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Salmonella
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many incidents of salmonella in farm animals were recorded in Wales in each year since 1990; and if he will make a
statement. [34973]
Mrs. Browning: The number of incidents of salmonella in farm animals in Wales reported to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under the Zoonoses Order 1989 since 1990, and up to 13 July 1995, are shown in the table:
Species |1990 |1991 |1992 |1993 |1994 |1995
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cattle and Calves |202 |156 |139 |237 |249 |159
Sheep |20 |17 |13 |14 |30 |36
Pigs |2 |3 |2 |4 |3 |1
Poultry |135 |95 |45 |43 |16 |4
Other Species |23 |7 |1 |14 |12 |14
Total |382 |278 |200 |312 |310 |214
The reporting system was enhanced in 1993. Data for earlier years are not directly comparable with that collected since 1993. It is encouraging to note that reported incidents of salmonella in poultry continue to decline. Recent data show that cases of salmonella typhimurium DT104 infection have been increasing in other farmed animals, most notably cattle. A case control study in cattle has been set up to try to discover why the incidence of this organism has increased.
The Government remain committed to firm but proportionate action against salmonella and continued protection for the consumer while avoiding disproportionate burdens on producers.
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Set-aside Scheme
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of accepted applicants for the five-year set-aside scheme between 1988 and 1991 were Welsh farmers; and if he will make a statement. [34985]
Mr. Baldry: Approximately 1 per cent. of accepted applicants in the UK for the five-year set-aside scheme between 1988 and 1991 were Welsh farmers.
Welsh Fishing Vessels
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total number of fishing vessels operating out of Welsh ports in 1993; and if he will make a statement. [34883]
Mr. Baldry: Information about the number of fishing vessels operating out of Welsh ports in 1993 is not readily available. However, at 31 December 1993 there were 574 vessels licensed in Wales.
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of Welsh fishing vessels are 40 ft and over; what is the corresponding proportion for the United Kingdom fishing fleet; and if he will make a statement. [34885]
Mr. Baldry: As at 1 January 1995, 13 per cent.--75 vessels--of the Welsh fleet, and 23 per cent.--1,923--of the UK fleet were 40 ft--12.20 m-- or over in length.
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the nominal value of landings by Welsh fishing vessels in each year between 1990 and 1993; and if he will make a
statement. [34884]
Mr. Baldry: The first-hand sale value of all landings by vessels licensed in Wales in the years 1990 to 1993 were respectively £12.1 million, £20.4 million, £22 million and £26.7 million respectively.
North Sea Fisheries
Mr. Sykes: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider proposing measures to limit the voting powers of EU member states on matters concerning the North sea to nations with a coast on the North sea, as part of the common fisheries policy review. [34877]
Mr. Baldry: I am committed to effective conservation and enforcement in all waters where European Community vessels fish. If voting rights were to be limited only to EU member states with a coastal interest, the UK's scope for influencing decisions on matters concerning waters where we do not have a coastline would be lost.
Common Agricultural Policy
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make an estimate of the impact on average British food bills of eliminating state intervention in European agriculture; and if he will make a statement. [35130]
Mr. Baldry: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave) to the hon. Member for Taunton
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(Mr. Nicholson) on 9 March 1995, Official Report , column 328 .Mr. Redmond: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was (a) the total number of employees of the Intervention Board and (b) the cost for each of the last five years. [34735]
Mr. Baldry: I have asked the chief executive of the Intervention Board to reply direct.
Letter from Guy Stapleton to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 19 July 1995:
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your question about (a) the total number of employees of the Intervention Board and (b) the cost for each of the last five years as this matter is within my operational responsibility. The total number of employees and pay bill costs are published in the Departmental Report for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Intervention Board, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
The figures are as follows and include the cost of overtime and casual staff:
H
|Total Number of |Pay Bill Costs
|Employees
|(Staff Years-Full
Period |time Equivalent) |(£ million)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990-91 |997 |12
1991-92 |1,030 |14
1992-93 |1,049 |16
1993-94 |1,006 |17
1994-95 |989 |17
Beef and Sheep Extensification Schemes
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the participants in the beef and sheep extensification schemes in 1990 91 were Welsh farmers; and if he will make a statement. [34984]
Mr. Baldry: Approximately 13 per cent. of UK participants in the beef and sheep extensification schemes in 1990 91 were Welsh farmers.
Fruit and Vegetables (Destruction)
Mr. Byers: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the amount of each fruit and vegetable destroyed, even though fit for consumption, by (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the whole European Community as a result of the common agriculture policy in each of the last three years. [35092]
Mr. Boswell [holding answer 17 July 1995]: Information for the last three years for which statistics are available is as follows:
Destruction of fruit and vegetables for
which EU withdrawal
compensation was paid
(tonnes)
Product |1990-91|1991-92|1992-93
---------------------------------------------
Apples |179,589|26,088 |968,617
Pears |5,422 |652 |55,079
Cauliflowers |15,365 |40,480 |126,727
Tomatoes | 7,122 |44,179 |32,850
Apricot |36,880 |937 |19,503
Nectarines |39,660 |36,387 |164,690
Peaches |409,734|337,120|720,262
Lemons |17,334 |13,448 |80,941
Aubergines |82 |553 |148
Grapes |85 |291 |3,222
Satsumas |- |- |3,587
Mandarins |3,296 |2,723 |2,492
Clementines |578 |1,655 |43,856
Oranges |204,396|154,877|504,794
of which the UK statistics were:
Apples |9,969 |669 |20,019
Pears |56 |40 |17
Cauliflowers |3,369 |4,657 |13,810
Tomatoes |0 |0 |3
Source:
European Commission
Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will calculate the cash value at current prices to a milk quota holder of the additional annual production which would be allowed if the butterfat content of that milk was underestimated as being 3.5 per cent. instead of an assumed 4 per cent. base. [35103]
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 18 July 1995]: An underestimation of the butterfat content of milk deliveries would normally have the effect of allowing a producer to deliver more milk against his or her quota. But the precise volume and value of those extra deliveries would depend on a number of factors including the amount of quota held by the producer, the butterfat base of that quota and the price of the milk. Milk with a lower butterfat content generally attracts a lower price.
Mrs. Winterton: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he takes to ensure standardisation in the testing of butterfat content of milk in the assessment of compliance with milk production quotas; and if he will make a statement. [35102]
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 18 July 1995]: The Intervention Board executive agency, which is responsible for administering milk quotas, has commissioned the Central Science Laboratory to check standards at laboratories which are approved to carry out butterfat tests on milk. The first round of proficiency testing will start this month. All approved laboratories will be required to participate. Any laboratory failing to meet an acceptable standard will be excluded from testing for milk quota purposes.
Mrs. Winterton: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the size of the black market in milk associated with systematic underestimation of butterfat content; and what action is being taken to tackle his problem. [35104]
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Mr. Baldry [holding answer 18 July 1995]: The Intervention Board is investigating allegations that butterfat contents have been deliberately underestimated. It is not possible at this stage to say whether there is any substances to these allegations.
Foodsense"
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's booklet "Foodsense" has been distributed bilingually throughout Wales; and if he will make a statement. [34892]
Mrs. Browning: I have been asked to reply.
The "Foodsense" publications have not been produced in Welsh. I understand, however, that the Welsh Office produces a range of publications in Welsh about food safety matters.
Veterinary Medicines Directorate
Mr. Sykes: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the 1994 95 annual report and accounts for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate is due to be published. [36388]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: I am pleased to report that the Veterinary Medicines Directorate's annual report and accounts for 1994 95 was published today. Copies are available in the Library of the House. The report confirms the continuing success of the directorate as a next steps agency, and I would like to congratulate the chief executive and his staff on their considerable achievements during the year.
Central Veterinary Laboratory
Mr. Robathan: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the annual report and accounts for the Central Veterinary Laboratory is due to be laid before Parliament. [36553]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The Central Veterinary Laboratory's annual report and accounts were laid before Parliament today. Copies are available in the House Library. The report demonstrates the continuing progress and success of the laboratory as a next steps agency and I would like to congratulate the chief executive and his staff on their considerable achievements during the year.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Income-Related Benefit Recipients
Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was (a) the number of children, and (b) the number of children as a proportion of all families that were living in families dependent on income-related benefits for each year since 1979 for each region. [32928]
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Mr. Roger Evans: Information is not available on a consistent basis for all benefits or prior to 1991. The
Column 1480
information that is available is set out in the tables. Data on population are not yet available for 1994.Column 1479
Proportion of children in each region living in families receiving income-related benefits
Region
|Yorkshire |London |South east
|and |East |East |(Inner and|(including|South |West |North
|North |Humberside|Midlands |Anglia |Outer) |London) |West |Midlands |west |Scotland |Wales
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1991
Number of children aged
0-15 (thousands) |628 |1,012 |816 |415 |1,340 |2,154 |900 |1,095 |1,345 |591 |1,024
Number of children in
families receiving
income-related benefits
(thousands) |200 |280 |180 |70 |410 |380 |190 |320 |420 |290 |160
Proportion in families
receiving income-related
benefits (percentage) |31.9 |27.7 |22.1 |16.9 |30.6 |17.6 |21.1 |29.2 |31.2 |49.1 |15.6
1992
Number of children aged
0-15 (thousands) |634 |1,024 |827 |432 |1,365 |2,177 |910 |1,104 |1,355 |596 |1,026
Number of children in
families receiving
income-related benefits
(thousands) |210 |310 |220 |80 |510 |440 |210 |340 |440 |320 |170
Proportion in families
receiving income-related
benefits (percentage) |33.1 |30.3 |24.2 |18.5 |37.4 |20.2 |23.1 |30.8 |32.5 |53.7 |16.6
1993
Number of children aged
0-15 (thousands) |639 |1,035 |835 |415 |1,391 |2,196 |920 |1,114 |1,367 |602 |1,032
Number of children in
families receiving
income-related benefits
(thousands) |210 |310 |220 |100 |560 |510 |240 |360 |480 |320 |190
Proportion in families
receiving income-related
benefits (percentage) |32.9 |30 |26.3 |24.1 |40.3 |23.2 |26.1 |32.3 |35.1 |53.2 |18.4
Notes:
1. Child population figures have been rounded to the nearest 1,000. Children in families receiving income-related benefits has been rounded to the nearest 10,
000. All percentages have been rounded to one decimal place.
2. Children in families receiving income-related benefits does not include those in families receiving Family Credit or Disability Working Allowance only-a
regional breakdown is not available.
3. Children may be in families receiving more than on income-related benefit. Overlaps between benefits have been taken into account.
4. Children are defined as aged 15 and under.
5. Standard statistical regions have been used.
Proportion of children in Great Britain in families receiving an income-related benefit.
|1991 |1992 |1993
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of children aged 0-15 (thousands) |11,318 |11,433 |11,547
Number of children in families receiving Family Credit or Disability Working
Allowance only (thousands) |430 |500 |620
Number of children in families receiving one or more income-related benefits
(thousands) |3,340 |3,720 |4,100
Proportion of children in families receiving one or more income-related
benefits (per cent.) |29.5 per cent.|32.5 per cent.|35.5 per cent.
Notes:
1. Child population figures have been rounded to the nearest 1,000. Children in families receiving income-related benefits has been
rounded to the nearest 10,000. All percentages have been rounded to one decimal place. 2. Children may be in families receiving more than
one income related benefit. Overlaps between benefits have been taken into account.3. Children are defined as aged 15 and under.
Source:
Income Support Statistics May 1991-1993.
Family Credit Statistics April 1991-April 1993.
Disability Working Allowance Statistics 1992-1993.
Office of Population, Censuses and Survey mid term estimates 1991-1993.
Column 1479
Ms Corston: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for each year from 1979 to the latest year for which information is available, what was the estimated number of (a) males and (b) females aged (i) under 10, (ii) 10 13, (iii) 14 16 and (iv) 17 20 years
Column 1480
respectively in households receiving (1) supplementary benefit/income support and (2) supplementary benefit, income support or housing benefit. [34465]Mr. Evans: The information available is set out in the tables.
Table 1: Supplementary Benefit/Income Support-thousands
Number of Number of Number of partners
dependents claimants
|Aged under |All claimants
|10 |10-13 |14-16 |17-20 |Males |Females |aged 16-20 |Aged 16-20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979 |574 |236 |135 |9 |89 |105 |194 |15
1980 |693 |271 |149 |12 |152 |147 |299 |27
1981 |949 |369 |214 |18 |235 |187 |422 |42
1982 |1,097 |424 |244 |28 |320 |238 |558 |48
1983 |1,145 |433 |261 |29 |333 |268 |601 |51
1984 |1,267 |449 |287 |30 |339 |270 |608 |51
1986 |1,420 |458 |313 |36 |323 |270 |593 |44
1987 |1,458 |421 |309 |48 |256 |246 |501 |38
1988 |1,472 |410 |275 |39 |188 |203 |391 |33
1989 |1,463 |384 |250 |42 |146 |161 |307 |30
1990 |1,480 |382 |245 |43 |148 |164 |312 |25
1991 |1,713 |466 |264 |54 |190 |184 |373 |30
1992 |1,946 |544 |303 |81 |219 |202 |420 |29
1993 |2,097 |620 |346 |101 |238 |213 |452 |33
1994 |2,080 |629 |369 |106 |214 |199 |412 |30
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand. Due to rounding some of the totals may not tally.
2. Income Support replaced Supplementary Benefit in 1988.
Source:
Supplementary Benefit/Income Support Statistics Annual Enquiries 1979-93.
Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry May 1994.
Table 2: Housing Benefit without Supplementary Benefit/Income Support-thousands
Number of Number of Number of partners
dependents claimants
|Aged under |All claimants
|10 |10-13 |14-16 |17-20 |Males |Females |aged 16-20 |Aged 16-20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
1980 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
1981 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
1982 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
1983 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
1984 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
1986 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
1987 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
1988 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
1989 |187 |69 |51 |8 |- |57 |- |6
1990 |205 |78 |56 |11 |- |60 |- |5
1991 |213 |87 |55 |14 |1 |17 |- |5
1992 |227 |95 |55 |15 |- |17 |- |5
1993 |254 |101 |59 |14 |1 |18 |- |6
1994 |284 |104 |61 |16 |1 |17 |- |4
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand. Due to rounding some of the totals may not tally.
2. "-" denotes nil or negligible.
3. Information is not available prior to 1989.
4. Tables does not include HB recipients with IS.
Source:
Housing Benefit Management Information Systems 1 per cent. sample at May each year.
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the annual cost to public funds of social security fraud; and if he will set out in detail how he arrives at his total. [35050]
Mr. Roger Evans: The information is not available in the form requested.
The Department is currently undertaking a series of systematic review of the major benefits to gauge the level of incorrectness in the benefit system. We have recently published the results of the review of income support and unemployment benefit. The findings indicate that £1.4 billion a year is lost through fraudulent claims to these benefits.
Column 1482
A copy of the report, which includes details of the methodology used, has been placed in the Library.Young People (Leaving Care Grant)
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to introduce a leaving care grant to ensure young people leaving care are financially supported. [35014]
Mr. Roger Evans: There are no plans to introduce a leaving care grant. However, community care grants from the social fund are available for people who are leaving care and are receiving, or are likely to receive, income support.
Column 1483
Housing Benefit
Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will exclude specialist housing and services, provided to vulnerable persons, from forthcoming housing benefit changes limiting rents to averages for property; and if he will make a
statement. [35134]
Mr. Roger Evans: Regulations laid before the House on 29 June--SI 1995 No. 1644--provide that the following accommodation which caters for tenants with particular needs will be exempt from the forthcoming housing benefit changes for tenants in deregulated private sector accommodation:
Hostel accommodation for people without a fixed way of life which is funded under Schedule 5 of the Supplementary Benefits Act 1980; Accommodation provided by housing associations, registered charities or voluntary organisations where care, support or supervision is provided by, or on behalf of, the provider to residents.
Mortgage Interest
Mr. Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions he has had or proposes to have with mortgage lenders in respect of mortgage protection insurance and mortgage indemnity insurance and the need to explain fully the cover offered by these policies with particular reference to exclusion clauses; and what assessment he has made of the views of the Building Societies Ombudsman on this matter. [35379]
Mr. Roger Evans: This Department has had frequent meetings with the Council of Mortgage Lenders to discuss the new arrangements for income support mortgage interest. We share the view of the Building Society Ombudsman that lenders who sell mortgage protection policies should abide by the code of practice of the Association of British Insurers.
Ms Armstrong: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much money his Department expects to save as a result of the new regulations relating to assistance for mortgage interest payments; and what the estimate is of the average saving per claimant. [35472]
Mr. Evans: The projected savings are estimated to be £200 million in the long run; this equates to about £7 per claimant per week.
Mr. Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research his Department has conducted and what consultations he has had with mortgage lenders concerning the categories of home owners who currently do not qualify for mortgage insurance indemnity policies and if he will make a statement. [35327]
Mr. Evans: The Department has conducted no research on this form of insurance.
The term "mortgage insurance indemnity policies" is conventionally used to cover insurance for the risk of a mortgaged property selling for less than its valuation, and such may be a condition of granting the mortgage in some cases, as the parties may determine. The issue is not a responsibility of this Department. However, this Department has regular consultations with the Council for Mortgage Lenders concerning mortgage matters.
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Mr. Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to introduce a standardised rate of interest payment on behalf of borrowers on income support; what estimate he has made of the number of borrowers for which its introduction will constitute a shortfall in payments; and what estimate his Department has made of the present arrears of borrowers who will receive a shortfall in payments. [35368]
Mr. Evans: This Department is committed to introducing a standard rate of interest at or around the average rate charged and to change the rate in response to fluctuations in this rate. The standard rate will be introduced on 2 October and will be based on the average rate published in the August edition of "Financial Statistics". Precise estimates of gainers and losers can be made only once this baseline has been established.
National Insurance
Ms Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the extent of anomalies in the benefit system caused by the extent of a person's NI contribution liability depending on the length of the pay interval or earnings period; and if officers are allowed to exercise discretion in cases when the person would have satisfied the qualifying conditions for benefit had the pay interval been different. [35266]
Mr. Heald: We have made no assessment of the effect of different earnings periods on the qualifying conditions for benefit. However, we are aware that cases can arise where someone just fails to qualify because he is not liable to pay national insurance contributions on earnings in a particular pay period.
Broad rules are inevitable in a national insurance scheme which must cater for a wide variety of methods by which earnings may be calculated and paid. The earnings period for national insurance contributions is the interval at which an employee is normally paid. The interval of payment depends upon the employee's contract of employment with the employer. When an employee starts work, the expected regular earnings period operates from the outset even if the employee starts work part way through that period. The Secretary of State has no discretionary powers to alter the earnings period in these circumstances.
Arrangements already exist within the national insurance system which may help someone to qualify for benefit in certain circumstances. For example, if an employee starts work towards the end of the tax year and the salary is paid after the end of the tax year, there are provisions which enable the Secretary of State to re-allocate primary (employee) class 1 contributions from one tax year to another.
Income Support
Mr. McAllion: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the numbers of income support claimants in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom in each year since 1979. [35222]
Mr. Roger Evans: The available information is set out in the table.
Column 1485
Numbers of Income Support claimants in Scotland
and the United Kingdom since 1979
|Supplementary |Supplementary
|Benefit/Income |Benefit/Income
|Support |Support
|claimants in |claimants in UK
|Scotland
|(000s) |(000s)
----------------------------------------------------------------
1979 |286 |2,969
1980 |304 |3,233
1981 |371 |3,823
1982 |423 |4,422
1983 |440 |4,518
1984 |468 |4,785
1985 |- |-
1986 |506 |5,122
1987 |535 |5,086
1988 |499 |4,536
1989 |486 |4,344
1990 |481 |4,369
1991 |487 |4,683
1992 |519 |5,293
1993 |543 |5,858
1994 |550 |-
Notes:
1. Source: Supplementary benefit/Income Support Statistics
Annual/Quarterly Enquiries 1979-1994.
2. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.
3. Income Support replaced Supplementary Benefit in 1988.
4. The UK figure for 1981 is incomplete because industrial
action affected the Northern Ireland count.
5. Figures are not available for 1985 due to industrial action.
6. A UK figure for 1994 cannot be compiled because data for
Northern Ireland is not yet available.
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what difficulties have been experienced in the last two months with the retrieval by computer of income support details (a) in north Tyneside and (b) nationally in each case how many records have had to be retrieved manually; and what has been the additional cost. [36111]
Mr. Evans: The administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Ian Magee, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. member with such information as is available. Letter from Ian Magee to Stephen Byers, dated 18 July 1995: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about difficulties with the retrieval by computer of Income Support details in North Tyneside and nationally.
The North Tyneside District Office have had difficulty retrieving information on only one case in the last few months. There are problems with the retrieval of information from the Income Support Computer System (ISCS) that could affect all offices. This will only be experienced on a limited number of cases, for example, if a customer moves address on more than one occasion over a short period of time.
Where problems do occur with the retrieval of information on ISCS, a record print is obtained from the Information Technology Service Agency (ITSA).
In the period since the beginning of May 1995, the ITSA have received 27 requests for record prints which could not be obtained locally. Each case requires an average of half a days action by a computer technician. The associated computer costs and action taken locally make it difficult to establish the exact cost.
Work is continuing to resolve the data retrieval problems, for example, a backlog of information has been moved from one part of the ISCS system to another. As a result, data previously unavailable on a local basis has now become available. The Benefits Agency and ITSA recognise that there are problems with data
Column 1486
retrieval and every effort is being made to resolve these problems as a matter of urgency.I hope you find this reply helpful.
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he plans to disregard the value of the nursery voucher for four -year-olds for the purposes of income support and family credit. [35395]
Mr. Evans [holding answer 18 July 1995]: Yes. It is planned to disregard the value of such vouchers in income support and family credit.
Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has as to when the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council will publish its review of the qualifying criterion for PD D12 (chronic bronchitis and emphysema); and if he will make a statement. [35376]
Mr. Heald: I understand that the council expects to complete its review by the end of the year. The council's reports are usually published within two or three months of their submission to Ministers. The Government will consider carefully any recommendations that the council may make.
Domiciliary Services
Mr. Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has on the number of local authorities which have introduced new systems of paying for domiciliary services which take into account a person's attendance/disability allowance in the financial assessment; what guidance he has issued to the Benefits Agency in respect of the introduction of these new systems and if both existing and new claimants are being warned or compensated in regard to new deductions that will occur. [35324]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: Payment of attendance allowance and the care component of disability living allowance is not affected by any charges that a local authority might make for domiciliary services. This is not a matter, therefore, on which it would be appropriate to issue guidance to the Benefits Agency. Information about the number of local authorities whose financial assessments take into account attendance allowance or the care component of disability living allowance is not collected centrally by the Department of Health.
Incomes
Mr. McAllion: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the shares of total income for each decile of the population, after housing costs were deducted, in (a) 1979 and (b) in the last year for which figures are available. [35223]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: The information is in the table. Figures for 1992 93 may be subject to slight revision. The information is presented including and excluding the self-employed, whose reported income may be an unreliable guide to their actual standard of living. A further response will be given as soon as possible.
Column 1487
Percentage shares of total weekly income after
housing costs
received by individuals in each decile group of
the UK income
distribution
Decile grIncluding Excluding
self-employed self-employed
|1979 |1992-93|1979 |1992-93
------------------------------------------------
Bottom |4.0 |1.9 |4.1 |2.3
2 |5.6 |4.1 |5.7 |4.2
3 |6.5 |5.0 |6.6 |5.2
4 |7.5 |6.3 |7.6 |6.4
5 |8.5 |7.6 |8.6 |7.8
6 |10 |9.0 |10 |9.2
7 |11 |11 |11 |11
8 |12 |12 |12 |13
9 |14 |15 |14 |15
Top |21 |28 |20 |26
Notes:
1. Estimates for the bottom 10 per cent. should
be treated with caution as they are sensitive
to data of uncertain reliability at the bottom
end of the income distribution.
2. All members are presented to two significant
figures.
3. Income is current weekly disposal income.
Excluding self-employed
1979 1992 93 1979 1992 93
Bottom 4.0 1.9 4.1 2.3
2 5.6 4.1 5.7 4.2
3 6.5 5.0 6.6 5.2
4 7.5 6.3 7.6 6.4
5 8.5 7.6 8.6 7.8
6 10 9.0 10 9.2
7 11 11 11 11
8 12 12 12 13
9 14 15 14 15
Top 21 28 20 26
Notes:
1. Estimates for the bottom 10 per cent. should be treated with caution as they are sensitive to data of uncertain reliability at the bottom end of the income distribution.
2. All members are presented to two significant figures. 3. Income is current weekly disposal income.
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