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Income Support
Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost in relation to income support of pensioners of reducing the assumed income from savings of between £3,000 and £8,000 to £1 per week per £1,000. [28898]
Mr. Roger Evans [holding answer 13 May 1996]: The estimated annual cost in 1996-97 is £60 million. Notes:
1. Estimates are based upon date drawn from the 1991, 1992, and 1993 family expenditure surveys uprated to 1996-97 prices and benefit levels.
2. Estimates exclude cases in residential care and nursing homes.
3. Adjustments to these estimates are made using data drawn from the May 1995 quarterly statistical inquiry for income support.
4. Pensioners are taken to be all cases where at least one member of a couple, or a single person, is aged over 60 years.
5. Estimates are rounded to the nearest £10 million.
6. The estimate is based on assumed income of £1 per week for each £1,000 of capital held above £3,000 or part thereof.
Mr. Evans [holding answer 13 May 1996]: The lower and upper capital limits which apply in the calculation of income support are currently £3,000 and £8,000 respectively, and £3,000 and £16,000 in housing benefit and council tax benefit. For people living permanently in residential care or nursing homes, the lower and upper capital limits are £10,000 and £16,000 respectively in income support and housing benefit--from April 1996.
The estimated annual cost in 1996-97 of raising the upper capital limit in income support to £16,000 and reducing the assumed income from savings above £3,000 to £1 per week per £1,000 for pensioners on (a) income support is £220 million, (b) housing benefit is £140 million, and (c) council tax benefit is £80 million.
Notes:
1. Estimates are based on data drawn from the 1991, 1992 and 1993 family expenditure surveys uprated to 1996-97 prices and benefit levels.
2. Estimates exclude cases in residential care and nursing homes.
3. Adjustments to these estimates are made using data drawn from the May 1995 IS quarterly statistical inquiry for income support, and the May 1994 HB/CTB(MIS) for housing benefit and council tax benefit.
4. Pensioners are taken to be all cases where at least one member of a couple, or a single person, is aged over 60 years.
5. Estimates are rounded to the nearest £10 million.
6. The estimate is based on assumed income of £1 per week for each £1,000 of capital held above £3,000, or part thereof.
Mortgage Interest
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received on his changes to the payment of mortgage interest for claimants. [19706]
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Mr. Roger Evans [pursuant to his reply, 19 March 1996, c. 162]: Unfortunately, there was an error in my oral reply. The correct reply is as follows:
Our intention was that the system of add back should protect the benefit entitlement of existing claimants at the point of change when the standard rate was introduced in October last year. It was never our intention that add-back should provide permanent protection. Where Mr. Tickle's case is concerned I have caused further inquires to be made. I am told that he has a mortgage that is fixed up to a certain level and then variable above that level. It also appears that the system of add back is working as we intended. It provided Mr. Tickle with complete protection at the point of change, and is continuing to provide some protection.
Child Benefit
Mr. Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many children aged (a) 16, (b) 17, (c) 18 and (d) 19 years in receipt of child benefit attend (i) school, (ii) sixth form college, (iii) tertiary college, (iv) further education college and (v) the youth training scheme. [30139]
Mr. Burt [holding answer 20 May 1996]: The information is not available in the format requested. Child benefit data are not available on the nature of the education being undertaken, and education data have no regard to the receipt or otherwise of child benefit. The figures are therefore not directly comparable. However, child benefit is not payable for any young person undergoing a youth training course, and all entitlement ceases at the 19th birthday. Available data on the number of 16, 17 and 18-year-olds for whom child benefit is paid, and the number in education and training, are in the tables:
Number of children for whom child benefit is paid:
16-year-olds: 577,100
17-year-olds: 400,700
18-year-olds: 177,600
| 16-year-olds | 17-year-olds | 18-year-olds | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schools | 246,000 | 175,000 | 19,000 |
| Sixth form colleges | 53,000 | 40,000 | 10,000 |
| Tertiary colleges | 35,000 | 30,000 | 13,000 |
| Further education | 125,000 | 112,000 | 74,000 |
| Youth training | 69,000 | 46,000 | 40,000 |
WALES
Abattoirs (Rendering)
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the rendering capacity available to Welsh abattoirs; and if he will make a statement. [29608]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: My right hon. Friend and I have been closely monitoring the rendering provision for Wales and have listened carefully to the many representations from hon. Members, the farming unions, abattoirs and individuals.
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We have strongly put the case for appropriate provision for Wales and officials are in constant contact with the Intervention Board which is operating the scheme.
Market Testing
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, for each of his Department's agencies, what market testing has been carried out into the services it provides and what were the results. [30128]
Mr. Hague: Cadw--Welsh Historic Monuments--has market tested the provision of its conservation repair service. The in-house bid was successful.
Alcohol Abuse
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from voluntary bodies working in the anti-alcohol abuse field concerning the level of funding to Alcohol Action Wales in the year 1996-97; and which successor bodies he has nominated to provide continuation of anti-alcohol abuse advice.[30502]
Mr. Hague: I have received two representations from voluntary bodies expressing concern at the decision not to fund Alcohol Action Wales this year. The Welsh drug and alcohol unit will provide expert advice and practical support to the Welsh Office, health and local authorities and other statutory and voluntary bodies that are involved in tackling drug and alcohol misuse.
Welsh Health Common Services Authority
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total expenditure on consultants in connection with the market testing of the materials management service, the contracts unit and the prescription pricing division of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority. [30503]
Mr. Hague: Some £176,190 for materials management and contracting which was a joint exercise and £120,609 for prescription services. In addition, £15,736 has been paid for legal advice to the authority covering these and other activities included in the market-testing exercises.
Inward Investment Project Broadcast
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set up an inquiry into the premature disclosure of the major inward investment project broadcast by the BBC on Friday 10 May. [30695]
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Mr. Hague: I have already looked into the matter and do not believe that the source of any information was the Welsh Office or its executive agencies. Further speculation and publicity would not be in the best interests of Wales.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Performing Arts (Young Offenders)
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment she has made of the value of performing arts programmes for the rehabilitation of young offenders. [28696]
Mr. Sproat: This is a matter for the Prison Service and the Arts Council of England which decides its own funding policy.
National Lottery
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what has been (a) the number and (b) the amount of national lottery grants awarded by each of the national lottery boards in each English county, metropolitan authority and London borough; [29055]
- (2) what has been (a) the number and (b) the amount of national lottery grants awarded by each of the national lottery boards in each parliamentary constituency; [29053]
(3) how many applications there have been to each of the five national lottery boards from each parliamentary constituency; [29052]
(4) how many applications have been made to each of the five national lottery boards by each English county, metropolitan authority and London borough. [29054]
Mr. Sproat: The information requested is not available. The Department of National Heritage is developing a new lottery database that will allow for these breakdowns to be made.
Mr. Rowe: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the projects so far accepted for funding by the millennium fund (a) by value and (b) by local authority area. [29284]
Mr. Sproat: The Millennium Commission has made 55 awards totalling £494,033,411. These awards cover a total of 1,145 projects throughout the United Kingdom. The information is contained in the table.
| Announced | Recipient | Region | Location | Amount £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 October 1995 | Tate Gallery of Modern Art | London | Southwark | 50,000,000.00 |
| 2 October 1995 | The Earth Centre | Y & H | Conisbrough | 50,000,000.00 |
| 23 February 1996 | Millennium Stadium: S Glamorgan County Council/Welsh Rugby Union | Wales | Cardiff | 46,000,000.00 |
| 11 September 1995 | Sustrans: National Cycle Network | UK Wide | UK Wide | 42,500,000.00 |
| 2 October 1995 | The Renaissance of Portsmouth Harbour | SE | Portsmouth & Gosport | 40,000,000.00 |
| 1 March 1996 | British Museum: Great Court | London | London | 30,000,000.00 |
| 15 December 1995 | Queen's Park Football Club | Scotland | Hampden Park, Glasgow | 23,000,00.00 |
| 11 September 1995 | Changing Places: The Groundwork Foundation (21 projects) | UK Wide | UK Wide | 22,100,000.00 |
| 23 February 1996 | Middleton Botanic Garden Trust | Wales | Middleton, Llandello, Dyfed | 21,700,000.00 |
| 22 December 1995 | Millennium Seed Bank: Royal Botanic Gardens | London | Kew | 21,547,500.00 |
| 22 February 1996 | The Lowry Centre | NW | Salford, Greater Manchester | 15,650,000.00 |
| 22 December 1995 | Llanelli Borough Council: Llanelli Coast Park | Wales | Llanelli | 14,500,000.00 |
| 22 February 1996 | Mile End Park | London | Tower Hamlets | 12,322,010.00 |
| 30 October 1995 | Rochdale Canal Trust | NW | Manchester to Halifax | 11,923,500.00 |
| 26 April 1996 | 21st Century Halls: ACRE-Action with Communities in Rural England (180 projects) | All England | All England | 10,000,000.00 |
| 26 April 1996 | Millennium Greens: Countryside Commission-- 250 projects | All England | All England | 10,000,000.00 |
| 30 October 1995 | National Museums of Scotland: SCRANS | Scotland | Edinburgh | 7,474,200.00 |
| 30 October 1995 | The Woodland Trust: Woods On Your Doorstep (200 projects) | UK Wide | UK: England and Wales | 6,637,000.00 |
| 2 October 1995 | Millennium Forest for Scotland (45 projects) | Scotland | n/a | 5,750,000.00 |
| 22 February 1996 | Peterborough Green Wheel | E | Peterborough, Cambs. | 5,554,881.00 |
| 2 October 1995 | Trans Pennine Trail | UK Wide | UK Wide | 5,330,000.00 |
| 22 December 1995 | Durham County Council: Turning the Tide | NE | Eastingdon/Horden | 4,537,760.00 |
| 2 October 1995 | Welsh Highland Railway Restoration | Wales | Porthmadog, Gwynedd | 4,300,000.00 |
| 30 October 1995 | Black Country Urban Forest | WM | Sandwell, Walsall, Dudley and Wolverhampton | 4,247,540.00 |
| 30 October 1995 | Pickaquoy Project | Scotland | Kirkwall, Orkney | 3,700,000.00 |
| 22 December 1995 | Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust | SW | Slimbridge, Glos. | 2,810,195.00 |
| 18 December 1995 | Belfast 2000 | N Ireland | Belfast | 2,640,900.00 |
| 18 December 1995 | St. Patrick Visitor Centre | N Ireland | Downpatrick | 2,551,775.00 |
| 26 April 1996 | Church Floodlighting: Church Floodlighting Trust-- 400 projects | UK Wide | UK Wide | 2,288,788.00 |
| 2 October 1995 | London Zoo Conservation Education Centre | London | Regent's Park | 2,200,000.00 |
| 26 April 1996 | Kingdom of Fife Cycling Initiative: Fife Enterprise | Scotland | Fife | 1,793,450.00 |
| 20 November 1995 | National Wildflower Centre | Merseyside | Liverpool | 1,668,500.00 |
| 26 April 1996 | Weather Watch Discovery Centre | SE | Bracknell Forest Borough Council | 1,500,000.00 |
| 11 September 1995 | Countryside Access for All/Northamptonshire County Council | EM | Northants. | 736,000.00 |
| 22 December 1995 | Pensilva Village Hall | SW | Cornwall | 713,000.00 |
| 18 December 1995 | Giant's Causeway and Bushmills Railway | N Ireland | North Antrim Coast | 700,000.00 |
| 20 November 1995 | Clonoe Community Centre, Coalisland | N Ireland | Co. Tyrone | 613,000.00 |
| 30 October 1995 | Thames Salmon Trust | SE | Berkshire: The River Kennet | 588,000.00 |
| 11 September 1995 | Agnew Park Seafront Development/Wigtown District Council | Scotland | Stranraer | 547,000.00 |
| 2 October 1995 | The Courtyard Community Project | Y & H | Goole | 462,000.00 |
| 11 September 1995 | The Visions Centre | NW | Manchester | 435,000.00 |
| 2 October 1995 | Restoration of the Glan-Llyn Youth Centre | Wales | Gwynedd | 390,282.00 |
| 26 April 1996 | The Millennium Centre, Eastbrookend Park | London | London Borough of Barking & Dagenham | 360,000.00 |
| 18 December 1995 | Enterprise Leisure | N Ireland | Trillick | 350,000.00 |
| 11 September 1995 | Bennachie Community Centre, Insch | Scotland | Grampian | 311,000.00 |
| 22 December 1995 | Wokingham District Council: Millennium Bridge | SE | Wargrave | 280,000.00 |
| 22 February 1996 | St. Martha's Community Project | EM | Nottingham | 243,600.00 |
| 2 October 1995 | Meanwood Valley Urban Farm | Y & H | Leeds | 175,000.00 |
| 11 September 1995 | New Lock at Great Cornrad: River Stour Trust | E | Suffolk | 167,890.00 |
| 22 February 1996 | Grayswood Village Hall | SE | Grayswood, Surrey | 150,000.00 |
| 22 December 1995 | Ingleton and District Village Hall | NE | Ingleton, Co. Durham | 150,000.00 |
| 20 November 1995 | Church Community Hall | Wales | Sully, S. Wales | 146,500.00 |
| 2 October 1995 | Lawrenny Village Hall and Youth Hostel | Wales | Dyfed | 131,170.00 |
| 20 November 1995 | Moulsoe Millennium Hall | SE | Bucks. | 126,000.00 |
| 2 October 1995 | Larne Borough Council: The Gobbins Cliff Path (feasibility study) | Co. Antrim | N Ireland | 30,000.00 |
| Total | 494,033,441.00 |
55 awards, 1,145 projects
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22 May 1996 : Column: 293
Mr. Renton: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many charities have been awarded funds from the national lottery. [28880]
Mr. Sproat [holding answer 20 May 1996]: As at 15 May, 6,685 awards have been made, totalling over £1.54 billion. More than 80 per cent. of these grants have gone to charities or voluntary organisations and account for around half of all the money awarded.
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