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Residential Care
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current public expenditure cost of supporting retired people in residential care; and what estimate he has made of these costs in (a) 2020 and (b) 2040. [20489]
Mr. Burns [holding answer 17 March 1997]: In 1994-95, the latest year for which this information is available, identified public expenditure on residential care for the elderly included £0.9 billion of local authority expenditure, net of income received, including fees and charges to clients, and £0.5 billion of Department of Social Security preserved rights income support. Information on residential allowance does not separately identify residential and nursing care. For residential and nursing care taken together, total net public expenditure on elderly by local authorities (net) and by DSS by means of preserved rights income support and residential allowance, amounted to about £2.7 billion in 1994-95. Future costs of long-term care discussed in the Health Committee report "Long Term Care: Future Provision and Funding", chapter IV, paragraphs 99 to 121, a copy of which is available in the Library.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Punishment Shootings
Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the total cost to public funds arising from so-called punishment shootings in each of the last five years and the current year to date; if he will break down the costs in terms of (a) police costs, (b) medical costs, (c) compensation paid to victims and (d) ongoing cots to the social security budget; and of the latter in how many cases there are likely to be long-term payments. [9219]
Sir John Wheeler: I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.
Road Signs
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the percentage of road signs which need replacement or repair on the United Kingdom primary route network. [8418]
Sir John Wheeler: I shall write to the hon. and learned Gentleman as soon as possible.
Paramilitary Violence
Dr. Hendron: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many people have died as a result of violence committed by (a) republican and (b) loyalist paramilitaries in Belfast, West since April 1992; [16471]
- (2) how many punishment beatings have been attributed to (a) republican and (b) loyalist paramilitary groups in Belfast, West since April 1992; [16469]
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(3) how many acts of terrorism have been attributed to (a) republican and (b) loyalist paramilitaries since April 1992. [16470]
Sir John Wheeler: I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.
Anglo-Irish Secretariat
Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what names have been put forward by the Irish side of the Anglo-Irish Secretariat for the proposed Parades Commission. [17702]
Sir Patrick Mayhew: I shall write to the hon. and learned Gentleman as soon as possible.
Properties (Rateable Values)
Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list for each council area, (i) the old and the new rateable value of commercial premises, (ii) the rateable value of domestic properties and (iii) the rateable value of other properties; and what was the (a) percentage increase in and (b) sums raised in respect of each category for each area (x) in 1995-96, (y) in 1996-97 and (z) projected for 1997-98 by means of (1) the regional rate and (2) local rates; [18514]
- (2) if he will list the sums in respect of rate relief (a) paid in 1995-96, (b) paid in 1996-97 and (c) projected to be paid in 1997-98 in each council area; and in each case what percentage this is of the total sum raised by each council. [18515]
Sir John Wheeler [holding answer 4 March 1997]: I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.
Computer Theft
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many items of computer equipment were seized or confiscated by the Royal Ulster Constabulary in November and December 1996; how many of these items were seized from (a) community centres, (b) commercial properties and (c) domestic residences; and how many individuals are or have been subject to criminal prosecutions as a result of evidence so obtained. [19943]
Sir John Wheeler: As part of an on-going investigation, a number of items of computer equipment were seized from various locations during November and December 1996. Some items are still retained.
A DPP file is pending and it would therefore not be appropriate to disclose further details at this stage.
Martin McGartland
Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the sums paid out of public funds to Martin McGartland since 1991; by which agencies; and under what powers they were paid. [20749]
Sir John Wheeler: I shall write to the hon. and learned Gentleman as soon as possible.
Magheramorne Quarry, Lorne
Mr. Beggs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the report of Commissioner Mossop on the
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public inquiry into the proposed landfill site at Magheramorne quarry, Lorne, Co. Antrim was presented to the Planning Appeals Commission and Department of Environment (NI). [21001]
Mr. Moss:
I am advised by the chief commissioner of the PAC that the report of Commissioner Mossop was completed on 25 October 1996 and that the Commission reached a corporate decision on 2 December 1996. The report was received by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland on 17 December 1966.
Mr. Beggs:
To ask the Secretary of state for Northern Ireland when a copy of Commissioner Mossop's report on the public inquiry into the application for a landfill waste disposal site at Magheramorne quarry, Larne, will be placed in the Library. [21305]
Mr. Moss:
It is not normal practice to place planning appeals commission reports in the Library, but on this occasion I will arrange to do so immediately following the Department's determination of the application.
Mr. Robert McCartney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy to give equal access to hon. Members in relation to the public appointment process as is given to the Irish Government; and if he will make a statement. [21005]
Sir John Wheeler:
I shall write to the hon. and learned Gentleman as soon as possible.
Mr. Robert McCartney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the investigation into the fire at Groomsport primary school in 1996 indicating when (a) the site will be cleared and (b) rebuilding will commence. [21007]
Mr. Ancram:
The Forensic Science Agency's final report on the fire is awaited by the South-Eastern education and library board which is responsible in the first instance for any reinstatement of damaged accommodation at the school. The board is currently considering some capital works to address the school's needs, but this will be subject to the availability of resources.
Mr. Robert McCartney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the actual and accumulated deficits and surpluses over the last five years of the five largest public sector pension schemes in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [21008]
Sir John Wheeler:
Of the five largest public sector pension schemes in Northern Ireland, the teachers superannuation scheme, the principal civil service pension scheme (NI), the health and personal social services scheme (NI) and the RUC pension scheme are notionally funded/non-funded and therefore, the question of deficits and surpluses does not arise.
For the Northern Ireland local government officers superannuation scheme the net money available for investment, that is, actual surplus for each of the last five years, is listed.
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| Year | Net money available for investment £ (million) |
|---|---|
| 1991-92 | 48,758 |
| 1992-93 | 45,921 |
| 1993-94 | 34,066 |
| 1994-95 | 39,616 |
| 1995-96 | 45,993 |
It is not possible to provide a meaningful figure for accumulated surpluses over the past five years. However, the actuarial valuation of the fund at 31 March 1992 was £214 million and at 31 March 1995 was £304 million.
Disability Living Allowance
Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) number and (b) percentage of disability living allowance claim decisions were (i) reviewed and (ii) appealed against in the last year for which figures are available; and what percentage and number achieved variations of awards in their favour.[21009]
Mr. Moss: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alec Wylie. I have asked him to arrange for a response to be given.
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Reviews | |
| Number of reviews received | 22,256 |
| Number of reviews decided | 21,261 |
| Number of reviews allowed | 7,849 |
| Success rate | 37 per cent. |
| Appeals | |
| Number of appeals received | 2,491 |
| Number of appeals cleared | 3,142 |
| Number of appeals allowed | 1,320 |
| Success rate | 42 per cent. |
It should be noted that the number of appeals and reviews received during the period 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996 do not necessarily relate to the number of claims received during the same period--i.e. some appeals and review applications were made on previous year claims.
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