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Student Fees
Mr. Gorrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the income to be raised by fees paid by students resident in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for their attendance at the fourth year or subsequent years of first degree courses at Scottish universities or colleges in the current year and each of the next five years. [67500]
Mrs. Liddell [holding answer 27 January 1999]: Students subject to the requirement to make a contribution to fees will not be in the fourth year of a course at a Scottish university or college until academic year 2001-02. The income to be raised in respect of fourth year fees from English, Welsh and Northern Ireland students for academic years 1998-99, 1999-2000 and 2000-01 is therefore zero. At current prices it has been estimated that contributions which will be paid by students domiciled in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be approximately £2 million in academic year 2001-02 and thereafter. From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
McMillan Conversion Course
Mrs. Fyfe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, in relation to the McMillan two year open learning conversion course for second-level registered nurses (a) the level of funding provided, (b) the planned increase in funding and (c) the estimated number who will qualify each year; and if he will issue guidance to trusts on the selection of students for this course and on leave for attending. [67678]
Mr. Galbraith: The McMillan two-year open learning course is one of several different courses in Scotland for the conversion of second level to first level nurses. The Scottish Office funds some places on such courses through its contracts with Universities and Colleges for pre-registration nursing and midwifery education. However, education institutions have flexibility to decide, in the light of local demand, how many places to allocate to conversion courses and how many to other courses covered by their contracts. It is also for them to determine the nature of their second to first level conversion courses. Many do so through open learning, and some use the course published by McMillan.
The number of places taken up in 1998-99 and 1999-2000 will depend on the demand for second level conversion courses. During 1996-97, 274 second level nurses in Scotland completed conversion courses. In 1997-98, the number was 310. These figures include nurses funded by their employer or privately as well as those funded by The Scottish Office.
The only criteria required for entry to a second-level conversion course is that the candidate is a second level registered nurse. The nature of open learning is that students do not require leave to attend the course. They do, however, require to undertake a period of clinical experience. Most of this can be done in the area in which the second level nurse normally works.
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Mr. Maude:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what additional legislation, not currently before Parliament, was assumed in the production of his Department's spending allocation for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 in the Comprehensive Spending Review. [68414]
Mr. Timms:
There is a long-standing convention that legislative proposals for each year are not announced before the Queen's Speech at the start of the relevant Session.
Mr. Alan Keen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations were received on the Pensions Review; and how many recommended an increase in the (a) level and (b) scope of the basic state pension. [68704]
Mr. Timms:
A total of 2,228 responses were received by the Pensions Review. The information on the content of the responses is not available in the form requested. 661 of the responses raised the issue of the uprating of the basic state pension; and 1,002 raised other issues relating to the basic state pension.
Mr. Gordon Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the impact of the single room rent provision for those aged under 25 years on (i) rent arrears and (ii) homelessness, on that age group. [68702]
Angela Eagle:
Together with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Department has commissioned the London Research Centre to investigate Housing Benefit and the private rented sector. The study includes interviews with young people who have had their Housing Benefit restricted under the single room rent (SRR) rules, as well as with other tenants, landlords, Housing Benefit Officers and Rent Officers. The study has been conducted in six case study areas and will provide evidence on the effects of the SRR and on rent arrears, though not directly on homelessness, which is difficult to establish. The report is expected to be published in the Spring.
The Department has received a number of reports from outside organisations which present findings of studies into the impact of the single room rent provision. These reports are localised and they vary in their scope and quality. All these reports, together with the findings of a study funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, are being considered by the Department.
Mr. Gordon Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals have been subject to the single room rent provision for those aged under 25 years in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [68699]
4 Feb 1999 : Column: 779
Angela Eagle:
The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
As at 31 May 1997, 29,000 individuals aged under 25 years were subject to the single room rent provision, and of these 16,000 had their rent restricted. The May 1998 data will be published at the end of this month.
Mr. Gordon Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what representations he has received on the single room rent provision for those aged under 25 years; [68706]
(3) what plans he has to meet with welfare and voluntary sector organisations to discuss the single room rent provision for under 25 year olds. [68826]
Angela Eagle:
Representations about the single room rent (SRR) provision for under 25 year olds have been received from hon. Members, members of the public and a variety of voluntary and charitable organisations. We are reviewing with the Local Authority Associations the Housing Benefit rules with a view to simplifying and improving the scheme. The SRR rules form part of that review. We have already met with a number of these organisations to invite their views.
Mr. Gordon Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what assessment he has made of the impact of the single room rent provision for those aged under 25 years on the take-up of employment by that group; [68703]
(3) what assessment has been made of the number of persons who have changed accommodation as a result of the single room rent provision for those aged under 25 years. [68707]
Angela Eagle:
The information is not available.
Mr. Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many payments to private pension schemes have been delayed due to computer difficulties; how many payments have been delayed (a) up to three, (b) three to six, (c) six to nine, (d) nine to 12 and (e) over 12 months, indicating the size of the compensation payments for each of these groups; and if payments will take account of changes in the equity market. [68823]
Mr. Timms:
The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
The calculation of the National Insurance Rebates contains an assumption that they are paid in the October following the end of the tax year for which they are due. Normally around 90 per cent. of payments have been made by that date, and a further 95 per cent. by December.
4 Feb 1999 : Column: 780
This year by October, 14 per cent. had been paid, and by December, 46 per cent. Currently, 67 per cent. has been paid.
Source:
Housing Benefit Management Information System annual 1 per cent. sample taken at the end of May 1997.
(2) what plans he has to review the single room rent provision for those aged under 25 years; and if he will make a statement; [68700]
(2) what assessment he has made of the level of housing benefit fraud linked to the single room rent provision for those aged under 25 years; [68701]
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