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Incapacity Benefit
Mr. Gunnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many complaints have been made by claimants about their medical examinations in connection with incapacity benefit in the Yorkshire and Humberside region since April 1995. [16047]
Mr. Burt: 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. John Gunnell, dated 26 February 1997:
Mr. Gunnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many times has (a) a warning been issued, (b) disciplinary action been taken and (c) dismissal occurred (i) as a result of claimants' complaints and (ii) otherwise since the incapacity benefit was introduced. [16048]
Mr. Burt:
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. John Gunnell, dated 26 February 1997:
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The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about how many complaints have been made by claimants about their medical examinations in connection with Incapacity Benefit in the Yorkshire and Humberside region since April 1995.
The information is not available in the format requested. Statistics are kept for each Medical Services Centre (MSC). Yorkshire and Humberside is dealt with by Leeds MSC. The Leeds MSC covers the Yorkshire Area Directorate and South Humberside District, part of Mercia Area Directorate. Statistics on complaints have only been kept by MSCs since September 1995 and are not broken down by Benefits Agency districts.
From September 1995 to December 1996 the Leeds MSC received 285 complaints, during which time it dealt with 111,164 examinations. These figures are provisional and subject to change.
I hope this reply is helpful.
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about how many times has (a) a warning been issued, (b) disciplinary action been taken and (c) dismissal occurred (i) as a result of claimants' complaints and (ii) otherwise since the Incapacity Benefit (IB) was introduced.
I have assumed your question refers to doctors involved in providing medical advice in connection with IB. The information is in the attached table.
I hope this reply is helpful.
| As a result of customer complaints | Other | |
|---|---|---|
| Warnings issued | 1 | 3 |
| Other disciplinary action | 0 | 1 |
| Dismissal | 1 | 1 |
Figures are provisional and subject to change. This excludes contracted self-employed, fee paid doctors for whom no formal disciplinary procedures exist.
Jobseeker's Allowance
Mr. Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what criteria are used by the Benefits Agency in determining whether a claimant has deliberately disposed of income or capital in order to qualify for income-based jobseeker's allowance. [17943]
Mr. Roger Evans: The information is contained in the jobseeker's allowance and income support adjudication officer's guide, part 33 paragraphs 33570-33589 and part 34 paragraphs 34805-34846. A copy of the guide is available in the Library.
Mr. Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what national insurance contribution conditions carers have to meet in order to qualify for contribution-based jobseeker's allowance. [17942]
Mr. Evans: Under jobseeker's allowance, the national insurance contribution conditions for carers are the same as for other jobseekers. As with the previous unemployment benefit scheme, entitlement to the contribution-based element of jobseeker's allowance is based on the individual's national insurance contributions in the last two full tax years before the year of the claim to jobseeker's allowance.
There are two contribution conditions. The first condition which a person must satisfy is to have paid class 1 contributions of 25 times the lower earnings limit--currently £61--in one of the two relevant tax years. The second condition is that class 1 contributions must have been paid or credited of at least 50 times the lower earnings limit--currently £61--in both the two relevant tax years on which the claim is based. The relevant tax years are the last two complete tax years before the benefit year--starting in January--in which the claim is made.
However, the linking provisions have been amended under jobseeker's allowance to provide extra help for carers. For the first time, periods in receipt of invalid care allowance are included in the jobseeker's allowance linking provisions. This ensures that a person's benefit position at the end of a period of invalid care allowance will be the same as when it started. Therefore, if a person's contribution record immediately prior to a period in receipt of invalid care allowance is sufficient to qualify the individual for contribution-based jobseeker's allowance, that record will apply to any claim for jobseeker's allowance which is made when invalid care allowance ceases.
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Mr. MacShane:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what official gifts his Department received from the Albanian President; [16407]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor:
Gifts received by Ministers in their official capacity are dealt with in accordance with the procedures set out in "Questions of Procedure for Ministers". The details are not made public.
Mr. Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements he has made with the Cardiff county council for the funding of refurbishment and conversion work at the city hall for the European summit conference in June 1998. [17916]
Mr. David Davis:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
Mr. Jamieson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many children in British independent schools are being paid for by the Hong Kong Government; and what is the average payment per child; [17941]
(3) what checks are made by the Hong Kong Government on the suitability of independent schools in Britain before payment is made. [17930]
Mr. Hanley:
Policy on the payment of education fees for the children of employees of the Hong Kong Government is a matter for the Hong Kong Government.
Mr. Winnick:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if in his recent official visit to Hong Kong he had meetings concerning party finances; and if he will make a statement. [17825]
Mr. Rifkind:
I attended a meeting of Conservatives Abroad in Hong Kong on Sunday 16 February. This was not a fund-raising event.
Political events may be included in Ministers' official programmes overseas, so long as no additional costs are incurred. There were no additional costs involved in this case and no Foreign Office official accompanied me to the reception.
Mr. Madden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a decision will be taken on the application made to the United Kingdom post in
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Islamabad by Mrs. Rukhsana Kausar (Ref: HO A525156; IMM/C4652) to join her husband in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [17902]
Dr. Liam Fox:
I have asked the high commission at Islamabad for details and will have a substantive reply sent to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
Mr. Hendry:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list (a) the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for March and (b) major EU events for the next six months. [17959]
Mr. David Davis:
Monthly Forecast of business for March 1997
The following Councils are scheduled:
The following subjects are likely to be discussed:
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Proposal for a directive on energy taxes;
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This calendar is primarily concerned with European Union matters, but certain other relevant events are also included. Events and dates quoted are based on the information available on the date of issue.
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(2) what official gifts he has received from the Albanian President. [16404]
(2) what assessment he has made of the suitability of the Quantock school, Somerset, to receive money from the Hong Kong Government; and if parents who are employees of the Hong Kong Government with children at that school have been provided with the recent Office for Standards in Education report; [17940]
March 1-2: Development Aid Council (Informal)
March 2-3: Education Council (Informal)
March 3-4: Environment Council
March 6: Telecommunications Council
March 10: Internal Market Council
March 11-12: Transport Council
March 14-15: Social Affairs Council (Informal)
March 17: Ecofin Council
March 17-18 Agriculture Council
March 24-25: General Affairs Council.
March 1-2: Development aid council (informal)
There is no formal agenda.
March 2-3: Education council (informal)
There is no formal agenda.
March 3-4: Environment council
Adoption of the agenda.
Approval of the list of "A" items.
Community Strategy on Climate Change: Council Conclusions.
Commission Communication: Implementing Community Environmental Law: Policy Debate.
Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the signing and conclusion of an International Agreement between the European Community, Canada and the Russian Federation on Humane Trapping Standards: Progress report on negotiations with Third Countries.
Amended proposal for a Council decision on a Community action programme promoting non-governmental organisations primarily active in the field of environmental protection--legal basis proposed by the Commission: article 130S(1)): common position.
Future strategy for the control of atmospheric emissions from road transport taking into account the results from the auto/oil programme:
Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels and amending Council Directive 93/12/EEC;
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles and amending Council Directives 70/156/EEC and 70/220/EEC;
Second auto/oil programme: policy debate.
Proposal for a Council directive on the reduction of emissions of organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in certain industrial activities: policy debate.
Presentation by the Commission: possible items.
Proposal for a framework directive on water.
Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on environmental agreements: policy debate.
Other Business:
Commission communication on environmental taxes and charges in the single market: presentation by the Commission;
Proposal for a directive on landfill: presentation by the Commission (possible item);
Report on the workshop for the preparation of the informal ministerial meeting on small and medium-sized undertakings and the environment: Presidency statement;
Re-examination of directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms: statement by the Austrian delegation;
Taxation of energy and in particular kerosene: Statement by the Austrian delegation;
Situation regarding the European agreement on CO2 emissions from cars: French delegation request for information from the Commission;
First European Conference on the sustainable development of the islands (Menorca, 23 to 26 April 1997): information from the Spanish delegation.
March 6: Telecommunications Council
Adoption of the provisional agenda.
Adoption of the list of "A" points (possible item).
Proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive on the application of open network provision (ONP) to voice telephony and on universal service for telecommunications in a competitive environment (replacing European Parliament and Council Directive 95/62/EC): common position (legal basis proposed by the Commission: article 100A).
Ongoing Co-decision procedures with the European Parliament interconnection directive, TENS Telecoms, licensing directive, satellite S-PCS decision.
Action plan from the Commission on satellite communications: presentation by the Commission (with reference to action plan on space).
UMTS (next generation of mobile communications): report by the Commission.
Other business:
WTO negotiations: report by the Commission;
Implementation of telecoms directives.
March 10: Internal Market Council
PARNUTS (Foodstuffs for particular nutritional uses).
Miscellaneous additives (possible item).
March 11-12: Transport Council
Proposed amendment to directive 92/14 on phase-out of noisy aircraft: for political agreement on common position.
Aviation fuel duty: debate on resolution calling for Commission study on effects of imposition.
Proposal for mandate for Commission to negotiate Community membership of European Aviation Safety Authority: for debate.
Proposal for mandate for Commission to negotiate Community membership of EUROCONTROL: debate.
Proposed amendment to regulation 3821/85 to allow for new digital tachograph: common position.
Interoperability of road pricing technology: adoption of resolution.
Proposed regulation on pilot actions for combined transport for political agreement on common position.
Proposed directive on heavy goods vehicle charging and taxes: debate.
Proposed eighth directive on summer time: for common position.
Negotiations with Switzerland: debate.
Other Business:
Report on transport research and development.
Report on the work of the high-level group on public private partnerships/TENS.
March 14/15: Social Affairs Council (informal)
There is no formal agenda.
March 17: Ecofin Council
Preparation of stage III of EMU.
Convergency programme of France.
Convergence programme of Germany.
Annual report of the Court of Auditors and budget discharge
Taxation of energy products.
Solvency ratio direct for credit institutions (mortgages) (possible item).
March 17-18: Agriculture Council
Beef labelling/cattle identification.
Olive oil (possible item).
Arable penalties (possible item).
Agriculture price fixing (possible item).
Veterinary and phytosanitary equivalence agreements.
Structured dialogue with central and eastern European countries.
Fruit grubbing-up scheme (possible item).
Honey (possible item).
Agrimoney compensation for appreciable revaluation's (possible item).
March 24-25: General Affairs Council
First draft agenda--likely to change.
Former Yugoslavia.
Albania.
Middle East peace process.
Relations with Turkey.
Pakistan.
Commercial questions: conclusion of an agreement on information technology.
Relations with South Africa.
Preparation of the 23rd ACP-EC Council of Ministers (24-25 April 1997).
Relations with Australia.
Mediterranean policy.
European observatory on racism and xenophobia.
Transatlantic relations.
Russia.
Baltic states: European agreement.
VIIth ministerial meeting between the EU and the Rio group.
27 Feb 1997 : Column: 319
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