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National Insurance Contributions
Sir Colin Shepherd: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the revenue which will be generated by the removal of the cap on national insurance contributions. [14173]
Mr. Heald: If the upper earnings limit on employees' class 1 contributions and the upper profits limit on self-employed class 4 contributions were removed, it is estimated that an extra £3.75 billion would be collected in a full year. 1
Note:
1 The estimate is based on the assumption that the current 10 per cent. class 1 contribution rate would apply to earnings above the upper earnings limit and that the current 6 per cent. class 4 contribution rate would apply to profits above the upper profits limit.
PRIME MINISTER
Homelessness (London)
9. Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to meet representatives of London's homeless. [14167]
The Prime Minister: I have no plans to do so. However, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing is in regular contact with the voluntary agencies which co-operate with the Government in the rough sleepers initiative. I am kept closely informed on this matter.
Engagements
Sir Peter Tapsell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 13 February. [14312]
Mr. Harry Greenway:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 13 February. [14311]
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The Prime Minister:
This morning, I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
Mr. Foulkes:
To ask the Prime Minister what responsibilities in respect of the Government's policies towards constitutional matters he has given to the Secretary of State for Health. [15503]
The Prime Minister:
Ministers have collective responsibility for all the Government's policies.
Mr. Nicholas Winterton:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the performance of the NHS in the United Kingdom (a) since 1979 and (b) between 1974 and 1979. [16142]
The Prime Minster:
Since 1979, the Government have established a record of significant and sustained improvements to the funding and management of the national health service, to patient services and to the pay and conditions of service of professional staff. For example:
spending on the NHS has increased by 75 per cent. in real terms. Between 1974 and 1979, in real terms spending increased by 17 per cent.
since 1979, capital spending has increased by 66 per cent. in real terms. Between 1974 and 1979, there was real-terms cut of 28 per cent.
the NHS is now one of the most efficient health services in the world. It treats 25 per cent. more patients per pound, at constant prices, than it did in 1979
since 1979, the percentage of gross domestic product spent on health in the United Kingdom has risen from 4.7 per cent. to 5.8 per cent. Between 1974 and 1979, the percentage of GDP spent on health in the United Kingdom fell from 4.8 per cent to 4.7 per cent.
I regret that there was an error in my oral reply of 11 February, Official Report, column 137. The correct figure for general and acute activity between 1974 and 1979, is an increase of 7 per cent. Since 1979, general and acute patient activity has increased by 80 per cent.
the number of doctors in England has increased by 23,000 since 1979
the number of qualified nurses and midwives has increased by around 55,000 since 1979
the number of dentists has increased by more than 6,000 since 1978
doctors' and dentists' average earnings have gone up by 74 per cent. in real terms compared with 0.1 per cent. between 1974 and 1979
nurses' average earnings have increased by 71 per cent. in real terms since 1979. Between 1974 and 1979, nurses' average earnings decreased by 3 per cent.
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Recorders (Members of Parliament)
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many hon. Members
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sit as a recorder or part-time recorder; what are the conditions under which they preside; and what is their remuneration. [15578]
Mr. Streeter:
There are three hon. Members who sit as recorders; there are none who sit as assistant recorders. I have deposited a copy of the "Terms and Conditions of Service of Recorders" in the House of Commons Library. By custom, Members who are recorders do not either sit in their constituencies or hear cases remitted from their constituencies. As from 1 December 1996, recorders receive a fee of £366 for each day they sit.
Mr. Barnes:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 21 January, Official Report, column 511, on the joint working party on reform of the Land Registration Act 1925, if he will list the dates on which the joint working party has met. [15450]
Mr. Streeter:
The joint working party has met on seven occasions, as follows: 27 April 1994, 29 September 1994, 11 November 1994, 16 February 1995, 2 July 1996, 23 July 1996 and 23 October 1996.
Sir Julian Critchley:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what factors underlie the delay in paying costs to Mr. Colin Balchin following his acquittal at Kingston crown court, case number TO960656. [14355]
Mr. Streeter:
The question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Michael Huebner to Sir Julian Critchley, dated 13 February 1997
Mr. David Atkinson:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the effect of his Department's policies on the residents of Bournemouth since 1992, with special reference to the effects of changes in the resources provided in real terms. [14944]
Mr. Streeter:
On 2 December 1996, the new Bournemouth combined court centre was opened. The court provides improved facilities for both court users and staff in Bournemouth. This includes the Probate Service, which has previously used accommodation at the magistrates courts.
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More broadly, while some of the policies of the Lord Chancellor's Department may have a particular effect in certain localities, they are generally designed to benefit the population at large.
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many members of the Post Office Users Council for Northern Ireland there are; how many of these are perceived to be from the Protestant community; and how many are members of (a) the Ulster Unionist party, (b) the Democratic Unionist party, (c) the Social and Democratic Labour Party and (d) the Alliance Party. [14687]
Mr. John M. Taylor:
There are currently six members of the Post Office Users Council for Northern Ireland, including the chairman. Information is not available on either their political or their religious affiliations.
Mr. Tony Banks:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the number and type of British garden birds exported in each year since 1990 by (a) numbers, (b) species and (c) countries of destination. [15579]
Mr. Nelson:
The information requested is not available from the United Kingdom overseas trade statistics because the system under which trade is recorded does not separately identify exports of garden birds.
Mr. Battle:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with the coal industry regarding its future; and if he will make a statement. [15880]
Mr. Page:
My officials and I are frequently in contact with those engaged in the coal industry on a wide range of issues relating to its current performance and future prospects.
The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the factors underlying the delay in paying costs to Colin Balchin.
As Mr. Balchin's claim exceeds £4000 it was sent to the Central Taxing Team (CTT) for taxation. The CTT aims to complete taxation within 3 months of receipt of all of the claims in a case. Mr. Balchin's claim was ready for taxation in early September but was not taxed until 31 January. The delay was caused by a 65 per cent. increase in the work of the CTT over the past year which has created a backlog. Efforts are being made to tackle this backlog and the arrears have been reduced since September.
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