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Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what record his Department holds of the number of people in the United Kingdom who are diagnosed as having myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome and who are in receipt of disability living allowance. [16139]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: The information is not available in the format requested. The number of people in receipt of disability living allowance at 30 November 1995, where the main disabling condition is shown as chronic fatigue syndrome, including myalgic encephalomyelitis, is estimated to be 7,400.
Source:
Analytical Services Division--based on a 5 per cent. sample of cases resident in Great Britain and a 100 per cent. sample of cases in Northern Ireland.
Fraud (Northumberland)
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent special investigations have been undertaken by multi-agency investigation teams into housing benefit and fraud in the west end of Newcastle; and how many charges have been brought. [16148]
Mr. Heald: Joint operations to tackle housing benefit fraud are undertaken from time to time by the local authority with the help of the police, the Benefits Agency and other bodies. A recent operation in the west end of Newcastle involving those organisations has resulted in 18 charges being brought. It would not be appropriate to comment in greater detail on operational matters in order to avoid compromising any future operations.
Weekly benefit savings of £½ million have been achieved.
Benefits Agency
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the recorded staffing levels and average daily attendance at the Benefits Agency offices at Highgate and Finsbury park for (a) January 1992, (b) June 1992, (c) January 1993, (d) June 1993, (e) January 1994, (f) June 1994, (g) January 1995, (h) June 1995 and (i) January 1996; and what estimated level of public expenditure was planned for in each month. [15942]
Mr. Roger Evans: This is a matter for Peter Mathison, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 22 February 1996:
These figures are provisional and subject to change. The statistics for average daily attendance prior to June 1995 are for Income Support callers only.
Contributory Benefit callers prior to June 1995 are only available at a district level.
n/a = not available.
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26 Feb 1996 : Column: 361
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what are the recorded staffing levels and average daily attendance at the Benefit Agency offices at Highgate and Finsbury Park for (a) January 1992, (b) June 1992, (c) January 1993, (d) June 1993, (e) January 1994, (f) June 1994, (g) January 1995, (h) June 1995 and (i) January 1996; and what estimated level of public expenditure was planned for in each month.
The information available is shown in the table at Annex A.
I hope you find this reply helpful.
Motability
Mr. Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 30 January, Official Report, column 735, on the Schroeders merchant bank report, if officials of his Department have seen the report. [16797]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: With the permission of Motability, officials have had sight of this confidential report.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Milk Marque
Mr. John Marshall: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the change in (a) investment, (b) prices and (c) employment in the diary industry since the introduction of Milk Marque. [16460]
Mr. Baldry: On employment and the price of milk for processing, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer he was given by my predecessor on 26 June 1995, Official Report, column 525. We do not monitor retail prices, but in general the price of cheese and butter has gone up since 1 November 1995 while the price of liquid milk has remained fairly static. As regards investment in the diary industry since the abolition of the milk marketing boards, several companies have demonstrated their confidence in the new arrangements by undertaking or announcing major investment programmes.
Live Animal Transport
Mr. Morley:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the veterinary officers and technical assistants were involved on (a) 15 February and (b) 16 February at lairages near Dover in inspecting animals to ensure that they were fit to travel under the Welfare of Animals During Transport Order 1994 and to deal with other related matters; on each such day how many consignments were inspected by his veterinary officers and technical assistants; how many (i) sheep and (ii) calves were inspected; how many hours were spent in carrying out the inspections; and if he will make a statement. [16339]
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Mrs. Browning
[holding answer 22 February 1996]: On 15 February, there were 13 consignments of calves totalling 1,651 calves and one consignment of 231 sheep. Six Ministry veterinary officers, one temporary veterinary inspector and 10 technical staff were present at Dover lairages at various times between 0700 and 1630.
On 16 February, there were two consignments of calves totalling 205 calves and one consignment of 250 sheep. There were two veterinary officers and two technical staff carrying out the inspections. In addition, the opportunity was taken to train three technical staff. Ministry staff were present at lairages between 0730 and 1230.
Mr. Morley:
To asks the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what trials of bovine somatotropin are (a) being conducted in the United Kingdom and (b) planned; how many animals are involved; how is the BST being administered; in what quantities is it being administered; what effects are being measured; and if he will make a statement. [16344]
Mrs. Browning
[holding answer 22 February 1996]: Although the European Commission has accepted that there is no risk to humans from the consumption of milk from cows treated with bovine somatotropin, a moratorium on its marketing and use was introduced throughout the EC in 1990, and after twice being extended is now scheduled to last until 31 December 1999. The terms of the current extension to the moratorium were agreed by the Council Agriculture Ministers at its meeting in December 1994, and allow limited practical tests in order to obtain any other scientific data that might be taken into account by the Council when taking a final decision on the authorisation of BST. No such trials of BST are currently taking place in the UK or any other member state.
Any plans for other scientific research outside the terms of the moratorium are a matter for the pharmaceutical companies concerned. Such research could be conducted only under the terms of an animal test certificate issued by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, or a Home Office licence.
26 Feb 1996 : Column: 363
Mr. Nicholas Winterton:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking both domestically and in Europe to assist the British abattoir industry; and what steps he is taking to increase business for that industry. [16656]
Mrs. Browning
[holding answer 22 February 1996]: MAFF Ministers support and encourage the work of British abattoirs through frequent trade visits to promote British meat both here and abroad. For example, I recently visited trade fairs in Cologne and Milan, and plan to visit the Paris fair next week.
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