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Cold Weather Payments

Mr. McAllion: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the (a) number and (b) value of cold weather payments paid out in each region of Scotland in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [9072]

Mr. Roger Evans: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is contained in the social fund statistical series "Cold Weather Payments by District Offices", copies of which are available in the Library.

Benefit Fraud Hotline

Mr. Kevin Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of calls to the national benefit fraud hotline are not pursued any further. [8922]

Mr. Heald: It is too early to give the number of successful or unsuccessful referrals generated by calls from the public to the hotline.

Mr. Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much was spent on advertising the freeline service in each year since 1992. [8925]

Mr. Evans: This is an operational matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Kevin Hughes, dated 17 December 1996:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how much was spent on advertising the Freeline Service in each year since 1992.

Since its introduction in 1984 the Benefits Agency Freeline has not had a budget allocation for advertisement costs. The service and details of the telephone numbers were included in appropriate BA leaflets, claim packs and forms. The Benefits Agency Freeline closed in July of this year.

I hope you find this reply helpful.

Disability Living Allowance

Sir David Steel: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the Government's policy in respect of removing the disability living allowance from those in hospital for more than four weeks; and how many representations he received in support of the changes. [9014]

Mr. Andrew Mitchell: The Government's policy is set out in Cm 3233, a copy of which is in the Library.

18 Dec 1996 : Column: 761

We have received a number of representations. It is not possible to identify separately the number which were supportive of the changes; however, the majority either expressed concern or sought clarification.

National Disability Council

Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the members of the National Disability Council and the terms of their appointments. [9147]

Mr. Burt: The members of the National Disability Council and the dates to which their appointments run are as follows:

David Grayson: 31 December 1999

Harry McConnell: 31 January 1998

Alan Smith: 1 June 1997

Doug Alker: 22 January 1998

Ann Foster: 22 January 1998

Colin Low: 22 January 1998

David Mills: 22 January 1998

David Roberts: 22 January 1998

Christopher Brocksom: 22 January 1999

Tanni Grey: 22 January 1999

Jim McAllister: 22 January 1999

Martin Reavley: 22 January 1999

Kevin Shinkwin: 22 January 1999

Alan Dickson: 22 January 2000

David Jenkins: 22 January 2000

Bert Massie: 22 January 2000

Philippa Russell: 22 January 2000

Jenny White: 22 January 2000

Mr. Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what proportion of the total budget of the National Disability Council is accounted for by administrative costs and the remuneration of members; [9149]

(2) what is the total annual budget for the National Disability Council. [9150]

Mr. Burt: The sum of £350,000 has been allocated to meet the expenditure associated with the National Disability Council during 1996-97. It is estimated that 48 per cent. of this amount will be spent on members' remuneration, travel and subsistence, meetings and the provision of the council's secretariat. The remaining 51 per cent. includes amounts for research and other non-administrative expenditure such as advisory and consultancy fees.

Disabled Investors (Building Society Payments)

Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what meetings he has had with Ministers outside his Department to ensure that investors with severe disabilities, whose account is managed by a third party, will benefit from payments to long-standing members by building societies planning to convert to listed companies next year. [9196]

Mr. Burt: I have been in contact with my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary about this complex and difficult issue. In addition, departmental officials have had a

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number of meetings with representatives of the various building societies that have announced their intention to convert to banks.

Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the Minister of State for Social Security and Disabled People expects to reply to the letter from the chairman of the National Disability Council concerning the council's meeting of 21 November on bonus shares and cash payments from building societies; and if he will place a copy of his reply in the Library. [9322]

Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Social security if he will publish in the Official Report the text of the letter sent to the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People by the chairman of the National Disability Council following the meeting of the council on 21 November; and what reply he sent to the letter. [9195]

Mr. Burt: Yes. I will respond in due course to the letter and will arrange for it to be published in the Official Report.

Following is the information:

Building Societies

The Council considered the issue of discrimination against disabled people in the distribution of bonus shares and cash payments on the floatation of building societies at its meeting on 21 November.

It is of the view that the current proposals for the flotations would leave many disabled people, who are not first named on their accounts, at a considerable disadvantage over their first named counterparts. Notwithstanding the technical legal arguments, it considers these arrangements to be discriminatory and totally unacceptable.

It believes that the Alliance and Leicester and Halifax Building Societies should be urged to reconsider their position and to put forward proposals which would have the effect that disabled people would not be worse off than other members of the building societies. If necessary, the Government should bring forward legislation to facilitate these changes and ensure that similar problems do not arise again.

The Council is prepared to continue discussion with the societies concerned in order to identify a solution.

Housing Benefit

Mr. French: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to make all payments of housing benefit payable directly to the landlord of the property concerned. [9190]

Mr. Roger Evans: None.

Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the impact of the changes to housing benefit in the Budget on (a) single unemployed people who have inherited a tenancy from their parents and (b) unemployed people who are widowed or divorced and left with the tenancy of the house. [8571]

Mr. Evans [holding answer 11 December 1996]: The proposed changes to the housing benefit scheme would apply only to tenants in the deregulated private rented sector. Generally, under such tenancies children do not have the right to succeed to an assured tenancy if the parent dies. We have no data to enable us to identify the status of the person who becomes responsible for the tenancy.

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National Insurance Contributions

Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will consult on his proposals to let business pay national insurance contributions for minor expenses in a lump sum. [10461]

Mr. Lilley: I have today published a consultation document containing draft clauses on the alignment of national insurance contributions with tax under Inland Revenue PAYE settlement agreements. More than 200 organisations and individuals will receive a copy. The consultation period ends on 7 March 1997.

My proposal is to introduce a simple employer-only charge for national insurance to work alongside the Inland Revenue's single lump sum tax charge on minor expense payments and benefits in kind. This will mean that employers can enjoy a reduced administrative burden for contributions similar to that provided by the new tax arrangements. This is part of our continuing commitment to ensure that the administration costs of national insurance for employers are kept to the minimum consistent with the overall objectives of the contributory system.

I intend to include these changes in a Bill containing measures to simplify the national insurance system and improving compliance and administration of national insurance contributions for early introduction in the next Parliament.

Copies of the consultation document have been placed in the Library.

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