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Contributions Agency (Wales)
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultations he has had with the Welsh Consumer Council and other voluntary bodies concerning the proposed reorganisation of the Contributions Agency's field operations in Wales and the closure of the dedicated caller area at Cardiff; and if he will make a statement. [17822]
Mr. Heald: The administration of the Contributions Agency is a matter for Mrs. Faith Boardman, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Faith Boardman to Mr. Rhodri Morgan, dated 28 February 1996:
28 Feb 1996 : Column: 605
As Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency, I have responsibility for answering questions about operational matters relating to the Agency.
I have been asked to reply to your enquiry regarding consultations on the proposed re-organisation of the Contributions Agency field operations in Wales and the closure of the caller area in Cardiff.
The Contributions Agency has embarked upon a process of consultation with all external customers. The Regional Manager for Wales and Severnside Region has written to all local businesses and
organisations, providing information on the proposed changes and seeking comment. I understand that the Welsh Consumer Council were omitted from the initial consultation, however I am assured that this is being immediately rectified. Please accept my apologies for this oversight.
The proposed closure of the caller facility at Gabalfa, Cardiff is a feature of that consultation process, and a final decision will not be taken until the consultation process is completed.
I hope you find this response helpful, if you require anything further please let me know.
Reduced Earnings Allowance
Mr. Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the money to be saved in a full year by moving (a) in total and (b) in each region reduced earnings allowance recipients on to retirement allowance. [10119]
Mr. Roger Evans [holding answer 19 January 1996]: The table gives the estimate of the savings from transferring most over pensionable age reduced earnings allowance recipients to retirement allowance in 1996-97 in line with the proposed change announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in November 1995. Recipients of REA who had retired before 10 April 1989 would not be affected by the proposed change.
| Estimates of net savings | |
|---|---|
| Region | £ million |
| England | |
| Northern | 4 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | 2 |
| East Midlands | 1 |
| East Anglia | -- |
| South East | 3 |
| South Western | 1 |
| West Midlands | 2 |
| North Western | 3 |
| Scotland | 2 |
| Wales | 2 |
| Overseas | -- |
| Total (Great Britain and overseas) | 20 |
1. Estimates are for the 1996-97 financial year and are at cash prices.
2. "--" denotes a saving of less than £0.5 million.
3. Estimates are rounded to the nearest £1 million, except the total savings which are rounded to the nearest £5 million. Estimates are not accurate to this degree.
4. Any additional income related benefit expenditure has been offset against the savings.
5. Regional breakdown based on former Social Security administrative regions.
Access Committee
Mr. Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will publish the results of the report of the working party that is reviewing the Access Committee's future; [13902]
- (2) what are his plans for the continued funding of the Access Committee; [13903]
(3) if he will make a statement about the future of the Access Committee for England. [13901]
Mr. Burt:
My colleagues and I in the Departments of Health and of the Environment are considering the working party's report which has only recently been
28 Feb 1996 : Column: 606
completed. The members of the working party were drawn from this Department and the Departments of Health and of the Environment. We shall announce our decisions on the committee's future in due course. The report is an internal document and will not be published.
Ms Lynne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many employees of (a) the Benefits Agency and (b) the Contributions Agency have faced dismissal or other disciplinary action for the improper use of confidential information since 1993; and what steps these agencies are taking to minimise the misuse of confidential information. [15755]
Mr. Burt:
Two employees of the Benefits Agency and one from the Contributions Agency have been dismissed for the improper use of confidential information since 1993. Disciplinary action has been taken against a further five employees of the Benefits Agency. These figures do not include possible incidents of staff being disciplined, including dismissal, for the improper use of confidential information arising out of unauthorised access to the agencies' computer systems. The statistics for unauthorised access to computer systems do not include information about whether the unauthorised access resulted in the improper use of confidential information.
Access to computer systems is limited to the minimum possible to enable staff to carry out their duties and security check and audit trail functionality systems are in place to investigate suspected unauthorised access. In addition, information to staff through personnel codes, letters from the agencies' chief executives and a recent leaflet and poster campaign underline the importance of security of information and the seriousness with which unauthorised access to computer systems is viewed.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the officials in his Department who have declared a current interest; what requirements are placed on officials to declare relevant interests; in what form records of such declarations are kept; and if he will establish a central register of officials' interests. [16886]
Mr. Burt:
Under the rules set out in the civil service management code, staff must report any interest, whether business, financial, paid or unpaid, which might conflict with their work in the Department. They must also seek permission before undertaking any outside activity which may result in a conflict of interest. When a member of staff reports an interest or seeks permission to undertake and outside activity, a local record is kept. Any such details are treated as confidential. No central records are held and we have no plans to introduce a central register.
Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to paragraph K8.1 of the Scott report relating to ministerial accountability, what additional measures he proposes to ensure his Department's compliance with paragraph 27 of "Questions of Procedure for Ministers". [17317]
28 Feb 1996 : Column: 607
Mr. Lilley
[holding answer 26 February 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the speech made by right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 26 February, Official Report, columns 589-604.
Mr. Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in Wales are in receipt of attendance allowance; and if he will list the figures for each (a) local authority and (b) health authority area. [17580]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell:
The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
| Health authority area | Number |
|---|---|
| Clwyd | 12,100 |
| Gwent | 11,200 |
| Gwynedd | 5,300 |
| Mid Glamorgan | 16,500 |
| Powys | 3,200 |
| South Glamorgan | 9,500 |
| West Glamorgan | 14,700 |
| Dyfed | 10,000 |
| Total | 82,400 |
Notes:
1. Figures are provisional and subject to change.
2. Figures do not sum due to roundings.
Source:
DSS (Analytical Services Division) 5 per cent. data sample.
Invalid Care Allowance
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners are in receipt of invalid care allowance in Wales at the latest available date as a result of their responsibility for caring for (a) spouses, (b) parents, (c) adult children with mental or physical handicap and (d) any combination of (a) (b) and (c). [17582]
Mr. Burt: The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
War Pensions
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has of the numbers in receipt of (a) war widow's pension and (b) war pension in Wales at the latest available date. [17583]
Mr. Heald: It is estimated that as at 31 March 1995, the latest date for which information is readily available, there were 2,756 war widows and 16,271 war disablement pensioners receiving payment in Wales.
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