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Appeals Tribunals (Bradford)
Mr. Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what consultations have taken place on the operation of social security appeals tribunals in Bradford; [33723]
- (2) what proposals he has in respect of social security appeals tribunals in Bradford. [33724]
Mr. Roger Evans: The administrative arrangements for social security appeals tribunals is the responsibility of the independent tribunal service, which has been asked to write to the hon. Member.
Mr. Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many appeals have been heard at Bradford social security appeals tribunals for each of the last five years. [33725]
Mr. Evans: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.
| Year | Actual number of appeals heard | Approximate number of appeals heard(47) |
|---|---|---|
| 1991-92 | -- | 900 |
| 1992-93 | -- | 900 |
| 1993-94 | -- | 750 |
| 1994-95 | -- | 750 |
| 1995-96 | 1,055 | -- |
(47) The independent tribunal service does not keep detailed records for periods before the previous financial year.
Next Steps Agency
Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of people employed by each of the next steps agencies under his Department's control; how many of those employees are women; and at what civil service or equivalent grades they are employed. [32739]
Mr. Burt: The information is in the table.
| Benefits Agency | Contributions Agency | Child Support Agency | Information Technology Services Agency | War Pensions Agency | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade | M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F |
| 1-4 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 5 |
| 5 | 28 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 45 | 5 |
| 6 | 222 | 92 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 16 | 3 | 23 | 10 | 278 | 106 |
| 7 | 227 | 62 | 28 | 5 | 18 | 9 | 81 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 358 | 87 |
| SEO | 484 | 168 | 111 | 49 | 46 | 42 | 199 | 56 | 10 | 4 | 850 | 319 |
| HEO | 1,696 | 1,436 | 338 | 251 | 186 | 200 | 330 | 188 | 24 | 33 | 2,574 | 2,108 |
| EO | 7,429 | 12,865 | 989 | 1,406 | 623 | 1,414 | 422 | 249 | 104 | 245 | 9,567 | 16,179 |
| AO | 10,151 | 30,311 | 927 | 2,473 | 1,022 | 2,716 | 129 | 165 | 127 | 359 | 12,356 | 36,024 |
| AA | 2,836 | 5,974 | 297 | 1,026 | 246 | 535 | 16 | 21 | 64 | 152 | 3,459 | 770 |
| Spec/Pes | 0 | 77 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 119 |
| Typist | 3 | 683 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 70 | 3 | 771 |
| SM1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| SM2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| SM3 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 19 |
| SGB1 | 163 | 143 | 16 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 190 | 162 |
| SGB2 | 814 | 394 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 17 | 41 | 0 | 4 | 853 | 440 |
| PROF | 3 | 129 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 129 |
| OTHERS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 32 | 6 | 32 |
| IND | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 21 | 7 | 21 |
| Total | 24,067 | 52,364 | 2,721 | 5,230 | 2,176 | 4,946 | 1,226 | 765 | 374 | 936 | 30,564 | 64,241 |
| 76,431 | 7,951 | 7,122 | 1,991 | 1,310 | 94,805 | |||||||
(48) Staff numbers quoted refer to staff in post figures based on a quarterly head count on 1 April 1996.
(49) The figures include temporarily promoted staff in the higher grade and fixed-term appointments.
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20 Jun 1996 : Column: 601
Severe Hardship Payments
Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many young people aged 16 to 19 were receiving severe hardship payments for each year since 1992. [32586]
Mr. Roger Evans: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.
| Year | Number of directions made |
|---|---|
| 1992 | 83,406 |
| 1993 | 118,528 |
| 1994 | 111,797 |
| 1995 | 111,523 |
1. Severe hardship payments are made only to 16 and 17-year-olds who are registered for youth training and would otherwise suffer severe hardship. Access to benefit is via a direction made by the Secretary of State, normally for a period of eight weeks. If the 16 and 17-year-old is still at risk of severe hardship when the direction ends, he or she can apply for a further direction. Information is available only on the number of directions made, not the number of individuals.
2. Since 1988, the Government have further encouraged unemployed 16 and 17-year-olds to take the more positive option of youth training in place of dependence on benefit. Young people over the age of 18 have access to unemployment benefits as adults.
Departmental Efficiency Targets
Mr. Sweeney: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about the feasibility of his plans to increase the efficiency of his Department; and if he will make a statement. [34098]
Mr. Lilley: I have received a number of representations about my programme to increase the efficiency of my Department by 25 per cent. A number of projects are already under way which will contribute to the achievement of this target including the redevelopment of
20 Jun 1996 : Column: 602
the Department's Newcastle estate to provide significant savings in running costs while improving the working environment for staff through the involvement of the private sector.
Following the submission of proposals from three shortlisted suppliers, I am pleased to announce that a consortium consisting of AMEC Developments Ltd. and Building Property and Facilities Management has been selected as the preferred supplier to develop the Newcastle estate. Detailed negotiations will commence immediately and I expect a major contract under the private finance initiative to be signed later this year.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Elections (Postal and Proxy Votes)
Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will state, by constituency, the number of absent postal and proxy votes allowed in the 30 May elections and the equivalents figures in the 1992 general election. [32077]
Mr. Ancram: The figures are in the table.
| Number of postal papers allowed and issued | Number of proxy votes allowed and issued | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constituency | 1992 | 1996 | 1992 | 1996 |
| Belfast, East | 486 | 634 | 195 | 178 |
| Belfast, North | 374 | 566 | 241 | 180 |
| Belfast, South | 675 | 621 | 181 | 149 |
| Belfast, West | 443 | 458 | 271 | 235 |
| North Antrim | 831 | 1,105 | 201 | 163 |
| South Antrim | 676 | 698 | 286 | 241 |
| East Antrim | 706 | 575 | 296 | 228 |
| North Down | 755 | 713 | 293 | 190 |
| South Down | 4,166 | 2,115 | 1,192 | 555 |
| East Londonderry | 2,010 | 1,517 | 399 | 275 |
| Fermanagh and South Tyrone | 5,417 | 4,336 | 430 | 638 |
| Foyle | 1,285 | 1,081 | 246 | 200 |
| Lagan Valley | 844 | 1,065 | 260 | 195 |
| Mid-Ulster | 3,245 | 2,676 | 393 | 443 |
| Newry and Armagh | 3,384 | 2,174 | 195 | 349 |
| Strangford | 698 | 872 | 240 | 180 |
| Upper Bann | 1,587 | 1,546 | 266 | 178 |
| West Tyrone | n/a | 1,913 | n/a | 410 |
| Totals | 27,582 | 24,665 | 5,585 | 4,987 |
20 Jun 1996 : Column: 603
Motorway Lighting
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the location of the sections of motorway in Northern Ireland that have overhead lighting by parliamentary constituency; and if he will plot this information on a map and place a copy in the Library. [33038]
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Mr. Moss: Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Roads Service under its chief executive, Mr. W. McCoubrey. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Civil Servants (Duties Abroad)
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent during the financial years 1994-95 and 1995-96 on sending civil servants accompanying Ministers from his Department on official duties abroad. [32421]
Sir John Wheeler: The Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments' expenditure on sending civil servants accompanying Ministers is as follows:
1994-95: £47,825
1995-96: £86,659
Public Appointments
Ms Mowlam: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many appointments are made to non-departmental and other public bodies in Northern Ireland annually; by which Departments these public bodies are administered; and how many of these appointments are annual. [32918]
Sir John Wheeler: The information is as follows:
20 Jun 1996 : Column: 603
| Name of body | Number of appointments | Administered by | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 1994-95 | 1995-96 | ||
| Drainage Council for Northern Ireland | 18 | -- | -- | Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland |
| Agricultural Wages Board | 15 | -- | 15 | " |
| Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority | 5 | 2 | 1 | " |
| Pig Production Development Committee | 4 | 3 | 2 | " |
| Livestock and Meat Commission | 3 | 1 | 3 | " |
| Fisheries Conservancy Board | 2 | 2 | 2 | " |
| Foyle Fisheries Commission | -- | -- | 2 | " |
| Construction Industry Training Board | -- | -- | -- | Department of Economic Development for Northern Ireland |
| Enterprise Ulster | -- | 8 | 7 | " |
| Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland | 3 | 2 | 4 | " |
| Fair Employment Commission for Northern Ireland | 2 | 4 | 3 | " |
| General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland | 8 | -- | 4 | " |
| Labour Relations Agency | 1 | 6 | 2 | " |
| Local Enterprise Development Unit | 4 | 4 | 2 | " |
| Northern Ireland Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members | -- | -- | 1 | " |
| Northern Ireland Commissioner for the Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action | -- | -- | 1 | " |
| Northern Ireland Tourist Board | 2 | 5 | 1 | " |
| Ulster Sheltered Employment Ltd. | 2 | 4 | -- | " |
| Committees for the Employment of Disabled People | 1 | 4 | -- | " |
| Health and Safety Agency for Northern Ireland | 10 | -- | -- | " |
| Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland | 1 | 5 | 6 | " |
| Industrial Research and Technology Board | 1 | 1 | 12 | " |
| Statistics Advisory Committee | -- | -- | 10 | " |
| Training and Employment Agency (Advisory Board) | 11 | 1 | 1 | " |
| Fair Employment Tribunal | 5 | 1 | 54 | " |
| Northern Ireland Industrial Court | 9 | 1 | 0 | " |
| Northern Ireland Industrial Tribunals | 12 | 10 | 166 | " |
| Scheme of Compensation for Loss of Employment through Civil Unrest | 2 | 0 | 1 | " |
| Law Reform Advisory Committee | 5 | -- | 1 | Department of Finance and Personnel |
| Citizen's Charter Advisory Panel | -- | -- | 7 | " |
| Northern Ireland Economic Council | 5 | 1 | 4 | " |
| Statute Law Council | 6 | 1 | 1 | " |
| Historic Buildings Council | -- | 14 | -- | Department of Environment for Northern Ireland |
| Historic Monuments Council | -- | -- | 14 | " |
| Nature Conservation and the Countryside | -- | -- | 16 | " |
| Northern Ireland Housing Executive | 5 | 6 | 9 | " |
| Housing Benefit Review Board Panels | -- | -- | 54 | " |
| Rent Assessment Panel | 33 | -- | -- | " |
| NITHC/Belfast Harbour Commissioners/Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners | 3 | 20 | 11 | " |
| Planning Appeals Commission | 5 | -- | 3 | " |
| Fire Authority for Northern Ireland | 16 | 1 | 1 | " |
| Northern Ireland Operator and Vehicle Licensing Review Body | 5 | 1 | -- | " |
| Northern Ireland Water Council | 15 | -- | -- | " |
| Northern Ireland Local Government Officer's Superannuation Committee | -- | -- | 17 | " |
| Local Government Staff Commission | 15 | 1 | -- | " |
| The Laganside Corporation | -- | 1 | 10 | " |
| Arts Council of Northern Ireland | 15 | -- | 15 | Department of Education (Northern Ireland) |
| Council for Catholic Maintained Schools | 4 | 1 | 3 | " |
| Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment | 18 | -- | -- | " |
| Northern Ireland Higher Education Council | 12 | 3 | -- | " |
| Sports Council for Northern Ireland | 16 | -- | -- | " |
| Ulster Folk and Transport Museum | 4 | 1 | 2 | " |
| Ulster Museum | 3 | 3 | 1 | " |
| Youth Council for Northern Ireland | 6 | -- | 14 | " |
| Northern Ireland Museum Council | 3 | -- | -- | " |
| Staff Commission for the Education and Library Boards | 13 | -- | -- | " |
| Belfast Education and Library Board | 37 | 2 | 1 | " |
| North Eastern Education and Library Board | 35 | 1 | 2 | " |
| South Eastern Education and Library Board | 36 | 3 | 5 | " |
| Southern Education and Library Board | 36 | 2 | 2 | " |
| Western Education and Library Board | 33 | 2 | -- | " |
| Mental Heath Commission for Northern Ireland | 2 | 9 | -- | Department of Health and Social Services |
| National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Northern Ireland | 10 | -- | 4 | " |
| Northern Ireland Council for Post Graduate Medical and Dental Education | 7 | -- | 17 | " |
| Advisory Committee of the Therapeutic Professions Allied to Medicine | -- | 4 | -- | " |
| Central Dental Advisory Committee | -- | 7 | 1 | " |
| Central Medical Advisory Committee | 3 | 3 | 8 | " |
| Central Nursing Advisory Committee | 11 | -- | 6 | " |
| Central Personal Social Services Advisory Committee | -- | 6 | -- | " |
| Charities Advisory Committee | 1 | 2 | 2 | " |
| Clinical Engineering and Medical Physics Services Advisory Committee | -- | 7 | -- | " |
| Clinical Imaging Services Advisory Committee | 3 | 3 | 4 | " |
| Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board for Northern Ireland | -- | -- | 16 | " |
| Distinction and Meritorious Services Awards Committee | 1 | 6 | 3 | " |
| Laboratory Services Advisory Committee | 6 | 1 | 6 | " |
| Poisons Board | -- | -- | 10 | " |
| Child Support Appeal Tribunals (CSATs) | 280 | 280 | 130 | " |
| Disability Appeal Tribunals (DATs) | 149 | 15 | 29 | " |
| Medical Appeal Tribunals (MATs) | 85 | 26 | -- | " |
| Mental Health Review Tribunal for Northern Ireland | 1 | -- | 20 | " |
| Registered Homes Tribunal | 31 | -- | -- | " |
| Social Security Appeal Tribunals | 9 | 402 | 105 | " |
| Tribunal Under Schedule 11 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 | 10 | -- | -- | " |
| Eastern Health and Social Services Board | 2 | 2 | 5 | " |
| Northern Health and Social Services Board | 3 | -- | 3 | " |
| Southern Health and Social Services Board | 3 | 1 | 6 | " |
| Western Health and Social Services Board | 3 | -- | 4 | " |
| Eastern Health and Social Services Council | 20 | 3 | 10 | " |
| Northern Health and Social Services Council | 17 | 2 | 8 | " |
| Southern Health and Social Services Council | 17 | -- | 9 | " |
| Western Health and Social Services Council | 16 | -- | 11 | " |
| Health and Social Services Trusts | 31 | 12 | 17 | " |
| Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Services Agency | -- | -- | 3 | " |
| Northern Ireland Central Services Agency | 1 | -- | 7 | " |
| Northern Ireland Health Promotion Agency | 2 | 7 | 13 | " |
| Northern Ireland Regional Medical Physics Agency | -- | 2 | -- | " |
| Central Services Agency (CSA) | -- | -- | 5 | " |
| Probation Board for Northern Ireland | -- | 13 | -- | Northern Ireland Office |
| Rathgael and Whiteabbey Training Schools Management Board | -- | -- | 12 | " |
20 Jun 1996 : Column: 605
20 Jun 1996 : Column: 607
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