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Mr. Michael J. Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a list of the urban aid projects for which Glasgow North Ltd. has responsibility and also indicating (a) how many staff have been allocated to each project and (b) the capital and revenue costs for each.
Lords James Douglas-Hamilton: The information is as follows:
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Urban programme projects currently managed by
Glasgow North Ltd.
|Number of |Capital |Annual revenue
|staff |costs |costs (for
|four years)
Project title |£ |£
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regeneration through
reskilling |9 |12,900 |222,800
Community economic
development project |3 |4,160 |71,000
Rosemount business
start-up units |2 |44,500 |43,940
Information technology
bus |2 |90,000 |71,300
Jobs from construction |2 |4,900 |120,400
Three initiatives
(development of
local regeneration
strategies) |7 |122,900 |201,100
Access to training
opportunities
resource |- |- |<1>106,000
Child care employment
and development
projects |2 |13,500 |127,200
<1> Funding is used to provide job specific training packages to enable
individuals to compete more favourably in the labour market.
Mr. Michael J. Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the budget submitted for the IT Bus project owned by Glasgow North Ltd.; and what was the eventual cost.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The costs submitted for the IT bus project in the 1993 94 urban programme competition were as follows:
|£
----------------------------------------------------------
Capital expenditure |90,000
Annual revenue expenditure (for four years) |71,300
I understand from Glasgow district council, the sponsoring local authority, that the level of urban programme capital funds expended on the project was within budget.
Mr. Michael J. Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what urban aid projects have been awarded to Glasgow North Ltd. in the years (a) 1992 93 and (b) 1993 94; and if he will give the value of these projects.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The information is as follows:
|Capital |Annual
|cost |revenue cost
|(for four
|years)
Project title |£ |£
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1992-93
Community economic development
project |4,160 |71,000
1993-94
Rosemount business start-up units |44,500 |43,940
Information technology bus |90,000 |71,300
Internet
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to provide information via Internet; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang: My Department's press releases are already available via Internet. My officials are considering the provision of further selected information.
Historic Scotland
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for what reasons Historic Scotland was denied access on payment, to the direct labour force of English Heritage based at Berwick, for work on sites in the Tweed valley.
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Mr. Lang: Under the National Heritage Act 1983, English Heritage does not have powers to carry out works on sites situated outside England.
Private Hospitals
Mr. Robert Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which health boards in Scotland have purchased treatment from private sector hospitals; which private hospitals have had such contracts; which medical specialities and what number of patients have been involved; and what is the value of such contracts.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 28 November 1994]: Centrally available information on NHS patients treated in Private Hospitals is shown in the tables. The information shown refers to health board of residence and may include treatments purchased by GP fundholders.
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National health service patients seen at private hospitals, 1992
Health board of |Specialty |Cardiothoracic
residence/hospital |general surgery |Orthopaedics |surgery |Plastic surgery |Acute mixed |All specialities
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Argyll and Clyde
Ross Hall |- |70 |19 |- |- |89
Nuffield |- |- |- |- |44 |44
Total |- |70 |19 |- |44 |133
Ayrshire and Arran
Ross Hall |- |2 |31 |- |- |33
Nuffield |- |- |- |- |2 |2
Total |- |2 |31 |- |2 |35
Dumfries and Galloway
Ross Hall |- |- |11 |- |- |11
Total |- |- |11 |- |- |11
Fife
Ross Hall |- |- |3 |- |- |3
Total |- |- |3 |- |- |3
Forth Valley
Ross Hall |- |- |19 |- |- |19
Total |- |- |19 |- |- |19
Greater Glasgow
Bon Secours |- |- |- |1 |5 |6
Nuffield |- |- |- |1 |65 |66
Ross Hall |- |- |70 |- |1 |71
Total |- |- |70 |2 |71 |143
Lanarkshire
Ross Hall |- |- |19 |- |1 |20
Nuffield |- |- |- |- |9 |9
Total |- |- |19 |- |10 |29
Lothian
Ross Hall |- |- |4 |- |- |4
Nuffield |- |- |- |- |1 |1
Murrayfield |8 |- |- |- |1 |9
Total |8 |- |4 |- |2 |14
Tayside
Ross Hall |- |- |54 |- |- |54
Total |- |- |54 |- |- |54
Western Isles
Ross Hall |- |- |1 |- |- |1
Total |- |- |1 |- |- |1
Scotland
Bon Secours |- |- |- |1 |5 |6
Nuffield |- |- |- |1 |121 |122
Ross Hall |- |72 |231 |- |2 |305
Murrayfield |8 |- |- |- |1 |9
Total |8 |72 |231 |2 |129 |442
National health service patients seen at private hospitals, 1993
Health board of |Specialty urology |Plastic surgery |Acute mixed |All specialties
residence/hospital
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Argyll and Clyde
Bon Secours |- |6 |4 |10
Nuffield |- |4 |94 |98
Ross Hall |1 |17 |1 |19
Total |1 |27 |99 |127
Ayrshire and Arran
Bon Secours |- |6 |2 |8
Nuffield |- |1 |9 |10
Ross Hall |- |10 |11 |21
Total |- |17 |17
Dumfries and Galloway
Bon Secours |- |1 |- |1
Ross Hall |- |4 |- |4
Total |- |5 |- |5
Fife
Ross Hall |- |1 |- |1
Total |- |1 |- |1
Forth Valley
Bon Secours |- |2 |2 |4
Nuffield |- |- |1 |1
Ross Hall |- |3 |- |3
Total |- |5 |3 |8
Grampian
Ross Hall |- |1 |- |1
Total |- |1 |- |1
Greater Glasgow
Bon Secours |- |33 |59 |92
Nuffield |- |7 |27 |34
Ross Hall |17 |33 |- |50
Total |17 |73 |86 |176
Lanarkshire
Bon Secours |- |23 |11 |34
Nuffield |- |8 |26 |34
Ross Hall |- |3 |- |3
Total |- |34 |37 |71
Lothian
Murrayfield |- |- |1 |1
Total |- |- |1 |1
Western Isles
Nuffield |- |1 |1 |2
Total |- |1 |1 |2
Scotland
Non Secours |- |71 |78 |149
Nuffield |- |21 |158 |179
Ross Hall |18 |72 |1 |91
Murrayfield |- |- |1 |1
Total |18 |164 |238 |420
Newcastle Disease
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of Newcastle disease were identified in each year since 1985.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 28 November 1994]: There have been no recorded cases of Newcastle disease in Scotland over this period.
Forests
Mr. Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and which local authorities have responded to the consultation paper, "Our Forests, the Way Ahead;" and how many and which local authorities have expressed reservations about the proposal to continue with the disposal of woodland and the loss of public access in these woodlands.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 28 November 1994]: Four local authorities in Scotland have responded: Highland regional council, Kincardine and Deeside district council, Midlothian district council and Strathclyde regional council. Each of these local authorities has expressed reservations about the proposals for securing public access to woodlands sold by the Forestry Commission, although the sale of woodlands does not, of course, necessarily lead to a loss of public access.
WALES
Drugs
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what was the budget for 1992 93 for the education of young people about the effects of substance abuse and drug taking;
(2) what was the budget for 1993 94 for the education of young people about the effects of substance abuse and drug taking.
Mr. Richards: Drug prevention work is undertaken by a number of agencies from both the statutory and voluntary sectors, which receive funds from various sources. In 1992 93 the Welsh Office made available some £200,000 to help fund activities concerned with the prevention of drug misuse. The budget for 1993 94 was nearly £240, 000. Funding is also available to local education authorities for health education (including drugs) under the grants for education support and training programme.
Environmental Protection Agency
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will establish a separate environmental protection agency for Wales.
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Mr. Gwilym Jones: The Government feel that a joint agency will be most effective in addressing current problems, most of which are common to England and Wales.
Concessionary Travel
Mr. Llywd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will assist local authorities to extend the provision of concessionary travel to pensioners; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones: Local councils in Wales already provide concessionary fares schemes for pensioners. Money from the taxpayer for such schemes is provided through the local government revenue settlement. It is for individual councils to decide on the financial support that they wish to allocate for this purpose.
Secret Files
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) top secret and (b) secret files his Department holds.
Mr. Redwood: The information is as follows: (a) five (b) 84. These represent 0.008 per cent. of the Department's holding of files.
Dog Fouling
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to act upon the recommendations of the advisory group on litter concerning dog fouling; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside.
Housing Finance
Mr. Sweeney: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will consult on his housing revenue account subsidy proposals for 1995 96; and what his proposals will be.
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The Welsh Office has issued draft housing revenue account subsidy determinations for 1995 96 today. Local authorities and other consultees have been invited to let us have their views by 22 December 1994. I will be placing copies of the draft determinations together with estimates of guideline rents and management and maintenance allowances in the Library of the House. The proposed average guideline rent for 1995 96 is £33.58 a week. Increases range between £1.82 and £2.82 a week according to the estimated capital values of each authority's stock.
The proposed average management and maintenance allowance per dwelling would increase by 3.75 per cent to £854, an increase of £31. Across Wales the total estimated
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management and maintenance allowances would increase to nearly £177 million. Thirty-two councils would have a higher allowance than in 1994 95 while no authority will have a lower per dwelling allowance than this year.These proposals strike a reasonable balance between the need to contain public expenditure and the need to ensure that housing is provided for council tenants at acceptable cost. The overall percentage increase in guideline rents is lower than in 1994 95. Local authorities determine their own expenditure and set their own rents, but I hope that they will follow the Government's lead in adopting a balanced approach.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Christmas Expenditure
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much public money will be spent on entertaining, Christmas decorations and other festive activities this Christmas season by his Department and Government agencies answerable to his Department; and of this sum how much will be spent in Ministers' private offices and official residences.
Mr. Hague: The cost of decorations, Christmas parties and other festive activities is not normally met out of departmental budgets. For details of total expenditure on official hospitality, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 28 October 1994, Official Report, column 857 . Disaggregated information of the kind requested is not available.
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many official Christmas cards he and his Ministers intend to send in 1994; how much these cards will cost (a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if he will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card he intends to send this year.
Mr. Hague: Ministers at this Department intend to send 930 official Christmas cards in 1994, at a cost of £384.75, inclusive of value added tax. Postage costs are estimated at a maximum of £176.70. Staff time spent on the process will be minimal.
Copies of the official Christmas card are on order and so not yet available. Copies will be placed in the Library later.
Child Support Agency
Mr. Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will publish tables to show, for each Child Support Agency office, (a) performance in relation to overall clearance targets, (b) the total number of cases outstanding, (c) the number of people who have requested that their assessments be reviewed due to change of circumstances, (d) the number of cases still outstanding and how many of those have been outstanding for longer than (i) six months and (ii) 12 months and (e) how many appeals are outstanding, and for how long.
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.
Column 744
Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Mark Fisher, dated29 November 1994: I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the performance of the Child Support Agency against overall clearance targets and the number and age of change of circumstances reviews and appeals.The Agency does not collect all of the information in the format that your require. The information available relates to each Child Support Agency Centre (CSAC) and is shown in the attached tables. Prior to August 1994 the Agency did not count the number of reviews requested following a change of circumstance. Since August, the Agency has identified the age of all such outstanding reviews and has monitored the issue of review forms.
I hope that this reply is of help.
Time taken to clear cases - between 1 April 1994 and
30 September 1994
|Per cent.
---------------------------------------------------------
40 days or less |38
More than 40 days and up to 100 days |10
More than 100 days |52
B) Total cases outstanding
at 30 September 1994
|Number
---------------------------
Dudley |64,191
Hastings |58,569
Falkirk |86,344
Plymouth |68,520
Birkenhead |89,237
Belfast |106,953
Agency |473,814
3 C) Change of circumstance review forms issued CSAC |August |September|Total --------------------------------------------------- Dudley |480 |305 |785 Hastings |598 |466 |1,064 Falkirk |174 |124 |298 Plymouth |618 |673 |1,291 Birkenhead |249 |493 |742 Belfast |187 |128 |315 Agency |2,306 |2,189 |4,495
D) Change of circumstance review requests outstanding-by age at 30 September 1994 CSAC |0-3 months|3-6 months|> 6 months ------------------------------------------------------- Dudley |1,757 |1,174 |2,072 Hastings |3,199 |475 |104 Falkirk |1,166 |139 |6 Plymouth |N/A |N/A |N/A<1> Birkenhead |761 |188 |191 Belfast |513 |281 |130 Agency<2> |7,396 |2,252 |2,503 <1> Figures not available for Plymouth CSAC in this format. Total number of reviews outstanding at Plymouth CSAC = 4,113. <2> Does not include total figure for Plymouth CSAC.
7 E) Appeals outstanding by age at 30 September CSAC |0-3 months|3-6 months|> 6 months ------------------------------------------------------- Dudley |284 |14 |- Hastings |137 |131 |88 Falkirk |300 |215 |- Plymouth |499 |165 |6 Birkenhead |449 |123 |- Belfast |204 |143 |51 Agency |1,873 |791 |145
Special Advisers
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement concerning the cost to public funds of employing ministerial special advisers in his Department.
Mr. Hague: This Department employs one special adviser.
Column 746
Salaries for special advisers are negotiated individually in relation to their previous earnings and are confidential. They are, however, normally paid on a special advisers' salary spine of 34 points, ranging from £19,503 to £67,609. Appointments are non- pensionable and the salary spine reflects this.Benefits
Mr. McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide comparable figures both regionally and nationally on the number of employed people claiming (a) housing benefit, (b) council tax benefit and (c) family credit in each year since 1979.
Mr. Roger Evans: The available information is set out in the tables.
Column 745
Table a. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit for employed people
|Council
Housing Benefit Tax Benefit
(thousands) (thousands)
Standard Statistical |May 1989 |May 1990 |May 1991 |May 1992 |May 1993 |May 1993
Regions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North (including Cumbria) |12 |11 |16 |14 |18 |25
Yorkshire and Humberside |14 |26 |16 |24 |21 |33
East Midlands |11 |13 |14 |17 |17 |25
East Anglia |9 |8 |8 |9 |11 |13
London |33 |34 |42 |44 |47 |30
South East (excluding London) |28 |32 |43 |41 |46 |43
South West |18 |21 |22 |22 |24 |28
West Midlands |24 |24 |24 |25 |24 |29
North West (excluding Cumbria) |30 |21 |29 |29 |35 |54
Wales |11 |15 |12 |11 |13 |11
Scotland |36 |32 |30 |31 |32 |31
Great Britain |226 |236 |255 |268 |288 |321
Source:
The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System annual 1 per cent. sample enquiry taken at the end of May for each year.
Notes:
1. For Housing Benefit, comparable figures, including the regional analysis, are not available prior to 1989.
2. Council Tax Benefit was introduced in April 1993. Figures for Community Charge Benefit are not comparable.
3. The figures given are those cases without Income Support who have earnings, which may be part-time or full time.
4. The figures are for benefit units, not individuals. A benefit unit may be a couple or a single person.
5. The figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand. Therefore the sum of the regions may not equal the total for Great Britain.
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Table b. Family Credit
Family Credit
Thousands
DSS administrative |May |May |May |May |May
regions |1989 |1990 |1991 |1992 |1993
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |54 |56 |62 |72 |88
Midlands |54 |58 |66 |74 |91
London north |32 |35 |39 |45 |57
London south |27 |28 |31 |38 |48
Wales and south west |46 |47 |49 |57 |68
North western |53 |53 |59 |65 |79
Scotland |37 |38 |42 |47 |57
Great Britain |303 |315 |347 |397 |489
Source:
Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample of awards as at the end of May each year.
Note:
1. Family Credit replaced Family Income Supplement in April 1988.
2. Figures relate to families. A family includes at least one person in employment as an employee or self employed.
3. In April 1992, the qualifying hours for Family Credit were reduced from 24 to 16.
4. The figures are shown by DSS administrative region, as a breakdown by standard statistical region is not available.
5. The figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand. Therefore the sum of the regions may not equal the total for Great Britain.
Income Support
Mr. McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the most recent figures to date, and over the most recently available 12-month period, of those couples who are eligible under the current £15 earnings disregard rule; and, where the claimant has been unemployed for two years or more, (a) how many have declared earnings from part-time employment of less than £15 per week and (b) how many have had their income support payments abated because their earnings from part- time employment have exceeded £15 per week.
Mr. Roger Evans: The information is not available in the form requested. The number of couples who are eligible for the £15 disregard is in the table:
|No disability|Disability
|premium in |premium in
|All cases |payment |payment
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Cases |31,000 |25,000 |6,000
Joint Part Time Earnings for: up to £15.00 |11,000 |9,000 |2,000
Over £15.00 |20,000 |16,000 |4,000
Source:
Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry - February 1994.
Habitual Residence Test
Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of those refused benefits under the habitual residence test have appealed against the decision.
Mr. Roger Evans: I am informed by the president of the Independent Tribunal Service, His Honour Judge Bassingthwaigthe, that this information is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if it is Government policy that all those refused income support under the habitual residence test should also be refused social fund grants, social fund loans and crisis loans regardless of their circumstances.
Mr. Roger Evans: Social fund applicants must be in receipt of income support to be eligible for a community care grant or budgeting loan. Crisis loans are available to applicants who are not in receipt of benefit and may be paid to those who fail the habitual residence test.
Attendance Allowance
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many new claims for attendance allowance have been made to each disability benefit centre in each month since April 1992 which have either (a) resulted in an award or (b) been rejected; and, in each case, whether (i) examining medical practitioner evidence was provided, (ii) general practitioner factual reports were provided or (iii) the claim was decided solely on the statement of evidence provided by the claimant;
(2) how many new claims for attendance allowance have been refused, broken down by reason for refusal, in each month since April 1992 at each disability benefit centre and for the country as a whole.
Mr. Hague: The administration of attendance allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member shortly.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 29 November 1994:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for information about Attendance Allowance (AA) claims at each Disability Benefit Centre (DBC).
I apologise for the delay in providing you with this information.
Information in respect of reasons for refusal of AA claims is not available. However, the information that is available has been enclosed and a copy has been placed in the Library.
It should be noted that the figures given may not accurately reflect new claims received within each month at each DBC because relevant statistics are compiled at the date a claim is cleared rather than the date it is received.
I hope you find this reply helpful.
Column 748
Social Fund
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the annual administrative cost of the social fund; and how many complaints there have been from customers and their representatives in each region in relation to their applications in the last year for which figures are available.
Mr. Roger Evans: The administration cost of the social fund in 1992 93, the most recent year for which figures are available, was £208 million. This amount includes expenditure on information technology development and capital costs of £17 million, including the investment costs of introducing the improved social fund computer system.
Information concerning complaints about the social fund is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. An applicant for a discretionary payment who is dissatisfied with the decision has the right to have the application reconsidered by applying for a review. Information on the review process and details of the number of social fund review applications are given in the Secretary of State's annual report on the social fund for 1993 94. A copy for the report is in the Library.
Widow's Benefit
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many (a) widows and (b) war widows ceased to claim widow's benefit on re-marriage in each of the last five years.
Mr. Arbuthnot: For (a) information for the period 1 April 1989 to 31 September 1992 is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Provisional figures for the period since then are as follows:
1 October 1992 to 31 March 1993 = 990
1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994 = 2,050
1 April 1994 to 30 September 1994 = 1,060
Information on the number of widows who ceased on re-marriage to claim war widows pension is as follows:
1990--60
1991--48
1992--32
1993--34
1994--41
January to October 1994 inclusive.
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many social fund applications which have been turned down went to appeal in each region in each year since the establishment of the fund; and how many appeals were successful.
Mr. Roger Evans: The information requested, which is for the regulated social fund system, is set out in the
Column 749
table below. A comprehensive and independent review system is available for those customers who areColumn 750
dissatisfied with a decision arising out of applications to the discretionary social fund.Column 749
Social Fund Appeals-Southern Territory
|Appeals heard
|Appeals heard |and decided in
Year |Benefit |Lodged appeals |and decided |appellants favour
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1987-88 |Funeral payments |104 |55 |16
|Maternity payments|145 |70 |14
1988-89 |Funeral payments |206 |159 |38
|Maternity payments|178 |148 |35
1989-90 |Funeral payments |336 |191 |43
|Maternity payments|257 |124 |19
1990-91 |Funeral payments |400 |232 |39
|Maternity payments|240 |108 |18
1991-92 |Funeral Payments |433 |262 |70
|Maternity Payments|220 |103 |25
1992-93 |Funeral payments |466 |247 |56
|Maternity payments|168 |79 |29
1993-94 |Funeral payments |356 |211 |44
|Maternity payments|144 |59 |13
Social Fund Appeals-Wales and Central Territory
|Appeals heard
|Appeals heard |and decided in
Year |Benefit |Lodged appeals |and decided |appellants favour
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1987-88 |Funeral payments |100 |29 |9
|Maternity payments|249 |83 |5
1988-89 |Funeral payments |203 |164 |28
|Maternity payments|264 |242 |28
1989-90 |Funeral payments |250 |198 |37
|Maternity payments|232 |110 |14
1990-91 |Funeral payments |296 |214 |43
|Maternity payments|138 |81 |12
1991-92 |Funeral payments |312 |195 |42
|Maternity payments|151 |82 |16
1992-93 |Funeral payments |269 |155 |34
|Maternity payments|173 |84 |15
1993-94 |Funeral payments |295 |155 |26
|Maternity payments|132 |63 |14
Social Fund Appeals-Scotland and Northern Territory
|Appeals heard
|Appeals heard |and decided in
Year |Benefit |Lodged appeals |and decided |appellants favour
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1987-88 |Funeral payments |88 |26 |0
|Maternity payments|176 |37 |6
1988-89 |Funeral payments |180 |126 |24
|Maternity payments|305 |254 |39
1989-90 |Funeral payments |192 |154 |21
|Maternity payments|187 |107 |17
1990-91 |Funeral payments |200 |116 |19
|Maternity payments|141 |59 |12
1991-92 |Funeral Payments |245 |131 |23
|Maternity Payments|149 |70 |6
1992-93 |Funeral payments |368 |195 |39
|Maternity payments|195 |85 |14
1993-94 |Funeral payment |337 |162 |39
|Maternitypayments |137 |53 |12
Internet
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to provide information via Internet; and if he will make a statement.
Column 750
Mr. Hague: Department of Social Security press releases issued electronically through the Central Office of Information are already accessible to users of the Internet. CCTA 's Government information service,
Column 751
launched last week, will help Departments make information more widely available and the Department is considering how to make best use of this new service to expand the range of information provided electronically.Note : CCTA, now the Government Centre for Information Systems, is part of the Office of Public Service and Science.
Child Benefit
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current take up rate for child benefit; what is the annual administrative cost for child benefit; and how many complaints there have been from customers in each region over the past year in relation to their application.
Mr. Roger Evans: Child benefit take-up is estimated to be nearly 100 per cent. The administrative cost for Child Benefit in 1992 93--the latest available--was £136.4 million. Information is not readily available to identify customer complaints by region and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Incapacity Benefit
Mr. Garrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he proposes to issue the incapacity benefit rules.
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Mr. Hague: Regulations setting out the detailed provisions of incapacity benefit were laid before Parliament on 24 November 1994. Notes on these regulations are due to be placed in the Library on 1 December 1994.
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