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|Per cent.
----------------------------------------------
April 1993-September 1993 |43
October 1993-March 1994 |59
April 1994-September 1994 |77
The gross child maintenance paid by APs via the Agency's collection service is given in the following table. This does not include cases where maintenance is paid direct by the AP to the PWC. These amount to around 20 per cent of cases dealt with by the Agency. There is no business need for the Agency to collect details of payments made in this way and it is assumed that, unless the PWC advises otherwise, payments are received regularly.
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|£ million
----------------------------------------------
April 1993-September 1993 |0.73
October 1993-March 1994 |11.26
April 1994-September 1994 |25.70
Benefits Agency Office, Doncaster
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will make a decision on the plan to build a national Benefits Agency office block on a site in Wood street, Doncaster; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Roger Evans: This is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 6 February 1995:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the timing of a decision on the plan to build a Benefits Agency office on a site in Wood St, Doncaster.
I confirm that negotiations with the Developer are now at a late stage and a final decision on progressing the project to build a new office to serve the Doncaster area is expected by the end of February 1995.
I hope you find this reply helpful,
Cold Weather Payments
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on how many days in the last five years cold weather payments have been made covering postcode areas NE12 and NE23 in the north east of England; and which weather stations cover these areas.
Mr. Roger Evans: The administration of the Cold Weather Payments Scheme is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Stephen Byers, dated 7 February 1995:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about Cold Weather Payments made in postcode areas NE12 and NE23 in the last five years. Postcode NE12 is linked to the Leeming Weather Station and NE23 to the Tynemouth Weather Station.
Cold weather periods are forecast or recorded on a weekly basis and, if appropriate, a payment is made for the same period. I have provided a table showing the number of weeks for which Cold Weather Payments were made for each year in the areas in question.
|<1>1990-91|1991-92 |1992-93 |1993-94 |1994-95
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE 12 |3 |3 |2 |2 |0
NE 23 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0
<1> The 1990-91 figures include Cold Weather Payments made on a national
basis, irrespective of recorded temperatures, for the two week period 1
February 1991 to 14 February 1991.
I hope you find my reply helpful.
Compensation Recovery Unit
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of benefit clawback that will be attained by the compensation recovery unit of his Department in the present financial year.
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Mr. Roger Evans: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 24 November 1994, Official Report , columns 285 86.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received in the past year about the work of the compensation recovery unit.
Mr. Roger Evans: A number of representations have been received, in particular from Clydeside Action on Asbestos and the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.
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Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to recover benefit paid to guilty parties in motor accident cases.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research he has conducted into the impact of the compensation recovery unit on the level of settlements in actions for compensation for industrial injury and disease and traffic accidents.
Mr. Roger Evans: None. The level of settlement is a matter for the plaintiff and the defendant.
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EU Pensions
Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the percentage contributions provided by employers and employees towards public pensions in the member states of the European Union for the latest year for which information is available.
Mr. Arbuthnot: The information available is in the table. In some member states, the contributions for retirement pensions and survivors benefits are included in a general contribution. There are also differences between states in the measure of income/earnings to which the contribution rates apply and in the application of ceilings to contribution amounts. Reliable and detailed information on the precise calculation of contributions is not readily available.
Compensation Recovery Unit
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if benefit paid to victims of motor
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accidents or industrial accident, illness or disease is recovered when their compensation award was not for income maintenance.Ian Greer
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many items he has received from Ian Greer in each week of the last month.
Mr. Hague: One item has been received by Ministers in this Department, during the week commencing 6 February 1995.
Unemployment Benefit
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total amount of unemployment benefit claimed in each of the past five years in (a) Inverclyde, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole.
Mr. Roger Evans: The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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EU-contributions towards pensions
|Employer |Employee |Ceiling |Benefits covered
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Austria<1> |12.55 per cent. |10.25 per cent. |Yes |Old age, survivors
Belgium |8.86 per cent. |7.5 per cent. |No |Old age, survivors
Denmark |National pension: nil (tax financed) |National pension: nil (tax financed) |Not applicable |Old age, survivors
| Supplementary pension: fixed rate | Supplementary pension: fixed rate
| contribution () | contribution ()
Finland<1> |Basic pension: private sector: 2.4 per |Basic pension 1.8 per cent. |Yes |Old age, survivors,
| cent. of payroll public sector: 3.95 | Employment pension: 3.0 |invalidity
| per cent. of payroll Employment |per cent. (average)
| pension: 15.2 per cent. (average)
France |8.2 per cent. (plus additional |6.55 per cent. (plus additional |Yes |Old age
| contribution for the old age | contribution for the old age
| solidarity scheme) | solidarity scheme)
Germany |9.6 per cent. |9.6 per cent. |Yes |Old age, survivors,
|invalidity
Greece |13.33 per cent. |6.67 per cent. |Only for those |Old age, survivors,
|insured before |invalidity
|31.12.92
Ireland |9.0 per cent. up to IR£173 per week |5.5 per cent. |Yes |Old age, survivors,
|invalidity, sickness, |
| excess of IR£9,000 |employment
|injuries,
|occupational
|diseases,
|unemployment
Italy |18.93 per cent. |8.34 per cent. |No |Old age, survivors,
|invalidity
Luxembourg |8.0 per cent. |8.0 per cent. |Yes |Old age, survivors,
|invalidity
Netherlands |Nil |15.85 per cent. |Yes |Old age, survivors
Portugal |24 per cent. |11 per cent. |No |Old age, survivors,
|sickness, maternity,
|invalidity,
|unemployment,
|family
Spain |24.4 per cent. |4.9 per cent. |Yes |Old age, survivors,
|sickness, invalidity,
|family benefits
Sweden<1> |Basic pension: 7.45 per cent. |Nil |No |Old age, survivors,
| Supplementary pension: |invalidity
| 13 per cent.
UK |No contributions for weekly earnings |Rates are reduced by 3 per cent. |Employees only |Old age, survivors,
| below £57; otherwise: 3.6 per |if employee is contracted out |sickness,
| cent., 5.6 per cent., 7.6 per cent. or|of state earnings-related pension | maternity,
| 10.2 per cent., depending on level |No contributions for weekly |invalidity,
|of earnings. |earnings below £57; otherwise: |unemployment
|2 per cent. of £57 plus
|10 per cent. Rates are reduced
|by 1.8 per cent. if employee
|is contracted out of
|state earnings-related pension
Sources:
Social Protection in the Member States of the Union-MISSOC 1994
<1> Comparative tables of social security schemes-Council of Europe 1992
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975
Mr. Pendry: To ask the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food when he expects to make a decision on the National Rivers Authority's proposed byelaw changes to the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.
Mr. Jack: I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the new National Rivers Authority byelaws intended to rationalise the rules on the close season for fishing for coarse fish. I hope to be able to announce a decision on these in the near future.
Milk Marque
Mr. Alan W. Williams: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will conduct an investigation into the sales overseas by Milk Marque during December at discount prices; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jack: No. Milk Marque's pricing policy is a commercial matter for the company itself. It is for the competition authorities to investigate any complaints.
Mink and Arctic Fox
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions in the past three years his inspectors have supervised, examined or monitored the slaughter of factory farm mink and Arctic fox; and by what method killings were carried out.
Mrs. Browning: In the last three years officers of the State Veterinary Service have monitored the slaughter of Arctic fox on one occasion and of farmed mink on 11 occasions. The method of slaughter used for the Arctic fox was by lethal injection. The methods used for the
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farmed mink were exposure to CO and CO2, and by lethal injection.Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if mink or Arctic fox are still present at premises at Brooksbank avenue, Scholemoor, Bradford.
Mrs. Browning: When last visited by the State Veterinary Service in November 1994 no mink or Arctic fox were found on these premises.
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps have been taken to improve the welfare of mink and Arctic fox kept at factory farms since the Farm Animal Welfare Council report of April 1989.
Mrs. Browning: The welfare of animals farmed for their fur is protected by the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968, which makes it an offence to cause them unnecessary pain or distress. Fur farms are subject to annual visits from officers of the State Veterinary Service, who will check that this legislation is being complied with. We are currently consulting interested organisations on additional advice received from the Farm Animal Welfare Council in 1994.
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many licences were issued for mink factory farms for each county of England and Wales in each of the last five years.
Mrs. Browning: No licences have been issued in Wales in the last five years. The numbers of licences issued in England are as follows:
Number of Licences issued in England during the last five years<1>
|1 April 1990- |1 April 1991- |1 April 1992- |1 April 1993- |1 April 1994-
County |31 March 1991 |31 March 1992 |31 March 1993 |31 March 1994 |31 January 1995
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cheshire |2 |2 |1 |- |-
Cornwall |1 |1 |2 |1 |1
Dorset |1 |1 |1 |1 |1
Hampshire |- |- |- |- |1
Humberside |2 |- |1 |- |-
Isle of Wight |1 |1 |1 |1 |1
Lancashire |9 |9 |9 |4 |4
Norfolk |1 |1 |- |- |-
Northumberland |1 |1 |1 |1 |1
South Yorkshire |1 |- |- |- |-
Staffordshire |- |- |- |1 |1
Suffolk |3 |3 |2 |2 |1
West Yorkshire |4 |- |2 |1 |1
Total |26 |19 |20 |12 |12
<1> The date of issue of a licence does not necessarily correspond with the date on which the licence comes
into effect.
Ian Greer
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many items he has received from Ian Greer in each week of the last month.
Agri-Environment Regulations
Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to meet the EEC Agri-Environment Regulations; and what funds have been made available for their implementation.
Mr. Jack [holding answer 7 February 1995]: Over the last year we have launched in England six new environmentally sensitive areas, new payments to promote public access in ESA, a habitat scheme, 22 new nitrate sensitive areas, an organic aid scheme and a countryside access scheme. We plan to launch a moorland scheme shortly. These are additional to the 16 existing ESA, the 10 pilot NSAs and the countryside stewardship scheme, which also form part of the agri-environmental programme for England. Expenditure on all these schemes is planned to rise to £75 million in England by 1996 97. In addition, there are separate agri-environment programmes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Pesticides
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has of the connection between pesticide exposure and neurological and other diseases.
Mrs. Browning [holding answer 2 February 1995]: The use of pesticides is closely regulated and monitored. There are no proven links between the use of pesticides, in accordance with their statutory conditions of approval, and neurological and other diseases. However, were any evidence of such links to emerge, the Advisory Committee on Pesticides would be consulted and Ministers would take any necessary action as a matter of urgency.
Special Advisers
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the severance payments
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made to special advisers in each of the last five years indicating (a) the amount and (b) the date.Mr. Waldegrave [holding answer 1 February 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 6 February 1995, Official Report, column 69.
EDUCATION
School Meals
Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations she has received about the call to restore nutritional standards for school meals; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Robin Squire: In the last two years, the Department has received 12 written representations on the matter. The Government will be drawing up voluntary nutritional guidance for school meals providers as part of the programme to achieve the targets set in "The Health of the Nation" strategy. I hope that this guidance will be published in the summer.
School Suspensions and Exclusions
Ms Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children were (a) suspended temporarily and (b) excluded permanently from secondary schools in the last year for which figures are available.
Mr. Forth: Information on permanent exclusions from maintained schools in England was collected by the Department over a two-year period, starting with the summer term 1990, under the national exclusions reporting system. In England, 2,910 permanent exclusions were reported in year one and 3,833 in year two. Figures for temporary exclusions were not collected.
Ian Greer
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many items she has received from Ian Greer in each week of the last month.
Mr. Boswell: My right hon. Friend has received no items from Ian Greer Associates in the last month. Her three ministerial colleagues have received invitations to a social event, which have been declined.
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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Gas (Standing Charges)
1. Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the President of the Board of Trace if he will discuss with the Gas Consumer Council the benefits of abolishing standing charges to customers on low incomes.
Mr. Ian Taylor: British Gas's standing charges are a matter for the company and Ofgas. The tariff formula, agreed by Ofgas, limits the prices which British Gas can charge to tariff customers.
Gas Care Services
5. Mrs. Liddell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will meet the Gas Consumer Council to discuss the future of services to gas customers who have disabilities.
Mr. Charles Wardle: British Gas has made it clear that it will not cut the services it offers to the elderly or disabled or introduce charges for such services. The forthcoming Gas Bill will provide that all suppliers make special services available to these groups of customers.
21. Mr. Norman Hogg: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will meet the chairman of British Gas to discuss the future of services to gas customers who have disabilities.
32. Mrs. Helen Jackson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will meet the Gas Regulator to discuss the future of services to gas customers who have disabilities.
Mr. Charles Wardle: I refer the hon. Members to the oral answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Clifton -Brown).
Council of Ministers
8. Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he is next due to meet his EU counterparts at the Council of Ministers; and what will be on the agenda.
Mr. Heseltine: My right hon. and noble Friend Earl Ferrers, Minister for Small Firms and Consumer Affairs, will attend the Consumer Council on 30 March. The agenda has not yet been fixed.
Engineering
11. Mr. Pawsey: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to promote United Kingdom engineering.
Mr. Needham: Under the title "Action for Engineering" my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has set up an industry--led steering group and five task forces with the remit to increase substantially the influence, involvement and achievements of professional engineers and technicians for the benefit of British industry. This Department also continues to promote innovation, industrially relevant research and development and world-class engineering education and training.
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Inward Investment
15. Mr. Butterfill: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many inward investment projects were announced during 1994.
Mr. Heseltine: According to figures notified to my Department's Invest in Britain Bureau for the financial year 1993 94, there were 427 decisions by foreign companies to invest in the United Kingdom. Figures for the financial year 1994 95 will be available in June.
Deregulation
24. Mr. Simon Coombs: To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to propose further measures for deregulation.
Mr. Jonathan Evans: Deregulation measures are announced as and when the opportunity arises. For example, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister recently announced that we intend to liberalise the legislation on Sunday licensing. We have now brought into force the great majority of deregulation measures in the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994. A range of further measures are currently the subject of consultation and consideration and will be announced over the next few months.
30. Mr. Steen: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what annual target he has set for his Department with regard to the deregulation of existing rules and regulations; and if he will make a statement as to what progress he has made to reach his target in the current year.
Mr. Jonathan Evans: Deregulation targets for the year to 31 March 1995 were published as part of MINIS 94 last July. Progress against these targets will be published in May following completion of MINIS 95.
Business Link
25. Mrs. Angela Knight: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to publicise Business Link.
Mr. Heseltine: A major national campaign to develop awareness of business link and to support Business Links local activity is being developed. This will begin when the majority of Business Links are in place.
The campaign will have three phases: first, an editorial and advertising campaign beginning this April; secondly, a national launch of the Business Link network this autumn, by which time almost 200 Business Links should be open; and, thirdly, highly targeted promotion activity from the end of this year, aimed at small firms.
Manufacturing Exports
26. Mr. Hendry: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the latest information he has on the level of manufacturing exports; and what was the corresponding figure for the previous year.
Mr. Needham: Manufacturing exports over the three months to October 1994 amounted to £29 billion, 12 per cent. higher than in the same period of 1993.
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British Coal Property
27. Mr. Ronnie Campbell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last met the head of British Coal Property to discuss its future activity; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle: Ministerial colleagues and I have had no meetings with the head of British Coal Property. However we meet senior British Coal staff regularly to discuss a wide range of issues.
28. Mrs. Adams: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will meet the gas regulator to discuss the future of services to gas customers who are blind.
Mr. Charles Wardle: I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Clifton -Brown).
Car Industry
29. Sir David Madel: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what new measures his Department is considering to help the car industry in 1995; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle: Last May's White Paper "Competitiveness: Helping Business to Win" identified a wide range of factors critical to the United Kingdom's international competitiveness. We are reviewing with the car industry the importance of each of these to its own performance and aim to agree, during 1995, a joint programme for accelerating the recovery that is already under way in this key sector.
Postal Services, Rochdale
31. Ms Lynne: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent meetings he has held with Post Office representatives relating to postal services in Rochdale.
Mr. Charles Wardle: None. The provision of postal services in a specific locality is the operational responsibility of Post Office management.
Oil Industry
33. Mr. Charles Kennedy: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on prospects for the United Kingdom oil fabrication sector.
Mr. Charles Wardle: Most of the oil and gas discoveries now being developed need small platforms, floating production systems or sub-sea facilities. Demand for large-scale fabrication work has fallen and we do not expect it to increase significantly in the near future.
Gas Supply
34. Mr. David Nicholson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress he is making with his plans to introduce competition in the supply of gas.
Mr. Heseltine: I expect shortly to bring forward a Bill to introduce further competition in the supply of gas. On 24 January I issued a consultation document with the Director General of Gas Supply, inviting views on the choice of areas for the initial phase of competition which would be introduced from 1996 98, subject to parliamentary approval of the Bill. A copy of this consultation document has been sent to all right hon. and hon. Members.
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