| Previous Section | Home Page |
Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the average times taken for the liable relatives unit and the courts to deal with a child maintenance case in the last year of that system; and what is the equivalent figure for the Child Support Agency. [37595]
Column 722
Mr. Mitchell: The information is not readily available in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The Lord Chancellor's Department does not hold information as to the time taken by the courts to deal with child maintenance cases. The average time taken by the Child Support Agency between the issue of a maintenance application form and the maintenance assessment being made is 211 days. This calculation is based on 5 per cent. sample cases taken for May 1995.
Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a breakdown of the amounts of child maintenance absent parents were required to pay by the child support unit in the financial year 1992 93. [37598]
Mr. Mitchell: The information requested is not available as, in many of the cases dealt with by the child support unit, an arrangement was made for the absent parent to pay maintenance direct to the parent with care. Where this exceeded the parent with care's benefit entitlement, benefit ceased and the unit was not required to collect information. In those cases where benefit continued to be paid, information collected centrally related only to the total amounts of maintenance which were actually paid.
Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will name the suppliers which were invited to tender for the supply of the Child Support Agency computer system; and what were the terms of their offers. [37599]
Mr. Heald: In 1992, a contract for the provision of the Child Support Agency's operational accounting system was awarded following a competitive procurement under European Community rules. Following a formal shortlisting process EDS Scicon and Lockheed IMS were invited to submit tenders. Following formal evaluation of these tenders the contract was awarded to EDS Scicon. The contract has later been extended to include additional requirements.
In 1993, following a competitive procurement under EC rules a contract was awarded for a CSA financial accounting system. IBM United Kingdom Ltd., Easams Ltd. and Walker International were shortlisted and a contract was subsequently awarded to IBM United Kingdom Ltd.
In 1995, following a competitive procurement under EC rules Sanderson CFL Ltd. and ICL (UK) Ltd., were shortlisted for a CSA debt management system. A letter of intent for contract award has been issued to Sanderson CFL Ltd.
The terms of the offers received are regarded as commercial in confidence and cannot be disclosed.
Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 19 April, Official Report, column 181, whether the figure for benefit savings achieved by the liable relatives unit in the year 6 April 1991 to 5 April 1992 includes an allowance for parents with care who ceased to claim income support within four weeks of being contacted by the Department of Social Security, or for parents with care who ceased to
Column 723
claim income support after maintenance had been arranged; and if he will estimate the benefit savings to the Child Support Agency of using the 1994 accounting rules in the financial year 1994 95. [37618]Mr. Mitchell: The benefits savings figure for 1991 92 included amounts for cases where claims ceased within four weeks of the Department taking action to arrange, increase or enforce payment for maintenance.
The Child Support Agency made benefit savings of £479.05 million in 1994 95.
Chief Adjudication Officer
Mr. John Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish the 11th annual report of the chief adjudication officer, and if he will make a statement. [39870]
Mr. Roger Evans: The report is published today. The chief adjudication officer's findings record further improvement in the standards of adjudication on benefits. Overall, more than three quarters of all decisions were correct in every respect. I am particularly pleased to see the substantial improvement in income support and the disability benefits.
The chief adjudication officer will continue to work on a day-to-day basis with the Benefits Agency and the Employment Service providing additional guidance and expert technical assistance in those areas where further improvements are needed.
The agencies are committed to improving standards of adjudication, as illustrated by the continuing emphasis on quality in their annual business plans. Both the chief adjudication officer and I look forward to continuing progress in coming years.
Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema
Mr. William O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the number of claims for benefit under the chronic bronchitis and emphysema regulations for each month in the current year; and if he will make a statement on the successful claims. [36736]
Mr. Roger Evans: The information is set out in the table:
Number of claims per month during 1995 in
respect of PD D12-
chronic bronchitis and emphysema
Month ending |PD D12 claims
|received
---------------------------------------------
31 January 1995 |208
28 February 1995 |243
31 March 1995 |214
30 April 1995 |190
31 May 1995 |185
30 June 1995 |131
31 July 1995 |133
31 August 1995 |147
Source:
BA CDU 100 per cent. count, subject to
amendment.
The overall success rate for awards of PD
D12 is 11.3 per cent. which is in line with
the overall average success rate for claims
in respect of prescribed diseases.
Students' Benefits
Mr. Battle: to ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consideration he has given to the effect of
Column 724
the new Social Security Benefits Regulations, SI 1995, No. 1742, upon intercalating students who cease to be eligible for educational maintenance and who now will be ineligible for social security maintenance; and if he will make a statement. [38406]Mr. Roger Evans: In general, it is the educational maintenance system which is designed to provide support for students, not the social security system. It has always been the case that students who temporarily suspend their studies are not entitled to claim social security benefits unless they fall within one of the specified vulnerable groups, including disabled students and families with dependent children. The effect of the new Social Security Benefits Regulations, SI 1995, No 1742, is to restore the policy intention following a recent Court of Appeal decision. The Department for Education and Employment has recently issued revised and expanded guidance to all local education authorities about their discretionary powers to continue to pay mandatory awards to students during periods of temporary absence.
Athsma Sufferers (Benefits)
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to introduce dedicated training for Benefit Agency staff on the problems faced by those asthma sufferers on low incomes. [38313]
Mr. Roger Evans: There are no plans to introduce dedicated training to Benefits Agency staff specifically on the problems faced by asthma sufferers on low incomes. The agency is not aware of any particular problems asthma sufferers have encountered with the service provided by its staff.
Should information be received which indicates otherwise, the agency will consider what action, if any, is appropriate.
Lone Parents
Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many lone parents signed on to benefits in each of the last four years. [37606]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: The information is in the table.
Lone parents signing on to Income support/Family credit: Financial year |Family credit |Income support ------------------------------------------------------------ 1990-91 |98,000 |n/a 1991-92 |96,000 |n/a 1992-93 |158,000 |303,000 1993-94 |149,000 |290,000
Claims to One Parent Benefit: Calendar Year |One Parent Benefit --------------------------------------------------------- 1991 |180,000 1992 |188,000 1993 |196,000 1994 |177,000 Source: Family Credit 5 per cent. sample of awards Income Support statistics Quarterly Enquiries One Parent Benefit/Child Benefit Branch. Note: 1. All figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand. 2. One Parent Benefit figures are only available for calendar years. 3. Figures relate to new claims in the periods shown. It is possible for the same person to appear more than one if they cease claiming benefit and subsequently make a fresh claim after some time has elapsed. 4. Income Support figures are derived from `point in time' figures at quarterly intervals through the year. It is possible that some new claimants may be omitted from the table if they started and ceased to claim Income Support entirely in the interval between two quarterly enquiries.
Chief Child Support Officer
Mr. Gallie: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish the second report of the chief child support officer; and if he will make a statement. [39869]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: His report for 1994 95 is published today. The report shows that the CSA is making good and steady progress after a difficult start. The findings on the standard of adjudication show improvements over the first year, but that there is still some distance to go before standards may be regarded as generally acceptable. However, the chief child support officer, Mr. Ernie Hazlewood, recognises that there has been a high degree of legislative and operational changes over the last year and that this is bound to affect performance. He acknowledges the agency's obvious commitment to attaining good adjudication standards, which he expects to show further improvements in 1995 96. I am pleased to see that this improvement has continued strongly in the first half of this year.
The continuing requirement for further improvement is substantial, but the key elements are in place and he and I expect the agency to use them effectively to produce the standards which all concerned have a right to expect.
ENVIRONMENT
Pesticides
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many inspectors are employed in the field to check on the use of and levels of pesticides. [37744]
Sir Paul Beresford: Inspectors or other enforcement officers are not allocated solely to matters relating to pesticides. Pesticides work forms only part of a range of work for which they are responsible. This includes, for example, the health and safety of people at work, the protection and improvement of the water environment and the protection of wildlife. As at 1 October 1995, the total number of inspectors or enforcement officers in the field are set out in the table.
Figures for Great Britain unless otherwise stated
|Number
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Health and Safety Executive |742
Local Authorities |6,560
National Rivers Authority (England and Wales) |545
River Purification Authorities (Scotland) |111
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (England and Wales) |34
Scottish Office (Scotland) |59
Bottle Factories
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the result of his Department's evaluation of the study carried out by the Health and Safety Laboratory in conjunction with the division of respiratory medicine at Sheffield in respect of respiratory illness experienced by bottle factory workers; what recommendations were made; and if he will make a statement. [38634]
Sir Paul Beresford: The Health and Safety Executive has released to the employers and trade unions involved the Health and Safety Laboratory's preliminary report on the investigation of the small group of bottle factory workers. Further work is required to determine the significance of the results.
Mine Safety
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how pit safety in the privatised mining industry is currently regulated. [38491]
Sir Paul Beresford: The newly privatised mining industry is subject to the same regulatory regime for health and safety as its predecessor. All mines are subject to the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 as well as the Mines and Quarries Act 1954 and the Mines and Quarries (Tips) Act 1969. An extensive range of regulations applicable to mines has been made under both the 1954 and 1974 Acts. The Health and Safety Commission is the regulatory body and the Health and Safety Executive, through its inspectorate of mines, is the enforcing authority.
Wylfa Power Station
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the nuclear installations inspectorate in respect of the magnox reactors at Wylfa power station consider whether a grab dropped into a fuel channel was specifically considered in the hazard and operability study; what their assessment of the minimum resistance to gas-flow passed by such an obstacle as a grab was; if they have discovered how many components needed to fail before the grab dropped off; what required modifications have been carried out to prevent a recurrence; when they were implemented; and if he will make a statement. [39069]
Sir Paul Beresford: The circumstances surrounding the failure of the grab component at Wylfa power station and the subsequent actions taken to prevent a recurrence were presented at Mold Crown court on 12 to 14 September 1995 and are now a matter of public record.
Social Housing
Mr. Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to amend his guidance to housing associations to ensure that this does not encourage the break-up of families and the increase of housing benefit through increased provision of social housing for single people. [39268]
Mr. Clappison: Housing associations' provision of social housing is based on the local authorities' analysis of local needs for family and other accommodation contained in their annual housing strategies, which are assessed by Ministers. I have no plans to alter this policy.
Column 727
Opencast Mines
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider holding centrally, by county or region, records of contractors wishing to develop opencast mining who have submitted planning applications; and if he will make a statement. [39067]
Sir Paul Beresford: Local planning authorities, usually the district or borough council, are statutorily required to maintain records of all minerals planning applications including those for opencast mining. The minerals planning authorities, usually the county council, are also advised by Government to maintain a similar register. To hold all this information centrally or regionally would be a needless duplication of effort.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning applications his Department has received submitted by contractors in respect of opencast mining in (a) Oxfordshire and (b) its neighbouring countries; and if he will make a
statement. [39066]
Sir Paul Beresford: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment does not receive planning applications. However, the requested information can be obtained from the local planning authorities which have a statutory responsibility to maintain a public register of all planning applications that they receive.
Menwith Hill
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the reasons why Menwith Hill in North Yorkshire does not appear on ordnance survey maps. [39068]
Sir Paul Beresford: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to Ordnance Survey under its chief executive, Professor Rhind. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from David Rhind to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 24 October 1995:
The Secretary of State for the Environment has asked me to reply to your Question about the depiction on Ordnance Survey maps of Menwith Hill in North Yorkshire.
I have confirmed that the topographic feature, Menwith Hill, at National Grid reference SE1957, is included on Ordnance Survey maps and in our digital products at scale between 1:2500 and 1:50 000. It is omitted from the TravelMaster map at scale 1:250 000 due to the limited space available for features at this scale.
However, it may be that your interest lies in the United States military establishment, Menwith Hill Camp, situated approximately one kilometre east of the hill. At present, the camp is named on the 1:25 000 scale Ordnance Survey Pathfinder map (Number 663) and on all larger scales of Ordnance Survey mapping. On the 1:50 000 scale Landranger map (Number 104), the camp is not named, but a number of the camp buildings, the internal roads and several radio masts are shown in a generalised way, consistent with the specification for the map.
A review of the specification, insofar as it covers the depiction of security sites, has recently been completed by the various government departments concerned. The principle underlying the new specification is that sufficient details will be shown to satisfy the general map user whilst avoiding compromising the security and
Column 728
safety of the site concerned. The protective marking and hence depiction appropriate for Menwith Hill Camp is currently under discussion between other parts of HM Government Survey has been informed of the outcome, our surveyors will revise the depiction of the site so that it conforms with the new specification. The timing of the revision will be dependent on the extent of the change involved.A number of considerations will determine whether the name of the establishment will be added if the site's protected status is amended or removed. In essence, at any scale of mapping, cartographic decisions have to be made about the amount of detail that can sensibly be shown at the scale, taking full account of map users' needs and priorities. In deciding whether to add the name, we would take into account the space available for it, the naming of Menwith Hill just to the west of the camp and features (topographic and textual) which would be of most use to Landranger users, as well as the need to conform with the rules on the depiction of security sites.
I hope that the foregoing fully addresses your concerns but please let me know if you require any additional information or clarification.
South Yorkshire Navigation
Mr. Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) at how many points along the South Yorkshire navigation there is need for repairs or other action, in order that this navigation can be maintained as a satisfactory waterway; [38197]
(2) how many people are employed to maintain and to operate the South Yorkshire navigation; and what the figure was in 1983; [38200] (3) if he will ensure that the hours during which freight can be carried on the South Yorkshire navigation are sufficient to allow this trade to continue effectively. [38203]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: The British Waterways Board is the navigation authority for the Sheffield and South Yorkshire navigation. These questions are matters for the board, which is responsible for management and operational issues on its waterways.
Waterways
Mr. Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment (1) what action is to be taken to ensure that boats are not moored in a position which impairs access to locks on navigable waterways; [38198]
(2) if he will ensure that mooring bollards on navigable waterways which are placed close to locks occupy such a position as will allow crew members to drop ropes upon them without the need to leave their vessels especially when such siting is conducive to safety. [38201]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: These are matters for the navigation authority responsible for regulating activities on the waterway concerned.
Mr. Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the extent to which policies of his Department are designed to promote the movement of freight on inland waterways. [38199]
Mr. Jones: Government policy is that we wish to see maximum use made of inland waterways for freight
Column 729
transport, but that this must be subject to commercial judgment. Freight hauliers should be free to choose the mode of transport best suited to their needs. The Department draws attention, where appropriate, to the potential of water for the carriage of freight, and grants that are available.Mr. Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of whether dredging operations upon commercial waterways are at a level which will ensure effective and continuing use. [38202]
Mr. Jones: The Department has made no assessment of dredging operations upon commercial waterways. This is the responsibility of the navigation authorities concerned.
Column 730
Local Authority Archives
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to hold centrally information in respect of local authorities on the amount of funding that is provided to maintain county archival records; and if he will make a statement. [38301]
Mr. Sproat: I have been asked to reply.
My Department has recently assumed certain additional responsibilities for archives, formerly with the Department of Environment. Local authorities provide information on the funding of their archive services to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. This is collated in its annual publication "Archive Services Statistics".
|
| Home Page |