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Charter Week
Mr. Morgan: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the main events he is proposing for Charter Week; what is the total cost to public funds; and how many (a) civil servants and (b) other public officials will be playing a part. [30679]
Mr. Heseltine: The Patent Office is contributing to a bilingual leaflet being put together to publicise the customer service activities of member organisations of the charter mark winners in Wales group.
There will be on additional costs or staff resources required as a result of this event being held in July. The officials concerned will be working on the event as part of their normal duties.
X200 Jaguar
Mr. Mike O'Brien: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what support his Department will offer to ensure that the X200 Jaguar is built in the United Kingdom. [30697]
Mr. Eggar: Discussions continue with Ford about the project. We are, of course, keen to ensure that the car is built here in Britain.
Photovoltaics
Mr. O'Neill: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current United Kingdom installed capacity of solar photovoltaics, in megawatts; and what targets his Department has set for an increase in installed capacity by 2000. [30077]
Mr. Page: The installed capacity of photovoltaics in the UK at the end of 1994 has been estimated at about 320 (kW). This estimate covers all applications including remote power, consumer goods and grid connected systems. The Government are working towards 1,500 (MW) of new electricity generating capacity from renewable sources by 2000; photovoltaics is expected to contribute marginally to this capacity on this time scale.
Mr. O'Neill: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current level of expenditure on the development and deployment of solar photovoltaic technology in the United Kingdom; and what are the projected levels of funding for the years 1995, 1996 and 1997.[30075)]
Mr. Page: The spend by the Department of Trade and Industry's new and renewable energy programme on
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photovoltaics in the financial year 1994 95 was £564,000. In addition to this, there was expenditure in the UK on photovoltaics development and deployment by the Office of Science and Technology, the European Commission and the photovoltaics industry itself. Projected levels of DTI funding for new and renewable energy, including photovoltaics, were published in "Trade and Industry 1995: The Government's Expenditure Plans 1995 96 to 1997 98", and are as follows:Year |£ million ------------------------------ 1995-96 |18.0 1996-97 |15.5 1997-98 |15.5
Mr. O'Neill: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many solar photovoltaic projects in the United Kingdom his Department has supported financially. [30079]
Mr. Page: To date, the Department of Trade and Industry has provided financial support to 20 photovoltaics projects.
Mr. O'Neill: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to encourage the regional electricity companies to generate electricity using (a) solar photovoltaic technology and (b) solar water heating. [30083]
Mr. Page: Measures are in hand to save electricity generation and encourage energy conservation by bringing the potential of photovoltaics and solar water and heating technology to the attention of the regional electricity companies. These measures include supporting, under the DTI programme:
an initiative of the International Energy Agency to provide information on photovoltaics to utilities involving for example a series of seminars held at REC offices;
(in association with some RECs) regional renewable energy studies to assist the RECs with their business planning for renewables. These studies have included consideration of the local resource for photovoltaics and solar water heating.
Mr. O'Neill: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what support his Department is providing to the United Kingdom solar photovoltaic industry in order to assist an increase in its global market share; and what targets have been set for an increase in its market share. [30078]
Mr. Page: The Department of Trade and Industry's new and renewable energy programme in 1994 funded a business development study with the UK Photovoltaic Association to examine the world photovoltaics market and future market developments, and the opportunities for UK companies to succeed in these markets. The association has proposed its own target of a 15 per cent. market share of the world market by 2005. The DTI has initiated an export strategy for new and renewables within the overall new and renewable energy programme.
Mr. O'Neill: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to offer practical or financial assistance to householders who wish to obtain energy supplies from (a) solar photovoltaic technology and (b) solar water heating. [30082]
Mr Page: The Department of Trade and Industry programme is providing practical assistance to anyone interested in investing in solar technologies by providing
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case studies, results from monitored projects and technical guidance information.Renewable Energy
Mr. O'Neill: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what effect he expects continued non-fossil fuel obligation support of mass burn energy from waste schemes to have on the Government's policy objectives for integrated waste management as set out in the national waste strategy; [30085]
(2) what assessment he has made of the potential contribution which will be made towards achieving the Government's renewables target by mass burn energy from waste technologies; [30235]
(3) what market intelligence he has regarding either the (a) size or (b) number of future mass burn energy from waste schemes in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement; [30086]
(4) if he plans to continue support for mass burn energy from waste technology in the fourth order of the non-fossil fuel
obligation; [30084]
(5) what assessment he has made of the reasons for failure of those mass burn energy from waste schemes which were supported under the first three non-fossil orders; and what changes he is considering to the structure of future orders to ensure better success rates. [30087]
Mr. Page: Energy Paper No.62, "New and Renewable Energy: Future Prospects in the UK", set out the Government's renewable energy policy and summarised its strategy and programme to implement that policy over the next 10 years. Energy paper No. 62 estimated that energy from municipal and industrial wastes might contribute around 400 MW to the Government's aim of working towards 1,500 MW of new electricity generating capacity from renewable sources for the UK by the year 2000. The non-fossil fuel obligation in England and Wales, and similar arrangements in Scotland and Northern Ireland, are the Government's main instrument for creating an initial market for renewables so that in the not-too-distant future the most promising renewables can compete without financial support.
The Government have recently consulted on the structure of the fourth NFFO order and the Energy from Waste Association has provided market intelligence on potential future mass burn energy from waste schemes in the United Kingdom. I will take this information into account when the decisions on the structure of the NFFO4 are made shortly.
Energy from waste developments require planning permission and each application is determined on its own merits. The award of a NFFO contract is totally without prejudice to the planning process. Advice on planning
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issues is set out in planning policy guidance on planning and pollution control published in July 1994 and the annexe on waste combustion to planning policy guidance on renewable energy published in October 1994. The Department of Trade and Industry's renewable energy programme published a best practice guide for local authorities and private sector developers of municipal solid waste combustion projects in April 1995.The Government are committed to issuing updated guidance to local authorities on tendering waste disposal contracts and this will reinforce the desirability of recovering energy from waste as part of a sustainable approach to waste management. The Department of the Environment and Welsh Office have recently consulted on a draft waste strategy for England and Wales and expect to publish a final version towards the end of the year. The targets and objectives set out in the waste strategy are to be achieved by a combination of mechanisms, including the proposed landfill tax and initiatives on producer responsibility for waste. These will contribute towards an integrated approach to more sustainable waste management practices which employ energy recovery alongside material recycling, in pursuit of the best practicable environmental option.
Energy Research and Development
Mr. O'Neill: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the current level of funding for research and development for the energy sector by type, including advanced fossil fuel combustion technology. [30076]
Mr. Page: The funding allocated by my Department for energy research and development programmes in 1995 96 is as follows:
|£ Million
---------------------------------------------------
Nuclear R and D:
Decommissioning and
Radioactive Waste Management
Support |5.9
Fast reactor |0.1
Safety and health |2.7
Fusion-including DTI's
contribution towards JET |15.8
Safeguards |1.0
Non-Nuclear R and D:
Oil and gas production
technology |3.4
Offshore environmental R and D |0.1
Clean coal technologies |7.0
Environment |0.6
Renewable and novel sources of
energy |18.0
The final outturns may vary from the figures shown. There is no energy R and D expenditure on advanced fossil fuel technologies other than for coal.
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TREASURY
BMARC
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many previous occasions customs inquiries and investigations have been made into contracts placed with, for or on behalf of BMARC. [29720]
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: Customs' only known previous inquiry concerned information provided by BMARC about a contract for BMARC to supply goods to another United Kingdom company which was under investigation.
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VAT-registered Businesses
Mr. Thurnham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each of the last 10 years (a) the number of VAT registered businesses per 1,000 population and (b) the number of new businesses per 1,000 population created in (i) Bolton, (ii) the north-west region and (iii) the United Kingdom. [30210]
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: Customs does not hold information on the ratio of businesses to population or on the number of businesses registered in Bolton alone. Figures are available for VAT--registered businesses by local office. The local VAT office at Blackburn covers, in addition to Blackburn, the towns of Bolton, Accrington and Clitheroe. Figures for the north-west cover Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. These are given in the table:
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|New registrations|New registrations |Total number of |Total number of |Total number of
|at Blackburn |in the north west|New registrations|registrations at |registrations in |registrations in
Year |office |region |in the UK |Blackburn office |the north west |the UK
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985 |1,997 |16,317 |184,392 |17,177 |128,538 |1,471,375
1986 |2,115 |16,602 |190,259 |16,967 |128,846 |1,494,368
1987 |2,065 |16,964 |202,132 |17,071 |130,170 |1,539,914
1988 |2,595 |20,110 |239,351 |17,527 |133,868 |1,605,817
1989 |2,807 |22,384 |261,783 |18,141 |139,526 |1,690,191
1990 |2,680 |21,574 |234,264 |18,762 |145,053 |1,742,966
1991 |2,298 |18,644 |199,604 |18,122 |140,668 |1,692,190
1992 |2,114 |17,326 |186,816 |17,849 |136,439 |1,640,409
1993 |2,099 |16,412 |191,965 |17,402 |131,877 |1,607,843
1994 |1,904 |15,174 |176,771 |16,986 |134,619 |1,582,911
1995<1> |395 |3,776 |44,710 |16,799 |134,921 |1,579,869
<1> To end March.
The effect of the substantial increase in the registration threshold in both 1991 and 1993 provides an explanation for the net decrease in the number of registered businesses since 1990.
Customs Investigation and Intelligence Review
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the further, separate and full review of the investigation and intelligence operations to be undertaken after the previous fundamental expenditure review into customs was completed is yet under way; and when and to whom customs will report. [30070]
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: The investigation and intelligence review was begun in January and is continuing. The report will go to Treasury Ministers in September 1995.
VAT Bad Debts
Ms Primarolo: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the operation of the VAT bad debt relief scheme. [30510]
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: All aspects of the VAT system are kept under regular review. If the hon. Member has any specific concerns about the operation of the VAT bad debt relief scheme, I would be happy to consider them.
North Sea Oil Revenue
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the different sources of
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Government revenue received in relation to the production of North sea oil; and if he will also calculate the total amount of revenue the Government have received from these sources for each year since 1979. [30176]Sir George Young [holding answer 22 June 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 7 June 1995, Official Report , columns 203 4 .
Vehicle Excise Duty
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the annual change in revenue to the Exchequer which would result from raising the level of excise duty paid by lorries by £20 per vehicle per annum. [30096]
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory [holding answer 22 June 1995]: The estimated additional revenue to the Exchequer which would result from raising the level of vehicle excise duty paid by lorries by £20 would be £8 million.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Child Support Agency
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many outstanding Child Support Agency cases are currently awaiting processing in the Dudley office; how many staff are employed in this office, and what training they have received. [29320]
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Mr. Burt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Ms Joan Walley, dated 22 June 1995: I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Dudley Child Support Agency Centre (CSAC).
As at the end of April 1995, Dudley CSAC was dealing with 38,200 cases, all of which were at various stages of the assessment process following the return of a maintenance application form (MAF) to the Centre, and some that have been referred to the local field office. There were a further 18,600 cases where a MAF had been issued but not yet returned.
The CSAC has 758 staff. In line with the Agency's determination to improve quality, all staff at the CSAC undergo formal induction training structured to cover the area of work they will be undertaking; maintenance assessment staff have a training programme which lasts for ten weeks; call handling staff receive a five week course covering the whole of the Agnecy's business and Operation Accounting staff receive four weeks training which includes instruction on debt management. All relevant staff received training on the recent policy changes and enhancements to the Child Support Computer System. All courses include one weeks customer service training and a period of consolidation with an experienced colleague.
After initial training, individual and collective training needs are continuously reviewed and both technical and personal skills based training courses are available and delivered regularly. I hope this is helpful.
Benefits
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for each change the impact on the numbers claiming benefit now and in 2000 01 as a consequence of (a) the new incapacity benefit, (b) the £40 per week child care effect on family credit for single parents, (c) the back-to-work bonus for single parents, (d) the Child Support Agency, (e) limiting housing benefit to the average for each category of property in each area and (f) the changed rules for claiming income support for mortgage interest payments; and if he will also list for each change the saving to public expenditure. [27222]
Mr. Hague: The medium-term projections of benefit expenditure did not involve explicit calculations of benefit case loads. Reliable estimates of the case load effects of the policy measures listed in 2000 01 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The effects of the policy measures on benefit expenditure in 2000 01 are estimated as follows:
(a) Incapacity benefit: Saving £2.3 billion
(b) Child care effect on family credit: adding £60 million (c) Back to work bonus for lone parents: adding £10 million (d) Child Support Agency: saving £0.6 billion
(e) Housing benefit limits: saving £190 million
(f) Changed rules for income support mortgage interest: saving £150 million
All these figures are the estimated costs and savings in the year 2000 01 in 1994 95 prices--rounded to the nearest £10 million. They represent the best estimate available of the effect of the policy measures, but detailed forecasts over that time span are subject to a wide margin of error. In particular, there may be behavioral effects from the policy measures not allowed for in the forecasts.
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Mr. Callaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to review the benefit entitlement of 16 to 18-year- olds. [30971]
Mr. Roger Evans: We will be issuing expanded guidance to Benefits Agency offices in respect of claims under the severe hardship provision. Our concern is to ensure that decisions taken with the authority of the Secretary of State are made taking account of all the available evidence.
Mr. Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of reducing (a) housing benefit taper by 15 per cent. to 50 per cent., (b) family credit taper by 20 per cent. to 50 per cent., (c) council tax taper by 15 per cent. to 50 per cent. and (d) all benefit tapers to 50 per cent. [30380]
Mr. Evans: The information requested is set out in the table. The council tax benefit taper is currently set at 20 per cent. Separate estimates have therefore been provided assuming a reduction of council tax benefit taper of 15 per cent. to 5 per cent. and an increase to 50 per cent.
|Estimated
|cost
|(+)/saving(-)
|£ million per
|annum
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Housing Benefit taper at 50 per cent. |+585
Family Credit taper at 50 per cent. |+555
Council Tax Benefit taper at 50 per cent. |-330
Council Tax Benefit taper at 5 per cent. |+965
All Tapers at 50 per cent. |+805
1. Estimates are based on 1990-91 to 1992 family expenditure surveys
uprated to 1995-96 prices and benefit levels.
2. Figures are rounded to the nearest £5 million.
Income Support
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the income support liveload payments made for (a) E cases, (b) P cases, (c) A cases and (d) total cases for each quarter since January 1991 by (i) district and (ii) area directorate. [29331]
Mr. Roger Evans: The information is not available.
Mr. Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of raising earnings disregards for (a) single income support claimants from £5 to £10 per week, (b) couples to £10 each and (c) for the couple. [30382]
Mr. Evans: The cost of raising the disregards in the manner suggested would be:
(a) £10 million
(b) £10 million
(c) £35 million
Notes:
1. Based on data taken from the 1993 income support annual statistical inquiry and from the 1990 91 92 family expenditure surveys uprated to 1995 96 prices, benefits and earnings levels. 2. Costs are per annum, rounded to the nearest £5 million. 3. All costings exclude groups who already have a higher disregard in income support, particularly lone parents, the disabled and long-term unemployed couples.
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Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of income support were recorded as persons without accommodation in the last year for which figures are
available. [30611]
Mr. Evans: In May 1994, 41,000 income support claimants were recorded as using the local benefit office as a mailing address. It is unlikely that this number relates only to roofless people. Notes:
The figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
Source:
Income support quarterly statistical inquiry May 1994 and income support annual statistical inquiry May 1993.
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many young people in Wales who left school at 16 years in 1994 are currently receiving (a) severe hardship payments under income support provisions and (b) other Benefits Agency payments. [31018]
Mr. Evans: The information is not available.
Charter Week
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the main events he is proposing for Charter Week; what is the total cost to public funds; and how many (a) civil servants and (b) other public officials will be playing a part. [30680]
Mr. Hague: A number of events are planned by district offices of the Benefits Agency which will coincide with the fourth anniversary of the citizens charter, including:
Participation by several districts in local radio phone-ins; a charter mark winners roadshow organised jointly by South Tees district and the child benefit centre;
charter mark winners open days organised by several districts, including Lothian West district, Springburn district and the benefit inquiry line in Preston;
Newcastle district, which has been informally twinned with South Tyneside hospital trust is organising a day trip for underprivileged children.
In addition, the South Lancs and Cheshire division of the Contributions Agency is running an information desk at public libraries in the area, to promote aspects of its service. There will be negligible cost to public funds as a result of these events taking place. The officials involved will be working on them as part of their normal duties.
Pensioners' Incomes
Mr. Callaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the latest figures available on the growth of pensioners' incomes since 1993. [30972]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The latest available information is for 1992. These figures showed that, on average, pensioners' net incomes have increased by 50 per cent. since 1979, before taking housing costs into consideration.
Source:
Estimated from the family expenditure survey, 1992.
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