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State Pension
Sir Andrew Bowden: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list (a) the level of the basic state pension, (b) average weekly earnings and (c) the percentage of average weekly earnings represented by the basic state pension, for each year since 1966. [881]
Mr. Heald: I refer the hon. Member to tables 3.3 and 6.1 of the "Abstract of Statistics for Social Security Benefits and Contributions and Indices of Prices and Earnings", 1996 Edition; a copy of which is available in the Library.
Comparative information for the years 1966 to 1970 is not available because the new earnings survey did not begin until 1970.
1 Nov 1996 : Column: 286
Mr. Faber:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to review the provision of social fund funeral payments. [2550]
Mr. Roger Evans:
Major changes were introduced in June 1995. I have been monitoring their effects. Expenditure has been significantly reduced from £63 million during 1994-95 to £49 million during 1995-96.
I now propose to develop the scheme further. From April 1997, help will be targeted more precisely on those most in need and the scheme will be made simpler. The proposed scheme will allow up to £600 for funeral expenses. The allowable items will no longer be specified leaving the person responsible for arranging the funeral free to decide which elements should be included. Certain disbursements-- for example burial or cremation costs--will be paid in addition to the capped amount. Likewise, provision will be made where additional costs are likely to arise in exceptional circumstances, for example transportation costs for distances in excess of 50 miles. Under the proposed changes, both the person responsible for making the funeral arrangements and the funeral director will have a clearer understanding of the level of help available from the social fund.
In addition, a new test will help the adjudication officer to decide if it was reasonable for the person to have taken responsibility for the funeral expenses. In a case where there is no surviving partner, where a parent, son or daughter of the deceased exists, and neither they nor their partner are in receipt of a qualifying benefit it will be considered unreasonable for the person receiving the qualifying benefit to take responsibility for the funeral expenses.
1 Nov 1996 : Column: 287
Discussions have been taking place with funeral directors' associations at regular intervals and the proposed changes will be discussed with them shortly.
These proposals will be submitted to the Social Security Advisory Committee.
Mr. Faber:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on progress with the transfer of his Department's estate to the private sector.[2551]
Mr. Lilley:
Three potential suppliers have been selected and will be invited to take part in the next stage of the project.
They are:
Mr. Burden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cases before the Benefits Agency Medical Services remain outstanding; and when he estimates his Department will have cleared any backlog.[729]
Mr. Burt:
The administration of the Benefits Agency Medical Services is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Richard Burden, dated 31 October 1996:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary question asking how many cases for Benefits Agency Medical Services remain outstanding; and when he estimates his Department will have cleared any backlog.
1 Nov 1996 : Column: 288
Mr. Thurnham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which office is responsible for the new claims visits in the Bolton area; and what has been the performance record of that office. [127]
Mr. Roger Evans:
This is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Peter Thurnham, dated 31 October 1996:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking which office is responsible for the new claims visits in the Bolton area; and what has been the performance record of that office.
Mr. Faber:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when "Civil Service Statistics 1996" will be published. [2376]
Mr. Willetts:
"Civil Service Statistics 1996" was published today and copies have been placed in the Library. This publication highlights key trends in civil service staffing for the period up to 1 April 1996. It shows that the number of permanent civil servants fell by 4.5 per cent. from 517,000 on 1 April 1995 to 494,000 on 1 April 1996.
Mr. Spring:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals there are to change the 1996-97 cash limit or running costs limit for the Office of Public Service. [2377]
Mr. Freeman:
Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for the Office of Public Service--class XVII, vote 1--will be increased by £4,653,000 from £173,974,000 to £178,627,000 and the gross running cost limit will be increased by £8,548,000 from £74,101,000 to £82,649,000. The changes reflect the take up of running cost end-year flexibility-- £8,775,000--and capital EYF--£645,000--under the end-year flexibility scheme announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 12 July 1996, Official Report, columns 326-31; and certain other transfers between Departments. Provision is also made for the privatisations of Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Recruitment and Assessment Services, the Occupational Health and Safety Agency, and the custody guards service. The increase in the cash limit will be met from the reserve and will not, therefore, add to the total of planned expenditure.
1 Nov 1996 : Column: 289
Mr. Spring:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to change the cash limit of the Central Office of Information for 1996-97. [2378]
Mr. Freeman:
Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for the Central Office of Information class--XVII, vote 3--will be increased by £5,200,000 from £1,182,000 to £6,382,000. The change is to provide a subsidy to the COI trading fund to cover anticipated redundancy and other costs arising from the COI trading fund's exit from the provision of certain services, following the prior options review of COI.
Each of the three consortia will be invited to submit a bid which details how they propose to meet the Department's requirements. The bids will be evaluated in early 1997 to identify the most suitable supplier.
Partnership Property Management Ltd (previously named as Goldman Sachs International);
Mapeley Holdings Ltd (previously named as Nations Bank);
OPUS (previously named as Nomura International plc).
At 30 September 1996, Benefits Agency Medical Services have a total of 257,367 cases, of which 219,292 are Incapacity Benefit (IB) references. Of these, 9,522 are requiring specific medical advice from the customer service desk, 34,996 are for scrutiny to see if a medical examination is appropriate, a further 70,160 await an appointment and 104,614 have an appointment scheduled. Of the remaining 38,075 cases, 36,540 are Industrial Injuries, Prescribed Diseases and Respiratory Disease cases, 934 are Independent Tribunal Cases and 601 are cases referred from other Government Departments for medical advice. These figures are provisional and subject to change.
BAMS work to a target of clearing cases within 45 days. At the present time, cases are being cleared within 58 days. This gap has been closing in recent months, and is likely to continue to do so. This is because the number of clients in receipt of Invalidity Benefit who are awaiting consideration of the IB All Work Test continues to reduce. If present BAMS productivity holds up, then it is anticipated that the target of 45 days will be reached across the country by January 1997.
I hope you find this reply helpful.
The office responsible for the New Claim Visits in the Bolton area is the Bolton District office which also covers the surrounding areas of Little Hulton, Kearsley and Horwich and includes a Branch office at Farnworth. The figures provided are for Bolton District.
Up to the 30 September 1996 the Bolton District had undertaken 1644 visits against a target for the year of 4350. As a result of these visits the office has achieved savings of £1,264,051.00. Their saving target for 1996/97 is £2,511,221.00. The figures are provisional and subject to change.
I hope you find this reply helpful.
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