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Office Closures
Mrs. Ray Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list (a) the location and (b) the number of job losses or relocation of employees for each (i) Contributions Agency office and (ii) Benefits Agency office which has closed in Scotland since 1990. [21571]
Mr. Heald: The information requested is in the tables:
| Location | Year | Job losses | Relocated to | Number of staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dundee West | 1991 | Nil | Dundee East | 4 |
| Glasgow-- | ||||
| Anniesland | Glasgow City | 1 | ||
| Rutherglen | Glasgow South | 3 | ||
| Craigston | Glasgow South | 4 | ||
| Shettleston | Bridgeton | 3 | ||
| Kirkwall | BA(32) | 1 | ||
| Lerwick | BA(32) | 1 | ||
| Port Glasgow | Paisley | 1 | ||
| Coatbridge | 1992 | Nil | Hamilton | 3 |
| Cowdenbeath | Dunfermline | 2 | ||
| Edinburgh-- | ||||
| West | Argyle House | 7 | ||
| East | Argyle House | 6 | ||
| North | Argyle House | 6 | ||
| South | Argyle House | 6 | ||
| City | Argyle House | 13 | ||
| Glasgow-- | ||||
| Bridgeton | Glasgow City | 3 | ||
| Springburn | Glasgow City | 1 | ||
| Lanark | Wishaw | 1 | ||
| Leven | Kirkcaldy | 2 | ||
| Motherwell | Wishaw | 3 | ||
| Aberdeen South | 1993 | Nil | Aberdeen North | 14 |
| Dumbarton | Clydebank | 3 | ||
| Glasgow-- Provan | Glasgow City | 1 | ||
| Airdrie | 1994 | Nil | Hamilton | 5 |
| East Kilbride | Hamilton | 5 | ||
| Glasgow-- | ||||
| Southside | Glasgow South | 4 | ||
| Lauriston | Glasgow South | 7 | ||
| Irvine | Ayr | 4 | ||
| Johnstone | Paisley | 4 | ||
| Wishaw | Hamilton | 3 | ||
| Arbroath | 1995 | Nil | Dundee | 3 |
| Clydebank | Paisley | 2 | ||
| Greenock | Paisley | 6 | ||
| Kilmarnock | Ayr | 3 | ||
| Dunfermline | 1996 | Nil | Kirkcaldy | 2 |
1. No actual job losses; staff at Kirkwall and Lerwick transferred to the Benefits Agency (BA) and the remainder were relocated in Contributions Agency locations.
2. Data is provisional and subject to change.
3 Apr 1996 : Column: 352
| Location | Year | Job losses | Relocated to | Number of staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newton Stewart | 1995 | Nil | Part time outlet | Nil |
| Dundee West | 1993 | 4 | Staff relocated within Dundee. Job losses were all cleaners | 92 |
| Aberdeen | 1993 | Nil | Staff relocated to Greyfriars House in Aberdeen | 71 |
| Lothian West (Edinburgh) | 1995-96 | Nil | Staff relocated to Bathgate | 50 |
1. Data is provisional and subject to change.
Departmental Contractors and Suppliers
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures his Department is taking to ensure that its contractors and suppliers (a) pay their employees a wage which ensures such employees do not need supplementary welfare payments via various state benefits and (b) meet workplace health and safety regulations; and if he will make a statement. [21462]
Mr. Burt: Wage levels are considered along with other information which collectively allows the Department to determine a contractor's ability to provide a work force at the required skills level. However, terms and conditions of employment, including wages, are a matter between the contractor or supplier and his employees, subject of course to any relevant legal requirements. Compliance with health and safety requirements is a legal requirement for the contractor or supplier. The Department always seeks assurances that contractors are fully aware of their obligations in this matter.
National Insurance
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would have been the cumulative loss of revenue to the national insurance fund if the employee contribution rates for 1978-79 had remained in force up to 1996-97. [21697]
Mr. Heald: If the employees' contribution structure, rates and level of contracted-out rebates in force in 1978-79 remained in force from 1988-89 up to 1996-97, about £26.5 billion less would have been paid into the national insurance fund. There is insufficient data to provide a reliable estimate in respect of the period prior to 1988-89.
Source:
Government Actuary's Department.
Retirement Pensions
Mr. Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost to the Exchequer of enabling those of retirement age to claim their retirement pensions on the date of attainment of pension age rather than the following Monday. [22100]
Mr. Heald: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 19 March, Official Report, column 181.
3 Apr 1996 : Column: 353
Mr. Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the extra cost to public funds in the current year of paying the state pension from the date of the birthday on which the person attains pensionable age. [22532]
Mr. Heald: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 19 March, Official Report, column 181.
Benefits Agency Offices (Wales)
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many Benefits Agency offices in Wales are located in rural districts; and if he will list them. [22378]
Mr. Roger Evans: As the interpretation of "rural districts" is subjective, we are unable to give a definitive reply on what constitutes a rural district.
| Main processing sites | Public caller outlets |
|---|---|
| Caernarfon | Ystradgynlais |
| Aberystwyth | Pontlottyn |
| Llangefni | Tredegar |
| Newtown | Brecon |
| Porthmadog | Bargoed |
| Dolgellau | Port Talbot |
| Holyhead | Abertillery |
| Wrexham | Monmouth |
| Colwyn Bay | Abergavenny |
| Deeside | Pontypool |
| Rhyl | Chepstow |
| Llanelli | Blaenavon |
| Ammanford | Bangor |
| Carmarthen | Barmouth |
| Haverfordwest | Blaenau Ffestiniog |
| Pembroke Dock | Cardigan |
| Swansea | Knighton |
| Morriston | Lampeter |
| Neath | Llandrindod Wells |
| Porth | Llandysul |
| Aberdare | Machynlleth |
| Bridgend | Pwllheli |
| Pontypridd | Welshpool |
| Tonypandy | Ferndale |
| Cardiff Central | Maesteg |
| Barry | Mountain Ash |
| Cardiff East | Treorchy |
| Cardiff West | Gorseinon |
| Merthyr Tydfil | Pontardawe |
| Blackwood | Pontardulais |
| Caerphilly | Kidwelly |
| Ebbw Vale | Llandeilo |
| Newport | Tumble |
| Cwmbran | Denbigh |
| Holywell | |
| Llandudno | |
| Llangollen | |
| Mold | |
| Ruthin | |
| Shotton |
Yorkshire Regional Health Authority
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will ask the Contributions Agency investigation and fraud teams to inquire into the evasion
3 Apr 1996 : Column: 354
of national insurance contributions by former chairmen and non-executive directors of Yorkshire regional health authority. [22933]
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 George Bertram to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 2 April 1996:
As the Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency is away from the office on annual leave, I have responsibility for answering questions about operational matters relating to the Agency in her absence.
I have been asked to reply to your question to the Secretary of State if he will ask the Contributions Agency investigation and fraud teams to inquire into evasion of National Insurance contributions by former Chairmen and non executive Directors of Yorkshire Regional Health Authority.
Together with the Inland Revenue under our general rules of confidentiality I cannot discuss individual cases.
It may be helpful if I explain that most National Insurance contributions are collected by the Inland Revenue on behalf of the Contributions Agency. Investigations into PAYE and National Insurance compliance may be carried out by either Department when there is evidence of irregularities.
Child Support Agency (Computer Systems)
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what computer system enhancements have taken place to allow the Child Support Agency to handle the departures scheme; who supplied the enhancements; what they cost; and to what extent they were based on existing computer packages. [23330]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.
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