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War Pensions Agency Helpline

Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give a breakdown of the lost incoming telephone calls recorded by the War Pensions Agency helpline for each month since it was introduced. [21274]

Mr. Heald: This is a matter for Mr. Kevin Caldwell, chief executive of the War Pensions Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from K. C. Caldwell to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 20 March 1996:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the number of lost incoming telephone calls recorded by the War Pensions Agency Helpline since it was introduced.
Although a Helpline has been in existence since February 1992, information on lost calls has only been available since we upgraded our telephone system in February 1994. The enclosed table shows the number of calls lost each month since then. These figures do not reflect the number of people attempting to contact us because enquirers often call back later if they cannot get through quickly at the first attempt.
The number of calls received by the Helpline rose significantly during 1995 for a number of reasons. We introduced a new computer system, reorganised the way we work and moved to a new building. All this is aimed at securing a better, more cost effective service but there have been some issues arising from the changes which have resulted in many pensioners contacting the Agency for a variety of reasons. There was also the special exercise in restoration of War Widow's Pensions to those widows who had remarried after the death of their first husband and subsequently became widowed again or divorced/legally separated.
Extra staff were drafted in to answer calls and our telephone system was upgraded further to divert automatically to an answerphone calls which have not been answered within 30 seconds. A message can then be left and the call is returned. These measures have led to a gradual reduction in lost calls since their peak in October 1995 and we are working to reduce lost calls to the pre-1995 level.
I hope you find my reply helpful.
Lost telephone calls to War Pensions Agency Helpline

Month	Total lost
1994
February	116
March	484
April	748
May	1,266
June	1,530
July	1,077
August	1,890
September	2,548
October	2,390
November	1,804
Decembe	692
1995
January	1,202
February	1,497
March	7,495
April	18,918
May	17,552
June	7,839
July	19,015
August	30,425
September	44,915
October	73,575
November	53,579
December	32,005
1996
January	46,474
February	19,484

21 Mar 1996 : Column: 282

Public Bodies

Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those of his Department's advisory non-departmental public bodies which (a) the Government are required to consult prior to legislative proposals and (b) the Government are required to publish their response to advice supplied by them. [21864]

Mr. Burt: Except in circumstances prescribed in section 173 of, and schedule 7 to, the Social Security Administration Act 1992, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is required to refer proposed regulations to either the Social Security Advisory Committee or the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council for consideration and advice. If the committee reports on proposed regulations, he is required to lay before Parliament its report with his response to any recommendations when he lays the relevant statutory instrument.

Motability Scheme

Ms. Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if, under the proposed Social Security (Disability Living Allowance) Amendment Regulations, hospital patients will be able to joint the waiting list for the hire or purchase of a vehicle through the Motability scheme while in hospital; [16623]

(2) what factors led to the decision to protect, under the proposed Social Security (Disability Living Allowance) Amendment Regulations, payments of the disability living allowance mobility component payable directly only to Motability when the agreement still has a period to run after a claimant has been admitted to hospital. [16709]

Mr. Andrew Mitchell: Under the proposed legislation, which would align payment arrangements of the mobility component of disability living allowance with those of the DLA care component for people in hospital, people entering hospital with Motability agreements would have those agreements protected. This decision recognises that access to the Motability scheme depends entirely on payment of the higher rate mobility components of DLA--sufficient to meet the terms of the agreement-- by the Department direct to Motability Finance Ltd.

The proposed changes would not prevent someone in hospital who expects to be discharged, from applying for a vehicle or wheelchair through the Motability scheme. Although payment of the benefit ceases during periods of hospitalisation, entitlement to the benefit continues. It would be for Motability to decide whether to accept such applications.

21 Mar 1996 : Column: 283

DEFENCE

Boarding School Allowances

Mr. Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost to his Department for children whose parents have claimed boarding school allowances in (a) autumn term 1995 and (b) in spring term 1996 at (i) Finborough, (ii) Rodney and (iii) Lime House schools. [22024]

Mr. Soames: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 14 March, Official Report, column 680, concerning Finborough, Rodney and Lime House schools. Information concerning how much my Department pays in boarding school allowance in respect of particular schools is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Works of Art

Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what disciplinary action has been taken or is planned against officials in his Department who moved works of art without official permission. [20836]

Mr. Arbuthnot: Moving works of art without official permission is not a specific disciplinary offence. Officials are warned that loans could be withdrawn if works of art are moved without official permission. Disciplinary action could arise if a work of art were damaged or lost as a result of being moved without permission.

Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list those works of art which have been loaned or which are currently on loan to Ministers or former Ministers; and how such loans are authorised; [20833]

(2) if he will list those works of art which have been loaned to members of the Defence Council; and how such loans are authorised. [20832]

Mr. Arbuthnot: A list of works of art on loan to the offices of current ministers and other members of the Defence Council has been placed in the Library of the House. To list the works of art loaned to other Ministers, while in office, would incur disproportionate cost.

Ministers and other Members of the Defence Council are entitled to borrow works of art from the Government art collection, subject to their conditions of loan, and from my Department's own collection. Other collections and museums may lend works at their own discretion.

Royal Navy Vessel Procurement

Mr. Churchill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to replace the Royal Navy's coastal survey vessels; which yards have been invited to tender for new vessels; when such tenders are due to be returned; what estimate he has made of the cost per ship; and when it is intended they will enter service. [21701]

Mr. Arbuthnot: In addition to the ocean survey vessel, HMS Scott, which was ordered in January 1995, my Department is currently considering plans to procure further survey vessels. I expect to be in a position to initiate discussions with industry later this year with a view to inviting tenders for a competitive procurement

21 Mar 1996 : Column: 284

around the end of the year leading to an order later in 1997. I am not in a position to release estimates of cost as this information is commercially sensitive.

Foxhounds

Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria his Department has set for the registering of packs of foxhounds which hunt on their land; and if such packs must also be recognised by the Masters of Foxhounds Association. [21756]

Mr. Soames: Foxhunting on the defence estate is regulated by the issue of licences to those hunts which are officially recognised and accepted by the committee of the Master of Foxhounds Association. The licence is issued to a hunt representative who must be a member of the Master of Foxhounds Association.

The registration of packs of foxhounds in the foxhound kennel stud book is a matter for the master of the hunt.

Upholder Class Submarines (Disposal)

Mr. Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the four Upholder class submarines currently at Barrow-in-Furness; and if he will make a statement on the steps he is taking to ensure that their disposal represents the best value for money to public funds. [22022]

Mr. Arbuthnot: The four Upholder class submarines are currently being marketed for sale or lease to a number of friendly countries. The cost of marketing is regularly assessed against the likely return to Her Majesty's Government to ensure that it is cost-effective.

Mr. Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about negotiations with foreign countries with which his Department is involved with regard to disposal of the four Upholder class submarines. [22023]

Mr. Arbuthnot: My Department is currently engaged in negotiations with the Governments of several friendly nations interested in acquiring the Upholder class submarines.

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