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Social Housing
Mr. Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish the technical report on the feasibility study into a new economic model to help estimate the demand and need for social housing in England. [23455]
Ms Armstrong: I have today placed in the Library of the House a technical report on a feasibility study to develop an economic model to help predict likely demand and need for social housing in England. The study was commissioned by the Department of the Environment in November 1995 and has been carried out by the Department of Applied Economics at Cambridge University. The study was encouraged by the work of the Select Committee on Housing Need, which also supported the potential value of economic analysis of housing need.
Previous estimates of social housing need produced by the Department were based on the extrapolation of past trends and did not take explicit account of economic
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variables. The economic model developed during this study projects the need for social housing in England over the period 1996 to 2006, and takes account of key economic factors such as unemployment, income growth and interest rates. Feeding these variables in to reflect a range of economic scenarios, it projects their likely impact on household formation, house prices, housing supply and housing choice. The model also analyses the cost effectiveness of different forms of support for households who might need help with their housing costs.
The model developed during the feasibility study has produced a range of projections of need for social housing but, as the report notes, these are not alternative forecasts of need. The projections are based on a range of assumptions. For example, assuming macroeconomic growth is high, unemployment low and social housing construction relatively expensive, the model projects a "low" annual average need for 22,000 lettings. Assuming low macroeconomic growth and unemployment at 9 per cent., the model predicts a "high" annual average need for 72,000 lettings.
This economic model is a significant step forward in the analysis of likely demand and need for social housing. The Department of Applied Economics have now begun further necessary research to develop and improve this national model, and to explore whether regional variants are feasible.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those gifts received by (a) the Queen and (b) other members of the Royal Family from heads of state during 1997 which have been given to the nation, indicating their estimated value. [20812]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 15 December 1997]: Official gifts received by The Queen from Heads of State in 1997 were:
It is not the normal practice to estimate the value of such gifts.
No other member of the Royal Family received gifts for the nation from Heads of State.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those Ministers who have advisers paid for in whole or in part by (a) commercial and (b) charitable concerns; and if he will make a statement. [22608]
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The Prime Minister
[holding answer 12 January 1998]: Ministers receive advice from a variety of sources including the Civil Service, consultants, consultative committees, advisory task forces and special and unpaid advisers. Details of the names of unpaid advisers and the appointing Minister in each case were given in my answer to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Mr. Hawkins) on 13 November 1997, Official Report, columns 615-17. Information on appointments of other external advisers and the funding of individual salaries is not held centrally.
Mr. Peter Bottomley:
To ask the Prime Minister if the request made in November by the consortium of organisations representing people with disabilities for a meeting with Ministers has been granted. [22583]
The Prime Minister:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security will be meeting representatives from the Disability Benefits Consortium.
Mr. Peter Bottomley:
To ask the Prime Minister what instructions were given to officials involved in reviewing disability allowances, benefits and income support; when the instructions were issued; who issued them; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [22584]
The Prime Minister:
Benefits paid to disabled people, their carers and people who have long-term health problems are included in the Department of Social Security's Comprehensive Spending Review. This review was announced on 11 June last year, and its terms of reference were published. A copy was placed in the Library on 24 July.
Mr. Peter Bottomley:
To ask the Prime Minister when he decided to take charge of the policy and review of disability allowances, benefits and income support. [22580]
The Prime Minister:
Responsibility for the Comprehensive Spending Review of Social Security, which includes benefits paid to disabled people and people with long-term health problems, rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security. Shortly before Christmas I established a separate group to look at the wider issues of welfare reform.
Mr. Peter Bottomley:
To ask the Prime Minister how long each main Cabinet meeting lasted since 1 May. [22597]
The Prime Minister:
No record is routinely kept of how long Cabinet meetings last.
Mr. Peter Bottomley:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will transfer financial provision for education and training in prisons to the Department for Education and Employment. [22585]
The Prime Minister:
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has no immediate plans for such a transfer, but all policy priorities and spending plans are subject to the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review. The Prison Service will continue to review how it can most effectively develop its core educational curriculum to meet the needs of all prisoners, particularly juveniles.
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Mr. Peter Bottomley:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the (a) agreed pay and (b) numbers employed by each Department in London of staff aged (i) 16, (ii) 17, (iii) 18 and (iv) 19 years. [22587]
The Prime Minister:
The information centrally available, which covers about 98 per cent. of the Civil Service, shows that at 1 April 1997 the number and average gross salary of staff of each age in the London Government Office region were as follows:
Two shell baskets and wall hanging
Silver salver
Bronze sculpture of giraffes
Wooden carving of a seated man
Set of silver tray, box and bowls
Silver model of boat
Carved wooden statue
Book of antiquarian maps
A pair of carpets
Silver tea-set, marble inlay table and a carved wooden elephant
Two water colours of orchids.
| Age | Number | Average salary (£) |
|---|---|---|
| (i) 16 | 3 | 9,552 |
| (ii) 17 | 24 | 9,790 |
| (iii) 18 | 73 | 9,717 |
| (iv) 19 | 168 | 9,930 |
Departments employing five or more staff in the 16-19 age group were as follows:
| Number aged 16-19 | |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | 18 |
| Cabinet Office, including OPS | 7 |
| HM Customs and Excise | 36 |
| Ministry of Defence | 17 |
| Department for Education and Employment | 42 |
| Home Office, including Prison Service | 34 |
| Inland Revenue, including Valuation Office | 32 |
| Lord Chancellor's Department | 17 |
| Department of Social Security | 43 |
| Crown Prosecution Service | 7 |
| Other Departments | 15 |
Summer Holiday (Costs)
Mr. Gale: To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost to public funds of arrangements made in respect of his civil servants and security staff, for his summer holiday in Tuscany. [22655]
The Prime Minister: The arrangements for Civil Servants accompanying me on my holiday in Tuscany were the same as for previous Prime Ministers staying abroad. Separate costs for these staff are not readily available.
The Metropolitan Police Special Branch provides protection for the Prime Minister throughout the year, whether he is in the UK or abroad, on official business or holiday. The security arrangements for my holiday in Tuscany were the same as for previous Prime Ministers staying abroad. The disaggregated costs of security during this trip are not available.
Ministerial Statements
Mr. Lilley: To ask the Prime Minister if it is his policy to require that Ministers who have misled the House make a statement correcting the record. [22279]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 12 January 1998]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Worthing, West (Mr. Bottomley) on 26 June 1997, Official Report, column 609.
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