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Pension Sharing
Ms Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to introduce pension sharing for divorcing couples. [2523]
Ms Harman: We will introduce pension sharing for divorcing couples. This is an important step towards meeting the Government's objectives of improving the income of women in retirement.
It is the combination of the Basic State Pension and a decent second pension which prevents people from retiring into poverty. But women are less likely than men to have a good second pension.
Women are less likely than men to belong to an occupational pension scheme--in 1991 only 3.9 million women belonged to an occupational pension scheme, compared with 6.8 million men.
Women's occupational pensions are worth less on average than men's: women aged 65-69 have an average income from occupational pensions of just £22 a week, compared with £67 a week for men.
Women are less likely to have a personal pension: only 22 per cent. of women who work full-time have a personal pension, compared with 28 per cent. of men.
As a result, women are more likely than men to be poor in retirement:
Seventy per cent. of the 2 million people over the age of 60 who depend on Income Support are women.
Around three-quarters of the 1 million pensioners who do not claim the Income Support to which they are entitled--and who lose on average £14 a week--are women.
Women are less likely to have a good second pension because they are more likely to be in part-time or low-paid work, and they are more likely to interrupt their working lives to care for their families.
Women make a vital contribution to the family income by bringing up children or caring for an elderly relative. On divorce, this contribution must be recognised, and where appropriate, pension rights shared.
It is not currently possible to share pension rights between men and women. Under the current arrangements, maintenance payments can be made from one spouse to another--we expect usually from husband to wife--once the pension is in payment. But these payments can stop on the death of the pension scheme member, and a former spouse who re-marries could lose their share of the pension. In addition, these arrangements mean that a financial break between the spouses is not achieved; ties between them remain throughout their retirement.
5 Jun 1997 : Column: 241
Our proposals will lead to fairer treatment of pensions in financial settlements between divorcing couples and will provide a better and more secure income in retirement for those receiving a share of pension rights.
We will be working in partnership with the pensions industry, family lawyers and others to deliver pension sharing arrangements by April 2000. In order to do this, we will be producing a draft Bill in this session for consultation with interested parties, before we introduce it to Parliament.
This will be the first time that my Department has adopted the approach of consulting on a draft bill, and confirms our commitment to deliver practical, workable and effective measures based on sound legislation.
Mr. Cash:
To ask the President of the Council what plans she has to ensure the parliamentary scrutiny of the stability pact. [1956]
Mrs. Ann Taylor:
The debate on Europe on Monday 9 June will provide the House with the opportunity to debate and vote on the stability pact proposals.
Mr. Cann:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many schemes have been selected for grants under the general dental service access fund up to the most recent date available; what has been the total cost of the schemes; to which local health authorities the grants are related; and what amounts are involved. [1889]
Mr. Milburn:
Payments from the dental access fund totalling £798,000 were paid to 22 health authorities in the 1996-97 financial year. The table shows the names of the health authorities and the amounts paid to each.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Berkshire | 40,000 |
| Buckinghamshire | 25,000 |
| Cambridge and Huntingdon | 40,000 |
| Cornwall and Isles of Scilly | 40,000 |
| East Lancashire | 40,000 |
| East Surrey | 40,000 |
| Gloucestershire | 41,000 |
| Herefordshire | 20,000 |
| Isle of Wight | 40,000 |
| North Cumbria | 40,000 |
| North and East Devon | 40,000 |
| North and Mid Hampshire | 27,000 |
| North Staffordshire | 40,000 |
| Oxfordshire | 25,000 |
| Portsmouth and SE Hants | 40,000 |
| Shropshire | 40,000 |
| South Cheshire | 40,000 |
| Southern Derbyshire | 40,000 |
| Suffolk | 40,000 |
| South and West Devon | 40,000 |
| Wiltshire | 40,000 |
| Wolverhampton | 20,000 |
5 Jun 1997 : Column: 242
Blood Processing (Liverpool)
Ms Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the clinical implications of the National Blood Authority's proposal to cease blood processing in Liverpool in relation to hospital and domiciliary services; which hospitals are served by the Liverpool centre; and if he will make a statement. [1571]
Ms Jowell: The transfer of bulk testing and processing work from the Liverpool to the Manchester Blood Centre is part of the National Blood Authority's major reorganisation programme designed to improve the safety, efficiency and reliability of the Blood Service. The transfer will be carefully monitored to ensure that clinical services to hospitals will not be adversely affected.
The hospitals served by the Liverpool blood centre are Alder Hey Children's, Arrowe Park, Broadgreen, Countess of Chester, Fazakerly, Glan Clwyd, Gwynedd, Maelor, Nobles, Ormskirk, Royal Liverpool, St. Helens, Southport, Walton, Warrington and Whiston. The Liverpool centre will continue to supply those hospitals with blood and to provide them with specialist services.
The plans to reorganise the service were announced in November 1995 after a wide-ranging lengthy and in parts contentious consultation exercise. Implementation of the reorganisation programme, which is being phased to tie in with the introduction of a new national computer system was already well advanced under the previous administration. However, in the light of recent representations on this matter, I have agreed to meet hon. Members from the Liverpool area to discuss, and hopefully resolve, their concerns about the change.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to investigate the totals and percentages of the instances of harmful effects from radiography treatment. [1958]
Mr. Boateng:
We have no plans currently to collect centrally, information on those who have suffered adverse effects following radiotherapy treatment, although we are keeping these issues under review. It is more appropriate for monitoring to be undertaken at a local level where local problems can be identified. Cancer centres are expected to audit their results, including adverse effects.
The following action has been taken to help women with damage as a result of radiotherapy for breast cancer.
5 Jun 1997 : Column: 243
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that the needs of people with dementia and their carers are reflected in the membership and terms of reference of the Royal Commission on long-term care; and if he will make a statement. [2093]
Mr. Boateng:
The Government intend to examine in detail, as heralded in our manifesto, provisions for long-term care of the elderly. We will make a further statement on this once the form of that examination and its content have been settled.
Mr. Gerrard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide additional resources to fund combination therapies for prisoners with HIV/AIDS. [1156]
Ms Jowell:
I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
In May 1994 the Department issued guidance entitled "Quality Assurance in Radiotherapy--A Quality Management System for Radiotherapy".
The Royal College of Radiologists at the Department's request, convened a small group of professionals and lay people in Autumn 1994 to consider guidelines for care of women who have suffered tissue damage following radiotherapy for breast cancer. This report was issued to the NHS by the Department in October 1995.
The Royal College of Radiologists carried out a confidential clinical review of 126 women who had suffered injury following radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer at 15 centres in the period 1980-1993. The report makes recommendations on the management of breast cancer, particularly on radiotherapy, and for further research.
With regard to those suffering adverse effects following pelvic radiotherapy for gynaecological cancers, in 1996, a Working Group, which includes representatives from a number of Royal Colleges, voluntary organisations and the Department, was set up to consider the preparation of patient information leaflets concerning possible adverse effects following pelvic radiotherapy and to raise awareness generally. A sub-group is also considering issuing guidelines for health professionals on the care of women suffering adverse effects as a result of pelvic radiotherapy.
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