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Local Education Authority Expenditure

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average amount of money spent by his Department on a pupil in a public sector school at (a) primary and (b) secondary level for each academic year since 1981. [5796]

Mr. Richards: Figures of net institutional expenditure per pupil, based on local education authorities' expenditure, for 1980-81 to 1992-93, are contained in the Welsh Office's education finance bulletin, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Figures for 1993-94 are currently being calculated and as soon as they become available, they will be incorporated in a new issue of the bulletin.

NHS Trusts

Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each NHS trust in Wales together with an assessment of whether it reaches the Government's requirements to (a) achieve the 6 per cent. rate of return on average net assets, (b) break even, taking one year with another and (c) remain within the external financing limit. [5904]

Mr. Richards: Information on the financial performance of NHS trusts in Wales is contained in the annual reports they are required to produce. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will assess the financial performance of the NHS trusts in Wales in utilising appropriate financial ratios. [5905]

Mr. Richards: No. The financial performance of NHS trusts in Wales will continue to be assessed against the statutory duties, established by the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990, to break even, taking one year with another; manage their external financing limits and record a required rate of return.

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SOCIAL SECURITY

Benefits (Disabled People)

Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review the recent changes in allowances for people with disabilities. [3853]

Mr. Burt: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths) on 12 December, Official Report, column 621.

Housing Benefit

Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated number and percentage of single people aged under 25 years who are in employment and claiming housing benefit; and what assessment he has made of the impact that restricting housing benefit to the average cost of local shared accommodation for single people aged under 25 years will have on (a) labour mobility and (b) work incentives. [4553]

Mr. Roger Evans: The estimated number of single childless people under 25 in employment and claiming housing benefit is 29,000. This is 3 per cent. of the total number of single childless people under 25 who live away from the parental home.

Housing benefit will continue to meet in full rents up to the general level of non self-contained accommodation in the locality. It will not prevent those affected from moving in search of employment. It is likely to increase work incentives by improving the position of those in work and above benefit levels, compared with those dependent wholly on benefits.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if carpal tunnel syndrome caused by the use of a word processor is listed as a industrial injury which is open to compensation and if he will make a statement. [4512]

Mr. Roger Evans: Carpal tunnel syndrome is eligible for benefit under the industrial injuries scheme only in relation to hand-held vibrating tools. Compensation from a negligent employer may be sought at common law through the civil courts for any work-related injury.

Cold Weather Payments

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what mechanisms exist for liaison between his Department and the Departments of Health and of the Environment in respect of (a) cold weather credits and (b) the Christmas bonus; and if he will make a statement on recent discussions in this area. [4541]

Mr. Roger Evans: All three Departments continue to liaise effectively on the issues raised by the campaign for cold weather credits, although there have been no recent discussions on any specific proposals.

The Christmas bonus is paid under the relevant social security legislation. Liaison with the Departments of Health and of the Environment is not appropriate.

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which national climatological message

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stations cover post codes BB8, BB9 and BB12 in respect of the cold weather payments regulations. [4952]

Mr. Evans: Post codes BB8, BB9 and BB12 are served by the Meteorological Office weather station at Wilsden, west Yorkshire. All weather stations and the area they cover are listed in the schedules to the social fund cold weather payments regulations, a copy of which is in the Library.

Departmental Payments

Mr. Bettts: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of bills to his Department were paid in accordance with agreed contractual conditions or, where no such contractual conditions existed, within 30 days of receiving goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice in the last year for which figures are available. [5697]

Mr. Burt: Since 1992, this Department has conducted an annual exercise to establish what proportion of bills for goods and services have been paid timeously--that is within any special terms agreed, or if none exist within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice, whichever is the later. Details of the percentage of payments made timeously from 1992-93 are in the table.

1992-931993-941994-95
DSS HQ909789.5
Benefit Agency939596
Contributions Agency939999
Resettlement Agency968798
Child Support Agency959096
Information Technology Services Agency 96 95 99
War Pensions AgencyPart of BA8996
Total949496

Asylum Seekers

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions he has had with local government representatives on the financial effects of the Asylum and Immigration Bill and the Social Security (Persons from Abroad) Amendment Regulations; and if he will make a statement. [6012]

Mr. Roger Evans: Local authorities have been consulted on these proposals through their associations, and many of them also made representations to the Social Security Advisory Committee. We shall publish our response shortly.

Departmental Fraud

Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the total number and cost of all forms of fraud affecting his Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies, as set out in the returns to Her Majesty's Treasury for departmental fraud for each year since 1990-91; and if he will make a statement. [6138]

Mr. Heald: The Department's annual returns to Her Majesty's Treasury for years 1990-91 to 1993-94 are set out in Table 1. Since the number of full-time fraud investigators dealing with departmental fraud was

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increased in 1993, the number of successful investigations has increased. The return for 1994-95 is set out in the table 2.

Table 1

Year Number of cases in which disciplinary action taken Loss to public funds
1990-9114£45,892
1991-928£18,962
1992-9322£138,608
1993-9415£114,780


Table 2: Fraud established in completed investigations (1994-95)

Number
None146
Travel and subsistence11
False accounting1
Failure to receipt2
Unauthorised access15
Unauthorised disclosure3
Giro/order book fraud6
Theft2
False employment details3
Other13
Total completed202
Total where fraud established56
Established loss to public funds in 1994-95
Total£169,145.76


Research Projects

Mr. Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all qualitative and quantitative research projects and surveys carried out for his Department into aspects of public attitudes and opinions (a) in general and (b) in relation to specific policy proposals in each of the past three years to December 1995, indicating for each project or survey (i) the date on which the research was commissioned, (ii) the amount which his Department spent, (iii) who carried out the research, (iv) the number of people surveyed or taking part, (v) the location and time scale and (vi) which individuals and organisations have been given access to the findings. [5974]

Mr. Burt: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is given. Information on the time scale of individual research projects and surveys could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. GENERAL


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    10. The Benefits Agency National Customer Survey 1993
    (i) Commissioned May 1993
    (ii) Cost £187 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Public Attitude Surveys Limited
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--3,500
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--Report published by BA Spring 1994
    11. The Benefits Agency National Customer Survey 1994
    (i) Commissioned June 1994
    (ii) Cost £211 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Public Attitude Surveys Limited
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--3,324
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--Report published by the BA April 1995
    12. The Benefits Agency National Customer Survey 1995
    (i) Commissioned July 1995
    (ii) Cost £175 thousand (plus VAT)
    (iii) Contractor--Public Attitude Surveys Limited
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--3,500
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--Final report not yet received.
    13. Educating Employers: Evaluation of Employer Educational Surveys
    (i) Commissioned October 1993
    (ii) Cost £35.5 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Public Attitude Surveys (PAS) Limited
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--1,543
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--Report published in DSS Research Series August 1994
    14. Managing Money in Later Life
    (i) Commissioned May 1994
    (ii) Cost £40 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Social and Community Planning Research (SCPR)
    (iv) number of people interviewed--52
    (v) Location--Brentwood, Bridlington, Folkestone, Leeds, London, Manchester, Poole, Reading, Stoke-on-Trent, Worcester, South Wales, Devon, Hampshire, Leicestershire and Yorkshire
    (vi) Availability--Report published in DSS Research Series August 1995
    15. Public knowledge of the national insurance system and attitudes towards the contributory principle.
    (i) Commissioned January 1994
    (ii) Cost £21.5 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS)
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--2,028
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--Report circulated internally in DSS. Data deposited in ESRC data archive
    16. Survey of public perceptions of non-state pensions.
    (i) Commissioned February 1995
    (ii) Cost £40 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--OPCS
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--1,989
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--To be published in DSS in-house series (December 1995)

14 Dec 1995 : Column: 789


    17. Public perceptions of the level of confidentiality afforded to DSS customers.
    (i) Commissioned October 1994
    (ii) Cost £26 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Alan Hedges
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--70
    (v) Location--London, Reading, Huddersfield and Birmingham
    (vi) Availability--Report not yet received.
    18. The Use and Contribution of Child Benefit within the Family Budget
    (i) Commissioned September 1993
    (ii) Cost £13 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Centre for Research in Social Policy, University of Loughborough
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--69
    (v) Location--Leicester and Melton Mowbray
    (vi) Availability--Report published
    19. Lone Parents, Work and Benefits
    (i) Commissioned February 1994
    (ii) Cost £100 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Policy Studies Institute
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--880
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--Final report not yet received
    20. Evaluation of the Newcastle in-work benefits initiative
    (i) Commissioned March 1993
    (ii) Cost £10 thousand (DSS contribution)
    (iii) Contractor--Alan Hedges
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--100
    (v) Location--Newcastle
    (vi) Availability--Report published in DSS in-house series July 1994




    21. The role of Advice Centres and Local Offices in the provision of advice and information about Social Security.
    (i) Commissioned October 1993
    (ii) Cost £50 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Centre for Research in Social Policy, University of Loughborough
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--300
    (v) Location--South Yorkshire, East Anglia, London
    (vi) Availability--Report published in DSS Research Series April 1995.
    22. First Time Customers
    (i) Commissioned May 1993
    (ii) Cost £113 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Social Policy Research Unit, University of York
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--3,700
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--Report published in DSS Research Series May 1995.
    23. Customer satisfaction with BA local office service
    (i) Commissioned October 1994
    (ii) Cost £38 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Social and Community Planning Research
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--91
    (v) Location--three local offices
    (vi) Availability--Final report not yet received.
    24. Customer contact with the Benefits Agency
    (i) Commissioned May 1995

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    (ii) Cost £211 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Centre for Research in Social Policy, University of Loughborough
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--3,200
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--Final report not yet received.
    25. Deterrent effects of prosecution
    (i) Commissioned January 1995
    (ii) Cost £48 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Policy Studies Institute
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--45
    (v) Location--three local offices
    (vi) Availability--Final report not yet received.
    26. Communications between Income Support customers and the Benefits Agency
    (i) Commissioned September 1995
    (ii) Cost £17 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--British Market Research Bureau International
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--36
    (v) Location--three local offices
    (vi) Availability--Final report not yet received.
    27. Evaluation of One Stop: One Place
    (i) Commissioned September 1994
    (ii) Cost £68 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Research Services Limited
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--3,100
    (v) Location--six local offices
    (vi) Availability--Report published in DSS in-house series June 1995.
    28. CA Leaflet research
    (i) Commissioned July 1994
    (ii) Cost £19 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Winstanley Douglas Grantham
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--184
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--Report received November 1995. Internal CA distribution only.
    29. Social Security Advice Line for Employers (SSALE)
    (i) Commissioned March 1994
    (ii) Cost £42 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--IFF Research
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--1,000
    (v) Location--Newcastle
    (vi) Availability--Report received September 1994, Internal CA distribution only.
    30. Tripartite Telephone helpdesk research
    (i) Commissioned September 1995
    (ii) Cost £33 thousand (plus VAT)
    (iii) Contractor--IFF Research
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--1,800
    (v) Location--Scotland
    (vi) Availability--Final report not yet received.
    31. CA customer service general research
    (i) Commissioned December 1994
    (ii) Cost £17 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--BMRB
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--28
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--Report received March 1995. Internal CA distribution only.

14 Dec 1995 : Column: 791

    Research Relevant to Specific Policy Proposals
    1. Evaluation of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA): Survey of Unemployed Claimants
    (i) Commissioned June 1995
    (ii) Cost £443.6 thousand 1
    (iii) Contractor--Centre for Research in Social Policy (CRSP)
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--850 (baseline survey pre-JSA, with a similar number after the introduction of JSA)


    (v) Location--National


    (vi) Availability--Final reports not yet received 1 DSS share of costs over 4 years--project jointly funded with DfEE and ES




    2. BA/ES pilot evaluation
    (i) Commissioned early 1993
    (ii) Cost £50 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Public Attitude Surveys Limited
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--1,260
    (v) Location--55 Employment Service job centres
    (vi) Availability--Report published by PAS March 1994
    3. Lone Parent Caseworker Pilots
    (i) Commissioned February 1995
    (ii) Cost of £141 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Centre for Research in Social Policy, University of Loughborough
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--1,000
    (v) Location--Folkestone, Rochdale, Stevenage, West Notts.
    (vi) Availability--Final report not yet received
    4. Anti-Fraud attitude survey
    (i) Commissioned September 1993
    (ii) Cost £24 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Research Surveys of Great Britain Ltd (RSGB)
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--1,022
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--Report received September 1993. Internal DSS distribution only
    5. Anti-Fraud campaign strategy development
    (i) Commissioned July 1992
    (ii) Cost of £33 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Reflexions
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--117
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--Report received August 1993. Internal DSS distribution only
    6. Why Translate? Pilot Study
    (i) Commissioned november 1993
    (ii) Cost £20 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--MORI
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--112
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--Report received November 1993. Internal DSS distribution only
    7. Incapacity Benefit: Advisors and GPs
    (i) Commissioned January 1995
    (ii) Cost £31 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--DVL Smith
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--30
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--Report received February 1995. Internal DSS distribution only

14 Dec 1995 : Column: 792


    8. Family Credit campaign tracking
    (i) Commissioned April 1993
    (ii) Cost £33 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--RSGB
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--1,200
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--Report received June 1993. Internal DSS distribution only
    9. DWA/MENCAP Video Evaluation
    (i) Commissioned November 1993
    (ii) Cost £10 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Winstanley Douglas Grantham
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--14
    (v) Location-national
    (vi) Availability--Report received November 1993. Internal DSS distribution only
    10. DWA data base evaluation
    (i) Commissioned November 1993
    (ii) Cost £15 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Recruitment and Assessment Services (RAS)
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--502
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--Report received November 1993. Internal DSS distribution only
    11. DWA Advisors Monitor
    (i) Commissioned April 1993
    (ii) Cost £26 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--MAI
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--46
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--Report received April 1993. Internal DSS distribution only
    12. You and Disability Responders
    (i) Commissioned March 1995
    (ii) Cost £20 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--BMRB
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--375


    (v) Location--national


    (vi) Availability--Report received March 1995. Internal DSS distribution only




    13. Pensions Publicity Awareness
    (i) Commissioned October 1995
    (ii) Cost £24 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--BMRB
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--20,650
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--Report received October 1995. Internal DSS distribution only
    14. Disability Strategic Development
    (i) Commissioned May 1995
    (ii) Cost £57 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Andrew Irving Associates
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--96
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--Report received July 1995. Internal DSS distribution only
    15. Working with Benefits tracking
    (i) Commissioned June 1995
    (ii) Cost £126 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Research International

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    (iv) Number of people interviewed--2,400
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--Report received August 1995. Internal DSS distribution only
    16. Unemployed Lifestyles
    (i) Commissioned September 1995
    (ii) Cost £48 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--Andrew Irving Associates
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--115
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--Report received October 1995. Internal DSS distribution only
    17. NICS Holiday
    (i) Commissioned September 1995
    (ii) Cost £32 thousand
    (iii) Contractor--NOP
    (iv) Number of people interviewed--80
    (v) Location--national
    (vi) Availability--Report received October 1995. Internal DSS distribution only
    The Department's Research Programme is announced each year. Details and overall costs of all projects are set out in the Department's Research Yearbook, published annually by HMSO, copies of which are available in the Library. Previous editions cover projects from 1989 onwards; the Yearbook for 1994-95, to be published today (14th December) will contain details of current projects.

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