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Mr. Robin Squire: I have been asked to reply.
The Employment Department does not spend money directly with advertising agencies, but channels its expenditure through the central office of information, which manages advertising on behalf of central Government.
Total advertising expenditure by the Department since 1979 is:
|£
------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |<1 2 3> 175,296
1980-81 |<1 3> 6,867,309
1981-82 |<1 3> 4,395,776
1982-83 |<1> 6,186,195
1983-84 |<1> 4,754,522
1984-85 |<1> 3,254,828
1985-86 |<1> 20,621,583
1986-87 |<1> 53,241,911
1987-88 |<1> 40,706.040
1988-89 |<1> 30,229,606
1989-90 |<1> 21,797,896
1990-91 |<1> 12,293,720
1991-92 |14,039,415
1992-93 |<1> 5,584,560
1993-94 |<1> 8,441,609
1994-95 |To be advised
Notes:
<1> At constant 1994 prices.
<2> The 1979-80 total does not include
expenditure by the former Manpower Services
Commission as the figure is not available.
<3> The 1979-80, 1980-81, 1981-82, 1982-83,
1983-84 and 1984-85 totals do not include
expenditure by the Health and Safety Executive (
HSE) as figures are not available.
Major campaigns each year from 1990 95 are shown in the following table:
|£
------------------------------------------------
1990-91
TEC National Launch |4,214,000
National Training Awards |942,386
Career Development Loans |491,214
JobClub |980,455
Disability Symbol |447,222
1991-92
TEC National Launch |4,272,340
National Training Awards |868,307
Just the Job Launch |1,698,048
Investors in People |447,752
Disability Symbol |608,248
1992-93
National Training Awards |462,437
Career Development Loans |569,881
Disability Symbol |814,060
Just the Job |359,666
Employers/Job Centres |741,066
1993-94
National Training Awards |434,032
Career Development Loans |1,242,152
Make it Your Business/IIP |1,712,579
Just the Job |1,381,333
Disability Symbol |11,053,404
Employers/Job Centres |978,723
1994-95
NVQ/Free Your Potential |2,717,685
Career Development Loans |1,264,951
Disability Symbol |936,000
Just the Job |850,502
National Training Awards |303,355
The above campaigns have all been undertaken with a view to increasing awareness and encouraging participation in the Department's initiatives.
Social Chapter
Mr. William Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what calculations she has made on the impact for public expenditure of the United Kingdom signing the European Union social chapter; and if he will make a statement. [32871]
Mr. Forth: I have been asked to reply.
It is not possible to put an exact figure on the costs of the draft social chapter proposed at Maastricht because it is a mechanism for legislating rather than a body of legislation. However, there can be no doubt that accepting the social chapter would lead to legislation being imposed on the UK which would adversely affect public finances. Most important, the costs of public sector employers would be increased and the flexibility and competitiveness of British business reduced so that jobs would be lost and tax revenue reduced.
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Training and Enterprise Councils
Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action she proposes to create greaterstability amongst training providers contracted to TECs. [31786]
Mrs. Gillian Shephard: I am sure that the combination of responsibilities within my new Department will offer many opportunities to strengthen our policies for training. Training and enterprise councils will continue to have a central role to play and I look forward to a very positive relationship with them. But let us be clear that TECs are independent companies and the contractual arrangements they make with their providers are a matter for them.
Career Development Loans
Mr. Bryan Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total public expenditure on career development loans in each year for which figures are available in (a) actual and (b) current prices. [33148]
Mr. Paice [holding answer 10 July 1995]: I have been asked to reply.
The programme costs for career development loans for each year since 1988 together with the equivalent cost at 1995 96 prices are shown in the table:
£ million
Year |Actual cost |Cost at 1995-96
|prices
----------------------------------------------------------------
1988-89 |0.650 |0.901
1989-90 |1.404 |1.819
1990-91 |3.750 |4.498
1991-92 |5.389 |6.082
1992-93 |6.884 |7.472
1993-94 |7.975 |8.399
1994-95 |9.392 |9.697
Mr. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications for career development loans there were in each year for which figures are available; and what percentage of these applications were successful. [33150]
Mr. Paice [holding answer 10 July 1995]: I have been asked to reply.
The number of approved career development loans for each year since 1988 together with the number of rejections, as provided to the Employment Department by the participating banks, and the consequent percentage of successful applications is shown in the table:
|Percentage of
|successful
Year |Loans approved|Loans rejected|applications
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988-89 |2,762 |735 |79
1989-90 |5,805 |1,733 |77
1990-91 |8,054 |1,767 |82
1991-92 |10,432 |4,260 |71
1992-93 |10,230 |3,978 |72
1993-94 |12,159 |4,966 |71
1994-95 |15,169 |4,790 |76
Mr. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of those taking out career development loans were (a) unemployed, (b) employed and (c) continuing students in each year for which figures are available. [33149]
Mr. Paice [holding answer 10 July 1995]: I have been asked to reply.
The following table lists, in percentage terms, the employment status of approved career development loan applicants for each year since 1991:
Percentage Year |Unemployed|Employed |Student |Other ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1991-92<1> |31 |51 |17 |1 1992-93 |35 |45 |18 |2 1993-94 |36 |42 |19 |3 1994-95 |33 |44 |20 |3 <1> Figures for earlier years were not collected in a comparable format.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Sexism
Ms Corston: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the Government intend to give effect to recommendation No. R(09)4 adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 21 February 1990, on the elimination of sexism from language, by bringing the terminology used in legal drafting and public administration into line with the principle of sex equality. [33034]
Mr. Freeman: The Government are fully committed to the principle of sex equality. As regards parliamentary drafting, the Government have no plans to alter present practice, which is to use language that is best suited to conveying meaning clearly and simply. Within Government communications, non-gender specific language is already widely used by Departments, who follow the principles of the "Plain English" campaign to communicate with clients and staff.
World Wide Web Server
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the work his Department has carried out in the last 12 months in making information about his Department available to the public via the Government world wide web server known as "www.open.gov.uk" and his plans and policies to make additional and new information available electronically on the server in the next 12 months. [34674]
Mr. Freeman: My Department has been responsible for the development of the CCTA Government information service on the world wide web. Since its launch in November 1994, over 80 public sector organisations have made information available, including 15 major Departments of State and 50 agencies, business units and non-departmental public bodies.
The Office of Public Service has made available a wide range of information, including all the citizen's charters; the code of practice on access to Government information; a directory of Ministers and Whips; details of publications, services and events from CCTA--the Government Centre for Information Systems; information
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on HMSO'S publications, business systems and electrical trading services; and courses and services available from the Civil Service college.My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service is today setting out the progress made to date and our vision for further developments in a speech at the CCTA's information superhighways conference. Further information on our achievements and plans can be found in the CCTA's report on information superhighways, which was placed in the Library of the House last month.
Civil Service Pension Scheme
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many civil servants contribute to the civil service pension scheme; how many people are currently in receipt of pensions; and how many people, having ceased to be employed in the civil service, will receive delayed civil service pensions. [33299]
Mr. Horam: As at 1 April 1995, some 514,000 civil servants were members of the principal civil service pension scheme. In addition, there are some 12,000 staff of other bodies who are covered by the scheme.
The number of PCSPS pensions in payment, at the end of June 1995, was 528,251. This figure includes widows and dependants in receipt of pensions. There are some 225,000 awards preserved for payment at pension age.
List of Ministerial Responsibilities"
Mrs. Ann Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to publish a revised edition of "List of Ministerial Responsibilities", taking into account the recent changes in responsibilities announced in the recent Government reshuffle. [34574]
Mr. Freeman: A revised edition of the "List of Ministerial Responsibilities including Agencies" is currently being prepared and I shall publish it shortly. Copies of the new edition will be made available to Members free of charge from the Vote Office.
TREASURY
Public Sector Debt
Sir Peter Lloyd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost in 1994 95 of servicing (a) the total public sector debt and (b) that part of the debt accumulated in that year. [34298]
Mr. Waldegrave: Excluding flows within the public sector, gross public sector debt interest payments in 1994 95 amounted to £22.5 billion. Central Government debt interest payments were £21.9 billion, of which it is estimated some £700 million represented gross interest on gilts issued during 1994 95. It is not possible to provide reliable estimates of debt service costs arising from other forms of debt issued in the year.
Corporation Tax (Shipping Companies)
Sir David Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the rates of corporation tax applicable to shipping companies in each country of the
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European Union; and if he will make it his policy to bring United Kingdom rates into line with those elsewhere in the European Union. [33344]Mr. Jack: Th e UK continues to provide one of the lowest rates of corporation tax in the European Union. Current confined main national rates of corporation tax applicable to shipping companies in each European Union country are:
Table: Main national rates of corporation tax applicable to
shipping companies in the European Union
Country |Rate (percentage) |Notes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Austria |34 |-
Belgium |39 |Plus 3 per cent. surcharge,
|making an effective rate of 40.17
|per cent.
Denmark |34 |-
Finland |25 |-
France |33.33 |-
Germany |45 |On undistributed profits (30 per
|cent. on distributed) plus 7.5 per
|cent. surcharge and local trade
|taxes (average 20 per cent., giving
|an average total effective rate of
|58 per cent. on undistributed
|profits (46.25 per cent. on
|distributed).
Greece |Nil |Profits from shipping are not
|subject to corporation tax. Instead
|a special tax, based on gross
|tonnage and age, is charged on
|usage of a vessel.
Ireland |38 |-
Italy |37 |Plus 16.2 per cent. local tax,
|making an effective rate of 53.2
|per cent.
Luxembourg |33 |Plus 4 per cent. surcharge and
|local trade taxes (in range 8 per
|cent-12 per cent.), making an
|effective rate of 40.9 per cent.
Netherlands |35 |-
Portugal |36 |-
Spain |35 |Plus 1 per cent. surcharge,
|making an effective rate of 35.35
|per cent. A special regime exists
|in the Canary Islands which
|broadly grants shipping
|companies a 35 per cent.
|reduction in corporation tax,
|giving an effective rate of 22.75
|per cent.
Sweden |28 |-
United Kingdom33 |-
Public Expenditure
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide the latest estimates of the outturn of public expenditure by department on the same basis as table 6A.3 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" 1995 96. [34494]
Mr. Waldegrave: The latest available figures for provisional outturn for 1994 95 are published in table 1 of the public expenditure outturn White Paper for 1994 95, Cm 2903. The latest figures for earlier years are published in the statistical supplement to the FSBR 1995 96, Cm 2821. Following usual practice, figures for estimated outturn for 1995 96 will be published for the
Column 836
first time in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" 1996 97 in November.Central Statistical Office
Mr. Matthew Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the Central Statistical Office performed against its key targets in 1994 95. [35206]
Mrs. Knight: The Central Statistical Office's performance for 1994 95 is described in the agency's annual report and accounts for 1994 95 which is being laid before the House and published today. The CSO achieved 27 out of the 33 published targets, including 18 out of 19 targets relating to the quality of key economic statistics.
A number of targets for 1995 96 have been tightened and these are set out in the CSO programme strategies 1995 96 to 1997 98 which was published in April.
Public Bodies (External Audits)
Mr. Tim Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the timetable for the review of the arrangements for the external audit of public bodies recommended by the Nolan committee; who will be conducting the review; and who will be consulted during the review. [33545]
Mr. Jack [holding answer 12 July 1995]: We aim to reach provisional conclusions by the end of 1995 and then issue a consultation paper. The review is being conducted jointly by the Treasury and the Cabinet Office and covers separate recommendations which the Nolan committee addressed to those departments on external audit and on the legal framework governing propriety and accountability. The review will take account of evidence submitted to the Nolan committee but the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service, has invited all who wish to provide further comments to do so by 30 September. They should be sent to Room 130G/4, Office of Public Service, Horse Guards Road, London, SW1P 3AL.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Upper Waiting Hall
Mr. Kevin Hughes: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the British Association of Social Work, "Then, Now and Onwards" to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.
Mr. Michael J. Martin: I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 27 November to Friday 1 December 1995.
Mr. Pike: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to plastics and recycling to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.
Column 837
Mr. Martin: I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 18 December to Friday 22 December 1995.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Deputy Prime Minister
Mr. Winnick: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what will be the involvement of the Deputy Prime Minister in the work of his Department. [34121]
Column 838
Mr. Lang [holding answer 13 July 1995]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to a question from the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Ainger) on 11 July 1995, Official Report , columns 496-97 .
Consultants
Mr. Milburn: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will indicate which five consultancy firms have received most contracts from his Department (a) by number of contracts and (b) monetary value in the last five years for which figures are available. [33437]
Mr. Lang: The information requested in given in the tables. These include details of contracts let centrally and exclude those contracts let independently by the Department's executive agencies.
Column 837
Company |Number of contracts |Company |Value of contracts £
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990
Price Project Service |8 |RSCG Conran Design |898,000
PA Consulting |7 |PA Consulting |759,572
PE International |7 |Strategic Sponsorship Ltd |690,000
Les Probert Associates |7 |Manchester University |599,739
Coopers and Lybrand |6 |Ernst and Young |369,031
1991
PA Consulting |15 |CMG Computer Management Group|1,139,750
Coopers and Lybrand |12 |Price Waterhouse |1,227,335
PE International |10 |P-Four Consultancy Ltd. |992,309
Touche Ross |8 |Environmental Resources |839,226
Ernst and Young |8 |Kermon Ltd. |737,772
1992
PA Consulting |19 |Touche Ross |2,760,230
KPMG |14 |PA Consulting |836,756
Ernst and Young |10 |Boyds |789,733
Coopers and Lybrand |9 |KPMG |741,283
PE International |8 |CSC Computer Sciences Ltd |688,070
1993
PA Consulting |21 |Crown Business Communications|2,078,349
KPMG |17 |PA Consulting |1,192,450
Ernst and Young |14 |Price Waterhouse |990,083
Coopers and Lybrand |7 |Scientific Generics |851,300
Price Waterhouse |6 |KPMG |718,370
1994
Coopers and Lybrand |10 |Coopers and Lybrand |720,674
PA Consulting |10 |PA Consulting |480,916
Ernst and Young |5 |BZW Corporate Finance |380,000
Segal Quince Wicksteed |5 |KPMG |378,000
Touche Ross |3 |Dewe Rogerson Ltd. |360,000
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has for democratising the accountancy profession. [33900]
Mr. Oppenheim: My primary responsiblilty is to ensure that the professional accountancy bodies fulfil their statutory duties in the fields of company audit and insolvency work.
Inward Investment
Mr. Morgan: To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects the latest statistics from the Invest
Column 838
in Britain Bureau of the number of inward investment projects coming into the United Kingdom will be published. [34634]Mr. Eggar: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 13 July 1995.
Fireworks
Ms Estelle Morris: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for amending section 67 of the Explosives Act 1875, authorising local authorities in metropolitan areas to enforce section 31 of the Act and deal with dangerous fireworks. [32494]
Column 839
Mr. Jonathan Evans: I do not consider it is necessary to amend the Explosive Act 1875 in order to empower trading standards officers to deal with any traders supplying fireworks to children apparently under 16 years of age. While enforcement of section 31 of that Act is for the police, trading standards officers have powers under the General Product Safety Regulations 1994 to prevent the supply by traders of goods, including fireworks, which are unsafe in the hands of those to whom they are supplied, for example the supply of fireworks to children under 16 years of age.
Computer Suppliers
Mr. Milburn: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the top 10 suppliers of computer equipment to his Department and its agencies in the last five years, indicating the total value of the contracts received. [34562]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: Such information is not readily available and cannot be provided other than at disproportionate cost. However, the major suppliers from which computer equipment has been purchased over the past three years, excluding purchasing by executive agencies, are:
|Contract value
|£
-------------------------------------------------------------
ICL Enterprises |11.5 million
Digital Equipment Company Ltd. |1.2 million
Unisys Ltd. |750,000
Sequent Computer Systems Ltd. |250,000
A much wider range of companies has been involved in the supply of smaller, individual system requirements.
Financial Reporting
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what responsibilities he has in relation to the operations of (a) the Auditing Practices Board and (b) the Accounting Standards Board. [34101]
Mr. Oppenheim: My Department supports the work of both bodies to improve the quality of financial reporting and my officials attend their meetings as observers. My Department provides about one third of the funding of the Financial Reporting Council and its subsidiaries, of which the Accounting Standards Board is one.
Chartered Association of Certified Accountants
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will be advising the Privy Council to approve the name and designatory change of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants from CACA to CPA. [33901]
Mr. Oppenheim: The Privy Council Office will be consulting my Department about this once it has consulted the others concerned.
Column 840
Audit Firms
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many audit firm partners have been barred from public practice as a result of the criticisms contained in the inspectors' reports published since 1979. [33899]
Mr. Oppenheim: This information is not immediately available. I will write to the hon. Gentleman in due course.
Scott Inquiry
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to achieve the aim of closing the episodes that led to the Scott inquiry as set out in the list of principal objectives of his Department's export control and proliferation division, published in his departmental MINIS 1995 returns part 2 on 12 June. [30601]
Mr. Lang: Principal objective (d) of my Department's export control and non-proliferation division, as published in my Departmental MINIS 1995 returns part 2 on 12 June, calls for the episodes which led to Sir Richard Scott's inquiry to be closed, but in the context of a Government response to the Scott report. It would be premature for me to decide how best to close these episodes before Sir Richard Scott's report is published. Meanwhile, my Department's Scott inquiry unit is providing papers and information on request to Sir Richard Scott's inquiry, and lending factual assistance to witnesses to the inquiry.
Mr. Smith: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if Lord Justice Scott has requested his Department to provide documentation on the role played by the N. M. Rothschild bank in assisting Iraq and Iran to obtain munitions during the Iran-Iraq war. [32884]
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 6 July 1995]: Requests for information from Sir Richard Scott's inquiry are a matter for the inquiry.
N. M. Rothschild Bank
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what information has been provided to his Department by (a) N. M. Rothschild bank Ltd. or (b) Rothschild Asset Management Ltd. in regard to investment made in Chinese factories between April 1983 and June 1987; [32885]
(2) what investigations have been conducted by his Department into the funding support provided by N. M. Rothschild bank to companies based in China known to have supplied munitions to the combatants during the Iran- Iraq war. [32889]
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 6 July 1995]: My Department is not immediately aware of such information; nor has it conducted such investigations.
Column 841
BMARC
Mr. Byers: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the oral statement of 13 June at columns 595-606 , who were the directors of BMARC at the time that possible breaches of export controls occurred. [29259]
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 19 June 1995]: H. M. Customs and Excise is responsible for investigating whether any breaches of export control have occurred.
The directors of BMARC for 1986-89, the period covered by the statement made in the House by my right hon. Friend the then President of the Board of Trade on 13 June 1995, were as follows: From 1986, the directors of BMARC were Sir R. Freer, Mr. M. Funk, Mr. D. Isles and Mr. W. Leuch.
In May 1988 BMARC was acquired by Astra. Mr. D. Isles remained a director, and the following were also appointed directors: Mr. G. James, Mr. C. Gumbley, Mr. J. Miller, Mr. S. Kock, Mr. W. McNaught. In September 1988 Mr. J. Aitken was appointed a director. In February 1989 Mr. J. Sellens was appointed a director. In July 1989 Mr. D. Isles resigned as a director.
SOCIAL SECURITY
United Kingdom Nationals
Mr. Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what provisions are in place, when assessing United Kingdom nationals under the income related benefit scheme (MISC amendment (No. 3)), Regulation 1994 and with reference to article 1 of the 1953 European convention on social and medical assistance and article 13 of the 1961 Council of Europe social charter, for Untied Kingdom nationals returning to the United Kingdom from another EU state, in line with protection offered under EU directions to non-United Kingdom nationals. [31324]
Mr. Roger Evans: All income support claimants, including British citizens returning to the United Kingdom from another member state of the European Union, and including non-United Kingdom nationals, are required to show that they are habitually resident in accordance with the provisions of the Income Related Benefit Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 1994 before they can receive benefit. Article 1 of the European convention on social and medical assistance and article 13 of the Council of Europe social charter require the United Kingdom to allow nationals of other signatory states to these conventions, who are lawfully present in this country, access to income support on equal terms with British citizens. The protection afforded under EC legislation to non-United Kingdom nationals is restricted to nationals of the European Economic Area. It applies to certain workers and former workers in this country and meets our current obligations under European Community law.
Income Support
Mr. Ian McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many unemployment benefit claimants were disqualified from benefit and (a) were in receipt and (b) were not in receipt of a reduced rate of
Column 842
income support during the disqualification period, for each region and for Great Britain as a whole for each quarter since April 1994, indicating those whose unemployment benefit was disqualified for (i) leaving employment voluntarily, (ii) being dismissed for misconduct and (iii) refusal of employment. [32593]Mr. Roger Evans: The latest available information is set out in the tables. The information requested on refusal of employment is not kept separately.
Income Support recipients whose benefit is reduce
because of
voluntary unemployment or misconduct
Region |May 1994 |August 1994
--------------------------------------------------
North eastern |4,000 |5,000
London north |5,000 |7,000
London south |3,000 |6,000
South western |3,000 |3,000
Midlands |6,000 |7,000
North western |3,000 |4,000
Scotland |3,000 |3,000
Wales |1,000 |2,000
Total |27,000 |37,000
Notes:
1. Figures are at a point in time.
2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000 and
so may not sum to the total given,.
Source:
Income Support Quarterly Inquiries for May and
August 1994.
Unemployed Claimants disqualified because of voluntary
unemployment or misconduct and receiving neither Unemployment
Benefit nor Income Support as at May and November 1994
|Refused for losing
|Refused for leaving|work through
|work voluntarily |misconduct
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 1994 |1,800 |600
November 1994 |2,200 |500
Note:
Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
Source:
Table 2.2 of Half-yearly analysis of Unemployed Claimants for May and November
1994.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will re-examine the rules on severe hardship payments in respect of young people denied financial help from their families though their relationships have not irretrievably broken down. [32833]
Mr. Roger Evans: No. Benefits Agency officers take all the relevant factors into account when deciding whether a young person is at risk of severe hardship. Among the factors considered would be the young person's relationship with their parents and whether they were being provided with any financial or other support.
Contributions Agency
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received concerning his restructuring plans for the Contributions Agency; and if he will make a statement. [32690]
Mr. Heald: The administration of the Contributions Agency is a matter for Mrs. Faith Boardman, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.
Column 843
Letter from Mrs. Faith Boardman to Ms Joan Walley, dated 13 July 1995 :As Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency, I have responsibility for answering questions about operational matters relating to the Agency and the National Insurance (NI) scheme. I have been asked to reply to your questions about representations that have been received concerning the restructuring plans for the Agency. Current research has shown that there is a need to match more closely Contributions Agency Field outlets to customer requirements while still maintaining nationwide cover for administration of the NI scheme and the proposed restructuring addresses this issue.
Representations about the restructuring have been made by the relevant Civil Service Trade Unions and some enquiries about the changes have been made by the business community. The proposed changes take account of research among customers which shows, in general, that they prefer to make contact by telephone or correspondence. The Agency is engaged in a consultation process with staff to consider their views on the proposed future network. I hope that my reply proves helpful. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what further steps he is taking to ensure that his Department is able to meet its obligations as stipulated by the National Audit Office in relation to the collection and administration of national insurance contributions; and if he will make a statement; [33318]
(2) how many staff of the Contributions Agency are involved in (a) the administration and (b) the collection of national insurance contributions; if he will provide a breakdown by (i) region and (ii) Contributions Agency office; and if he will make a statement; [33319] (3) what recent meetings have been held with organisations concerning the planning and restructuring exercise, business unit analysis, by the Contributions Agency; and if he will make a statement on the names of those in attendance, the date of each meeting and the matters discussed; [33320]
(4) what recent representations he has received on the planning and restructuring exercise, business unit analysis, by the Contributions Agency, what is the time scale envisaged for the completion of the exercise; and if he will make a statement; [33321]
(5) what is the number of inspectors employed in the Contributions Agency who are involved in undertaking regular visits to (a) employers and (b) the self-employed; and if he will provide a breakdown by (i) region and (ii) Contributions Agency office; [33322] (6) if he will provide a breakdown of the offices of the Contributions Agency indicating the numbers employed at each office; and if he will make a statement. [33323]
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