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War Pensions
Mr. Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimate he has made of the administrative costs of (a) the War Pensions Agency and (b) the war pensions appeals tribunals in 1996-97; [14021]
- (2) how many staff are employed by the War Pensions Agency, and how many there were in (a) 1979 and (b) 1990. [14019]
Mr. Heald: These are matters for Mr. Kevin Caldwell, chief executive of the War Pensions Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
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Letter from K. C. Caldwell to Mr. Jon Trickett, dated 5 February 1997:
I hope you find my reply helpful.
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the administrative costs of the War Pensions Agenda (WPA) and Ware Pensions Appeal Tribunals in 1996-97 and the number of people now employed in the Agency and employed in 1979 and 1990.
The budget for the WPA's administrative costs for 1996/97 is £36.991m. The estimated spend is forecast to be within this budget.
War Pensions Appeal Tribunals do not come under the jurisdiction of the WPA. However, we have contacted the Pension Appeal Tribunals (PAT) for England/Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and their estimated administrative costs for 1996/97 are as follows:
England/Wales: £2,450,284.00
Scotland: £274,561.00
Northern Ireland: £50,300.00.
The average number of staff employed by the WPA in the current financial year is 1346. Comparable staffing figures for the years 1979 and 1990 are not available. The WPA began operating in April 1994. Before that date, staff numbers were included in the Benefits Agency's complement and, before 1991, in the Department of Social Security figures. Relevant comparisons with WPA's current staff levels cannot therefore be made for years before 1994/95.
Jobseeker's Allowance
Mr. Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what final payments to an individual by an employer on termination of employment are taken into account when assessing entitlement to (a) contribution-based and (b) income-based jobseeker's allowance; [14601]
- (2) how payments in lieu of notice affect entitlement to (a) contribution-based jobseeker's allowance and (b) income-based jobseeker's allowance. [14602]
Mr. Roger Evans: Payments made on Termination of Full-time Work-- 16 hours or more a week. Normal earnings, expenses and any earnings held "in hand" which are paid on termination of employment are ignored when assessing entitlement to contribution-based and income-based jobseeker's allowance.
Compensation payments, for example pay in lieu of notice or remuneration, made in respect of the termination of the employment, and holiday pay payable at termination, have the effect of treating the individual as continuing to be in full-time work after the termination of employment. Neither contribution-based nor income- based jobseeker's allowance is payable after the termination for a period equivalent to that for which the compensation or holiday pay has been paid.
Payments made under employment protection legislation for unfair dismissal, or under trades union legislation for unfair dismissal or redundancy on grounds of involvement in trade union activities, are taken into account as earnings in contribution-based and income-based jobseeker's allowance, subject to the
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appropriate disregard, normally £5 a week. They are taken into account for a period equivalent to that for which the payments has been made.
Lump sum redundancy payments and holiday pay payable more than four weeks after the termination of the employment are treated as capital and do not affect contribution-based jobseeker's allowance. Income-based jobseeker's allowance is affected only if the total capital held by the individual and his family is more than £3,000.
Payments made on Termination of Part-time Work-- less than 16 hours a week.
Normal earnings, expenses and any earnings held "in hand" which are paid on termination of employment are ignored when assessing entitlement to contribution-based and income-based jobseeker's allowance.
Compensation payments, holiday pay payable at termination, and payments made under employment protection or trades union legislation are taken into account as earnings in contribution-based and income-based jobseeker's allowance, subject to the appropriate disregard, normally £5 a week. They are taken into account for a period equivalent to that for which the payment has been made.
Lump sum redundancy payments and holiday pay payable more than four weeks after the termination of the employment are treated in the same way as on termination of full-time work.
2. Mr. Wareing:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with his German counterpart since the discovery of BSE in cattle in that country. [13104]
Mr. Douglas Hogg:
I and my predecessors have had a number of discussions with our German counterparts on BSE since the first case was reported in Germany in March 1994.
12. Mr. Patrick Thompson:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the protocol on animal welfare which he has tabled at the intergovernmental conference. [13116]
Mrs. Browning:
Discussions continue on our proposal for a protocol on animal welfare which would place a legally binding obligation on Community institutions. I am pleased to report an encouraging response.
13. Ms Corston:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from United Kingdom farm workers' representatives concerning BSE. [13117]
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Mr. Boswell:
In May 1996, I met representatives of the rural, agricultural and allied workers group of the Transport and General Workers Union to review the BSE situation, including implications for jobs and safety matters.
14. Mr. Spring:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps the Government have taken to promote technical conservation measures. [13118]
Mr. Baldry:
I have brought together in the fisheries conservation group practical fishermen, fisheries scientists and fisheries managers. They have reviewed the current technical conservation measures and continue to provide invaluable advice on the European Commission's current proposal for new EU-wide technical measures. I am promoting these practical ideas in the current negotiations in Brussels.
15. Mrs. Fyfe:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the value, in the last year for which figures are available, of home-grown fruit and vegetables which were left unsold. [13119]
Mr. Boswell:
We do not have information about the removal of unsaleable fruit and vegetables from the market by growers and traders. However, in the 1995-96 season, public intervention in the UK removed 8,785 tonnes of apples, pears and cauliflowers at a cost of £827,000.
18. Mr. Wilkinson:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact of the enlargement of the European Union on the common fisheries policy. [13122]
Mr. Baldry:
Negotiations for the further enlargement of the European Union are not scheduled to start until after the conclusions of the intergovernmental conference. The possible impact of enlargement on the common fisheries policy will depend on the accession terms proposed, which will be discussed in full with the UK industry before the Government determine their fisheries objectives for the negotiations.
Mr. Austin Mitchell:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next proposes to meet the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations to discuss the common fisheries policy. [13120]
Mr. Baldry:
I plan next to meet the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations to discuss the common fisheries policy on 25 February.
19. Sir Trevor Skeet:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has
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made in advancing the case for fundamental reform of the CAP with the EU Commission and other member states. [13124]
Mr. Douglas Hogg:
Both the Commission and most EU member states now recognise that further CAP reform is inevitable. This has been the Government's position for some time.
22. Mr. Martlew:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to improve the welfare of broiler chickens. [13127]
Mrs. Browning:
We are working in various ways to improve these in line with the recommendations of the Farm Animal Welfare Council.
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