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Quarantine

Mr. Morley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 5 November, Official Report, column 488, on quarantine regulations, when he expects to make a decision on this matter. [4466]

Mrs. Browning [holding answer 15 November 1996]: At this stage it is not possible to give a date.

SOCIAL SECURITY

Incapacity Benefit

Mr. Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of appeals against the disallowance of incapacity benefit for the last financial year were successful; and if he will make a statement. [734]

Mr. Burt: Between 1 June 1995 and 31 March 1996, 45 per cent. of appeals against disallowance of incapacity benefit were decided in favour of the appellant.

18 Nov 1996 : Column: 449

Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Scotland are currently awaiting a hearing for an appeal against an all work test refusal (a) in total and (b) for each benefit office in Scotland; what percentage this represents of total tests at each office; what is the current average waiting time before each appeal is heard; and what action he is taking to expedite appeals. [1358]

Mr. Evans: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

There are 4,423 appeals against incapacity benefit all-work test decisions currently outstanding in Scotland. Individual totals for each office are shown in the table.

The current average waiting time before each appeal is heard in Scotland is 19.22 weeks.

We recently introduced regulations amending the appeals process which should help to reduce the time it takes to clear appeals. The Independent tribunal service, through its change programme, continue to look for ways to improve clearance times.

Benefits agency officeOutstanding appeals (held by the Independent Tribunal Service as at 5 November 1996)All-work test decisions made during the quarter 1 April to 30 June 1996
Greenock150794
Glasgow City44309
Glasgow Maryhill33321
Glasgow Shettleston300632
Glasgow Provan 3702
Glasgow South West 1,248
Glasgow Bridgeton491293
Glasgow Laurieston4704
East Kilbride301529
Glasgow Anniesland195718
Glasgow Partick1475
Irvine65751
Kilmarnock101375
Clydebank1151,267
Campbeltown12102
Oban948
Renfrew1011,301
Ayr2201,245
Dumfries37477
Stranraer18204
Glasgow Springburn196926
Cumbernauld1991,199
Motherwell 5951,095
Hamilton 857
Coatbridge56636
Edinburgh South37829
Edinburgh East25782
Galashiels25236
Kirkcaldy2332
Cowdenbeath 513
Dunfermline 141672
Leven 376
Stirling68711
Falkirk1501,437
Aberdeen2869
Lerwick439
Peterhead55560
Inverness29481
Fort William1113
Kirkwall050
Wick4184
Edinburgh City32424
Leith14586
Lothian West922,033
Dundee 1,602
Arbroath 463457
Perth 468
Elgin29337
Stornaway4149

Source:

100 per cent. count of the incapacity benefit system excluding a small number of clerically processed cases. Some credits only cases which existed prior to April 1995 are not included either.

Notes:

1. The number of decisions made includes a small number of credits only cases disallowed as customers failed to return their questionnaire without good cause or failed to attend a medical examination.

2. Some severe disablement allowance cases which were allowed following reference to Benefits Agency Medical Services are included in the decisions.

3. The decision to withdraw benefit is made by the independent adjudication officer.


18 Nov 1996 : Column: 450

Bronchitis and Emphysema

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he plans to introduce revised criteria in respect of the claims for disablement benefit in respect of chronic bronchitis and emphysema. [2041]

Mr. Roger Evans: A response to the industrial injuries advisory committee's report on chronic bronchitis and emphysema will be made shortly.

Private Pension Schemes

Ms Corston: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the average percentage of total costs taken up on entering private pension schemes by (a) fees, charges and administration and (b) occupational and private pension rebates and subsidies (i) in the first year and (ii) at retirement age, for men and women now aged (1) 20, (2) 30, (3) 40 and (4) 50 years. [3047]

Mr. Heald: No such estimates have been undertaken. Given the variety and diversity of occupational and personal pension provision in the United Kingdom, establishing the average percentage of total charges is not possible.

Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the percentage of total pension payments dependent on the performance of private pension funds (a) currently, (b) in 2010 and (c) in 2020. [3923]

Mr. Heald: It is estimated that in 1994, the latest year for which figures are available, approximately 40 per cent. of total pension payments, including the state retirement and earnings-related pensions, were from funded occupational and personal pension schemes.

Comparable projections for 2010 and 2020 are not available.

18 Nov 1996 : Column: 451

Old Age Pensions (Budget)

Mr. Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current budget for old--age pensions in England and Wales; and what it was in (a) 1979 and (b) 1990 in equivalent terms. [3092]

Mr. Heald: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the tables.

£ million (GB)
1979-801990-911996-97
Cash price
Cash price contributory retirement pension8,81622,69931,951
Non-contributory retirement pension363636
Total retirement pension8,85222,73531,987
1996-97 prices
Contributory retirement pension23,26027,78231,951
Non-contributory retirement pension954436
Total retirement pension22,35527,82631,987

Source:

Social Security March 1996 departmental report and earlier equivalents.


Income Support

Ms. Corston: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners receiving income support as an addition to their income would not be eligible for such support if the basic retirement pension had been increased annually in accordance with earnings since 1980; and what percentage of basic retirement pensioners received supplementary benefit income support in (i) 1979 and (ii) 1995. [3050]

Mr. Heald: It is estimated that some 830,000 benefit units would no longer be eligible for income support in addition to retirement pension if the retirement pension had been increased annually in accordance with earnings since 1980 1 . The estimate increases to 850,000 benefit units if RP had continued to be increased in accordance with the higher of earnings or prices since 1980.

It is estimated that around 22 per cent. of basic retirement pensioners were in benefit units in receipt of supplementary benefit in 1979. The equivalent figure in 1995 for income support is 15 per cent 2 .


18 Nov 1996 : Column: 452

National Insurance

Ms. Corston: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on present national insurance contribution rates for employees and employers, what would be the excess of contribution income over benefits, applying the standard assumptions of the Government Actuary, in the years (i) 2000-01, (ii) 2010-11, (iii) 2020-21 and (iv) 2030-31; and what would be the excess in each case if the rate of unemployment was assumed to be (a) 3 per cent. and (b) 8 per cent. [3051]

Mr. Heald: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table. However, I refer the hon. Member to table 10 of HC 160 which reflects the Government Actuary's estimate of the effect on contribution rates of a 2 per cent. change in the unemployment assumption.

Information based on assumed unemployment rates of 3 and 8 per cent. could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

National insurance fund: £ billion at 1994-95 prices using 1995-96 contribution rates

2000-012010-112020-212030-31
Excess of contribution income over benefit expenditure(11)1.942.905.543.97

Source:

Government Actuary's Department.

Notes:

(11) Net of costs of administration but excluding any Treasury grant and investment income.

1. The information in the table is based upon the future rate of unemployment--5 per cent.--assumed for the purposes of the Government Actuary's report on the third quinquennial review under section 137 of the Social Security Act 1975 (HC 160).



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