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Political and Special Advisers
Mr. Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list (a) the names, (b) the salary (c) the previous occupation and salary and (d) the terms and conditions of each political and special adviser in her Department; and what was the selection process used to appoint these persons. [2414]
Ms Harman: I have appointed John McTernan and Liz Kendall as special advisers. Both were formerly employed as advisers to me in opposition. The terms and conditions of their appointments are set out in the draft model contract, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. Special advisers are paid within a range of £23,349 to £73,484. Their salaries are negotiated individually within this range. Details of present and previous salaries are not provided, in order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned.
These are personal appointments made by me following consultation with the permanent secretary and the Prime Minister.
Wages (Vouchers)
Dr. Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action she intends to take to stop the practice of employers paying part of employees' wages in vouchers. [2260]
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment she has made of the economic impact on households of employers issuing shopping vouchers in lieu of wages. [2297]
Mr. Denham:
The Government are aware of employers' use of vouchers as (part) payment of wages. In 1994-95, about £40 million was paid through such practices to approximately 160,000 employees whose earnings, including benefits in kind, were £8,500 per annum or more, and to directors. The available information does not distinguish between shopping vouchers and other forms of voucher.
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We are committed to the principle of National Insurance (NI) and take very seriously any form of abuse which undermines the integrity of the scheme. We shall look carefully at any pay practices adopted by employers to avoid payment of NI contributions and will take appropriate action against abuse. We will keep the position, including the economic impact on employees' households, under review.
Source: Inland Revenue Statistics 1996.
Primary Purpose Rule
Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the timetable for conducting the review of the primary purpose rule; and what advice immigration officials are being given in the meantime on assessing such cases. [2401]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) on 5 June, Official Report, column 218.
General Elections (Deposits)
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce proposals to increase the deposit in general elections. [2471]
Mr. George Howarth: At this stage, we have no plans to increase the deposit for candidates at a parliamentary election.
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the present sum the original £150 deposit for general elections introduced in 1918 would be if it had been increased in line with prices since that date; and what would be the equivalent percentage if the £500 deposit had been increased in line with prices since it was introduced. [2463]
Mr. Howarth: We estimate that the £150 deposit introduced in 1918 would now be equivalent to £4,093, if it had been increased in line with the inflation, which represents an 818.6 per cent. increase on the present deposit. The £500 deposit introduced in 1985 would be equivalent today to £825, an increase of 165 per cent. and £4,093 would represent an increase of 496 per cent. on that revalued deposit.
Entry Clearance Refusals (Appeals)
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reintroduce the right of appeal to those refused entry clearances to visit the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [2262]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 19 May, Official Report, column 7.
Political and Special Advisers
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list (a) the name, (b) the salary, (c) the previous occupation and salary and (d) the
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terms and conditions of each political and special adviser in his Department; and what was the selection process used to appoint these persons. [2419]
Mr. Straw:
My Department employs one political adviser, Ed Owen, previously employed as a journalist, and one special adviser, Norman Warner, who was previously employed as a consultant on social policy and public sector management. The terms and conditions of each appointment are set out in the draft model contract, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
Special advisers are paid within a range of £24,349 to £73,484. Their salaries are negotiated individually and are confidential within this range. Details of this and previous salary are not provided in order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned. These are personal appointments made by me, following consultation with the Prime Minister and with the permanent head of the Department.
Mrs. Ballard:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions he has given to the immigration authorities regarding the treatment of Albanian nationals already in the United Kingdom who have applied for asylum. [1526]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
Since March, consideration of asylum applications by Albanian nationals and enforcement action in refused cases have been suspended. We are now satisfied that, while the situation remains tense and volatile in some parts of the country, the situation in other parts, including the capital Tirana, is sufficiently calm to make it safe to resume returns in appropriate cases. Consideration of outstanding asylum applications is also being resumed.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the cases transferred to the Criminal Cases Review Commission by his Department, indicating the date when these cases were first referred to his Department; [1032]
Mr. Michael
[holding answer 3 June 1997]: A total of 261 individual cases were initially transferred to the Commission from the Home Office. It is not normal practice to make publicly available the names of petitioners. By virtue of paragraph 6 of schedule 1 to the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 it is a matter for the Commission to decide on its procedures, but I understand that 165 of the cases initially transferred to the Commission are already being worked on, and that work on the remaining cases will have begun by about the end of June.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the cost per edition of his
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Department's publication, "Civil Protection"; and what is the total cost of the editions produced to date, in 1997 prices; [1943]
Mr. George Howarth
[holding answer 5 June 1997]: The latest edition, which was issued in May, cost £17,000 including distribution costs. The marginal cost of Home Office staff time spent on editorial functions is absorbed under other budgets. The total cost of the editions produced between 1991 and 1997 is £558,260 in 1997 prices. Figures for earlier years are not available. Around 40,000 copies of each edition are produced. To date, 34,700 copies of the latest edition have been issued in response to requests, including regular subscribers. No copies are sent unsolicited.
Mr. Forth:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will list (a) the income, (b) the salary, (c) the previous occupation and salary and (d) the terms and conditions of each political and special adviser in his office; and what was the selection process used to appoint these persons. [2407]
Mr. Mandelson:
The Minister without Portfolio does not have a political or special adviser paid out of public funds.
(2) if he will list the cases transferred to the Criminal Cases Review Commission in order of priority; to what extent the order of priority reflects the date when the case was first submitted; and what is the anticipated date for a decision on these cases. [1033]
(2) how many copies of each edition of his Department's publication, "Civil Protection", are produced; and of these how many are distributed in response to requests and how many are sent unsolicited. [1945]
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