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Teachers Superannuation Scheme
Mr. Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she received the Government Actuary's report on the teachers superannuation scheme for the period 1 April 1986 to 31 March 1991; what estimates she has made of the contributions required to meet liabilities; if she will place a copy of the report in the Library; and if she will make a statement. [2471]
Mrs Gillan: My right hon. Friend received the Government Actuary's report on 21 October 1996. The Department asked for the report to be drawn up on the basis that the cost of future premature retirements would be met directly by employers. On that basis, the report recommends the introduction from 1 April 1997 of a combined contribution rate of 13.2 per cent. of salaries--6 per cent. from employees and 7.2 per cent. from employers. The Government Actuary has indicated that if the cost of premature retirement continued to be borne
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by the scheme, the combined contribution rate would be 14.8 per cent. of salaries. The report was included as part of a package setting out proposals for the reform of the early retirement provisions of the teachers superannuation scheme, issued on 22 October 1996. I am placing copies of the consultation package in the Library. My right hon. Friend will lay the report formally before the House when she has taken decisions following the consultation.
Remploy
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how Remploy has performed against its 1995-96 annual performance agreement. [3088]
Mr. Paice: Now that Remploy has published its report and accounts for 1996 and audited figures are available, my noble Friend the Minister of State has today confirmed that Remploy has exceeded its 1995-96 APA targets. The targets and achievements are contained in the following table:
| Target | Achievement | |
|---|---|---|
| The average number of disabled people employed by Remploy | at least 9,200 | 9,334 |
| Average number of disabled people employed in factories | no more than 7,200 | 7,144 |
| The number of disabled employees to move from Remploy factories to Interwork having been employed there for at least one year, or from Interwork or factories to open employment | at least 125 | 177 |
| The unit cost of Interwork to be | no more than £4,500 | £4,242 |
| Remploy to keep within a unit cost target (operating deficit per disabled worker) of | £10,400 | £10,175 |
| Choices programme(1) to be in place in every factory | By end March 1996 | Available in all factories |
(1) The choices programme is a programme designed to give new recruits to Remploy, as well as the company's existing employees, the opportunity, guidance and training to plan a career best suited to their individual needs.:
Copies of Remploy's 1996 annual report and accounts have been placed in the Library.
Jobseeker's Allowance
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the progress made on piloting arrangements for education and training undertaken by people receiving jobseeker's allowance. [3089]
Mr. Forth: We have submitted proposals to the Social Security Advisory Committee. These are being discussed by the committee today. Copies of the papers submitted to the committee have been placed in the Library.
The pilot would provide different arrangements for education and training undertaken by people receiving jobseeker's allowance. The pilots are intended to start, subject to parliamentary approval, in April 1997.
In addition, we announced on 10 October the intention to extend the project work pilot approach to up to 100,000 people, in all parts of the country. The areas in which project work will began to operate early next year will be announced tomorrow.
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Mr. Steen:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make it his policy for all draft legislation to carry a compliance cost assessment relating to public and private sectors. [2723]
Mr. Freeman:
The Government require a compliance cost assessment for all draft legislation likely to affect business. The purpose of the assessment is to assess the costs likely to fall on business. Other costs, such as any cost to the public sector, must be included in the regulatory appraisal which must also be prepared for all legislative proposals likely to affect business. Guidance booklets on compliance cost assessment and regulatory appraisal are available in the House Libraries as follows:
"checking the Cost of Regulation: A Guide to Compliance Cost Assessment"
"Regulation in the Balance: A Guide to Regulatory Appraisal Incorporating Risk Assessment".
Crown Copyright
Mr. Butler: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has for the future administration of Crown copyright. [3220]
Mr. Freeman: I am pleased to announce that my Department will be co-ordinating an inter-departmental review of the future management of Crown copyright, with the following terms of reference:
"To review the management of Crown copyright with a view to facilitating the growth of new information services both in printed and electronic formats, in line with the Government's policy of maximising public access to official information, and subject to the continuing need to protect the taxpayer's interest and the integrity of Crown copyright material."
Electronic Services
Mr. Butler: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the progress which has been made on the Government's proposals to use information technology to deliver Government services electronically to (a) businesses and (b) individuals. [3241]
Mr. Freeman: I informed the House on 11 July 1996 that the Government intended to produce a Green Paper on this subject. I have today presented to Parliament a Command Paper, Cm 3438, entitled "government.direct--A Prospectus for the Electronic Delivery of Government Services". This paper sets out the Government's vision for the delivery of Government services to business and the citizen in the electronic age, harnessing the power of the information revolution to ensure that Government services are provided in the most effective and efficient way, making use of advanced technology to improve the quality of service and the value provided to the taxpayer.
The vision set out in the Green Paper describes how access to Government can be made via personal computers, electronic terminals in public places and via ordinary TV sets. Three pilot projects are also launched today which exemplify the possibilities for the future.
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This Command Paper is a first step in a new phase of this Government's continuing public service reforms. It heralds an era where Government services will be more accessible and easy to use than ever before. They will be more convenient, quicker in response and less costly to the taxpayer. The benefits to the citizen, to business and ultimately to the competitiveness of this country will be considerable.
The Command Paper is intended to stimulate debate and to encourage reaction and comment from all interested parties. The Government want to develop this new revolution in public services in line with public demand and acceptance.
Mr. Richards:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to publish a report on the environment. [3180]
Mr. Hague:
The "Environment in Wales Fifth Report", which is being published by my Department today, gives an overview of the state of the Welsh environment. It also provides details of the initiatives which are under way, or planned and places a particular emphasis on progress toward achieving sustainable development. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library of both Houses.
Mr. Hanson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what additional resources have been given to each local authority in Wales to meet the recommendations of the Government working party on school security. [1491]
Mr. Jonathan Evans:
Measures to improve school security have been included in the grants for education, support and training programme for 1997-98. The overall level of local authority funding has yet to be determined.
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what financial provision he has made for the expansion of Tir Cymen over the next six months; what was the figure for the previous six months; and if he will make a statement; [1587]
Mr. Jonathan Evans:
The Countryside Council for Wales was given £5.36 million grant in aid for Tir Cymen for the financial year 1996-97. The future shape of support measures for environmental conservation on farms is being considered by the agri-environment working group announced by my right hon. Friend in the rural White Paper. The Welsh Office Agriculture Department plans to issue a consultation paper later this year.
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(2) what plans he has in respect of the expansion of Tir Cymen over the next six months; and if he will make a statement. [1586]
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