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Social Fund
Mr. Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the effect on public revenues in 1996-97 and 1997-98 of extending entitlement to social fund (a) community care grants, (b) budgeting loans and (c) cold weather payments to families in receipt of family credit. [18105]
Mr. Roger Evans: Since the discretionary social fund is cash limited, extending eligibility to community care grants and budgeting loans to families in receipt of family credit without increasing the cash limit would result in a higher rate of refusals but no extra cost, other than for the administration of any additional applications.
Alternatively, if the cash limit was increased in proportion to the number of families receiving family credit compared with those receiving income support, assuming the same level of demand is met and
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comparable eligibility conditions apply, we estimate that an increase would be required to (a) the community care grants budget and to (b) the net amount available for budgeting loans as shown in the table. However, in a discretionary scheme there would be no guarantee that additional expenditure would all go to family credit recipients.
| 1996-97 | 1997-98 | Administration costs, yearly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| (a) Community care grants | 10 | 10 | 2 |
| (b) Budgeting loans | 15 | 7 | 5 |
Prescription Charges
Mr. Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimate his Department has made of the amount of money which will be reclaimed under the new rules for prescription charges in respect of men aged between 60 and 65 years; [16945]
- (2) how many pensioners have claimed refunds of prescription charges under the new rules affecting men aged between 60 and 65 years. [16944]
Mr. Malone: I have been asked to reply.
We do not hold figures on the number of men aged 60 to 65 who have paid prescription charges prior to the European Court of Justice ruling. Following our invitation to register a claim we have issued over 187,000 claim forms to men in the United Kingdom. At the close of business on 23 February 132,000--70 per cent.--had been returned.
To date the prescription claims processing unit has authorised payments totalling £2.6 million to 83,000--63 per cent.--men. At this stage it is not possible to forecast accurately the total cost of likely refunds but they are not expected to exceed £6 million. This does not include the cost of prepayment certificates refunded locally by family health services authorities. Administration costs will be additional.
Breast Cancer Services
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the numbers, grades, jobs designations and health authority area of full-time breast cancer staff working in the NHS in Wales for each year since 1990. [16625]
Mr. Richards:
The information requested is not available centrally.
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Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to revoke the various emergency restrictions imposed in response to the Chernobyl disaster. [17051]
Mrs. Gwilym Jones:
Radiocaesium contamination from the Chernobyl accident continues to affect certain upland areas of sheep grazing in north Wales. Although there has been a general decline in the activity of the radiocaesium the actual rate of decline depends on the interaction of a number of factors such as soil type, vegetation, weather, drainage and sheep grazing preference. The variable interaction between these factors does not enable an accurate forecast to be made of the length of time sheep controls will be required.
Regular monitoring of radiocaesium levels in sheep, and other relevant information, enables suitable areas to be identified for a comprehensive survey and assessment to determine the prospects for removing controls. Following such work my right hon. Friend was able to lift controls from over 65 sq k in the Snowdon area on 17 January 1996. The area originally affected by sheep controls was approximately 4,100 sq k, but has now been reduced to approximately 580 sq k.
Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what research he has commissioned to assess the long-term effects of the Chernobyl incident on (a) Welsh agriculture and (b) land use in the affected areas. [17052]
Mr. Jones:
In Wales land affected by the Chernobyl accident is predominantly confined to certain upland areas of north Wales used for sheep grazing. Other than restrictions on the movement and slaughter of sheep from those areas there have been no long-term effects of Welsh agriculture or land use.
Research has identified ways to immobilise the transference of radioactivity through certain technical remedies and chemical land treatments. However, the potential adverse effect such land treatment could have on the natural environment of the area and the practical application of the other treatments are not necessarily appropriate to the area covered by restrictions. At present, the mark and release scheme remains the most satisfactory means of securing the protection of food chain safety and ensuring that normal sheep marketing practices within the restricted area continue with minimum disruption to farmers.
Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the revocation of the emergency restrictions imposed in response to the Chernobyl incident. [17053]
Mr. Jones:
General inquiries are sometimes received about the length of time sheep restrictions will be required. Our policy of regularly informing farmers affected by restrictions and their unions of the current position is intended to provide them with a full understanding of the situation. This can be judged by the continued co-operation and patience farmers have shown in the need to retain restrictions and their help in maintaining confidence in the quality of Welsh lamb.
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Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. [16884]
Mr. Hague:
Staff in my Department faced with a potential conflict of interest must declare the position to senior management who can consider how best to proceed. This requirement is set out in the Welsh Office terms and conditions of service code.
Staff disclose relevant interests on the understanding that this, like all employment matters, is confidential between them and their employer.
Mr. Ron Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the designation of the Milford Haven waterway as a special area of conservation; and if he will make a statement. [17375]
Mr. Hague:
Ministers and officials received nine responses following the public consultation exercise undertaken last year from organisations representing a range of interests. Some expressed concern about the socio-economic effects of the proposed designation, others supported it fully, some suggested that the site was not large enough, while others raised queries about the proposed boundaries. All responses received will be taken into account before a decision is made on whether or not to submit the site to the European Commission.
Mr. Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to submit his plans for the designation of the Milford Haven waterway as a special area of conservation. [17374]
Mr. Hague:
A public consultation exercise was undertaken last March on over 280 potential special areas of conservation in the United Kingdom. Two hundred and eleven of these sites--including 34 in Wales--have already been submitted to the European Commission as potential SACs. It is hoped that the remaining sites, which include the proposed Milford Haven and Pembrokeshire islands SAC, can be submitted in due course. No decision will be made until all points raised during the consultation have been fully considered.
Ms Eagle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those contracts his Department currently holds with EDS Ltd., indicating for each the (a) date of inception, (b) value and (c) duration. [17459]
Mr. Hague:
My Department does not currently hold any contracts with EDS.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of children of secondary school age attend a grammar school. [17500]
29 Feb 1996 : Column: 716
Mr. Richards:
There are no grammar schools in Wales.
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