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Immunisation (Disability Compensation)
Mr. Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will review the compensation available for people disabled by immunisation. [7238]
Mr. Denham: The Vaccine Damage Payment scheme is currently being considered.
Income Support
Mr. Wicks: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will give a breakdown of the current numbers of people claiming and in receipt of income support by (a) duration, (b) client group and (c) local authority area. [8514]
Mr. Bradley: The information has been placed in the Library.
Child Support Agency
Mr. McWalter: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make it her policy to abolish the Child Support Agency. [9020]
Mr. Bradley: Children are entitled to the support of both parents wherever they live. The receipt of regular maintenance is a key part of our programme for helping lone parents into work and we are determined to ensure that all absent parents honour their responsibilities to their children. We intend to look closely at all aspects of the Child Support Agency to ensure that it provides an efficient and effective service. Our key objectives for the Agency during the coming year are to sort out cases faster, tackle the backlog of cases and pursue fathers who avoid paying.
Disability Living Allowances (Parkinson's Disease)
Mr. Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will (a) list and (b) make a statement on recent amendments to the rules for Parkinson's disease sufferers' entitlement to disability living allowances.[9110]
Mr. Denham:
Entitlement to Disability Living Allowance is based not on specific disabilities, but on the effects that a person's disability has on their need for help with personal care and/or mobility needs. There are no particular rules relating to the claims from people with Parkinson's Disease.
17 Jul 1997 : Column: 243
Self-employed Building Contractors
Mr. Collins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what legislative changes affecting the tax status of self-employed building contractors (a) have been made since 1994 and (b) are planned for the future; when such changes will take effect; what penalties are provided for non-compliance; and if he will make a statement. [7458]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 11 July 1997]: Legislation contained in the 1995 Finance Act introduces new rules governing entitlement to subcontractors' tax certificates. Further legislation in the 1996 Finance Act provides for the introduction of registration cards for those subcontractors who will not qualify for certificates under the new rules. The Inland Revenue are continuing to discuss with industry representatives the legislation which will contain more detailed arrangements for the scheme. An announcement will be made shortly about the implementation of these changes. Penalties of up to £3,000 will be chargeable for certain offences under the scheme.
Endowment Mortgages
Mr. Fabricant: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the changes in tax credit provisions in the Budget on the maturation of with-profits endowment mortgages; and if he will make a statement. [7896]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 15 July 1997]: The changes to the tax credit provisions should have very little, if any, effect on the maturity benefits from ordinary life assurance policies, including those used to back mortgages. Tax credits are not generally paid to insurance companies in respect of the investments supporting this type of business.
Pocket Budget
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of preparing, printing and distributing the pocket Budget edition of the Budget proposals. [8927]
Mrs. Liddell: The Treasury has for some years printed and distributed a "popular" short-form version of the Budget. The final cost for this year will depend on the demand for copies but is expected to be around £50,000.
Consumer Expenditure
Mr. Colvin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which of his Budget proposals he estimates will reduce consumer expenditure. [7578]
Dawn Primarolo: The Budget tightens fiscal policy in a balanced way and puts the public finances on a sound long-term footing.
Departmental Budgets
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, following the recent Budget, he will give his estimate of the total real level of his Department's budget, in 1995-96 prices, in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99; if he will estimate what such figures were
17 Jul 1997 : Column: 244
for (1) 1997-98 and (2) 1998-99 following the November 1996 Budget on the basis of the estimates of the GDP deflator contained in that Budget; and if he will make a statement. [8321]
Mr. Darling
[holding answer 14 July 1997]: The figures requested for the spending plans of the Chancellors' Departments within the Control Total are as follows: (a) £3,000 million, (b) £2,949 million, (1) £3,027 million, (2) £2,999 million.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what new plans he has to introduce cuts and savings in his Department as a result of the effect on his Department's budgets for 1997-98 and 1998-99 of the upward revisions to the GDP deflators in the Budget on 2 July; and if he will make a statement. [8322]
Mr. Darling
[holding answer 14 July 1997]: All Departments are reallocating spending within their Departmental ceilings as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Mr. Bernard Jenkin:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effects of the Budget changes to ACT on the hon. Members' pension fund surplus or deficit; and if he will review the decision concerning whether the hon. Members' scheme should remain opted out of SERPS. [8477]
Dawn Primarolo
[holding answer 14 July 1997]: These are matters for the Scheme's trustees and the House Authorities in consultation with their professional advisers.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on stationery provision in respect of paper items in each of the last five years.[8865]
Mrs. Liddell:
The amount spent on paper by the Treasury in each of the last five years was:
In real terms, the amount spent has declined by 10 per cent. between 1992-93 and 1996-97.
Mr. Timms:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy towards economic and monetary union.[9758]
Mr. Gordon Brown:
Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) will have profound implications for British businesses and the British economy whether Britain is in or out. Britain's national interest demands a better informed and more reasoned debate than we have had in the past.
17 Jul 1997 : Column: 245
I have therefore announced the publication of a report on the pros and cons of EMU. Copies are available in the Vote Office. The report was first published by David Currie earlier this year for the Economist Intelligence Unit. The Government has republished it today, in a shorter and more accessible form.
I have also announced that the Treasury will publish on 24 July a practical guide for businesses on EMU. Copies of the guide will also be available from the Vote Office. The aim of this is to give businesses the information they need to make the preparations that are necessary whether or not we join EMU.
I announced today that I shall be establishing an advisory group with senior representatives from across the private sector, to discuss matters of common concern about the practical implications for business of EMU.
The Government's policy towards EMU has not changed. Those countries that choose to take part in EMU must do so on the basis of sustainable convergence as set out in the Maastricht Treaty. Any decision about Britain joining the single currency will be determined by a hard headed assessment of Britain's economic interests.
While nothing has been ruled out, there are still formidable obstacles to the UK joining the single currency in the first wave.
Ms Lawrence:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the amounts for 1997-98 resulting from the carry forward of underspends allowed under the end-year flexibility schemes for capital, running costs, health, EU structural funds and nationalised industries expenditure.[9759]
Mr. Darling:
A list of amounts for end-year flexibility totalling £198 million for capital expenditure; £387 million for running costs; £234 million for health expenditure; £499 million for EU structural funds and £63 million for Nationalised Industries expenditure is shown in tables that have been placed in the Library.
1992-93: £95,518
1993-94: £73,182
1994-95: £89,417
1995-96: £96,310
1996-97: £94,729.
17 Jul 1997 : Column: 247
17 Jul 1997 : Column: 248
| Class, vote | Description of expenditure | £ thousands | |
|---|---|---|---|
| XI, 1 | Hospital, community health, family health and related services, England | 91,218 | |
| XI, 2 | Department of Health administration, miscellaneous health and personal social services, England | 12,188 | |
| XIII, 4 | Hospital, community health, family health, other health services and welfare food, Scotland | 48,135 | |
| XIII, 5 | Law, order and protective services, police grant and social work services, Scotland | 699 | |
| XIII, 6 | Scottish Office: administration | 233 | |
| XIV, 3 | Roads and transport, housing, other environmental services, Cadw, arts and libraries, health and personal social services, ERDF and Welsh Office administration, Wales431 | ||
| XIV, 4 | Hospital, community health, family health services and other health services (part), Wales | 10,978 | |
| NHS Trusts (Scotland) | Scottish Office | 19,167 | |
| NHS Trusts (Wales) | Welsh Office | 15,442 | |
| NID 1 | Northern Ireland Office Services in Northern Ireland broadly analogous to services in Great Britain covered by cash limits but including family practitioner services37,479 | ||
| Total health end year flexibility | 235,970 | ||
17 Jul 1997 : Column: 249
| £ thousands | ||
|---|---|---|
| British Waterways Board | 470 | |
| Civil Aviation Authority | 3,800 | |
| London Transport | 28,000 | |
| Jubilee Line | 30,000 | |
| Caledonian Macbrayne | 300 | |
| Highlands and Islands Airports | 200 | |
| Total nationalised industries end year flexibility | 62,770 | |
17 Jul 1997 : Column: 250
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