise in survey participation to be addressed.I understand that a study is being made of the FES sample from January to June 1991 as compared with the 1991 Population Census. However, the Census contains no income information, and the study will not cover this area. The main results of this study are expected to be published in 1995. My Department is aware of extensive research literature on non-response bias and takes this into account in the preparation of HBAI. A copy of this letter will be placed in the Library.
Letter to the hon. Member for Bristol East from the Minister of State for Social Security and Disabled People, dated 12 August 1994:
You recently tabled a Parliamentary Question asking how many children were in households living on incomes (a) below the 1979 bottom decile and (b) below 50 per cent. of 1979 average income, in 1979, 1981, 1987, 1988 89, 1990 91 and 1991 92, following tables 11.1 and 11.5 of the latest households below average income report; and what was the household income in current prices of these two cut off points for each of the years in question.
Unfortunately at the time Alistair Burt was unable to reply and promised to write.
The information is in the tables.
Your request for numbers below the 1979 bottom decile has been interpreted as a request for numbers below the 1979 bottom decile median. Household income in current prices for each year in question has been taken to mean current prices in each year rather than today's prices. The real (1994) values of the thresholds specified have been included in the tables but these values will be the same for any of the years shown. This is because the thresholds relate to the income distribution in 1979 rather than to conditions in each year. A copy of this letter will be placed in the Library.
Column 691
Numbers of children grossed to 1991-92 levels below fixed income thresholds (000s)
|1979 |1981 |1987 |1988-89|1990-91|1991-92
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Below 1979 Bottom Decile Median
BHC |750 |1,110 |590 |730 |900 |770
AHC |790 |1,170 |890 |950 |1,210 |1,060
(b) Below 50 per cent. of 1979 Average Income
BHC |1,130 |1,640 |1,020 |1,070 |1,250 |1,160
AHC |1,310 |2,090 |1,680 |1,590 |1,900 |1,850
Values of thresholds in each year (January prices except where stated)
|1979 £ |1981 £ |1987 £ |1988-89 £ |1990-91 £ |1991-92 £ |April 1994 £
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) 1979 Bottom Decile Median
BHC |32 |43 |61 |67 |78 |83 |88
AHC |29 |38 |52 |57 |64 |69 |74
(b) 50 per cent. 1979 Average Income
BHC |35 |47 |67 |74 |86 |91 |97
AHC |33 |43 |59 |64 |73 |78 |84
1. Source: 1979, 1981, 1987 to 1992 Family Expenditure Surveys.
2. All estimates are subject to sampling error.
3. Income values denote equivalised household incomes.
4. Income for combined years is deflated to January of the later year.
5. Total numbers of children are grossed to 1991-92 levels.
Column 693
Letter to the hon. Member for Bristol East from the Minister of State for Social Security and Disabled People dated 31 August 1994: You recently tabled a Parliamentary Question asking what was the change in real incomes by decile group, 1979 to 1991 92, including the self-employed, before and after housing costs, following table A1 and appendix 10 of the latest households below average income report; and what was the equivalised and unequivalised income per household in each decile group, for households with children. Unfortunately at the time Alistair Burt was unable to reply and promised to write. The information is not available in the precise form requested. Reliable estimates of changes in equivalised real incomes are notColumn 694
available for decile groups (and so is provided in the attached tables in quintile groups). In addition, it is not possible to give unequivalised incomes for all households with children as these depend on the number and ages of children in these households. The attached tables therefore contain equivalent money values of special examples of families with children. It is important to bear in mind that the results do not track what happens to a particular set of individuals over time and are as likely to be influenced by changes in the mix of groups as changes in income levels within each group. A copy of this letter will be placed in the Library.
Percentage change in real incomes of quintile medians and the mean of families with
children
for the period 1979-1991/92 (Percentage change)
|Quintile |Quintile |Quintile |Quintile |Quintile |Mean
|1 |2 |3 |4 |5
|Bottom 20|20-40 |40-60 |60-80 |Top 20
|per cent.|per cent.|per cent.|per cent.|per cent.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before Housing Costs |(-2) |(7) |22 |33 |51 |32
After Housing Costs |(-12 |(1) |20 |32 |49 |29
Estimates in brackets ( ) are particularly uncertain; see Appendix 5 of Households Below
Average Income for details of the tests applied to estimates of changes in real incomes.
Column 693
Equivalised income of families with children; quintile medians and the mean
for 1979 and 1991-92, in April 1994 prices.
|Quintile |Quintile |Quintile |Quintile |Quintile
|1 |2 |3 |4 |5
|Bottom 20|20-40 |40-60 |60-80 |Top 20
|per cent.|per cent.|per cent.|per cent.|per cent.|Mean
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before Housing Costs
1979 |103 |138 |165 |198 |261 |180
1991-92 |100 |148 |202 |263 |394 |238
After Housing Costs
1979 |86 |117 |141 |172 |227 |155
1991-92 |76 |118 |169 |226 |339 |200
All estimates are subject to sampling error.
Equivalent Money Values for Quintile Medians and the Overall mean for Different Examples of Family Types with
Children
Income Before Housing Costs (Equivalent monetary values in £s per week)
Group Medians
|Quintile |Quintile |Quintile |Quintile |Quintile
|1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |Total
|Bottom 20 |20-40 x |40-60 |60-80 |Top 20 |Population
|per cent. |per cent. |per cent. |per cent. |per cent. |(mean)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979
Couple with child aged 3 and 8 |145 |195 |233 |279 |368 |254
Couple with child 3, 16 and 17 |202 |272 |325 |390 |515 |355
Single with child aged 3 |81 |109 |130 |157 |206 |142
1991-92
Couple with child aged 3 and 8 |141 |209 |285 |370 |556 |335
Couple with child aged 3, 16 and 17 |197 |292 |398 |517 |777 |468
Single with child aged 3 |79 |117 |160 |208 |311 |188
All estimates are subject to sampling error.
Column 695
Equivalent money values for quintile medians and the overall mean for different examples of family types with
children
Income after housing costs (equivalent monetary values in £s per week)
Group Medians
|Quintile |Quintile |Quintile |Quintile |Quintile
|1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |Total
|Bottom 20 |20-40 x |40-60 |60-80 |Top 20 |Population
|per cent. |per cent. |per cent. |per cent. |per cent. |(mean)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979
Couple with child aged 3 and 8 |122 |165 |199 |242 |321 |218
Couple with child aged 3, 16 and 17 |175 |236 |285 |347 |459 |313
Single with child aged 3 |63 |85 |103 |125 |166 |113
1991-92
Couple with child aged 3 and 8 |107 |166 |238 |319 |478 |282
Couple with child aged 3, 16 and 17 |153 |238 |341 |458 |685 |405
Single with child aged 3 |55 |86 |123 |165 |248 |146
All estimates are subject to sampling error.
Column 695
Letter to the hon. Member for Bristol East from the Minister of State for Social Security and Disabled People dated 31 August 1994: You recently tabled a Parliamentary Question asking for the mean disposable income of each of the family types, as listed in the latest households below average income report, of the lowest decile group, second lowest decile group, and highest decile group in (a) current and (b) April 1994 prices, as ranked according to this Department's convention of equivalised income in 1979, 1988 89 and 1991 92. Unfortunately at the time Alistair Burt was unable to reply and promised to write.The available estimates are provided in the tables.
It is important to bear in mind that the results provided cannot be interpreted as indicating that the incomes of these groups have gone up or down over the period. Any income changes will reflect shifts of the number of people in each family type group from one decile group to another. For example, if a family type's income remains unchanged but there was a shift of that particular family type from the bottom decile into the second decile, the median income of the particular family type in the bottom decile in these tables would show a fall. Conversely, if that family type's income again remains the same, but there was a shift of that family type from the second decile into the bottom decile, the median income of that particular family type in the bottom decile in these tables would show a rise. But in both these examples the real incomes amongst that family type did not change. A copy of this letter will be place in the Library.
Median net equivalised income in each of the two lowest
deciles
and the top decile for each family type, 1979, 1988-89 and
1991-92 in actual prices<1> and in April 1994 prices
Pensioner Couple (Equivalised £ per week)
|1979 |1988-89|1991-92
-----------------------------------------------------------
Actual prices
(of decile median)
Bottom |BHC |34 |73 |88
|AHC |30 |61 |72
Second |BHC |40 |89 |112
|AHC |36 |71 |86
Top |BHC |128 |416 |544
|AHC |123 |372 |471
April 1994 prices
(of decile median)
Bottom |BHC |92 |95 |93
|AHC |78 |79 |77
Second |BHC |108 |116 |119
|AHC |93 |93 |93
Top |BHC |351 |543 |578
|AHC |314 |485 |506
<1> Actual prices for 1979, 1988-89 and 1991-92 refer to
January 1979, January 1989 and January 1992 respectively.
Notes:
1. The estimates have been calculated by the median income
of family types in each of the bottom two and top deciles
of the total Households Below Average Income distribution.
2. All estimates are subject to sampling error which may
affect the validity of comparisons between groups at a
point in time and over time. More information about
sampling errors can be found in Appendix 5 of the latest
edition of `Households Below Average Income', a copy of
which is in the library.
3. For estimates of changes in real income of family types
over time, see Table A4 of the latest Households Below
Average Income.
Column 697
Median net equivalised income in each of the two lowest
deciles and
the top decile for each family type, 1979, 1988-89 and
1991-92 in actual prices<1> and in April 1994 prices
Single Pensioner (Equivalised £ per week)
|1979 |1988-89|1991-92
-----------------------------------------------------------
Actual prices
(of decile median)
Bottom |BHC |33 |71 |89
|AHC |31 |54 |61
Second |BHC |40 |90 |111
|AHC |37 |76 |91
Top |BHC |128 |407 |537
|AHC |131 |356 |485
April 1994 prices
(of decile median)
Bottom |BHC |91 |93 |95
|AHC |79 |70 |66
Second |BHC |110 |118 |118
|AHC |93 |99 |98
Top |BHC |351 |531 |570
|AHC |333 |465 |521
<1> Actual prices for 1979, 1988-89 and 1991-92 refer to
January 1979, January 1989 and January 1992 respectively.
Notes:
1. The estimates have been calculated by the median income
of family types in each of the bottom two and top deciles
of the total Households Below Average Income distribution.
2. All estimates are subject to sampling error which may
affect the validity of comparisons between groups at a
point in time and over time. More information about
sampling errors can be found in Appendix 5 of the latest
edition of `Households Below Average Income', a copy of
which is in the library.
3. For estimates of changes in real income of family types
over time, see Table A4 of the latest Households Below
Average Income.
Median net equivalised income in each of the two lowest
deciles and
the top decile for each family type, 1979, 1988-89 and
1991-92 in actual prices<1> and in April 1994 prices
Couple with children (Equivalised £ per week)
|1979 |1988-89|1991-92
-----------------------------------------------------------
Actual prices
(of decile median)
Bottom |BHC |31 |67 |81
|AHC |28 |53 |57
Second |BHC |41 |88 |109
|AHC |37 |73 |87
Top |BHC |141 |397 |530
|AHC |135 |359 |489
April 1994 prices
(of decile median)
Bottom |BHC |85 |87 |86
|AHC |71 |69 |62
Second |BHC |111 |115 |116
|AHC |95 |95 |93
Top |BHC |385 |518 |563
|AHC |344 |469 |526
<1> Actual prices for 1979, 1988-89 and 1991-92 refer to
January 1979, January 1989 and January 1992 respectively.
Notes:
1. The estimates have been calculated by the median income
of family types in each of the bottom two and top deciles
of the total Households Below Average Income distribution.
2. All estimates are subject to sampling error which may
affect the validity of comparisons between groups at a
point in time and over time. More information about
sampling errors can be found in Appendix 5 of the latest
edition of `Households Below Average Income', a copy of
which is in the library.
3. For estimates of changes in real income of family types
over time, see Table A4 of the latest Households Below
Average Income.
Column 698
Median net equivalised income in each of the two lowest
deciles and
the top decile for each family type, 1979, 1988-89 and
1991-92 in actual prices<1> and in April 1994 prices
Couple without children (Equivalised £ per week)
|1979 |1988-89|1991-92
-----------------------------------------------------------
Actual prices
(of decile median)
Bottom |BHC |31 |63 |70
|AHC |28 |48 |47
Second |BHC |41 |88 |112
|AHC |37 |71 |85
Top |BHC |127 |393 |532
|AHC |121 |349 |475
April 1994 prices
(of decile median)
Bottom |BHC |84 |83 |75
|AHC |70 |62 |51
Second |BHC |111 |115 |118
|AHC |95 |92 |92
Top |BHC |347 |513 |565
|AHC |309 |456 |511
<1> Actual prices for 1979, 1988-89 and 1991-92 refer to
January 1979, January 1989 and January 1992 respectively.
Notes:
1. The estimates have been calculated by the median income
of family types in each of the bottom two and top deciles
of the total Households Below Average Income distribution.
2. All estimates are subject to sampling error which may
affect the validity of comparisons between groups at a
point in time and over time. More information about
sampling errors can be found in Appendix 5 of the latest
edition of `Households Below Average Income', a copy of
which is in the library.
3. For estimates of changes in real income of family types
over time, see Table A4 of the latest Households Below
Average Income.
Median net equivalised income in each of the two lowest
deciles and
the top decile for each family type, 1979, 1988-89 and
1991-92 in actual prices<1> and in April 1994 prices
Single with children (Equivalised £ per week)
|1979 |1988-89|1991-92
-----------------------------------------------------------
Actual prices
(of decile median)
Bottom |BHC |32 |74 |90
|AHC |29 |56 |68
Second |BHC |41 |89 |109
|AHC |37 |73 |87
Top |BHC |132 |390 |534
|AHC |132 |353 |538
April 1994 prices
(of decile median
Bottom |BHC |89 |96 |96
|AHC |73 |73 |73
Second |BHC |112 |116 |116
|AHC |94 |95 |94
Top |BHC |362 |509 |567
|AHC |338 |461 |579
<1> Actual prices for 1979, 1988-89 and 1991-92 refer to
January 1979, January 1989 and January 1992 respectively.
Notes:
1. The estimates have been calculated by the median income
of family types in each of the bottom two and top deciles
of the total Households Below Average Income distribution.
2. All estimates are subject to sampling error which may
affect the validity of comparisons between groups at a
point in time and over time. More information about
sampling errors can be found in Appendix 5 of the latest
edition of `Households Below Average Income', a copy of
which is in the library.
3. For estimates of changes in real income of family types
over time, see Table A4 of the latest Households Below
Average Income.
Column 699
Median net equivalised income in each of the two lowest
deciles
and the top decile for each family type, 1979, 1988-89 and
1991-92 in actual prices<1> and in April 1994 prices
Single without children (Equivalised £ per week)
|1979 |1988-89|1991-92
-----------------------------------------------------------
Actual prices
(of decile median)
Bottom |BHC |29 |64 |76
|AHC |25 |49 |50
Second |BHC |40 |89 |110
|AHC |37 |73 |87
Top |BHC |129 |393 |518
|AHC |122 |351 |464
April 1994 prices
(of decile median)
Bottom |BHC |80 |83 |80
|AHC |65 |64 |54
Second |BHC |110 |117 |117
|AHC |95 |96 |94
Top |BHC |351 |513 |550
|AHC |312 |458 |499
<1> Actual prices for 1979, 1988-89 and 1991-92 refer to
January 1979, January 1989 and January 1992 respectively.
Notes:
1. The estimates have been calculated by the median income
of family types in each of the bottom two and top deciles
of the total Households Below Average Income distribution.
2. All estimates are subject to sampling error which may
affect the validity of comparisons between groups at a
point in time and over time. More information about
sampling errors can be found in Appendix 5 of the latest
edition of `Households Below Average Income', a copy of
which is in the library.
3. For estimates of changes in real income of family types
over time, see Table A4 of the latest Households Below
Average Income.
Letter to the hon. Member for Bristol East from the Minister of State for Social Security and Disabled People: 31 August 1994 You recently tabled a Parliamentary Question asking for the equivalent monetary value in £ per week at April 1994 prices, following table A2 of the latest households below average income report, in 1979, 1990 91 and 1991 92, before and after housing costs, of the decile means and medians of the two poorest decile groups and the richest decile group, and the total population mean of (a) a single adult, (b) a couple with no children, (c) a couple with one child aged three years, (d) a couple with one child aged 16 years, (e) a couple with two children aged three and eight years, (f) a couple with three children aged three, eight and 11 years and (g) a couple with three children aged 11, 16 and 17 years. Unfortunately at the time Alistair Burt was unable to reply and promised to write.
The information is not available in the precise form requested. Reliable estimates of the means of decile groups are not available. The estimates provided therefore follow those in Table A2 of the latest Households Below Average Income report and therefore only show the median of each decile group. It is important to bear in mind that the results do not track what happens to a particular set of individuals and are as likely to be influenced by changes in the mix of groups as changes in income levels within each group. A copy of this letter will be placed in the Library.
Money values for the bottom two decile medians, the top decile median and the overall mean
for different family types in April 1994 prices, including self employed
(equivalent monetary values in £s per week)
Group medians
|Decile 1 |Decile 2 |Decile 10 |Total population
Income before |Bottom 10 per cent.|10-20 per cent. |Top 10 per cent. |(mean)
Housing Costs
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979
Single adult |54 |67 |218 |118
Couple no children |88 |110 |358 |193
Couple with child aged 3 |104 |130 |422 |228
Couple with child aged 16 |119 |150 |487 |263
Couple with child aged 3 and 8 |124 |155 |505 |272
Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11 |146 |183 |594 |320
Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17 |173 |217 |705 |380
1990-91
Single adult |53 |71 |345 |159
Couple no children |87 |116 |565 |261
Couple with child aged 3 |102 |137 |667 |308
Couple with child aged 16 |118 |158 |769 |355
Couple with child aged 3 and 8 |122 |164 |797 |368
Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11 |144 |193 |938 |433
Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17 |171 |229 |1,114 |514
Money values for the bottom two decile medians, the top decile median and the overall mean for different family types in April 1994
prices, including self employed (equivalent monetary values in £s per week)
Group medians
|Decile 1 |Decile 2 |Decile 10 |Total population
Income before |Bottom 10 per cent.|10-20 per cent. |Top 10 per cent. |(mean)
Housing Costs
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1991-92
Single adult |53 |72 |343 |160
Couple no children |88 |117 |563 |262
Couple with child aged 3 |103 |138 |664 |309
Couple with child aged 16 |119 |159 |766 |356
Couple with child aged 3 and 8 |123 |165 |794 |369
Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11 |145 |195 |934 |435
Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17 |172 |231 |1,109 |516
All estimates are subject to sampling error.
Money values for the bottom two decile medians, the top decile median and the overall mean for different family types in April 1994
prices, including self employed (equivalent monetary values in £s per week)
Group medians
|Decile 1 |Decile 2 |Decile 10 |Total population
Income After Housing |Bottom 10 per cent. |10-20 per cent. |Top 10 per cent. |(mean)
Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979
Single adult |41 |52 |173 |92
Couple no children |74 |94 |315 |168
Couple with child aged 3 |87 |111 |371 |198
Couple with child aged 16 |102 |130 |434 |232
Couple with child aged 3 and 8 |104 |133 |444 |237
Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11 |123 |157 |526 |281
Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17 |149 |190 |636 |339
1990-91
Single adult |35 |52 |280 |126
Couple no children |64 |94 |509 |228
Couple with child aged 3 |75 |111 |601 |269
Couple with child aged 16 |88 |130 |703 |315
Couple with child aged 3 and 8 |90 |132 |718 |322
Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11 |106 |157 |851 |381
Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17 |129 |190 |1,029 |461
Money values for the bottom two decile medians, the top decile median and the overall mean for different family types in April 1994 prices,
including self employed
(equivalent monetary values in £s per week)
Group medians
|Decile 1 |Decile 2 |Decile 10 |Total population
Income After Housing |Bottom 10 per cent. |10-20 per cent. |Top 10 per cent. |(mean)
Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1991-92
Single adult |34 |52 |281 |126
Couple no children |61 |94 |510 |229
Couple with child aged 3 |72 |111 |602 |270
Couple with child aged 16 |85 |129 |704 |316
Couple with child aged 3 and 8 |86 |132 |719 |323
Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11 |102 |157 |852 |382
Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17 |124 |190 |1,030 |463
All estimates are subject to sampling error.
Column 701
Money values for the bottom two decile medians, the top decile median and the overall mean for different family types in April 1994
prices, excluding self employed
(equivalent monetary values in £s per week)
Group medians
|Decile 1 |Decile 2 |Decile 10 |Total population
Income before |Bottom 10 per cent.|10-20 per cent. |Top 10 per cent. |(mean)
Housing Costs
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979
Single adult |54 |67 |212 |117
Couple no children |89 |110 |348 |191
Couple with child aged 3 |105 |130 |410 |226
Couple with child aged 16 |120 |150 |473 |260
Couple with child aged 3 and 8 |125 |156 |490 |270
Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11 |147 |183 |577 |318
Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17 |175 |218 |685 |377
1990-91
Single adult |54 |71 |332 |156
Couple no children |89 |117 |544 |256
Couple with child aged 3 |105 |138 |642 |302
Couple with child aged 16 |121 |159 |740 |348
Couple with child aged 3 and 8 |126 |165 |767 |361
Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11 |148 |194 |903 |425
Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17 |176 |230 |1,072 |505
Money values for the bottom two decile medians, the top decile median and the overall mean for different family types in April 1994
prices, excluding self employed
(equivalent monetary values in £s per week)
Group medians
|Decile 1 |Decile 2 |Decile 10 |Total population
Income Before |Bottom 10 per cent.|10-20 per cent. |Top 10 per cent. |(mean)
Housing Costs
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1991-92
Single adult |55 |72 |333 |157
Couple no children |89 |117 |545 |257
Couple with child aged 3 |106 |139 |644 |303
Couple with child aged 16 |122 |160 |742 |349
Couple with child aged 3 and 8 |126 |166 |769 |362
Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11 |149 |195 |905 |426
Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17 |176 |231 |1,074 |506
Note: All estimates are subject to sampling error.
Money values for the bottom two decile medians, the top decile median and the overall mean for different family types in April 1994 prices,
excluding self employed
(equivalent monetary values in £s per week)
Group medians
|Decile 1 |Decile 2 |Decile 10 |Total population
Income After Housing |Bottom 10 per cent. |10-20 per cent. |Top 10 per cent. |(mean)
Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979
Single adult |41 |52 |168 |92
Couple no children |74 |94 |306 |167
Couple with child aged 3 |88 |111 |361 |197
Couple with child aged 16 |102 |130 |422 |230
Couple with child aged 3 and 8 |105 |133 |431 |235
Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11 |124 |158 |511 |278
Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17 |150 |191 |618 |337
1990-91
Single adult |38 |52 |271 |124
Couple no children |70 |95 |493 |225
Couple with child aged 3 |83 |112 |581 |265
Couple with child aged 16 |97 |131 |680 |310
Couple with child aged 3 and 8 |99 |134 |695 |317
Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11 |117 |159 |823 |375
Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17 |141 |192 |995 |454
Money values for the bottom two decile medians, the top decile median and the overall mean for different family types in April 1994 prices,
excluding self employed
(equivalent monetary values in £s per week)
Group medians
|Decile 1 |Decile 2 |Decile 10 |Total population
Income after Housing |Bottom 10 per cent. |10-20 per cent. |Top 10 per cent. |(mean)
Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990-91
Single adult |37 |52 |273 |1,248
Couple no children |67 |95 |496 |225
Couple with child aged 3 |80 |112 |586 |266
Couple with child aged 16 |93 |131 |685 |311
Couple with child aged 3 and 8 |95 |133 |700 |317
Couple with child aged 3, 8 and 11 |113 |158 |829 |376
Couple with child aged 11, 16 and 17 |136 |191 |1,003 |455
All estimates are subject to sampling error.
Column 703
Sickness Benefit
Mr. Clelland: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the cost of each medical examination carried out by his Department's medical officers on customers claiming sickness benefit for the first time and the cost of each subsequent medical examination of customers in receipt of sickness benefit in (a) the north Tyne area and (b) the south Tyne area for the year ending 31 March; and how many (i) first- time and (ii) other claimants' claims for sickness benefit was
Column 704
rejected on the basis of the examining medical officer's report in each area in that year.Mr. Hague: The administration of sickness benefit 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. David Clelland, dated 25 October 1994:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about Sickness Benefit (SB)
Column 705
recipients in the north and south Tyne areas and the cost of medical examinations.The information is not available in the format requested. This is because Benefits Agency boundaries do not correspond with county or borough boundaries. SB recipients in the north Tyne area are dealt with by the Newcastle and north Tyneside district offices; SB recipients in the south Tyne area are dealt with by the south Tyneside district office.
For the year ending 31 March the number of customers disallowed SB following a Benefits Agency Medical Services report that they were capable of some work was as follows:
(i) first time claim (where a customer claimed SB for the first time)--5 in the Newcastle and north Tyneside Districts and 5 in the south Tyneside district.
(ii) other claimants' claims (where a customer has claimed SB in the past)- -14 in the Newcastle and north Tyneside districts and 18 in the south Tyneside district.
Information on the overall cost of Benefits Agency examinations for SB is not available. However, I am able to tell you that the cost in terms of payments to doctors and nurses for each examination is approximately £22.00. The costs of the administrative overheads for SB examinations is not recorded separately from those of other benefits and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. I hope you find this reply helpful.
Occupational Pension Schemes
Mrs. Jane Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many (a) men and (b) women are currently members of an occupational pension scheme; and how many men aged 65 to 69 years and women aged 60 to 64 years are currently in receipt of an occupational pension.
Mr. Arbuthnot: The most recent figures available show that in 1991 there were 6.8 million male and 3.9 million female active occupational scheme members . In the same year there were 0.92 million men aged 65 to 69 years and 0.39 million women aged 60 to 64 years in receipt of an occupational pension.
Notes:
Occupational Pension Schemes 1991. Ninth survey by the Government Actuary. A member of an occupational pension scheme who is at present accruing benefits under that scheme in respect of current service.
Automatic Benefit Payments
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the project brief for automatic benefit payments accounting systems at post offices allows for the introduction of transaction charges for (a) Post Office operators and (b) benefit claimants.
Mr. Arbuthnot: The system of charges to be paid by the Department of Social Security to Post Office Counters Ltd. for encashments under the automated system will be a matter for negotiation. The system for remunerating individual sub-post offices is a commercial agreement between Post Office Counters Ltd. and the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters.
There is no intention to introduce a transaction charge for benefit claimants.
Child Support Agency
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide information on the level of bank charges paid to date by the Child Support Agency
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and the extent to which they have been absorbed by clients' funds temporarily held by the agency.Mr. Burt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Clive Betts dated 25 October 1994:
I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security on the level of bank charges paid by the Child Support Agency to date and the extent to which they have been absorbed by client's funds held by the Agency.
To 31 July 1994, the Agency has paid £173,400 in bank charges. The greater proportion of the Agency's expenditure on bank charges occurs when absent parents use Transcash to make cash payments of maintenance via Girobank. Charges are also made for the use of computer tapes to transfer money to the Client Funds Account. In addition, between April 1993 and March 1994, charges were also incurred in respect of the processing of computer tapes, direct debits, standing orders and the use of the Agency's bank's Head Office collection account for clearing cheques. Invoices for bank charges are received from the Agency's bankers and are paid from the Department of Social Security Administration and Miscellaneous Services Class XIV, Vote 4 account.
No bank charges have been paid from clients' funds temporarily held by the Agency.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to review the workings of the Child Support Agency.
Mr. Burt: The workings of the Child Support Agency are under constant review.
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish the first report of the chief child support officer; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Burt: The report is being published today. The report's findings on the standard of adjudication in the Child Support Agency are disappointing. However, the chief child support officer, Mr. Ernie Hazlewood, recognises the exceptional pressures faced by the agency in its first year and the extremely high level of outside attention focused on staff, many of whom were new to the work. In addition, the deliberate non- co-operation of some absent parents has made the task faced by the agency a very difficult one.
The Child Support Agency is committed to raising standards of adjudication and many of the difficulties identified in the report were recognised by the agency in its annual report, published in July. The CCSO acknowledges the plans already made by managers to effect improvement. To supplement and reinforce the work already begun, he recommends extra emphasis be given to the key areas of adjudication training, recording of decisions, periodic checks and some specific parts of the formula. The agency clearly has a long way to go to reach an acceptable standard of decision making and considerable difficulties to overcome, but recent monitoring exercises indicate that improvement has already occurred. Both the CCSO and I look forward to continuing progress in future years.
VAT Allowances
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what interdepartmental arrangements he has made to ensure that the moneys paid to pensioners and families as compensation for VAT
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increases are not eroded by being taken into account when other benefits are calculated; and if he will make a statement on how the Government are protecting them against the erosion of their benefits;(2) how much money the Government have saved as a result of taking into account the allowance for VAT when other benefits are calculated.
Mr. Roger Evans: In April 1994, income-related benefits were increased to provide help with VAT on domestic fuel. In April 1995, they will be increased again. Claimants with other benefits that are taken into account in assessing entitlement to an income-related benefit therefore still receive help with the levy. The total package involves expenditure of £2.5 billion over three years.
Child Maintenance
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to introduce legislation that will take account of absent parents who set themselves up as self-employed in order to avoid maintenance payments.
Mr. Burt: None. The formula for assessing liability for child support maintenance applies equally to employed and self-employed parents.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of women who are experiencing difficulties with the Child Support Agency regarding payment of maintenance moneys.
Mr. Burt: The information about complaints, difficulties and queries is not collated in the form requested. Some 9,542 complaints and queries relating to the Child Support Agency were recorded between 1 April and 31 August 1994. This figure represents less than 5 per cent. of the cases taken on to that date.
Public Appointments
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether his Department organises receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the
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first time; how often they are held; what is the annual cost; and how many people attend.Mr. Hague: No such receptions are held.
Ministerial Travel
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on how many occasions in the past year the spouse of a Minister in his Department has travelled abroad at public expense to accompany a Minister on public duties, and what has been the total cost to public funds; and on how many occasions such travel has been undertaken at own cost.
Mr. Hague: On one occasion, at a cost of £538.48. Such travel has not been undertaken at a Minister's own cost.
DEFENCE
Official Hospitality
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total amount spent on official hospitality by (a) his Department and (b) his agencies for each year since 1990.
Mr. Soames: The amounts spent by my Department on official entertainment, refreshments and protocol entertainment for each year since 1990 are:
1990 91--£3,900,000
1991 92--£4,100,000
1992 93--£4,950,000
1993 94--£4,580,000
These figures include expenditure incurred by the Ministry of Defence headquarters, by formations and establishments of the armed forces at home and abroad, and by individual officers occupying command and international appointments for which entertainment allowances are payable.
Expenditure on official hospitality by agencies is the repsonsibility of individual chief executives under the terms of their framework documents. The figures are as follows:
Hospitality Expenditure by Defence Support and Executive Agencies Since Vesting
|Financial |Financial |Financial |Financial
Name of Agency |Date of Vesting|Year 1990-91 £ |Year 1991-92 £ |Year 1992-93 £ |year 1993-94 £
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army Base Repair Organisation |01.04.93 |- |- |- |5,984
Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment |02.04.91 |- |8,000 |12,000 |10,000
Defence Accounts Agency |02.04.91 |- |670 |717 |452
Defence Analytical Services Agency |01.07.92 |- |- |1,970 |410
Defence Animal Centre |01.07.93 |- |- |161 |245
Defence Operational Analysis Centre |01.07.92 |- |- |2,832 |2,098
Defence Postal and Courier Service |01.07.92 |- |- |933 |1,004
Defence Research Agency |02.04.91 |- |10,147 |4,749 |4,000
Disposal Sales Agency |03.10.94 |- |- |- |-
Duke of York's Royal Military School |01.04.92 |- |- |1,915 |1,953
Hydrographic Office |06.04.90 |810 |1,602 |2,876 |2,914
Metreological Office |02.04.90 |20,712 |25,734 |16,465 |25,206
Military Survey |02.04.91 |- |0 |384 |4,655
Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation |01.04.92 |- |- |7,000 |3,000
Queen Victoria School |01.04.92 |- |- |335 |2,395
RAF Maintenance Group |02.04.92 |- |- |0 |0
RAF Training Group |01.04.94 |- |- |- |-
Service Children School North West Europe |02.04.91 |- |0 |77 |308
------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |21,522 |46,153 |52,414 |64,624
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Nerve Gas
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quantities of nerve gas stocks have been disposed of; what locations were used for this dumping; and what monitoring has been done subsequently of these sites.
Mr. Soames: The United Kingdom has undertaken the disposal of sizeable quantities of nerve agents on three occasions since 1946. In 1946, British forces disposed of some 3,000 tons of captured German WWII munitions containing nerve agent in hulks scuttled in the Skagerrak. An additional 17,000 tons of captured German munitions were similarly dumped at sea in the north Atlantic in 1955 56. No subsequent monitoring of the Atlantic dump sites was undertaken in view of their depth--over 2,000 m-- and because, on exposure to sea water, nerve agents rapidly decompose to non-toxic compounds through dilution and hydrolysis.
Monitoring of the Skagerrak sites by the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment in 1990 and the Swedish Maritime Department in 1992 showed no evidence of nerve agents or their decomposition products. Finally, some 20 tons of nerve agent produced prior to 1956 was destroyed by chemical hydrolysis and dilution at the former Chemical Defence Establishment, Nancekuke, Cornwall in 1968. Following tests to ensure the hydrolysed material was harmless to the marine environment, it was discharged into the sea. Additionally, from time to time, small quantities of agents are destroyed routinely by chemical methods and incineration at CBDE, Porton Down.
Porton Down
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department, or the Chemical and Biological Defence Agency, gave the producers of the "Network First" programme, "The Secrets of Porton Down", broadcast on 11 October.
Mr. Soames: This is a matter for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment. I have asked the chief executive of the CBDE to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Llew Smith, dated 26 October 1994:
1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him what assistance his Department, or the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, gave the producers of the Network First programme on the "Secrets of Porton Down", broadcast on 11 October has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
2. The producers of the Network First programme broadcast on 11 October 1994 first approached this Establishment on 6 December 1993 to say that they had been commissioned by the ITV Network to make a one hour documentary programme looking at the history of chemical and biological warfare research in Britain for transmission in 1994. This was followed by a meeting with the Director and Associate Producer of the programme in the Ministry of Defence with the Head of News and myself. We were provided with an outline of the programme which said that it would look at the history of British research into chemical and biological warfare and defence and assess its current status. They made it clear that they felt that CBDE Porton Down had made a very significant contribution to chemical and biological defence and wished to examine the direction of such defence now that the East-West situation had relaxed and the Chemical Weapons Convention had been opened signature and steps were being taken to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention.
3. This was followed by a reconnaissance visit by the Director and Associate Producer to CBDE Porton Down on Friday 14
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January 1994. This led to a request dated 20 January 1994 which stated that this was an appropriate moment to take stock of the history and development of chemical and biological warfare and defence, a history in which Porton Down had played a leading role for almost 80 years. Requests were made for filming facilities at CBDE Porton Down together with an interview with myself. Such filming and the interview which lasted for about three hours took place on 3 and 10 February 1994. In addition, CBDE provided on loan to the producers five CBDE films and four video tapes.4. Our practice over the past decade has been to respond positively to requests from media for facilities at CBDE Porton Down and these have generally succeeded in giving a far wider public perception of the role of CBDE which is to ensure that the United Kingdom Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons might be used against them. This improved public perception has also been aided by CBDE being a Defence Agency since April 1991 resulting in the publication of Annual Reports and Accounts. In addition, in July 1994, we launched a new brochure "Protecting Through Scientific Understanding" together with an accompanying video.
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service men or women have died as a result of experiments undertaken on them with chemical or biological warfare agents at Porton Down Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
Mr. Soames: This is a matter for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Llew Smith, dated 26 October, 1994:
1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him how many Service personnel have died as a result of experiments undertaken on them with chemical or biological warfare agents at Porton Down CBDE has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment. 2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. In order to carry out this work, it is necessary to use service volunteers to:
a. assess the ability of service personnel to function to function with new equipment and procedures,
b. develop medical countermeasures to protect Service personnel and
c. evaluate the effects of very low and medically safe concentrations of CW agents on the ability of unprotected personnel to operate normally.
No studies involving volunteers are carried out unless there is a clear military need and a detailed protocol has been reviewed and approved by an independent Ethics Committee in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Royal College of Physicians.
3. Since the start of the Service volunteer programme in the 1920s, there has been a single fatality in 1953 as reported in the Official Report (9 June 1953, Volume 516, Column 7-8 and 22 June 1953, Volume 516, Column 105 ) when Leading Aircraftsman Ronald Maddison died from the effects of asphyxia after taking part in a trial at the then Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment at Porton Down. A detailed inquiry was then held into the circumstances and following this inquiry which was carried out by eminent independent scientists, new guidelines were laid down to ensure the safety of Service volunteers. In the subsequent 40 years, there has been no fatality nor has there been any evidence that any Service volunteers have suffered deterioration in their health as a result of participating in studies at Porton Down.
Column 711
Upholder Submarines
Mr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the Government's intentions for the Upholder submarines.
Mr. Freeman: In the light of the changes in the strategic environment, the Upholder class is being withdrawn from service. HMS Unicorn, the last of the four boats, will pay off next month. We are currently examining options for their sale, lease or storage, bearing in mind the investment which they represent. No decisions have yet been taken.
Ammunition Contracts
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the financial effect on the British defence manufacturing industry of the placing of ammunition contracts with foreign manufacturers by the Ministry of Defence under the advice of Mr. Gordon Foxley.
Mr. Freeman: It is not possible to say with any certainty what impact Foxley's corrupt activities in the field of fuse manufacture had on British defence manufacturing industry.
Contracts
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all contracts tendered for, and handled in any way on behalf of, Saudi Arabia by his Department acting as agents for the Saudi Arabian Government; which firms tendered for, or were awarded, those contracts; and which business agents were appointed in connection with these contracts.
Mr. Freeman: Equipment supplied under the Al-Yamamah programme includes Tornado and Hawk aircraft and naval minesweepers along with associated equipment, support and infrastructure. Further orders for Tornado and training aircraft have been announced since January 1993. Details of the contracts are confidential between the British and Saudi Arabian Governments. The British Government have not employed business agents in connection with these contracts.
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