---

Benefits Agency Medical Services

Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of doctors working at each Benefits Agency medical services centre in Scotland who are (a) full time BAMS staff, (b) current medical practitioners, (c) retired medical practitioners and (d) in other categories. [1348]

Mr. Andrew Mitchell: The administration of the Benefits Agency medical services is a matter for the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, Mr. Peter Mathison. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. George Foulkes, dated 5 November 1996:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will list the number of doctors working at each Benefit Agency Medical Services centre in Scotland who are (a) full time BAMS staff, (b) current medical practitioners, (c) retired medical practitioners and (d) in other categories.
The information required concerning which sessional fee paid doctors are currently in practice and which are retired is not immediately available. However, BAMS is collecting this information, and I will write to you again when I have it. There are no other categories held.
Such information as is available is contained in the table at appendix A.
I hope you find this reply helpful.
Appendix A: Doctors working in Scotland at each centre

Centre	Full time BAMS	Sessional fee paid
Glasgow/Shettleston/Cumbernaud	(7)22	71
Ayr/Kilmarnock	0	8
Greenock	0	4
Motherwell/Hamilton	0	6
Edinburgh	20	30
Aberdeen	2	12
Inverness	2	5
Dundee	4	10




Figures are provisional and subject to change.

(7) The Glasgow full time doctors cover a variety of areas.

Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total cost of the Benefits Agency medical services in Scotland and the United Kingdom, for the most recent available year. [1349]

6 Nov 1996 : Column: 554

Mr. Andrew Mitchell: 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. George Foulkes, dated 5 November 1996:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what is the total cost of the Benefits Agency Medical Services (BAMS) in Scotland and the United Kingdom for the most recent available year.
The most recent year for which figures are available is April 1995 to March 1996. The running costs of BAMS for Scotland were £6,298.749. The total running cost for the United Kingdom was £58,413,659.
The figures given exclude accommodation and utilities costs. The Budgets for these are not held by BAMS. The figures are provisional and subject to change.
I hope you find this reply helpful.

Benefits Agency (Ayr Office)

Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the current staff complement at the Ayr benefit office; how many of those have been working there for more than (a) one year and (b) five years; how many of these serve as adjudicating officers; what formal qualifications these adjudication officers have; what monitoring is undertaken of their work; and to whom the adjudication officers at Ayr are directly accountable; [1352]

(2) how many of the staff of the Ayr benefit office have formal qualifications (a) in medicine, (b) in professions allied to medicine, (c) in social work and (d) of a degree or equivalent; what arrangements are made for the monitoring of the work of the staff of the Ayr benefit office; and who is responsible for the training of staff at Ayr. [1346]

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. George Foulkes, dated 5 November 1996:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking what is the current staff complement at the Ayr benefit office; how many of those have been working there for more than (a) one year and (b) five years; how many of these serve as adjudicating officers; what formal qualifications these adjudication officers have; what monitoring is undertaken of their work; and to whom the adjudication officers at

6 Nov 1996 : Column: 555

Ayr are directly accountable; and how many of the staff of the Ayr Benefit Office have formal qualifications (a) in medicine, (b) in professions allied to medicine, (c) in social work and (d) of a degree or equivalent; what arrangements are made for the monitoring of the work of the staff of the Ayr Benefit Office; and who is responsible for the training of staff at Ayr.
There are currently 172 staff employed in the Ayr Benefit Office of whom 172 have been there for more than one year and 139 have been in post for more than 5 years. There are 15 Adjudication Officers (AOs), 3 of whom (including one part-time) are engaged as specialist AOs dealing with Incapacity Benefit including cases which have failed the All Work Test.
All AOs have undertaken intensive training provided by BA Training Operations. Independent monitoring of adjudication is in place within Ayr Benefit Office which forms part of the Benefits Agency South West Scotland District Office. There is independent monitoring undertaken by the Central Adjudication Services. AOs are independent authorities accountable to Chief Adjudication Officers on all aspects of adjudication and standards thereof.
There are no members of staff with formal qualifications in medicine, professions allied to medicine and Social Work. There are 6 staff with a degree or equivalent.
All work is monitored as a matter of routine by checking processes, and by a dedicated quality control section. The District Manager is responsible for the training and development of staff through a structured training organisation within the District structure under the control of the District's Human Resources Manager.
I hope you find this reply helpful.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Social Security Agency

Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the result of the recent market-testing exercises for messengers and typing services in the Social Security Agency; on how many occasions bids were called for and how many were received; what were the costs of the market-testing operation and the estimated annual savings; and if he will list the successful bidders. [1198]

Mr. Moss: Responsibility for the subject has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alec Wylie, and I have asked him to arrange for a response to be given.

Letter from J. B. Fleming to Mr. Robert McCartney, dated 1 November 1996:

Your recent Parliamentary Question on market testing has been passed to Mr. Wylie, Chief Executive of the Social Security Agency for reply. As he is away on business at present, I am replying on his behalf.
Invitations to tender for the typing service and separately for the messenger and support service in the Agency were issued on 29 April 1996. The only bids received on time were those from the in-house team, one for each service. One other bid was received after the deadline and therefore rejected.
The evaluation process has not yet been completed and it is therefore not yet possible to provide you with the final cost of this particular market testing exercise or the estimated savings from it. I shall ensure that you are given that information in due course.

Paedophile Register

Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will consult with the

6 Nov 1996 : Column: 556

Home Secretary with a view to including Northern Ireland in the proposed paedophile address registration legislation. [1199]

Sir John Wheeler: I am pleased to confirm that the Government intend to bring forward legislation on a United Kingdom-wide basis which will include provisions to require sex offenders in Northern Ireland to register changes of address with the police.

GCSE Passes

Ms Mowlam: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of young people in Northern Ireland have achieved (a) five GCSE passes or equivalent and (b) no passes by the age of 19 years in each of the last five years. [1168]

Mr. Ancram: The estimated percentage of young people in Northern Ireland who have achieved (a) five GCSE passes or equivalent and (b) no passes by the age of 19 years in the last five years is as follows:

Percentage

	Five or more passes (A*-C)(8) or equivalent	No passes A*-G(9)
1995	n/a	11
1994	64.5	12
1993	63.2	14
1992	56.4	17
1991	n/a	22

Sources:

(8) School Leavers Survey and FE Leavers Survey, DENI and T and EA.

(9) School Leavers Survey and FE Leavers Survey.

Public Appointments

Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for which public appointments in Northern Ireland, since 1 January 1990, a nominee has been requested from the Irish Republic; and through which channels. [1197]

Sir John Wheeler: Arrangements for consulting the Irish Government about public appointments are set out in section 7 of "Guidance on Public Appointments in Northern Ireland" which was published by Central Secretarial in October 1995. A copy was placed in the House of Commons Library.

List of category 'A' appointments

	Appointment
DANI
Fishery Harbour Authority	Chairman
Livestock and Meat Commission for NI	Chairman
Rural Development Council	Chairman
DED
Enterprise Ulster	Chairman
Equal Opportunities Commission	9 members including Chairman
Fair Employment Commission	8 members including Chairman
Fair Employment Tribunal (appointments made by Lord Chancellor)	5 (President, Vice-President, 2 full-time Chairmen and 1 Part-time Chairman)
General Consumer Council	Chairman
Health and Safety Agency for NI	Chairman
Industrial Development Board	12 members including Chairman
Industrial Research and Technology Board	Chairman
Industrial Tribunals	4 (President, Vice-Presidents, and 2 full-time Chairmen)
Labour Relations Agency	Chairman
Local Enterprise Development Unit	Chairman
Tourist Board	Chairman
Training and Employment Agency	Chairman
DENI
Armagh Observatory	1 Governor
Arts Council	Chairman/Vice-Chairman
NI Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment	Chairman
NI Higher Education Council	Chairman
Queen's University Senate	5 members
DFP
Community Relations Council	7 members (Government appointees) including Chairman
International Fund for Ireland	7 members including Chairman
Law Reform Advisory Committee	Chairman, Vice-Chairman and 10 members
	Lay Observer
NI Citizen's Charter Advisory Panel	7 members including Chairman
NI Economic Council	Chairman
DHSS
Eastern Health and SS Board	7 members including Chairman
Health and SS Trusts	84 members including Chairmen
Health Promotion Agency	Chairman
Mental Health Commission for NI	Chairman
NI Blood Transfusion Service Agency	Chairman
NI Regional Medical Physics Agency	Chairman
Northern Health and SS Board	7 members including Chairman
Southern Health and SS Board	7 members including Chairman
Tribunal Re: GP Disqualification	10 Professional members
Western Health and SS Board	7 members including Chairman
DOE (NI)
Belfast Harbour Commissioners	Chairman
Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside	Chairman/Deputy Chairman
Fire Authority for NI	Chairman
Laganside Corporation	10 members including Chairman
Londonderry Port and Harbour Commission	Chairman
NI Housing Executive	7 members including Chairman
NI Railways Ltd.	6 members including Chairman
NI Transport Holding Co	5 members including Chairman
Planning Appeals Commission	10 members including Chairman
Rent Assessment Panel	2 members i.e. Chairman/Deputy Chairman
Ulsterbus/Citybus/Flexibus	6 members including Chairman
Warrenpoint Harbour Authority	Chairman
Water Appeals Commission	2 members (Chief Commissioner and Principal Professional Commissioner)
NIO
Boundary Commission for NI	11 members including Chairman
	Chief Electoral Officer
Independent Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner for Holding Centres	2 members
Independent Assessor of Military Complaints
Independent Commission for Police Complaints	10 members including Chairman
Police Authority for NI	20 members including Chairman
Probation Board for NI	15 members including Chairman
Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights	12 members including Chairman

6 Nov 1996 : Column: 558

List of category 'B' Appointments

	Appointment
DANI
Agricultural Wages Board	1 Chairman and 2 members
DED
Certification Officer for NI	1 Commissioner
Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members	1 Commissioner
Enterprise Ulster	7 members
General Consumer Council	13 members
Health and Safety Agency for NI	9 members
Industrial Research and Technology Board	11 members
Labour Relations Agency	9 members
Local Enterprise Development Unit	10 members
Tourist Board	8 members
Training and Employment Agency Board	11 members
Ulster Sheltered Employment Ltd.	6 members including Chairman
DENI
Arts Council for NI	14 members
Belfast Education and Library Board	35 members including Chairman
Council for Catholic Maintained Schools	8 members including Chairman
Diocesan Education Committees of the CCMS	Totals 16 members
NI Higher Education Council	9 members
North Eastern Education and Library Board	35 members including Chairman
Negotiating Committees:
Colleges of Education	Chairman only
Further Education	Chairman only
Teachers' Salaries and Conditions of Service	Chairman only
South Eastern Education and Library Board	35 members including Chairman
Southern Education and Library Board	35 members incvluding Chairman
Sports Council for NI	15 members including Chairman
Staff Commission for Education and Library Boards	13 members including Chairman
Ulster Folk and Transport Museum	15 members including Chairman
Ulster Museum	14 members including Chairman
Western Education and Library Board	32 members including Chairman
Youth Council for NI	18 members including Chairman
DFP
NI Economic Council	15 members
DHSS
NI Blood Transfusion Service Agency	2 members
Central Services Agency for H&SS	10 members (Chairmanship held by the Chief Executive of the H and SS Management Executive)
Eastern Health and SS Council	30 members including Chairman
Health Promotion Agency	14 members
Mental Health Commission for NI	15 members
NI Regional Medical Physics Agency	1 member
Northern Health and SS Council	23 members including Chairman
Poisons Board	Chairman
Southern Health and SS Council	24 members including Chairman
Tribunal Re: GP Disqualification	4 members (Chairman, Vice-Chairman and 2 Lay Members)
Western Health and SS Council	23 members including Chairman
DOE(NI)
Advisory Committee on Travellers	Chairman
Belfast Harbour Commissioners	8 members
Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside	18 members
Driver and Vehicle Licensing NI Advisory Board	1 member
Fire Authority for NI	16 members
Local Government Staff Commission for NI	15 members including Chairman
Londonderry Port and Harbour Commission	8 members
NI Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee	17 members including Chairman
NI Water Council	15 members including Chairman
Rent Assessment Panel	33 panel members
Warrenpoint Harbour Authority	8 members including Chairman
NIO
Board of Visitors:
Belfast Prison	23 members including Chairman
Maghaberry Prison	17 members including Chairman
Magilligan Prison	20 members including Chairman
Maze Prison	16 members including Chairman
Hydebank Wood	16 members including Chairman
Rathgael and Whiteabbey Schools Management Board	12 members including Chairman

6 Nov 1996 : Column: 559

---