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Social Security expenditure:
|1990-91 |1991-92 |1992-93 |1993-94
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash terms |£59,713 million|£69,878 million|£79,342 million|£86,896 million
Real terms (93-94 prices) |£68,012 million|£74,884 million|£81,770 million|£86,896 million
As percentage of GDP |11 per cent. |12 per cent. |13 per cent. |14 per cent.
The figures have been taken from the 1995 Social Security Departmental Report and include administrative
costs as well as additional local authority expenditure on housing and community charge\council tax
benefits.
Income Support
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 6 July, Official Report , column 359, what information on severe hardship claims and awards is available other than national figures. [33937]
Mr. Roger Evans: Information is available from 1988 by Department of Social Security region, monthly on a national basis, broken down into successful and unsuccessful applications. A monthly breakdown by Benefits Agency territory is available from 1992. Since April 1993 information has been collected monthly by district offices in the categories new, repeat or continuous application; and whether successful or unsuccessful.
Consultants
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much his Department and its agencies have spent on computer consultancy in each of the last five years; and what is the expected expenditure over the next five years. [33859]
Mr. Burt: The information requested is not available.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which firms have won computer consultancy contracts from his Department and its agencies over the last five years; and what is the number of contracts per firm. [33890]
Mr. Burt: The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which firms of consultants employed by his Department over the last year have been paid more than £1,000 per day. [33878]
Mr. Burt: The information requested is not available.
Habitual Residence Test
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the cost of administration of the habitual residence test and of the appeal system; and what proportion of the money saved by non-payment is spent on administration. [33799]
Mr. Roger Evans: The cost of administering the habitual residence test for 1995 96 is estimated at £3.3 million. The allocation to the Independent Tribunal Service for administering the appeal system as a whole in 1995 96 is £48.6 million. It is not possible to apportion the costs of appeals against the habitual residence test. The estimated saving from introducing the habitual residence test is £30 million annually.
Column 622
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants have been refused benefit, per month, since the introduction of the habitual residence test; of these, how many have appealed; and how many appeals have been upheld. [33803]
Mr. Roger Evans: I refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, North-East (Mr. Timms) on 18 April, Official Report , column 43 , on 21 April, Official Report , column 314 , on 1 May, Official Report , column 7 and on 10 July, Official Report , columns 449 50 .
Numbers of claimants who have been refused housing benefit and council tax benefit because of the habitual residence test are being recorded from the 1995 96 tax year and will be available in December 1996.
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received concerning the future of the habitual residence test; and what plans he has to make changes in its operation. [33805]
Mr. Roger Evans: I have received a number of letters from Members of Parliament and the public. I have no current plans to change the test.
Pensions
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cumulative sums saved by the Exchequer and his Department by the departure and domicile of those qualified for United Kingdom old age pensions, by virtue of their exemption from uprating, for the decade 1985 95, in (a) Australia, (b) Canada, (c) New Zealand and (d) South Africa, stating for each the increased sums in sterling to which each as a basic pension would receive for a pension first paid in 1985. [33047]
Mr. Heald: It is estimated that the cumulative cost to the Social Security budget of paying all upratings of retirement pension from November 1985 to April 1994 to UK pensioners in the countries specified would have been (a) Australia £500 million, (b) Canada £275 million, (c) New Zealand £175 million, (d) South Africa £100 million.
The rate of basic pension payable to any individual depends on that person's national insurance contribution record. In November 1985, the rate payable to a person who fully satisfied the contribution conditions for a basic pension was £38.30. It is currently £58.85. Where the contribution conditions are not fully satisfied, a reduced pro rata pension is payable at rates varying from 98 per cent. to 25 per cent. of the full basic rate.
Note:
The cost figures are estimates rounded to the nearest £25 million.
The estimated cost of paying the April 1995 uprating to pensioners in countries where UK pensions are not uprated is not yet available.
Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the answer of 3 July, Official Report , column 79 , if he will estimate the percentage of pensioners retiring on an income between 75 per cent. and 100 per cent. of average earnings; and what figure has been used as average earnings. [33710]
Column 623
Mr. Heald: It is estimated that 12 per cent. of recently retired pensioner units have an income between 75 and 100 per cent. of average earnings. The average earnings figure used for the reply is £304.60 per week.
Source:
Family Expenditure Survey 1992.
Employment Gazette , February 1995.
Notes:
1. Average earnings are based on full time employees on adult rate in all industries and services for 1992.
2. Recently retired pensioner units are defined as single pensioner units and married couples where the individual or head of the household is less than five years over state pension age.
Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the answer of 3 July, Official Report , column 79 , if he will estimate the expenditure on rebates to members of contracted out money purchase schemes in (a) 2010, (b) 2020 and (c) 2030; and what estimate he has made of the number of members of (i) APPS and (ii) COMPS in each of those three years. [33711]
Mr. Heald: The estimated expenditure on the rebate for contracted- out money purchase schemes and the estimated numbers of members of appropriate personal pensions and COMPS are shown in the table. The level of the rebate will be reviewed regularly under the terms of the Pensions Bill 1995.
<
|COMPS |COMPS
|APP numbers|numbers |rebates
Year |000s |000s |£ billion
------------------------------------------------------------
2010 |4,200 |400 |0.2
2020 |3,600 |400 |0.3
2030 |2,800 |400 |0.3
(Figures based on the assumptions detailed in the
Government Actuary's report on the Pensions Bill 1995 CM
2714).
WALES
EDS
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the contracts his Department has with the computer company EDS. [33171]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The Welsh Office has no contracts with the computer company EDS.
Local Government Reorganisation
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning local government reorganisation and job security of council employees. [33496]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The new authorities are responsible for deciding their staffing structures, including the number and grade of posts. I wrote to the chairman of the Staff Commission for Wales in January, setting out our view that, in the first instance, it is for each new authority, in consultation with its predecessors, to decide which staff--over and above those covered by the TUPE
regulations--should be transferred to it.
Column 624
The decisions which councils reach will be reflected in the staff transfer order. We aim to publish the order for consultation in November 1995.This process should reassure staff who are covered by the order about their immediate future, but it is for the new councils to decide what security of employment they wish to offer them beyond April 1996.
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with local government leaders concerning job security for employees when local government reorganisation takes place, and if he will make a statement. [33497]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: My right hon. Friend has had no such discussions since taking up his appointment.
Capital Receipts
Mr. Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the total amount of (a) usable and (b) set-aside capital receipts held by each local authority in Wales on 31 March. [33472]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The latest available information is given in the following table:
Capital receipts and outstanding loan debt at 31 March 1994<1>
|Receipts
|awaiting |Total
|Usable |final |outstanding
|receipts |redemption<2>|loan debt
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alyn and Deeside |967 |5,006 |34,214
Colwyn |924 |3,046 |25,799
Delyn |0 |0 |30,027
Glyndwr |283 |2,155 |16,214
Rhuddlan |334 |3,242 |25,732
Wrexham Maelor |981 |0 |70,781
Carmarthen |1,857 |6,751 |35,364
Ceredigion |2,069 |7,862 |19,395
Dinefwr |370 |3,310 |25,639
Llanelli |1,056 |3,021 |42,445
Preseli Pembrokeshire |2,725 |1,212 |40,689
South Pembrokeshire |1,641 |0 |10,686
Blaenau Gwent |2,876 |11,978 |102,562
Islwyn |359 |12,077 |59,588
Monmouth |4,905 |6,847 |43,911
Newport |8,125 |6,150 |123,117
Torfaen |3,271 |7,928 |80,776
Aberconwy |1,793 |2,928 |18,801
Arfon |207 |7,715 |25,845
Dwyfor |314 |1,039 |14,713
Meirionnydd |0 |749 |9,163
Ynys Mon |60 |4,084 |51,270
Cynon Valley |0 |5,134 |49,381
Merthyr Tydfil |1,072 |4,390 |60,661
Ogwr |3,326 |0 |83,171
Rhondda |1,570 |2,178 |92,068
Rhymney Valley |1,107 |6,067 |69,422
Taff Ely |3,003 |3,276 |31,853
Brecknock |1,769 |7,137 |26,953
Montgomeryshire |1,574 |11,523 |21,284
Radnorshire |450 |3,289 |12,727
Cardiff |20,363 |729 |180,689
Vale of Glamorgan |5,716 |24,269 |55,662
Port Talbot |550 |7,191 |37,384
Lliw Valley |2,211 |7,483 |38,172
Neath |481 |6,844 |38,199
Swansea |268 |11,367 |128,489
Clwyd |2,216 |15,827 |131,446
Dyfed |1,318 |4,597 |113,084
Gwent |7,205 |0 |158,180
Gwynedd |2,615 |3 |76,420
Mid Glamorgan |3,915 |1,741 |120,829
Powys |431 |4,627 |52,729
South Glamorgan |2,563 |0 |155,000
West Glamorgan |1,971 |0 |158,502
Dyfed Powys Joint Police Authority |0 |70 |4,653
North Wales Joint Police Authority |846 |1,610 |3,368
South Wales Joint Police Authority |437 |239 |9,753
Source:
Local authority returns.
<1> Receipts figures include sales of capital assets and repayments of capital grants and
advances.
<2> Including European Community grants.
Independent Schools
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many school-age pupils resident in each local education authority areas attend independent schools. [33494]
Mr. Richards: Information about the place of residence of pupils attending independent schools is not collected centrally. Total pupil numbers at independent schools, tabulated according to the local authority area in which the schools are located, are shown in table 1.06 of "Statistics of Education and Training in Wales: Schools No. 3 1995", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
NHS Trust Members
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the members appointed to, and the vacancies that exist in, (a) the Clwydian trust, (b) the Wrexham Maelor trust and (c) Glan Clwyd trust; and if he will list the salaries concerned. [33498]
Mr. Richards: The members appointed together with their remunerations are as follows:
|Remuneration (£)<1>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Clwydian Community Care Trust
Chair:
Mr. Edmund Francis Lloyd Fitzhugh OBE |19,285
Members:
Mr. Christopher Powell |5,000
Professor Charles Fergus Lowe |5,000
Mr. Malcolm Charles Pratt |5,000
Ms Marion Claire Gerrard-Jones |5,000
Ms Susanne Jane Brierley<2> |5,000
(b) Wrexham Maelor Trust
Chair
Mr. Aldham Edward Roberts |17,145
Members
Mr. John Philip Glyn Evans |5,000
Professor Geraint Meirwyn Roberts |5,000
Mr. Simon Dyson-Wingett |5,000
Mr. Idris Dwyryd Price |5,000
Mrs. Margaret Thomas |5,000
(c) Glan Clwyd Trust
Chair:
Mr. Edward Michael Wynne Griffith, CBE |11,020
Members:
Mr. Trefor Glyn Jones, OBE |5,000
Professor Kenneth Walter Woodhouse |5,000
Mr. Ronald Francis Peter Drennan |5,000
Mrs. Elizabeth Alice Jones |5,000
<1> Those appointed as chairmen or non-executive directors are not salaried,
but are entitled to receive a flat rate taxable remuneration.
<2> Ms Brierley has accepted an invitation to become a non-executive director.
The Secretary of State will shortly be writing to confirm the appointment.
Once confirmed there will be no vacancies on the above trusts.
Modern Apprenticeships
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total spending in each Welsh county on modern apprenticeships in the past year; what were the amounts of under or overspendings; and what new subjects have now been added to the original courses offered. [33285]
Mr. Richards: The information requested on expenditure in 1994 95 is not available centrally on a county basis.
The development of modern apprenticeships is fundamental to creating the competitive edge that Welsh industry needs to compete in world markets. In 1994 95, the first year of modern apprenticeships, manufacturing engineering was made a priority and 550 trainees embarked on apprenticeships in this field. In 1995 96, support for modern and accelerated modern apprenticeships is being extended to other key occupational areas needed by Welsh businesses, as shown in the following table; and it is expected that a further 3,400 young people will start apprenticeship training during the course of the year.
Column 625
Modern apprenticeships in Wales in 1995-96
|Mid |North East |South
Occupational area |Gwent |Glamorgan |Wales |Powys |Glamorgan |Targed |West Wales
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Business/Finance |50 |60 |35 |- |50 |63 |220
Tourism Leisure |- |- |5 |- |25 |- |-
Catering |- |15 |- |- |25 |32 |-
Retail |- |70 |20 |- |35 |36 |-
Hairdressing |- |35 |15 |- |15 |37 |60
Child/Health Care |- |- |20 |- |- |- |-
Chemicals |- |- |30 |- |10 |- |-
Agriculture/Horticulture |- |- |- |17 |5 |12 |55
Construction |75 |45 |80 |14 |50 |15 |80
Engineering Manufacture |214 |185 |140 |43 |60 |36 |10
Electrical Installation |10 |15 |10 |- |15 |17 |40
Plastics Manufacture |14 |35 |5 |- |- |8 |-
Steel |100 |- |5 |- |- |- |45
Motor Vehicle Trades |35 |35 |25 |10 |50 |27 |80
Information Technology |- |20 |60 |- |- |24 |20
Non Specific |80 |85 |15 |11 |- |- |20
Modern Apprenticeships Total |578 |630 |485 |95 |350 |320 |950
Note:
Modern apprenticeships frameworks are still being developed in many areas like accountancy, banking, insurance, amenity horticulture etc. Non specified places are to allow
these to be introduced as they are developed.
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the number of specialist cardiologists in post in the NHS in Wales; and if he will list the numbers for each of the previous five years. [33330]
Mr. Richards: The information, which relates to the whole-time equivalent number of consultant cardiologists in post at 30 September, is given in the following list:
1989: 3.1
1990: 4.6
1991: 4.6
1992: 6.1
1993: 9.1
1994: 9.0
Cardiac Mortality
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cardiac mortality rate for each year since 1989; and if he will provide a breakdown by health authority area in Wales. [33329]
Mr. Richards: The available information is in the following table:
Cardiac mortality (ICD 390-429) per 100,000 residents
Area of residence |1989 |1990 |1991 |1992 |1993
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wales |397 |381 |380 |371 |408
Clwyd |405 |382 |421 |407 |434
East Dyfed |461 |425 |422 |408 |455
Pembrokeshire |401 |352 |360 |342 |400
Gwent |395 |394 |374 |386 |405
Gwynedd |410 |399 |398 |368 |437
Mid Glamorgan |400 |384 |367 |365 |409
Powys |428 |366 |396 |403 |414
South Glamorgan |329 |333 |329 |308 |354
West Glamorgan |398 |388 |375 |367 |398
Consultants
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which firms have won computer consultancy contracts from his Department and its agencies over the last five year; and what is the number of contracts per firm. [33884]
Mr. Hague: Details of the contracts awarded to computer consultants in the financial years 1992 93, 1993 94, 1994 95 and 1995 96 are as follows.
Column 628
Information relating to the periods prior to 1992 93 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which firms have won computer consultancy contracts from his Department and its agencies over the last five year; and what is the number of contracts per firm. [33884]
Mr. Hague: Details of the contracts awarded to computer consultants in the financial years 1992 93, 1993 94, 1994 95 and 1995 96 are as follows. Information relating to the periods prior to 1992 93 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Consultants |Number of contracts -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Axis |5 DBI Associates |1 Computer Management Consultants |1 Easams Ltd. |3 The Government Centre for Information Systems |7 NCC Consultancy |1 KPMG Management Consulting |1 Admiral Management Services |1 IPL |1 Software Personnel |2 SPS Ltd. |1 MVA Systematica |1 Praxis Plc |2 DMS |1 Softa and Company Ltd. |1 JBA International plc |2 Computercentre Ltd. |1 Saftynet plc |1 KOALA Publishing |2 Mouncey and Partners |2 ICL |1 Mountfields |1 MMM Consultancies |1 Comms Associates |1 W. S. Atkins |2 BIS Information Systems |1 Ernts and Young |1 Price Waterhouse |1 Gower Business Systems |1
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which firms of consultants employed by his Department over the last year have been paid more than £1,000 per day. [33867]
Mr. Hague: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Column 629
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department and its agencies have spent on computer consultancy in each of the last five years; and what is the expected expenditure over the next five years. [33866]
Mr. Hague: Details of the information technology consultants employed in the financial years 1992 93, 1993 94, 1994 95 and expenditure to date this financial year are given as follows. Information relating to the periods prior to 1992 93 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
1992 93: £380,799
1993 94: £521,094
1994 95: £591,007
1995 96: £97,364
Estimated expenditure on consultancies over the next five years is some £1,215,000.
Grant-maintained Schools
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many ballots for schools to become grant-maintained have been held in the last 12 months; and what was the result in each case. [33828]
Mr. Richards: Six ballots were held, all of which resulted in a vote against seeking grant-maintained status.
Welsh Correspondence
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to sign official letters from his office which are in the Welsh language. [33712]
Mr. Hague: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) on Tuesday 11 July 1995, Official Report, column 514.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Public Bodies
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which members of (a) the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods, (b) the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and (c) the Food Advisory Committee receive any form of grant from his Department or private companies. [32420]
Mr. Boswell: No members of any of these non-departmental public bodies receive any grants from my Department but they are paid travel and subsistence expenses and daily fees for attendance. Some members receive remuneration from private companies and details of these interests are published in the committees' annual reports, copies of which are deposited in the House of Commons Library.
Advertising
Mr. Simpson: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been spent on outside advertising agencies for each year since 1979; and if he will list the specific advertising campaigns undertaken by his department, their purpose and their cost. [32485]
Column 630
Mr. Boswell: Comprehensive information in the form requested is not readily available.
In common with other Government Departments MAFF does not spend directly with advertising agencies. Any advertising forming part of a publicity campaign is placed via the Central Office of Information. Major advertising campaigns since 1990 91 are:
Rabies Prevention;
Joint Imports (prevention of plant and animal diseases being brought into the UK);
Foodsense (promoting safe and healthy eating);
Animal Health and Welfare Issues;
Balance in the Countryside.
Other smaller campaigns have promoted the various schemes available to farmers.
The value of all forms of advertising commissioned through the COI since 1990 91 is as follows:
1990 91: £107,846
1991 92: £342,896
1992 93: £663,460
1993 94: £637,953
1994 95: £703,928
(All figures are exclusive of VAT).
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