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CABINET OFFICE
Genetic Modification
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) on how many occasions (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department have (i) spoken with and (ii) received representations regarding genetic modification from Cathy McGlynn of Bell Pottinger; [72060]
- (2) on how many occasions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have (i) spoken with and (ii) received representations regarding genetic modification from Dave Hill of Bell Pottinger; [72064]
(3) on how many occasions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have (i) spoken with and (ii) received representations regarding genetic modification from Mr. Stan Greenberg of Greenberg Research. [72247]
Dr. Jack Cunningham [holding answer 23 February 1999]: I and my officials are in regular contact with representatives of all those with an interest in biotechnology--including environmental groups, consumer groups and biotechnology companies. It is not the normal practice of governments to give details of specific meetings with private individuals or companies.
British Business (Regulations)
Dr. Cable: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimates the Government have made of the cumulative impact on British business of changes in the degree and level of regulation since 1 May 1997. [71609]
Mr. Kilfoyle: Since the election, we have regularly published Command Papers listing all the regulations which have been introduced within the previous six months. We have also published Compliance Cost Assessments to accompany all new regulations with an impact on business. Since last August that requirement extended to the Regulatory Impact Assessment which better focused on benefits as well as costs.
The cost of new regulations, as reported in Compliance Cost and Regulatory Impact Assessments, provides a helpful snapshot of the initial burden imposed by new regulations. However, the type and incidence of the burden imposed by each regulation can be quite different
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and the costs cannot be added together so as to produce a figure which, on its own, has any real meaning. The Government do not therefore publish cumulative figures.
However, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his Pre-Budget Report, asked the Better Regulation Task Force to examine the relationship between regulations and productivity. The Task Force will shortly offer initial findings on the impact of regulations on business start-up, success and growth and will publish a full report in the summer.
National Insurance
Ms Rosie Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of extending entitlement to jobseeker's allowance to national insurance (a) class 2 contributors and (b) class 4 contributors. [70434]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 11 February 1999]: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
It is possible to provide information only in respect of those who claim contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance but fail to qualify because they are class 2 contributors. It is estimated that the cost of extending contribution-based jobseekers allowance to this group is around £15 million per year.
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There will be a further group of class 2 contributors who do not currently claim Jobseeker's Allowance, for example because they know that they would not qualify for benefit through either the contribution or income-based route. The figure provided will therefore underestimate the total cost of extending contribution- based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) to all class 2 contributors.
Mr. Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the numbers of individuals who will lose entitlement under his changes to widows benefits and the numbers who as a result will claim means-tested assistance. [72190]
Angela Eagle
[holding answer 22 February 1999]: Precise estimates of this kind are not available. The estimates that follow give our best estimate of the numbers who might be affected but are subject to a wide range of uncertainty. They are based on survey data and the circumstances of those present in the survey may differ from those affected by the policy change. Estimates are rounded to the nearest 10,000.
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Notes:
1. Estimate based on JSA 1 per cent. sample of claimants, linked to the Lifetime Labour Market Database.
2. Estimate rounded to nearest £5 million.
3. Estimate is for Great Britain.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average reduction in numbers receiving contributory bereavement benefits | Less than 5,000 | 20,000 | 40,000 |
| Average increase in numbers receiving Income Support | Less than 5,000 | Less than 5,000 | 10,000 |
| Average increase in numbers receiving Housing Benefit | Less than 5,000 | Less than 5,000 | Less than 5,000 |
| Average increase in numbers receiving Council Tax Benefit | Less than 5,000 | Less than 5,000 | Less than 5,000 |
Notes:
1. Estimates use information from the 1995-96 Family Resources Survey, the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry and forecasts from the Government Actuary's Department concerning the number of women affected by the proposed changes.
2. Estimates assume that a constant proportion over time of those affected by the proposed Bereavement Benefits move on to each of the means-tested benefits.
3. Estimates across means-tested benefits cannot be summed to provide an estimate of the total number of people affected by the changes.
25 Feb 1999 : Column: 431
Departmental Expenditure
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his Department's total expenditure on purchases of (a) vehicles, (b) computers and (c) properties, since 1 May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [72811]
| £ | ||
|---|---|---|
| Departmental total | ||
| Expenditure on purchases from 1 May 1997 to 31 March 1998 | ||
| Vehicles | 3,897,331.67 | |
| Computers | 16,506,705.25 | |
| Properties | 0 | |
| Expenditure on purchases from 1 April 1998 to 31 January 1999 | ||
| Vehicles | 2,365,947.68 | |
| Computers | 12,242,485.77 | |
| Properties | 0 | |
25 Feb 1999 : Column: 432
Private Sector Resource Initiative
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what date the transfer of the Department's estate as part of the Private Sector Resource Initiative was agreed; and if he will make a statement. [72812]
Angela Eagle: The decision to transfer the ownership and management of the Department's estate and to procure a private sector supplier of serviced accommodation, via the PRIME (Private sector Resource Initiative for Management of the Estate) initiative, was first announced on 28 June 1996.
All the projects that we inherited, and which involved the outsourcing of work, were reviewed and tested against the Government's new strengthened criteria for involvement of the private sector to ensure that they would work and that they were fair to customers, taxpayers and staff alike. PRIME fully passed this test and we agreed to proceed with the project in support of our commitment to modernise the delivery of Social Security.
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The announcement was made on 31 July 1997, Official Report, columns 591-94, by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Social Security.
A contract was formally signed with the preferred supplier PPM (Partnership Property Management), now Trillium Group, at midday on 24 December 1997 and the property transfer was effected on 1 April 1998.
Mr. Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportions of written parliamentary questions for answer on a named day have been given substantive answers on that day in the current session. [73122]
Mr. Timms:
In the current Parliamentary year we have received 360 Parliamentary Questions for answer on a named day, of these 331 (92 per cent.) were given a substantive answer.
This Department aims to give a holding reply to no more than 10 per cent. of all Parliamentary Questions for answer on a named day. However where detailed work has to be carried out by the Department's analytical branches or the Government's Actuary Department a full response cannot always be provided in the time allowed.
Mr. Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list by income decile the numbers of (a) gainers and (b) losers, and the average amount gained or lost, from the proposed changes to bereavement benefits. [73262]
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