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Lead Water Pipes
Mr. Rhodri Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with Dwr Cymru in relation to the rate at which lead piping in the water supply system will be replaced (a) between the main road tapping point up to the customer's premises and (b) in the public mains supply. [9914]
Mr. Ron Davies: On 8 July, the drinking water inspectorate, which advises me on drinking water quality matters, published a report on "Nitrates, Pesticides and Lead 1995 and 1996" which describes the actions being taken by the water companies to reduce levels of lead in water supplies. The measures taken include the replacement of lead communication pipes and table 5.8 in that report includes the numbers of such pipes replaced by Dwr Cymru in 1995 and 1996. In addition, Dwr Cymru's response to the Government's 10-point plan launched at the water summit describes the grants available from the company to its customers toward the cost of replacing lead supply pipes and plumbing. Copies of both reports are in the Library of the House.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Incapacity Benefit
Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will review the eligibility criteria of the all work test, with particular reference to its application to people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome; and if she will make a statement. [3345]
Mr. Denham: We are aware of concerns about the way incapacity benefit all work tests are applied to sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome. As part of the general review of social security provision, we will look at a number of eligibility issues, including those surrounding the all work test, and seek to ensure that the test provides a fair assessment of incapacity for benefit purposes.
Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will review the length of the transition period between a failed all work test and the subsequent withdrawal of incapacity benefit. [3346]
Mr. Denham: The Government are committed to looking across the range of current social security provision to ensure that it meets our objectives for a modern welfare system to take us into the next century. A key priority will be to provide more support to enable people to make the transition from benefit into employment. In this context, we will look at what changes are necessary to ensure that the particular needs of people who have disabilities, or who have lost contact with the labour market through long-term sickness, are provided for.
Reduced Earnings Allowance
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people in the United Kingdom have received letters confirming the award of reduced earnings allowance (a) for life and (b) until a specified date beyond the date on which the benefit was abolished;[5378]
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Mr. Denham:
The information is not available in the format requested.
Any of the 24,000 over pension age reduced earnings allowance recipients who transferred to retirement allowance after March 1996 may have had earlier letters advising that their award would continue for life or a specified period.
We are currently reviewing the arrangements for the transfer of REA recipients to RA and will consider whether a circular letter to hon. Members would be appropriate when that review is completed.
Mr. Pond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the additional revenue resulting from the abolition of the upper earnings limit on the payment of national insurance contributions. [5458]
Mr. Denham:
An estimated £4.05 billion would be raised in a full year if the upper earnings limit on employees' class 1 contributions and the upper profits limit on class 4 contributions paid by self-employed people were removed and about 3.75 million people would become liable to pay more contributions.
The figures assume that the current 10 per cent. class 1 contribution rate would apply to earnings above the present upper earnings limit, the current 6 per cent. class 4 contribution rate would apply to profits above the present upper profits limit and that an upper earnings limit would remain in place for the calculation of employee and employer contracted-out rebates.
Source:
Government Actuary's Department.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications made to the War Pensions Agency in respect of asbestos-related conditions have not yet been determined. [6485]
Mr. Denham:
The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many war pensioners are in receipt of (a) a pension and (b) a gratuity in respect of (i) pleural plaques, (ii) diffuse pleural thickening, (iii) asbestosis, (iv) mesothelioma, (v) lung cancer and (iv) other conditions attributable to asbestos exposure during their service in (1) the Royal Navy, (2) the Royal Air Force and (3) the Army; [6493]
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Mr. Denham:
The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what assessment she has made of the impact on income of paying retirement pensions on the first Monday after a 65th birthday and not on the day on which a pensioner reaches pensionable age; [6850]
(3) what plans she has to review the payment of pensions on a weekly basis; and if she will make a statement; [6847]
(4) what estimate she has made of the annual cost of paying the retirement pension on the day on which a pensioner reaches pensionable age. [6849]
Mr. Denham:
The Government are committed to reviewing all the main areas of insecurity that affect pensioners. The key objectives of the review will be that pensioners should have an adequate income in retirement, that they should share fairly in rising national prosperity and that public finances should be both sustainable and affordable.
I have received a number of representations from hon. Members on the issue of retirement pension pay days. Retirement pension is a weekly benefit paid in advance from the first pay day, usually a Monday, on or after the 65th birthday. In assessing the impact on income, account needs to be taken of the fact that, although retirement pension is paid in advance, income received immediately preceding retirement, such as earnings and most social security benefits, are generally paid in arrears. Most pensioners are therefore entitled to a week's pension within a week of receiving their last income.
Account also needs to be taken of the fact that, as a consequence of the pension being paid in advance, any change of circumstances which would result in reduction of benefit, such as hospitalisation, is effective only from the next pay day. In addition, no benefit is recoverable in respect of the week in which the pensioner dies.
The estimated gross annual cost of paying retirement pension for the days between state pension age and the first retirement pension pay day is £22 million.
We will announce shortly our pensions review which will examine all aspects of the basic pension and its value. We will consider any representations that are submitted on this issue.
We will retain the basic state pension as the foundation of pension provision, increasing it at least in line with prices.
Notes
1. Estimate provided by the Government Actuary's Department. This cost is in 1997-98 prices and is the gross cost to the national insurance fund. Some £1 million of this cost would be offset by reduced payments of widow's benefit where cases transfer from widow's benefit to retirement pension.
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Mr. Prior:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list (a) the categories of people in receipt of cyclical social security, (b) the number of recipients in each category and (c) the total amount paid or forecast to be paid for each year between 1995 and 2002. [6809]
21 Jul 1997 : Column: 474
Mr. Keith Bradley:
Our objectives is to reduce poverty and welfare dependency and to promote work incentives. One of our first steps is to focus on helping people off welfare and into work.
The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
21 Jul 1997 : Column: 473
(2) if she will issue a circular letter to hon. Members to assist them in giving advice to constituents who receive letters from her Department confirming the award of reduced earnings allowance for life, or until a specified date beyond the date on which the benefit was abolished.[5377]
(2) if she will list the (a) highest, (b) lowest and (c) average pension and gratuity paid for asbestos-related conditions over the last five years in
respect of (i) pleural plaques, (ii) diffuse pleural thickening, (iii) asbestosis, (iv) mesothelioma and (v) lung cancer. [6491]
(2) what representations she has received in respect of financial loss for the days before the pay day following retirement; and if she will make a statement; [6848]
1. Figures for expenditure have been taken from the 1997 social security departmental report, tables 1, 4 and 5, and are given in £ millions. Estimates of expenditure for the years 2000-01 and 2001-02 are not available.
2. Figures for case load are based on data collected in February and are given in thousands. They are consistent with those given in tables 6 and 7 in the 1997 social security departmental report. Figures split by broad groups of recipients are not available for years after 1995-96 on the same basis. It is estimated that in 1995-96 135,000 people received both income support and unemployment benefit.
3. Figures given may not sum due to rounding.
4. Income support paid to a person aged 60 and above is treated as part of the social security control total--i.e. it is not cyclical social security--irrespective of whether that person would also fit one of the other categories listed in the table.
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21 Jul 1997 : Column: 473
Mr. Prior:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is her Department's definition of cyclical social security. [6810]
Mr. Bradley:
Cyclical social security is defined as the jobseeker's allowance and income support paid to people under the age of 60.
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