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External Consultants
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on all external consultants, with special reference to management consultants in each year since 1990-91, for his Department, the national health service executive and other agencies. [2950]
Mr. Sackville: The Department of Health and its agencies have spent the following amount on all external consultancy.
1990-91: £18,398,000
1991-92: £24,258,000
1992-93: £18,399,000
1993-94: £15,933,037
1994-95: £18,479,405.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the quantified annual cost savings made as a consequence of spending on external consultants by his Department, the national health service executive and other agencies in each year since 1990-91. [2960]
Mr. Sackville: External consultants are used to assist in improving efficiency and effectiveness in the Department, but it is not possible to assess the savings which are a direct consequence of their activity.
NHS Services
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the (a) clinical services and (b) non-clinical services provided by the NHS. [3101]
Mr. Sackville: The national health service provides a comprehensive range of clinical and non-clinical services for the investigation, diagnosis, treatment and care of people both inside and outside hospital.
28 Nov 1995 : Column: 612
Mr. Nicholas Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what methods alternative to the resale price maintenance scheme for medicines he has considered for ensuring the continued effectiveness of a nationwide pharmacy service. [3016]
Mr. Malone:
None. The Office of Fair Trading is conducting a review of the resale price maintenance arrangement for medicines.
Mr. Milburn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) medical locums and (b) agency nursing staff were employed in the NHS (i) as a total and (ii) as a proportion of permanent medical and nursing staff in each year since 1990 (1) nationally and (2) regionally. [2421]
Mr. Malone
[holding answer 24 November 1995]: This information will be placed in the Library.
War Widows Pension
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have claimed war widows and war disablement pension in each year since 1980. [1659]
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 3,400 |
| 1981 | 2,100 |
| 1982 | 3,350 |
| 1983 | 3,100 |
| 1984 | 2,850 |
| 1985 | 2,700 |
| 1986 | 2,800 |
| 1987 | 3,000 |
| 1988 | 3,100 |
| 1989 | 3,009 |
| 1990 | 4,027 |
| 1991 | 3,578 |
| 1992 | 3,548 |
| 1993 | 3,570 |
| 1994 | 4,283 |
| 1995 | (21)13,476 |
(21) January to October.
The 1995 figure includes 9,878 claims for restoration of the war widow's pension made as a result of the change introduced in the Pensions Act 1995. The war widow's pension is withdrawn on re-marriage; the Act provided that it may be reclaimed, for instance, on subsequent widowhood or divorce.
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 5,896 |
| 1981 | 4,909 |
| 1982 | 5,532 |
| 1983 | 5,782 |
| 1984 | 4,468 |
| 1985 | 6,760 |
| 1986 | 7,225 |
| 1987 | 9,345 |
| 1988 | 13,173 |
| 1989 | 17,167 |
| 1990 | 20,214 |
| 1991 | 36,527 |
| 1992 | 116,605 |
| 1993 | 139,757 |
| 1994 | 51,947 |
| 1995 | (22)30,560 |
(22)January to October.
28 Nov 1995 : Column: 613
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 1989 | 3,321 |
| 1990 | 4,874 |
| 1991 | 6,354 |
| 1992 | 12,654 |
| 1993 | 18,089 |
| 1994 | 13,598 |
| 1995 | (23)10,138 |
(23)January to October.
This information is available only from 1989.
Child Support Agency
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in how many cases a separated husband and wife have both sold their homes following a maintenance award made by the Child Support Agency. [2221]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: The information requested is not available. The maintenance assessment formula ensures that parents with care and the vast majority of absent parents have their housing costs taken fully into account.
Mr. Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what precautions the Child Support Agency takes to ensure that no child is rendered homeless as a result of its assessments. [2385]
Mr. Mitchell: Absent parents who have children living with them have their housing costs taken fully into account when their maintenance payments are assessed.
Where the agency needs to consider enforcement action, it is required by law to have regard to the welfare of any child likely to be affected by its decision.
Ms Lynne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many type D interim assessments have been issued by the Child Support Agency. [2014]
Mr. Mitchell:
The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 27 November 1995:
28 Nov 1995 : Column: 614
Mr. Mitchell:
The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 27 November 1995:
Mr. Mitchell:
The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 27 November 1995:
Mr. Mitchell:
The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 27 November 1995:
28 Nov 1995 : Column: 615
Mr. Mitchell:
The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency Type 'D' interim assessments.
The type 'D' interim assessment was introduced in April 1995 to make interim assessments on cases where the absent parent has exceptionally high earnings. At 30 September 1995 this measure had been used in eight cases.
I hope this is helpful.
Ms Lynne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the weekly maintenance due via the Child Support Agency's collection service in (a) cases which are fully paid and (b) cases which are partially paid. [2020]
Ms Lynne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in how many cases a Child Support Agency assessment is limited by (a) the protected income formula and (b) the 30 per cent. rule; and what are the amounts of weekly maintenance due in these cases. [2012]
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about cases using the Child Support Agency collection service.
Information on these cases is not available in the form you have requested. However, the average amount of maintenance assessment in cases with an interim assessment is £95. In cases with a full maintenance assessment, when the absent parent has earned income, the average amount is £39.69.
I hope this is helpful.
Ms Lynne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what agencies, Government Departments or other sources the Child Support Agency has received from, or supplied to, information related to clients. [2015]
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency assessments.
The increase of protected income to 70% of net income was one of a number of policy changes introduced in April 1995. It was introduced to ensure that after a maintenance assessment, an absent parent retained a minimum guaranteed income, and at the time 18,752 cases benefitted.
Specific information is not available on the impact of this policy change on the amount of child maintenance payable in each individual case. However, I can tell you that as a result of all the changes in April where liability decreased, the average maintenance assessment reduced from £60.64 to £52.31.
I am afraid I cannot establish what subject you are asking for information in relation to the "20 per cent" rule. The April policy changes did not include any such measure. If you write to me explaining what you are interested in, I will do my best to help.
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about information related to clients.
The Child Support Agency is registered with the Data Protection Registrar's Office in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act.
This registration includes details of the possible sources, from which we may require information and to whom such information may be disclosed. The information is shown on the attached table.
Ms Lynne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in how many cases (a) which are fully paid and
(b) which are partially paid, absent parents are paying child support maintenance by way of a deduction of earnings order. [2019]
Data held by the Child Support Agency
Sources of Data
Family, relatives, guardians, trustees
Financial representatives,
Landlords.
Inland Revenue,
Customs and Excise,
DVLC,
Local authority housing department,
Prison Service,
Public utilities,
Banks,
Northern Ireland housing executive,
Building societies.
Recipients of Data
Home Office,
Local authority social services,
Police forces,
The Post Office,
Other Government Departments,
Treasury Solicitors.
Sources and Recipients of Data
The data subject themselves,
Employers past, current, prospective,
Legal representatives,
Nominated Representatives of Customers,
Persons working within DSS to gain Work Experience,
Recipients, customers, clients for goods or services,
Department of Employment,
Departments of Health and Social Security,
MoD (Including Armed Forces),
The Courts,
Judges magistrates,
Central Government. Departments in Northern Ireland,
Registered medical practitioners.
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