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Social Security Benefits
Sir Norman Fowler: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the actual figures for social security spending, excluding housing benefit, for each year since 1980. [30143]
Mr. Burt: The information is in the table.
| Year | Cost (£ million) |
|---|---|
| 1980-81 | 22,707 |
| 1981-82 | 27,316 |
| 1982-83 | 30,880 |
| 1983-84 | 34,364 |
| 1984-85 | 37,117 |
| 1985-86 | 40,311 |
| 1986-87 | 43,444 |
| 1987-88 | 45,609 |
| 1988-89 | 46,193 |
| 1989-90 | 48,800 |
| 1990-91 | 54,126 |
| 1991-92 | 62,947 |
| 1992-93 | 70,905 |
| 1993-94 | 76,923 |
| 1994-95 | 78,288 |
| 1995-96 | 81,669 |
Source:
Departmental reports 1980-81 to 1995-96.
Mr. Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families in receipt of family credit have children in receipt of child benefit. [30136]
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Mr. Roger Evans: Almost all family credit recipients also receive child benefit. Nearly 95 per cent. of families declare receipt at the time of their claim but, as child benefit does not affect entitlement to family credit, it is not always declared.
Source:
Family credit computer system 5 per cent. sample of all awards.
Mr. Evans: Information relating to the current housing benefit scheme is set out in the table:
| Year | Out-turn (£ million) |
|---|---|
| 1988-89 | 3,773 |
| 1989-90 | 4,299 |
| 1990-91 | 5,147 |
| 1991-92 | 6,482 |
| 1992-93 | 7,901 |
| 1993-94 | 9,218 |
| 1994-95 | 10,181 |
| 1995-96 | 10,848(13) |
Note:
(13) Estimated out-turn.
Source:
Social Security departmental reports.
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TRANSPORT
Network Enhancement Projects
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate has been made of the likely accident reduction implications for each of the network enhancement projects announced in the Highways Agency's business plan for 1995-96. [29552]
Mr. Watts: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 20 May 1996:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question asking what estimate has been made of the likely accident reduction implications for each of the network enhancement projects announced in the Highways Agency's Business Plan for 1995-96.
We estimate that our 1995/96 programme of network enhancement projects will result in a reduction of at least 500 casualties a year. All the individual projects in the programme will contribute to this but uncertainties associated with factors such as weather and road conditions make it unrealistic to give a precise estimate of their contribution.
Traffic Congestion
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the links on the national motorway and trunk road network where traffic in 1995 was at levels which resulted in regular congestion. [29553]
Mr. Watts: The parts of the trunk road and motorway network most subject to congestion due to heavy traffic flows in 1995 were in peri-urban areas, namely
the M25 and the M1, M3 and M4 approaches to London
the M6 and M42 around the west midlands conurbation
the M62/M63 around Manchester
the M62 approaches to Leeds and Bradford
It is worth noting, however, that most of the trunk network was not subject to regular congestion in 1995.
Road Maintenance
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the number and value of awards made against his Department or the Highways Agency in each of the last five years in (a) out-of-court settlements and (b) court judgments as a result of neglect of road maintenance. [29546]
Mr. Watts: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 20 May 1996:
20 May 1996 : Column: 34
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question asking what is the number and value of awards made against his Department or the Highways Agency in each of the last five years in (a) out-of-court settlements and (b) court judgments as a result of neglect of road maintenance.
The information is not available in the form requested, except at disproportionate cost.
Driving Instructors
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on policy regarding the reinstatement of driving instructors found guilty of sex offences; what is the present policy on such reinstatement; and what recent changes have been made. [29971]
Mr. Norris: Following a recent case, the matter was taken up by one of the national associations that represent approved driving instructors and by a local instructor.
Under part V of the Road Traffic Act 1988, the registrar of approved driving instructors has to be satisfied that an instructor is a "fit and proper person" to be an ADI. A conviction of the sort referred to would be viewed most seriously by the registrar, leading potentially to removal from the ADI register. He might well also decide that such a person could never again be a "fit and proper person". As a matter of administrative law, the registrar's discretion under the Act cannot be fettered so that he is committed to any specific course of action in every case and he cannot refuse to consider any fresh application on its merits.
There have been no recent changes in how these matters are dealt with.
Mr. Ian Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the interdepartmental group set up to review search and rescue helicopters has reported; and if he will make a statement. [30302]
Mr. Norris:
The review group has submitted its report. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
The group was set up in July 1995 to examine the national requirement for search and rescue helicopters, and how this might most efficiently and effectively be met, as part of an integrated approach to search and rescue. It has made six recommendations, listed in chapter 6 of the report.
The Government have accepted recommendation 4, to set up a new joint advisory board for search and rescue helicopter provision. This board will consider further work on establishing a national database of emergency incidents and helicopter call-outs--recommendation 1--on monitoring helicopter availability--recommendation 3--and on examining the options for interdepartmental charging--recommendation 6.
Formal consultation on the report is being launched today with the UK Search and Rescue Committee and other interested parties. Views are particularly invited on the group's proposed additional coverage criteria--recommendation 2--and on ways to strengthen the co-ordination and consultation machinery for search and rescue generally--recommendation 5.
The Government are considering the best location for the two aircraft currently based on the south coast at Lee-on-Solent and at Portland. Our consideration will
20 May 1996 : Column: 35
have regard to the search and rescue requirements along the south coast and mid-channel. Views on these additional issues have also been sought.
Replies have been requested by Friday 28 June.
Mr. Pike:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many buses were operated by each company within National Bus at the enactment of the Transport Act 1985. [30004]
Mr. Norris:
This information is not available for the date on which the Transport Act 1985 received Royal Assent--30 October 1985--but the annual report of the National Bus Company for 1985 listed the number of vehicles of each operating subsidiary at the end of that year. The list is reproduced:
| Name of subsidiary | Traffic vehicles |
|---|---|
| Ambassador Travel (Eastern Countries) Ltd. | 52 |
| Bristol Omnibus Company Ltd. | 632 |
| Cambus Ltd. | 224 |
| Cheltenham and Gloucester Omnibus Company Ltd. | 216 |
| The City of Oxford Motor Services Ltd. | 142 |
| Crosville Motor Services Ltd. | 924 |
| Cumberland Motor Services Ltd. | 149 |
| Devon General Ltd. | 264 |
| East Kent Road Car Company Ltd. | 304 |
| East Midland Motor Services Ltd. | 258 |
| East Yorkshire Motor Services Ltd. | 176 |
| Eastern Counties Omnibus Company Ltd. | 273 |
| The Eastern National Omnibus Company Ltd. | 437 |
| Hampshire Bus Company Ltd. | 199 |
| Hastings and District Transport Ltd. | 69 |
| Lincolnshire Road Car Company Ltd. | 188 |
| London Country Bus Services Ltd. | 1,153 |
| The Maidstone and District Motor Services Ltd. | 325 |
| Midland Fox Ltd. | 296 |
| Midland Red Coaches Ltd. | 44 |
| Midland Red (North) Ltd. | 292 |
| Midland Red (South) Ltd. | 187 |
| Midland Red (West) Ltd. | 273 |
| National Welsh Omnibus Services Ltd. | 398 |
| North Devon Ltd. | 61 |
| The Northern General Transport Company Ltd. | 709 |
| Pilgrim Coaches Ltd. | 20 |
| The Potteries Motor Traction Company Ltd. | 240 |
| Provincial Bus Company Ltd. | 69 |
| Ribble Motor Services Ltd. | 836 |
| Shamrock and Rambler Coaches Ltd. | 37 |
| South Midland Ltd. | 91 |
| Southdown Motor Services Ltd. | 606 |
| Southern National Ltd. | 178 |
| The Southern Vectis Omnibus Company Ltd. | 161 |
| The South Wales Transport Company Ltd. | 261 |
| The Thames Valley and Aldershopt Omnibus Company Ltd. | 375 |
| Trent Motor Traction Company Ltd. | 378 |
| United Automobile Services Ltd. | 746 |
| United Countries Omnibus Company Ltd. | 522 |
| Wessex National Ltd. | 40 |
| West Riding Automobile Company Ltd. | 492 |
| West Yorkshire Road Car Company Ltd. | 356 |
| Western National Ltd. | 317 |
| Wiltshire and Dorset Bus Company Ltd. | 210 |
| The Yorkshire Traction Company Ltd. | 328 |
20 May 1996 : Column: 36
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