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National Disability Council
Mr. Patrick Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will appoint a deputy chairman to the National Disability Council. [39613]
Mr. Burt: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has appointed Martin Reavley, of Bass plc as the deputy chairman of the National Disability Council. Mr. Reavley's period of appointment will run from 9 July 1996 to 22 January 1999. Mr. Reavley has been a member of the council since its inception in January this year and has played an active role in its work.
23 Jul 1996 : Column: 298
Benefit Fraud
Mr. Matthew Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what further studies he has made to measure the amount of benefit fraud; and if he will make a statement. [39680]
Mr. Heald: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, announced in July 1995 that he had instigated a series of benefit reviews across the major social security benefits to identify and quantify the level of fraud. Results of the reviews of income support, unemployment benefit, housing benefit and retirement pension have already been announced. A further review of invalid care allowance has now been completed.
This shows that the vast majority of customers are entitled to the benefit they are receiving.
However fraud has been found in 6.5 per cent. of cases representing annual overpayments of an estimated £37 million. The largest area of fraud uncovered was where recipients were failing to provide care to the disabled person.
As a result of these findings, we are introducing further measures to secure benefit payments for the future whilst ensuring the benefit remains accessible to those entitled to receive it.
23 Jul 1996 : Column: 299
Mr. Matthew Banks:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will announce his proposals for improving social security decision making and appeals; and if he will make a statement. [39681]
Mr. Lilley:
I am today publishing a consultation document setting out my objectives for improving this key area of social security administration as part of the change programme.
The proposals, on which I welcome comments, seek to remove the legal obstacles to efficient business processing whilst at the same time preserving individual rights to have decisions taken fairly and impartially in accordance with the facts and law. They will make it easier to improve accuracy and will be more cost effective to administer.
The paper also sets out my plans to develop more flexible arrangements for correcting decisions when necessary and also for ensuring that individuals take proper responsibility for providing relevant evidence to the Department. I have also made clear my intention to retain the right to independent appeal for those people whose dispute cannot better be resolved another way. Copies of the paper have been placed in the Library.
In addition, some changes to appeals procedures can be made as a step towards the longer term improvements. I am currently consulting the Council on Tribunals on these and, subject to that consultation, will lay regulations during recess, to take effect in the autumn. Copies of the letter to the Council on Tribunals, which sets out my proposals, have been placed in the Library.
Mrs. Maddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the amount of domestic fuel expenditure for each income decile expressed (a) in money terms and (b) as a percentage of total household expenditure in the latest year for which figures are available. [37901]
Mrs. Angela Knight:
I have been asked to reply.
Estimates of the average weekly household expenditure on domestic fuel by income decile groups are available for (a) in table 1.1 and for (b) in table 1.2 of "Family Spending: A report on the 1994-95 Family Expenditure Survey", a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library.
Mr. Barry Porter:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for authorisations in respect of (a) municipal waste, (b) hazardous waste, (c) clinical waste and (d) animal and other incinerators have been (i) refused and (ii) allowed since Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution took over regulatory functions in respect of air quality; and if he will list the locations of those allowed and, of these, where are they situated. [37838]
23 Jul 1996 : Column: 300
Mr. Clappison:
Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution granted authorisations to:
The names and addresses of the incinerators have been placed in the Library of the House.
Mrs. Maddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is (a) the average cost and (b) the lowest cost for the installation of loft insulation, approved under the home energy efficiency scheme. [37895]
Mr. Clappison:
The present average grant towards the cost of loft insulation under the home energy efficiency scheme is £189, and the lowest recorded is £87.49.
Mrs. Maddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many grants at 25 per cent. have been paid under the home energy efficiency scheme; and if he will make a statement. [37899]
Mr. Clappison:
One hundred and twenty nine such grants had been paid by 30 June 1996.
Mrs. Ewing:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what resources he plans to make available to local authorities to enable them to implement recommendations arising from reports produced under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995. [38050]
Mr. Clappison:
None specifically, since those measures which are for direct implementation by local authorities fall within their existing powers and duties as housing authorities. Energy efficiency will continue to be one of the factors taken into account in considering allocations to local authorities in England under the housing investment programme. Housing finance in Scotland, in Wales and in Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the respective Secretaries of State. In the case of the majority of the housing stock, implementation will be for third parties, such as landlords and homeowners, and the role of the local authority will be to inform, educate and motivate. Many authorities already take steps to provide information and encourage residents to use energy more efficiently in their homes.
Mrs. Ewing:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional resources he plans to make available to the home energy efficiency scheme to match additional measures added to the scheme as a result of the current consultation process. [38052]
Mr. Clappison:
The allocation for the home energy efficiency scheme is decided each year in the light of the priorities at that time and the overall resources available for all programmes. No decisions have yet been taken on
23 Jul 1996 : Column: 301
the proposals contained in the consultation paper published earlier this year on the future of this successful and well-regarded scheme.
Mrs. Maddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is (a) the average cost and (b) the lowest cost for the installation of draught-proofing, approved under the home energy efficiency scheme.[37898]
Mr. Clappison:
The present average grant towards the cost of draught-proofing under the home energy efficiency scheme is £116, and the lowest recorded is £45.33.
Sir Peter Fry:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what categories of information are provided by the National Radiological Protection Board to local authorities to assist them in identifying and advising individual households which may be at risk from high levels of radon gas; and what category of information on radon-affected homes is considered by the board to be confidential and not made available to local authorities. [38086]
Mr. Clappison:
Participation in the radon measurement programme, administered by the National Radiological Protection Board on behalf of the Department of the Environment, is voluntary. Householders who participate in this Government-funded programme are given categorical assurances that the results for their homes will be confidential to them. The NRPB is therefore not free to release individual results to any other party. However, to assist local authorities, aggregated data are routinely provided to each local authority within whose area measurements have been made. These data are given for areas defined down to the level of postcode sectors.
(a) 19 municipal waste incinerators;
They also granted.
(b) 4 hazardous waste incinerators;
(c) 10 clinical waste incinerators; and
(d) 3 animal incinerators.
20 authorisations to in-house waste incinerators;
No applications for authorisation from incinerators were refused by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.
11 authorisations to sewage sludge incinerators; and
7 authorisations to drum incinerators.
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