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SOCIAL SECURITY
Agency Computer Systems
Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many employees have been (a) dismissed and (b) faced other disciplinary action for unauthorised access to agency computer systems in (i) the Benefits Agency, (ii) the Child Support Agency, (iii) the Contributions Agency, (iv) the Information Technology Services Agency, (v) the Resettlement Agency and (vi) the War Pensions Agency since 1993. [19504]
Mr. Burt: The information is in the table:
| Dismissals | Other disciplinary action | |
|---|---|---|
| Benefits Agency | 10 | 110(25) |
| Child Support Agency | 3 | 11 |
| Contributions Agency | 5 | 11 |
| Information Technology Services Agency | 0 | 1 |
| Resettlement Agency | 0 | 0 |
| War Pensions Agency | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 20 | 133 |
(25) With approximately 70,000 staff, the Benefits Agency is by far the largest of the DSS Agencies. As the vast majority of their staff have access to computer systems, there is a proportionately higher number of incidents.
Agencies (Confidential Information)
Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many employees of (a) the Information Technology Services Agency, (b) the Resettlement Agency and (c) the War Pensions Agency have faced
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(i) dismissal and (ii) other disciplinary action for the improper use of confidential information since 1993. [19505]
Mr. Burt: The information is in the table:
| Dismissals | Other disciplinary action | |
|---|---|---|
| Information Technology Services Agency | 0 | 2 |
| Resettlement Agency | 0 | 0 |
| War Pensions Agency | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 2 |
Funeral Expenses
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average payment made to claimants under the discretionary social fund for funeral expenses since June 1995. [19882]
Mr. Roger Evans: The information is set out in the table.
| Award type | Flowers/ wreath | Funeral expenses | Other | Average payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community care grant | 50.00 | 62.80 | 100.00 | 70.93 |
| Budgeting loan | 37.15 | 345.14 | 71.27 | 141.44 |
| Crisis loan | 57.33 | 217.21 | -- | 121.28 |
| Sub-total loans | 40.94 | 316.71 | 71.27 | 137.56 |
| Total | 41.47 | 291.32 | 85.64 | 130.67 |
1. The information covers awards in the period between 5 June and 1 August 1995. It includes help with flowers/wreaths, funeral directors fees and other expenses.
2. Funeral expenses covered by the regulated scheme were specifically excluded from the discretionary Fund from 2 August 1995.
National Insurance
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list (a) for each year since 1979 and (b) for the whole period since 1979 the extra revenue raised by changing the rate of employee national insurance contributions. [20241]
Mr. Heald: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
| Year | Employee National Insurance Rates(26) (Percentage) | Estimated change in contribution revenue(27) (£ million) |
|---|---|---|
| 1979-80 | 6.5 | -- |
| 1980-81 | 6.75 | (28)+225 |
| 1981-82 | 7.75 | (28)+1,020 |
| 1982-83 | 8.75 | (28)+1,096 |
| 1983-84 | 9.0 | (28)+285 |
| 1984-85 | 9.0 | -- |
| 1985-86 | 9.0 7.0 5.0 from October | (29)-100 |
| 1986-87 | 9.0 7.0 5.0 | -- |
| 1987-88 | 9.0 7.0 5.0 | -- |
| 1988-89 | 9.0 7.0 5.0 | -- |
| 1989-90 | 9.0 7.0 5.0 from October 2.0 9.0 | (30)-1,000 |
| 1990-91 | 2.0 9.0 | -- |
| 1991-92 | 2.0 9.0 | -- |
| 1992-93 | 2.0 9.0 | -- |
| 1993-94 | 2.0 9.0 | -- |
| 1994-95 | 2.0 10.0 | (28)+1,914 |
| 1995-96 | 2.0 10.0 | -- |
(26) Not contracted-out rates shown.
(27) Figures show the change in revenue for the tax year in which the change in contribution rate was made.
(28) Estimates taken form Government Actuary reports on the various Contributions Re-rating Orders and Social Security (Contributions) Bills which introduced the changes in contribution rates.
(29) Reduced rates for employees were introduced form October 1985. Estimate taken from the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1985-86 and relates to part year only.
(30) Revised structure applied from October 1989. Estimate given in the Official Report, 24 April 1989 Col. 670 and relates to part year only.
(31) If the employees' contribution structure, rates and level of contracted-out rebates in force in 1979-80 had applied in 1995-96, employees would have paid about £5.3 billion less in National Insurance contributions for that year.
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Occupational Pension Schemes
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 21 February, Official Report, column 147, what account was taken of the impact on businesses in deciding not to make a compliance cost assessment for the Occupational Pension Schemes (Equal Treatment) Regulations. [18383]
Mr. Heald: The Occupational Pension Schemes (Equal Treatment) Regulations 1995 are concerned with the detailed application of existing equal treatment requirements which derive from article 119 of the treaty of Rome and were incorporated into domestic legislation by sections 62 to 66 of the Pensions Act 1995. The compliance cost assessment produced in April 1995 with the then Pensions Bill, explained that article 119 had direct effect in member states and any impact on industry arose directly from it. The impact of article 119 and clarificatory rulings was therefore excluded from that CCA.
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However, as my hon. Friend the Member for Wanstead and Woodford (Mr. Arbuthnot) explained during the passage of the Bill, the European Court of Justice ruled that member states of the European Community may subject claims to equal treatment in occupational pensions to a domestic time limit. The Equal Treatment Regulations have the effect of applying the time limits for claims under the Equal Pay Act 1970 to claims for equal treatment in occupational pensions schemes. This means that claims must be brought within six months of leaving the relevant employment. Successful claims for retrospective access to pension schemes are limited to a maximum two-year period for any backdated award.
Rulings of the ECJ have also recognised certain exceptions from the equal treatments requirements. Accordingly, the regulations also make detailed provision as to the circumstances in which these exceptions may be relied upon. These provisions have significantly reduced the financial and administrative effect of the ECJ rulings on pension schemes and employers.
Dr. Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base, and which (a) publish their advice to Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament (i) under a statutory requirement and (ii) voluntarily. [20092]
Mr. Burt:
The advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by this Department are listed in "Public Bodies 1995", with the exception of the National Disability Council which was created in January 1996, and all have a statutory basis; further information is in the table:
| (i) Under a Statutory Requirement | (ii) Voluntarily |
|---|---|
| (a) None | The advice given to the Secretary of State by the Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board is published in its annual report. |
| (b) The National Disability Council | The Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board. |
| (c) The National Disability Council | None. |
Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) hold public meetings, (b) conduct public consultation exercises, (c) conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests, (d) publish a register of members' interests, (e) publish agendas for meetings and (f) publish the minutes of meetings (i) under a statutory requirement and (ii) voluntarily. [20109]
Mr. Burt: The information is as follows:
(a) None.
(b) The Social Security Advisory Committee.
The Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board also frequently consults with medical experts and outside organisations representing disabled people.
All consultations are on a voluntary basis.
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- (c) The Social Security Advisory Committee, on a voluntary basis.
The National Disability Council has a statutory duty to publish its proposals for a Code of Practice which may include consultation with outside commercial interests.
(d) None.
(e) None.
(f) None.
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