| Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security |
| *1 |
Mr David Borrow (South Ribble): What assessment he has made of the responses to the Pensions Green Paper received to date. |
| (68005) |
| *2 |
Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): What plans he has to review the payment of those benefits under which vouchers are issued to employees. |
| (68006) |
| *3 |
Mr Syd Rapson (Portsmouth North): What assessment he has made of the responses to the Green Paper on tackling fraud in the benefit system. |
| (68007) |
| *4 |
Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton): If he will make a statement on the work of the Child Support Agency Independent Case Examiner; and how many cases are currently pending a decision. |
| (68008) |
| *5 |
Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North): What proposals he has to introduce changes to jobseeker's allowance. |
| (68009) |
| *6 |
Ms Rosie Winterton (Doncaster Central): If he will make a statement on the implementation of the minimum income guarantee for pensioners. |
| (68011) |
| *7 |
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): How many lone parents have been sent a letter about the New Deal for Lone Parents since July 1997; and how many of these (a) have received a job and (b) remain in that job under the scheme. |
| (68012) |
| *8 |
Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): If he will make a statement on his Department's role in the Single Work Focused Gateway. |
| (68013) |
| *9 |
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire): What increase in his Department's budget he expects between financial years 1997-98 and 2001-02 attributable to decisions made since 1st May 1997. |
| (68014) |
| *10 |
Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow): If he will make a statement on the habitual residence test. |
| (68015) |
| *11 |
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): If he will publish summaries of responses to his Department's consultation papers. |
| (68016) |
| *12 |
Mr Ian Pearson (Dudley South): What proposals he has to encourage saving for retirement. |
| (68017) |
| *13 |
Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): What plans he has to ensure that his welfare reforms encourage self reliance. |
| (68018) |
| *14 |
Maria Eagle (Liverpool, Garston): What recent representations he has received on the Benefits Integrity Project. |
| (68019) |
| *15 |
Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East): How many complaints he has received about the CSA since 1st January. |
| (68020) |
| *16 |
Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North and Fleetwood): What additional support he plans to provide to carers. |
| (68021) |
| *17 |
Mr Tim Collins (Westmorland and Lonsdale): How many responses to the Green Paper on Pensions he has received to date. |
| (68022) |
| *18 |
Ms Hazel Blears (Salford): What training will be provided to personal advisers working for the New Deal for the Disabled. |
| (68023) |
| *19 |
Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough): How many responses to the Green Paper on Pensions he has received to date. |
| (68024) |
| *20 |
Mr Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): What assessment he has made of the difficulties faced by those on low and modest incomes in providing for their retirement. |
| (68025) |
| *21 |
Mr Tony McNulty (Harrow East): If he will make a statement on the role of personal advisers in his plans for welfare reform. |
| (68026) |
| *22 |
Bob Russell (Colchester): What plans he has to increase the over 80 age addition to the basic state pension. |
| (68027) |
| *23 |
Mr Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe and Sale East): What action he is taking to ensure that all eligible pensioners claim the minimum income guarantee. |
| (68028) |
| *24 |
Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley): How many families in the North West at present receive family credit. |
| (68029) |
| *25 |
Ms Margaret Moran (Luton South): What measures he intends to take to reform the administration of housing benefit. |
| (68031) |
| *26 |
Mrs Eileen Gordon (Romford): If he will make a statement on progress on the Active, Modern Service programme. |
| (68032) |
| *27 |
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): What plans he has to improve the pensions of long term disabled people. |
| (68034) |
| *28 |
Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): If he will make a statement on the support available for the poorest pensioners. |
| (68035) |
| *29 |
Ms Claire Ward (Watford): What measures his Department is taking to assist lone parents to find work. |
| (68037) |
| *30 |
Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury): What representations he has received in response to the Government's Green Paper, Partnership in Pensions, (Cm 4179). |
| (68038) |
| *31 |
Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet): What assessment he has made of the impact of the Government's proposed pensions reforms upon marginal savers. |
| (68039) |
| *32 |
Mr Gerry Sutcliffe (Bradford South): What plans he has to assist parents with the costs of raising children. |
| (68040) |
| *33 |
Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): What steps he is taking to review the operation of housing benefit. |
| (68041) |
| *34 |
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St. Edmunds): What representations he has received regarding the level of his Department's planned total spending for (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-2000 and (i) 2000-01; and if he will make a statement. |
| (68042) |
| *35 |
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): What measures he is taking to increase financial security for retired people. |
| (68043) |
| *36 |
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): What increase in the basic state pension would be required to take it to the level of the EU average. |
| (68044) |
|
| Main Business |
| + 2 |
SOCIAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTIONS (TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS, ETC.) BILL [LORDS]: Second Reading. [Until 10.00 p.m.] |
| | Mr William Hague
Mr Peter Lilley
Mr Iain Duncan Smith
Mr Quentin Davies
Mr Eric Pickles
Mr James Arbuthnot |
| | That this House declines to give the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Bill [Lords] a Second Reading because the effect of the Bill will be to facilitate the ending of the contributory principle, leading to the wider application of the means test, which will have a detrimental effect on the public and particularly pensioners; and because the major practical difficulties in transferring functions relating to social security contributions to the Treasury have not been overcome. |
| Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m. |
| + 3 |
SOCIAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTIONS (TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS, ETC.) BILL [LORDS] [MONEY]: Queen's Recommendation signified. [No debate] |
| | Mrs Barbara Roche
That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Bill [Lords], it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money provided by Parliament of--
(a) any expenses incurred by a Minister of the Crown or government department under the Act, and
(b) any increase attributable to the Act in the sums which under any other Act are payable out of money so provided. |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 52(1)(a)). |
| + 4 |
SOCIAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTIONS (TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS, ETC.) BILL [LORDS] [WAYS AND MEANS] [No debate] |
| | Mrs Barbara Roche
That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Bill [Lords], it is expedient to authorise a payment out of the National Insurance Fund into the Consolidated Fund in respect of payments made under section 42A(3) of the Pension Schemes Act 1993. |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 52(1)(a)). |
| + 5 |
NORTHERN IRELAND [No debate] |
| | Secretary Marjorie Mowlam
That the draft Departments (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, which was laid before this House on 26th January, be approved. |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)). |
| + 6 |
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE [No debate after 10.00 p.m.] |
| | Margaret Beckett
That, at the sitting on 11th February, notwithstanding Standing Order No. 16 (Proceedings under an Act or on European Union documents), the Speaker shall--
(i) put the Questions on the Motions in the name of Mr Secretary Michael relating to Local Government Finance (Wales) not later than Four o'clock;
(ii) put the Questions on the Motions in the name of Mr Secretary Dewar relating to the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 1999 and the draft Housing Support Grant (Scotland) Order 1999 not later than one and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings on the first such Motion; and
(iii) put the Questions on any Motions in the name of Mr Secretary Dewar relating to the draft Scotland Act 1998 (Transitional and Transitory Provisions) (Finance) Order 1999 and the draft Scotland Act 1998 (Transitional and Transitory Provisions) (Appropriations) Order 1999 not later than Seven o'clock. |
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m. |
| + 7 |
FOOD STANDARDS [No debate after 10.00 p.m.] |
| | Margaret Beckett
Mr Nicholas Brown |
| | That a select committee of thirteen Members be appointed to report on the draft bill on the Food Standards Agency (Cm. 4249);
That Ms Diana Organ, Ms Sally Keeble, Audrey Wise, Dr Howard Stoate, Dr Lewis Moonie, Mr Martyn Jones, Mr Kevin Barron, Dr Stephen Ladyman, Mr Owen Paterson, Mr David Curry, Mr Robert Walter, Dr Peter Brand and the Reverend Martin Smyth be members of the Committee;
That the Committee have power
(a) to send for persons, papers and records;
(b) to sit notwithstanding any adjournment of the House;
(c) to adjourn from place to place within the United Kingdom;
(d) to appoint specialist advisers; and
(e) to communicate to any select committee of either House their evidence and any other documents relating to matters of common interest; and
That the Committee shall report by 31st March 1999. |
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m. |
| COMMITTEE MEETINGS |
| SELECT COMMITTEES |
| 1 |
Northern Ireland Affairs |
10.00 a.m.
10.30 a.m. |
Castle Buildings,
Stormont, Belfast
(private)
(public) |
| Subject: Non-Departmental Public Bodies in Northern Ireland: The Work of the Sports Council. |
| Witnesses: The Sports Council of Northern Ireland. |
| 2 |
Welsh Affairs |
12.30 p.m.
12.45 p.m. |
The Council Chamber,
Vale of Glamorgan
Offices, Barry (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Childcare in Wales. |
| Witnesses: Chwarae Teg; Trades Union Congress, Wales. |
| 3 |
Northern Ireland Affairs |
2.15 p.m.
2.30 p.m. |
Castle Buildings,
Stormont, Belfast
(private)
(public) |
| Subject: Christmas and New Year Failure of Supplies. |
| Witnesses: Northern Ireland Electricity. |
| 4 |
Health |
4.30 p.m. |
Room 6 (private) |
| 5 |
Public Accounts |
4.30 p.m. |
Room 15 (public) |
| Subject: The Final Accounts of Chessington Computer Centre, Recruitment and Assessment Services and the Occupational Health and Safety Agency. |
| Witnesses: Sir Robin Mountfield, KCB, Permanent Secretary, and Mr Keith Tolladay, Head of Finance and Planning, Cabinet Office. |
| [The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.] |
|
| Written Questions tabled on Friday 5th February for answer today++ |
1
| Mr Russell Brown (Dumfries): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what progress has been made with the Government's National Strategy for Carers. |
| (70302) |
2
| Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will assist salmon farmers in the Highlands and Islands to meet the costs of eradicating infectious salmon anaemia; and if he will make a statement. |
| (70303) |
3
| Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, on how many occasions proceedings have taken place under section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act 1998; and if he will make a statement. |
| (70304) |
4
| Mr A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed): To ask Mr Attorney General, on how many occasions he has given his consent for proceedings to take place under sections 5 to 7 of the Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act 1998; on how many occasions his powers under the Act have been revoked by order of the Secretary of State for the Home Department; and if he will make a statement. |
| (70305) |
5
| Mr Derek Twigg (Halton): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make available details of his travel arrangements for attending international meetings of finance ministers in September 1997. |
| (70306) |
|
