House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 28 Feb 1997 (pt 2)

Housing and Council Tax Benefits

Sir Sydney Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to allow local authorities to contract out housing benefit and council tax benefit. [18484]

Mr. Roger Evans: I announced on 12 November 1996, Official Report, column 196, my intention to open consultation with the local authority associations on a proposal to bring forward an order under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 which would allow contractors to carry out housing and council tax benefit determinations. Existing legislation prevents contractors from making benefit determinations and reduces the efficiency of contracts which local authorities are able to negotiate. Following consultation with the local authority associations, I am laying before Parliament today the Contracting Out (Functions of Local Authorities in relation to Income-related Benefits) Order 1997. The order will allow contractors to carry out the bulk of housing and council tax benefits administration, including benefit determinations. However, some functions relating to claims for central Government subsidy, overpayments, prosecutions, discretionary payments and appeals will be reserved for local authorities.

War Pensions

Mr. Alfred Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what requests he has received to make an oral statement to the House on recent developments in relation to sensorineural hearing loss and war pensions; and if he will make a statement. [17895]

Mr. Lilley: On 5 December 1996, my right hon. and noble Friend Lord MacKay of Ardbredknish announced to the Central Advisory Committee that he was seeking its views on a package of minor reforms to the war pension system. On the same occasion, he advised the Central Advisory Committee about changes to the handling of cases involving sensorineural hearing loss. Both prompted a substantial number of representations, only two of which suggested that an oral statement would be appropriate.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

Selective Cull Scheme

Mr. Tyler: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if producers who have cattle slaughtered under the selective cull scheme will be able to claim suckler cow and beef special premium and hill

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livestock compensatory allowances for those cattle slaughtered in the retention period for those payments; and if he will make a statement. [17397]

Mr. Baldry [holding answer 24 February 1997]: We have been in contact with the European Commission on this point and hope to be able to make an announcement in the near future.

Common Agricultural Policy

Mr. Harvey: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total public expenditure under the CAP paid in the last year to farmers in (a) Devon and (b) Cornwall. [17391]

Mr. Baldry: Total public expenditure under the CAP paid to farmers in 1995--the last year for which figures are available--was as follows:

(a) Devon: £55,005,315

(b) Cornwall: £30,283,103

It should be noted that a small proportion of these totals relates to non-CAP schemes funded by the EU and in some cases amounts include an element of national as well as EU funding. Devon and Cornwall farmers also benefit from expenditure on market support measures, even though this is not paid directly to them.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Insolvency Service

Mr. Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the prior options studies of the Insolvency Service, companies registry and trading standards branches of the Department of Economic Development have been completed; and if he will make a statement on the outcomes. [18507]

Mr. Ancram: These studies, which were undertaken by independent consultants, have been completed and Ministers have concluded that, given the size of the organisations involved, agentisation, either on an individual basis, or collectively, would be inappropriate. Ministers have agreed, however, that next steps principles should be applied to the management of the statutory and regulatory functions which all three branches are required to perform.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

Juvenile Cases (Legal Aid)

Mr. Cox: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what were (a) the total costs of legal aid in juvenile cases in the youth court and (b) the average cost per case in the latest year for which figures are available. [17284]

Mr. Streeter: The total gross cost of legal aid in respect of juvenile cases heard in the youth court during 1995-96 was £16.8 million. The average unit cost of these proceedings was £439.

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DEFENCE

Radiobiological Research Laboratory Alverstoke

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) reports and (b) other publications currently available from the radiobiological research laboratory at Alverstoke. [17901]

Mr. Artbuthnot: This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 28 February 1997:

I have been asked to reply to your question asking for a list of reports and publications currently available from the Radiobiological Research Laboratory at Alverstoke. In the absence of more specific information I have assumed that your question refers to the former Defence Radiological Protection Service, now known as DERA Radiation Protection Services (DRPS) at Alverstoke. As Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) this matter is my responsibility.

A list of reports and publications which have been issued by DRPS subsequent to the list published in Hansard, 8 December 1993 Col 285, is as follows: This list excludes classified reports and work which is still underway and not yet cleared for publication.

I hope this is helpful.

Unclassified DRPS reports and publications

Marine Environmental Radioactivity Surveys at Nuclear Submarine Berths In the UK 1992, published by HMSO

Investigations to determine the response of the DRPS Passive Radon Monitor

DRPS Laboratory Support to RAF Carlisle, November 1993

Quality Assurance Check of Canberra Emergency Systems

DRPS Laboratory Support to RAF Carlisle--February 1994

The Decontamination of Radium and Promethium Luminised P-11 Compasses

DRPS Laboratory Support to RAF Carlisle--April 1994