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Occupational and Private Pensions
14. Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the effect that reduced equity investment yields would have on occupational and private pensions. [14364]
Mr. Heald:
Around three fifths of the £600 billion invested in UK pension funds is held in domestic equities. The yield on those investments has been, on average, 10 per cent. in real terms since 1980. All things being equal,
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any reduction in yield would mean that members would retire with lower pensions or that they and their employers would have to contribute more.
15. Mr. Batiste:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the proposed Social Security identity card will bear a photograph of the owner and have a memory capacity. [14365]
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Mr. Lilley:
The social security benefit payment card will replace order books and girocheques.
We are still in the process of deciding which of the systems proposed by the shortlisted suppliers offers the best security and other features. It is unlikely that a photograph will be used since other features offer more satisfactory means of identification. The initial version of the card may not use microchip technology, but the service provider must provide for upgrading to smart cards in the future, if that is required.
16. Dr. Michael Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations he has received about the Government's policies for disabled people. [14366]
Mr. Burt:
I have received many representations by and on behalf of disabled people, particularly about the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. I recently received about 180 nominations for membership of the National Disability Council and I am indebted to a variety of individuals, as well as voluntary and business organisations, for providing such an impressive selection of candidates.
17. Mr. Bennett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cold weather payments were made in January. [14367]
18. Mr. Alan W. Williams:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on cold weather payments. [14368]
Mr. Roger Evans:
More than 2 million payments were made in January. So far this winter, more than 7 million payments, worth more than £62 million, have been made.
The current arrangements are responsive and focused on the most vulnerable groups, with automatic payments when there is a sustained period of very cold weather.
In consultation with the Meteorological Office, postcode areas are linked to one of 55 weather stations throughout the country which are best judged to represent the local climate. The effectiveness of the weather station links are reviewed annually and changes made where appropriate.
20. Mr. Austin-Walker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received from local authority associations regarding proposals to remove benefits from asylum applicants. [14370]
Mr. Roger Evans:
The local authority associations were consulted about the benefit changes affecting asylum seekers. Responses were received from the Association of District Councils, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and the Association of London Government.
21. Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what data the Department retains
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as to the take up of benefits payable to claimants in Maryport arising out of the closure of the Campbell's Soups Homepride plant. [14372]
22. Mr. Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures he is taking to tackle housing benefit fraud. [14373]
Mr. Heald:
Later this year, I will introduce a central computer record to cross-check claims. I have earmarked £8 million for challenge funding to encourage innovation in fighting fraud, and in April I will strengthen the financial incentives for local authorities to pursue fraud. I have work in hand on a strategy to stop fraud getting into the system. We are already working with the Audit Commission on better checking of housing benefit applications.
23. Mr. Hendry:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what reforms of the benefit system he is planning in order to help unemployed people back to work. [14374]
Mr. Evans:
We are introducing three measures in April: a four-week extension of housing benefit to smooth the transition into work; a "holiday" from national insurance contributions for employers taking on those who have been unemployed for more than two years; and an increase in the childcare disregard in family credit and disability working allowance from £40 to £60 per week.
From October, the back-to-work bonus will provide a lump sum payment for those leaving job seekers allowance or income support who have worked part-time and we will be piloting the earnings top-up scheme to help those without dependent children.
24. Mr. Barry Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he plans to reform child benefit. [14375]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell:
I have no plans to reform child benefit other than through legislation already announced in clause 10 of the Asylum and Immigration Bill, and in draft regulations to restructure child and one-parent benefit. The regulations are currently the subject of consultation. I would expect these proposals to become law later this year, subject to parliamentary approval.
26. Mr. Bill Michie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of how (a) income support and (b) other claims are assessed. [14377]
Mr. Roger Evans:
There are many ways in which the handling of benefit claims are assessed for accuracy, quality and timeousness. The Secretary of State sets the
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Benefits Agency targets for accuracy and speed of assessment which are reported annually in the agency business plan and accounts. There is independent monitoring of accuracy by the National Audit Office and of adjudication standards by the chief adjudication officer.
28. Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women currently receive less in child support than their husband or partners pay to the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement. [14379]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell:
Payments of child maintenance made by absent parents to the Child Support Agency are passed on to parents with care unless retained to be offset against current or past payments of income support to the parent with care. Information on the total number of cases where payments are retained could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Michael Brown:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what provision is made to ensure that absent parents who have incurred a deduction from earnings order from the Child Support Agency are left with sufficient income on which to live. [14914]
Mr. Mitchell:
The deduction from earnings order sent to an employer, in cases where there is either a full or an interim maintenance assessment, includes an amount below which earnings should not be reduced because of the child support payment.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people with (a) learning disabilities and (b) mental health problems are expected to have their disability living allowance mobility component (i) reduced or (ii) withdrawn when in hospital in (x) 1996-97, (y) 1997-98 and (z) 1998-99. [11997]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell
[holding answer 26 January 1996]: The information is not available in the format requested. It is estimated that, between 1996 and 1999, some 20,000 to 25,000 people with a learning disability or mental health problem will have their disability living allowance mobility component reduced or withdrawn when in hospital.
Note:
Mr. Mitchell:
The proposals concern payability of, rather than entitlement to, the mobility component of disability living allowance. Provided the conditions of entitlement continued to be met, payment would be reinstated on a person's discharge from hospital. Payments would also be made at a daily rate for short periods of hospital leave.
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Mr. Allen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the impact of his proposal for the removal of the mobility component of disability living allowance on the ability of long-stay patients in hospitals and homes for the mentally ill to re-establish themselves in the community; and if he will make a statement. [14072]
These estimates are provisional and subject to change.
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