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Annuities
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the sum required to purchase an annuity of (a) £116 per week rising in line with average earnings for a couple aged 65 years with £75 rising with average earnings for a survivor and (b) £65 per week, rising in line with average prices for a female aged 50 years. [72610]
Mr. Timms: Annuities which increase in line with national average earning are not generally available.
An estimate has been made on the basis of current rates for annuities which increase in line with prices, adjusted to reflect assumed earnings growth relative to prices of 1.5 per cent. a year. It is estimated that a sum of £135,000 would be required to purchase an annuity of £116 a week, increasing in line with national average earnings, payable to a man aged 65, with an annuity of £75 a week payable on his death to his wife (assumed to be aged 62), also increasing in line with national average earnings.
On the basis of current rates for annuities which increase in line with prices, it is estimated that a sum of £85,000 would be required to purchase an annuity of £65 a week, increasing in line with prices, payable to a woman aged 50.
23 Feb 1999 : Column: 268
Mr. Rendel:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if Benefits Agency staff will review all new and repeat claims for jobseeker's allowance received since 20 June 1998, and cleared (a) on the basis of information from his Department's systems other than NIRS II and (b) on the basis of information from the claimant. [72370]
Mr. Timms:
A special exercise will be carried out to identify all new and repeat claims (system and clerical) to Jobseeker's Allowance processed during the NIRS closure period (20 June to 8 November 1998). Each claim identified will then be reviewed to ensure correct entitlement was paid. The special exercise will ensure that those claims paid on the basis of information provided by jobseekers are identified and reviewed.
A date has not yet been finalised when the special exercise will commence, but it is not expected to be before April 1999. The position will be kept under review but, depending on other work priorities impacting on the field, the intention is to clear the relevant cases by the end of this year.
Claims made since 9 November (the date NIRS2 became "live" for Jobseeker's Allowance) are automatically reviewed by the Jobseeker's Allowance computer system upon confirmation of contribution information supplied by NIRS2. These cases therefore will not require a special exercise to review entitlement.
Claims made from January which could not be assessed using information from NIRS2 have been assessed using other evidence. These cases will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, when contribution information is updated to NIRS2, as NIRS2 automatically notifies the JSA computer system of the revised details.
Mr. Ruffley:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list (a) the London barristers' chambers and (b) the London solicitors' firms that have performed services for his Department (i) since 1 May 1997 and (ii) in the equivalent period preceding that date, indicating the remuneration paid in each particular case. [70025]
Mr. Morley
[holding answer 8 February 1999]: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
My right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General appointed Philip Sales as First Junior Treasury Counsel (Common Law) and Jonathan Crow as First Junior Counsel (Chancery) to advise and represent the Government in their important civil cases. In addition the Attorney-General maintains at present two London panels of junior counsel from whom the Ministry's Legal Department instructs counsel to assist with its civil litigation. When the Ministry wishes to instruct counsel who are not on the panel, a nomination is obtained from the Attorney-General. The Ministry also obtains such nominations from the Attorney-General in all criminal cases where representation by counsel is necessary.
23 Feb 1999 : Column: 269
Mr. Berry:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what amounts in his Department's budget for 1998-99 can be attributed to spending on disabled people; and what proportion this represents of total departmental spending. [71284]
Mr. Morley:
MAFF's Programme of Action for Equality of Opportunity includes a number of provisions for staff with disabilities.
Managers are required to provide funding to meet reasonable adjustments for staff with disabilities from their own local budgets. This may be supplemented by funding from a central budget where there is a need for specialist equipment or additional help beyond the means of local budgets. No central record is kept of expenditure on staff with disabilities by local managers. The budgetary provision for central funding for 1998-99 is £67,500.
In addition to the funds available to meet adjustments for individual members of staff, audits have been undertaken of the accommodation in which staff work to identify where improvements in access or the provision of facilities for people with disabilities are needed. A programme of work is underway on which £1.1 million has been spent in the last three years. The budget for this programme for 1998-99 is £450,000. This expenditure is of benefit to both staff and MAFF's customers.
The Department also participates in the Employment Service's Supported Employment Scheme which provides work opportunities for people with severe disabilities. The 1998-99 budget is £53,000.
As responsibilities and operations related to disability are spread throughout the Department it is not possible to give the proportion of total departmental spending.
Mr. Don Foster:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many press releases have been issued by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies in each of the years 1990 to 1998. [71443]
Mr. Morley
[holding answer 16 February 1999]: The number of press notices issued by MAFF, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies in each of the years since 1990 was as follows:
Note:
Both capital sums quoted are rounded to the nearest £5,000.
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 408 |
| 1991 | 475 |
| 1992 | 436 |
| 1993 | 473 |
| 1994 | 493 |
| 1995 | 484 |
| 1996 | 430 |
| 1997 | 418 |
| 1998 | 499 |
| 1999 | (17)57 |
(17) As at 17 February 1999
Mr. Don Foster:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out the conventions governing the propriety and cost of press releases issued
23 Feb 1999 : Column: 270
by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies; and what is the total cost of the press releases issued since May 1997. [71458]
Mr. Morley
[holding answer 16 February 1999]: Rules governing the work of the GICS are laid down in the guidance on the work of the Government Information Service published by the Cabinet Office in July 1997. More specific guidance on the writing and issuing of press releases is given in the Working Guide for Government Information Officers. Copies of both documents are in the Libraries of the House.
The estimated total cost of press releases since May 1997 by MAFF and the agencies and the non- departmental public bodies for whom it distributes press releases is £55,000.
Mr. Don Foster:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list (a) those units in his Department and (b) the number of departmental staff which are concerned with preparing rebuttals of allegations in the media; and what is (i) the total cost of their work, including salaries, and (ii) the number of rebuttals issued since May 1997. [71845]
Mr. Morley
[holding answer 22 February 1999]: In common with other departments, the work of press officers in my department includes responding to any misinformed allegations concerning Government policy or activity which are published in the media. They are supported in this work by other officials as necessary.
Because this is a routine part of a department's work and it is not separately recorded from other tasks, to provide the further information requested would involve disproportionate cost.
Mr. Martlew:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to ensure that traditional British brandy and rum butters can continue to be marketed in the European Union. [73078]
Mr. Rooker:
I am pleased to announce that, following discussions with the industry, the European Commission and other Member States, we have managed to secure a derogation that will lower the minimum milkfat content of brandy, rum and sherry butters from 34 per cent. to 20 per cent., thereby ensuring that these traditional alcoholic butters can continue to be made using the traditional recipes enjoyed by the UK consumers for many years.
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