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NORTHERN IRELAND
Arable Area Payments Scheme
Mr. Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many payments were made and what was the total amount paid under the arable area payments scheme in 1996-97. [124]
Mr. Paul Murphy [holding answer 19 May 1997]: In 1996-97, 3,372 payments were made and the total amount paid was £8,807,000.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Trade (India)
Mr. Vaz: To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she plans to lead a trade mission to India within the framework of the Indo-British Partnership initiative. [278]
Mrs. Beckett: At present, I have no firm plans to lead a UK trade mission to India. Such a mission accompanied my predecessor to India as recently as January 1997. I am, however, aware of the outstanding success of the Indo-British Partnership and will be giving it my fullest support.
One-day Sales
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to introduce further regulation of one-day sales. [265]
Mr. Nigel Griffiths: I am aware that some one-day sales have raised concerns about exploitation of consumers and strongly support the action some trading standards departments have taken to warn consumers of their dangers. I have instituted an urgent review of this and will consider the need for further regulation.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Housing Benefit
Mr. Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement about the rules affecting single people and housing benefit. [37]
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to implement proposals to set housing benefit for single people under 60 years by reference to rent levels for shared accommodation; and if she will make a statement. [607]
20 May 1997 : Column: 43
Mr. Bradley:
We are currently reviewing the rules affecting single people and housing benefit. We will make an announcement in due course.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is her estimate of the shortfall between the total amount of housing benefit paid and the net amount paid by tenants for housing for each year since 1992. [172]
Mr. Bradley:
The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
| Contractual rent of tenants on housing benefit | Housing benefit paid | Shortfall | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992-93 | 9,154 | 7,901 | 1,253 |
| 1993-94 | 10,483 | 9,213 | 1,270 |
| 1994-95 | 11,527 | 10,120 | 1,407 |
| 1995-96 | 12,667 | 10,885 | 1,782 |
Sources:
1. Benefit Housing Management Information System.
2. Social security departmental report--Government expenditure plans March 1997.
3. Rent officer statistics.
Notes:
1. Contractual rent may include charges which are not eligible for housing benefit. These include water, sewage and ineligible service charges such as laundry, cleaning, sports facilities etc.
2. The figures for 1996-97 are not yet available.
Pensioner Incomes
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is her estimate of the income levels of the poorest 10 per cent. of pensioners in the current year. [167]
Mr. Denham: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
It is estimated that in 1994-95, the latest date for which information is available, the median average net income before housing costs for the bottom decile of the all pensioner units income distribution was £65.20.
Notes:
1. The estimate refers to all pensioner units. A pensioner unit is defined to be either a single person over state pension age, or a couple where the man, assumed to be the head, is aged over state pension age.
2. The methodology is in accordance with that used to create table 5 of "The Pensioners' Incomes Series 1994-95", a copy of which is available in the Library.
3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10p and are in July 1994 prices.
Source:
The Pensioners' Income Series 1994-95.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Cattle Diseases
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if (a) maedi-visna, (b) caprine arthritis and (c) encephalitis have been identified in cattle. [292]
20 May 1997 : Column: 44
Mr. Rooker:
My veterinary staff are not aware of maedi-visna, caprine arthritis or encephalitis ever having been identified in cattle in Great Britain.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will review quarantine arrangements for dogs and cats entering the United Kingdom. [585]
Mr. Key:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will meet representatives of McDonald's Restaurants Ltd. to discuss consumption of British beef. [584]
Mr. Rooker:
At present there is no firm arrangement to meet McDonald's Restaurants Ltd. However, we are aware of the company's position in the market and expect to arrange a meeting in due course.
Opencast Mining
Mr. Home Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on Government policy on planning considerations for opencast mining; and if he will advise the reporter at the public inquiry into plans for Tynemount at Ormiston of the implications of any proposed changes to planning guidelines. [132]
Mr. Chisholm: Government planning policy in Scotland in relation to opencast mining is set out in National Planning Policy Guideline 4: Land for Mineral Working. Good practice advice in relation to the environmental effects of such development is contained in Planning Advice Note 50: Controlling The Environmental Effects of Surface Mineral Workings. Both publications are available in the House of Commons Library.
While consideration is being given to current policy on opencast mineral extraction to ascertain whether some change is needed, the inquiry into the Tynemount, Ormiston opencast proposal ended on 15 May. In the event that a new policy was to be introduced prior to a decision being taken on the appeal, which was relevant for the decision, the hon. Member can be assured that the final decision would be taken in the light of that policy and in accordance with the Inquiries Procedure Rules.
A1 Dualling
Mr. Home Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of plans to dual the A1 trunk road between Haddington and Dunbar. [133]
Mr. Chisholm:
The Scottish Office published a revised draft enabling compulsory purchase orders on 28 June and 25 October which attracted a number of objections. These were considered at a Public Local Inquiry in Haddington between 11 and 13 February 1997. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is awaiting the findings and recommendations of the Reporter.
20 May 1997 : Column: 45
Mr. David Marshall:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to meet Glasgow City Council to discuss the problems facing the city; and if he will make a statement. [582]
Mr. Chisholm
[holding answer 19 May 1997]: I hope to visit Glasgow soon in my capacity as Minister for Local Government, and will naturally be happy to meet the City Council.
Mr. Wallace:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what parts of the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Act 1997 he intends to implement; and when he intends to lay the necessary orders. [85]
Mr. Dewar
[holding answer 19 May 1997]: Sections 45 and 46 of the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Act 1997 came into force on Royal Assent (21 March 1997). We are considering whether and when to implement the remaining provisions, and will announce our decisions in due course.
Mr. Wallace:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of capital receipts from the sale of local authority houses in Scotland he will require to be applied towards the reduction of local authority housing debt; and if he will make a statement. [86]
Mr. Dewar
[holding answer 19 May 1997]: Scottish local authorities are required to set aside 75 per cent. of their receipts from house sales in order to reduce debt levels. We are reviewing that requirement and will announce our conclusion in due course.
Mr. Tipping:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many payments were made and what was the total amount paid under the arable area payments scheme in 1996-97. [126]
Mr. Chisholm
[holding answer 19 May 1997]: During 1996-97 the Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department dealt with 9,532 claims under the Arable Area Payments Scheme and the total amount paid was £146,685,005.
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