House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 31 Mar 1999 (pt 45)

Family Resources Survey

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 18 March 1999, Official Report, column 799, regarding tabulations of the Family Resources Survey, if he will place copies of the tabulations in the Library. [78876]

Mr. Timms: Yes. Copies of the tabulations will be placed in the Library as soon as possible.

Benefit Payments

Mr. Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate what the rates would be if they had been uprated in line with the increases in (i) prices and (ii) average earnings since they were introduced of (a) widow's payment, (b) capital limits for income support and family credit, (c) earnings disregard for income support, (d) earnings disregard for housing and council tax, (e) war pension disregard for income-related benefits, (f) income disregarded as income from a boarder, (g) maternity payment from the Social Fund, (h) capital limits for maternity and funeral payments from the Social Fund, (i) Christmas bonus and (j) 25p age additions to retirement pensions. [78793]

Mr. Timms: The information is in the table.

31 Mar 1999 : Column: 833

£

Benefit Rate when introduced Date of introduction Current rate Value at April 1999 if increased in line with prices since date introduced (40) Value at April 1999 if increased in line with earnings since date introduced (41)

Widow's payment 1,000 April 1988 1,000 1,608.15 1,827.15

Income Support--Capital limits

Lower 3,000 April 1988 3,000 4,627.35 5,481.25

Upper 6,000 April 1988 8,000 9,254.60 10,962.35

Child's 3,000 April 1988 3,000 4,627.35 5,481.25

Family Credit--Capital limits(44)

Lower 3,000 April 1988 3,000 4,627.35 5,481.25

Upper 6,000 April 1988 8,000 9,254.60 10,962.35

Child's 3,000 April 1988 3,000 4,627.35 5,481.25

Income Support 5.00 April 1988 5.00 7.70 9.20

Earnings 10.00 October 1996 10.00 10.70 11.40

Disregard(42) 15.00 April 1988 15.00 23.15 27.40

Housing Benefit 5.00 April 1988 5.00 7.70 9.20

Earnings 10.00 April 1988 10.00 15.35 18.35

Disregard(43) 15.00 April 1988 15.00 23.15 27.40

Housing Benefit/Family Credit Child Care Disregard(44) 40.00 October 1994 60.00 45.00 48.35

War Pension Disregard for income-related benefits(45) 5.00 April 1988 10.00 7.70 9.20

Income Disregarded as income from a boarder(46) 20.00 April 1988 20.00 30.90 36.55

Maternity Benefit from Social Fund 80.00 April 1987 100.00 127.35 157.55

Capital Limits for Maternity Benefit and Funeral Payment from the Social Fund

(under 60) 500.00 April 1987 500.00 795.85 984.85

(over 60) 1,000 April 1990 1,000 1,400.35 1,530.75

Christmas Bonus 10.00 December 1972 10.00 77.20 114.50

Retirement Pension--age addition 0.25 September 1971 0.25 1.80 3.05

					£
Benefit	Rate when introduced	Date of introduction	Current rate	Value at April 1999 if increased in line with prices since date introduced (40)	Value at April 1999 if increased in line with earnings since date introduced (41)
Widow's payment	1,000	April 1988	1,000	1,608.15	1,827.15
	Income Support--Capital limits
Lower	3,000	April 1988	3,000	4,627.35	5,481.25
Upper	6,000	April 1988	8,000	9,254.60	10,962.35
Child's	3,000	April 1988	3,000	4,627.35	5,481.25
	Family Credit--Capital limits(44)
Lower	3,000	April 1988	3,000	4,627.35	5,481.25
Upper	6,000	April 1988	8,000	9,254.60	10,962.35
Child's	3,000	April 1988	3,000	4,627.35	5,481.25
Income Support	5.00	April 1988	5.00	7.70	9.20
Earnings	10.00	October 1996	10.00	10.70	11.40
Disregard(42)	15.00	April 1988	15.00	23.15	27.40
Housing Benefit	5.00	April 1988	5.00	7.70	9.20
Earnings	10.00	April 1988	10.00	15.35	18.35
Disregard(43)	15.00	April 1988	15.00	23.15	27.40
Housing Benefit/Family Credit Child Care Disregard(44)	40.00	October 1994	60.00	45.00	48.35
War Pension Disregard for income-related benefits(45)	5.00	April 1988	10.00	7.70	9.20
Income Disregarded as income from a boarder(46)	20.00	April 1988	20.00	30.90	36.55
Maternity Benefit from Social Fund	80.00	April 1987	100.00	127.35	157.55
	Capital Limits for Maternity Benefit and Funeral Payment from the Social Fund
(under 60)	500.00	April 1987	500.00	795.85	984.85
(over 60)	1,000	April 1990	1,000	1,400.35	1,530.75
Christmas Bonus	10.00	December 1972	10.00	77.20	114.50
Retirement Pension--age addition	0.25	September 1971	0.25	1.80	3.05

(40) The Retail Prices Index (all items) has been used, except for the income-related benefits where the ROSSI index (Retail Prices Index less rent, local taxes and mortgage interest payments) as published by the Office for National Statistics.

(41) Average Earnings Index Whole Economy (Non Seasonally Adjusted) as published by the Office for National Statistics.

(42) Lone parents, the disabled and certain special occupations such as carers attract the highest disregard of £15, couples are eligible for a £10 disregard on their earnings and everyone else receives a £5 disregard.

(43) The £15 disregard for Housing Benefit was increased for lone parents to £25 in October 1990.

(44) The £40 child care disregard on Housing Benefit and Family Credit was increased to £60 in April 1996.

(45) War pensions £5 disregard was increased to £10 in April 1990.

(46) The total amount of income disregarded as income from a boarder is £20 for each boarder per week and 50 per cent. of the remaining income from the boarder after the £20 deduction has been made.

Note:

The figures have been rounded to the nearest 5 pence at each uprating date.

31 Mar 1999 : Column: 835

Asbestosis

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if any civilians employed in war-related work have received war pensions for asbestosis since 1969; [79038]

Mr. Bayley: Questions on operational matters concerning the War Pensions Agency are for its Chief Executive, Mr. Gordon Hextall. I have asked him to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Gordon Hextall to Mr. Ben Chapman, dated 30 March 1999:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the number of civilians employed in war related work who have received War Pensions for Asbestosis.

Unfortunately, the specific information you have requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. In answer to your earlier Parliamentary Question on this subject (Official Report 22 February 1999, Vol 326, Col 175) The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Social Security explained that as at 31 December 1998 (which is still the latest date for which figures are available), there were 3,183 civilians receiving a War Pension.

31 Mar 1999 : Column: 836

The War Pensions Agency does not keep statistics relating to the number of War Pensions in payment for specific medical conditions.

Although I cannot answer your specific questions, I have sought advice about these cases from our more experienced staff. I am told that it would be rare for a War Pension to be paid to a civilian for Asbestosis because a person would have to show that he was exposed to asbestos as a result of a specific incident involving enemy action during World War II. This type of incident would be rather unusual.

I hope this is helpful and if you need any further information, I will be happy to assist.

Task Forces

Dr. Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will list all those task forces and policy reviews with external members established by his Department since May 1997 which have set up (a) sub-groups, (b) working parties and (c) other subsidiary committees; [79257]

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Mr. Timms: The information is in the table.

31 Mar 1999 : Column: 835

DSS reviews (with external members) established since May 1997

Title Date established Working party Sub-group Other subsidiary committee Final report published Expected reports Terminated date Expected termination date

Review of the Scientific basis of the assessment of noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss in War Pensions Announced by Baroness Hollis 11 June 1997. Review team of independent hearing loss experts met on 19 November 1997 and January 1998 Yes, outcome of review announced on 5 March 1998. Copy of report was laid in the House of Commons Library in the same month n/a March 1998 n/a

Housing Benefit Simplification and Improvement project (HB SIP) September 1998 Yes--A working group, together with associated sub-groups, was established at official level with representatives from the local authority associations to explore ways of simplifying and improving the delivery of Housing Benefit No No, feeding into the Government's continuing work on the future of Housing Benefit n/a n/a n/a

The Pensions education Working Group (PEWG) September 1997 Yes June 1998. Currently helping to implement it's recommendations n/a n/a Second half of 1999

The Pension Provision Group (PPG) Summer 1997 PPG still in existence to look at self-employed--pension rights, Pension provision--flexible labour market and independent pensions organisation Report--We All Need Pensions--the Prospectus for pension provision Published June 1998. Any decision on possible publication will be taken individually on the following tasks upon completion: n/a End 1999

Response to the Pensions Green paper published March 1999 Position of the self-employed and how their pension rights might be improved

The Pension Provision Group cont'd The impact on pension provision of an increasingly flexible labour market. Proposals for an independent pensions organisation -- End 1999

31 Mar 1999 : Column: 837

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Index

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Title	Date established	Working party	Sub-group	Other subsidiary committee	Final report published	Expected reports	Terminated date	Expected termination date
Review of the Scientific basis of the assessment of noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss in War Pensions	Announced by Baroness Hollis 11 June 1997. Review team of independent hearing loss experts met on 19 November 1997 and January 1998				Yes, outcome of review announced on 5 March 1998. Copy of report was laid in the House of Commons Library in the same month	n/a	March 1998	n/a
Housing Benefit Simplification and Improvement project (HB SIP)	September 1998	Yes--A working group, together with associated sub-groups, was established at official level with representatives from the local authority associations to explore ways of simplifying and improving the delivery of Housing Benefit		No	No, feeding into the Government's continuing work on the future of Housing Benefit	n/a	n/a	n/a

The Pensions education Working Group (PEWG)	September 1997		Yes		June 1998. Currently helping to implement it's recommendations	n/a	n/a	Second half of 1999

The Pension Provision Group (PPG)	Summer 1997 PPG still in existence to look at self-employed--pension rights, Pension provision--flexible labour market and independent pensions organisation				Report--We All Need Pensions--the Prospectus for pension provision Published June 1998.	Any decision on possible publication will be taken individually on the following tasks upon completion:	n/a	End 1999
					Response to the Pensions Green paper published March 1999	Position of the self-employed and how their pension rights might be improved

The Pension Provision Group cont'd						The impact on pension provision of an increasingly flexible labour market. Proposals for an independent pensions organisation	--	End 1999