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Hospital Food (Waste)
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of hospital food which is thrown away annually in England and Wales. [87281]
Mr. Denham: The information requested is not available centrally. However, National Health Service trusts have been advised to monitor food waste regularly and record the value of waste against explicit targets to demonstrate that food budgets are properly used.
Mental Health Tribunal (Removal)
Mr. Stringer:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health in how many cases under section 86 of the Mental Health Act 1983 the Mental Health Review Tribunal has refused to give its approval to removal since 1983. [87467]
21 Jun 1999 : Column: 293
Mr. Hutton:
The information requested is not available centrally.
Housing Benefit
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to abolish the single room rent limits for housing benefit; and if he will make a statement. [87175]
Angela Eagle: We are currently examining all the available research evidence, including our own research, to ascertain the impact of rent restrictions on tenants and the private rental market. We will take account of the findings in our current review of Housing Benefit.
Mortgage Interest Payments
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the expenditure in each of the last five years on the provision of help with mortgage interest payments for (a) all income support claimants and (b) lone parents receiving income support. [87176]
Angela Eagle: The information is in the table.
| Year | Number of claimants | Estimated annual expenditure £ million |
|---|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 550,000 | 1,137 |
| 1994-95 | 517,000 | 995 |
| 1995-96 | 488,000 | 996 |
| 1996-97 | 377,000 | 671 |
| 1997-98 | 295,000 | 501 |
| Year | Number of claimants | Estimated expenditure £ million |
|---|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 94,000 | 99 |
| 1997-98 | 67,000 | 144 |
| Year | Number of claimants | Estimated annual expenditure £ million |
|---|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 120,000 | 280 |
| 1994-95 | 120,000 | 274 |
| 1995-96 | 116,000 | 291 |
| 1996-97 | 101,000 | 233 |
| 1997-98 | 86,000 | 201 |
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| Year | Number of claimants | Estimated expenditure £ million |
|---|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 2,000 | 2 |
| 1997-98 | 2,000 | 4 |
Notes:
1. Figures are based on a 1 per cent. sample in May 1993 and a 5 per cent. sample thereafter.
2. Figures are based on an average of payments and numbers of claimants in the inquiry week using an average of the four quarters of the financial year.
3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand, and the estimated annual expenditure is rounded to the nearest million pounds.
4. Prior to November 1995 figures on amounts of Income Support Mortgage Interest paid to claimants were published in the Quarterly Statistical Enquiry. From November 1995 onwards these have been replaced by figures on housing costs payable to claimants with mortgage interest payments. This change is due to alterations in Income Support rules and provides a more accurate reflection of the help actually provided to claimants under the housing cost rules. From 1993-94 onwards, the estimates that have been used for this answer have been based on amounts of housing requirements payable to claimants with mortgage interest payments, and will include amounts for ground rent and other miscellaneous housing costs, although the majority of the amount is paid for mortgage interest.
5. Income Support figures exclude the unemployed from October 1996, as Income Support for the unemployed was replaced by Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance from this point.
6. The February 1998 quarterly figure used in the annual 1997-98 Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) figure include nil mortgage cases (i.e., cases with housing requirements only). JSA estimated expenditure for 1996-97 represents a six month estimate from the introduction of Income-based JSA, the 1997-98 is an annual estimate.
7. Lone parents have been defined as single people with dependants not in receipt of a disability or pensioner premium.
Source:
1. Jobseeker's Allowance Statistics Quarterly Enquiries, November 1996-February 1998.
2. Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiries, May 1993-February 1998.
Widows
Mrs. Fyfe: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 8 June 1999, Official Report, column 303, on widows, what advice he has received on the availability of full-time paid work for widows aged 45 to 60 years entering the job market in different parts of the country. [86940]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 14 June 1999]: The availability of full-time paid work for widows aged 45 to 60 years will depend on local labour market conditions. Nationally, the total number of people in work has reached 27 million and unemployment has fallen to its lowest level in 19 years with 1.285 million out of work and claiming benefits.
We are committed to tackling age discrimination in employment and have recently published its code of practice on "Age Diversity in Employment". The impact of the code will be evaluated and this will inform future plans for legislation in this area.
21 Jun 1999 : Column: 295
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) for what reasons travel expenses to medical examinations for war pension claimants were changed; [84857]
Mr. Bayley:
The administration of the War Pensions Agency is a matter for its Chief Executive, Mr. Gordon Hextall. I have asked him to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Gordon Hextall to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated 21 June 1999:
Mr. Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many Benefits Agency Security and Investigation Service staff are employed in each administrative region; how many job vacancies in the Service currently exist in each region; and how many of these have existed for more than a year. [86901]
Mr. Timms:
Operational matters are the responsibility of the Chief Executive, Peter Mathison. He will write to my right hon. Friend.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Frank Field, dated 17 June 1999:
21 Jun 1999 : Column: 296
(2) when he plans to review travel expenses to medical examinations for war pension claimants. [84856]
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions, about the reasons why travel expenses to medical examinations for war pension claimants were changed and when he plans to review travel expenses to medical examinations for war pension claimants.
I should explain that the War Pensions Agency uses the medical services of the Benefits Agency with the exception of hearing tests which are arranged by contractors working direct to the War Pensions Agency. The arrangements for paying travelling expenses to medical examinations for War Pension claimants are the same as those for benefits administered by the Benefits Agency. At present medical examinations are arranged by SEMA Group Medical Services who are responsible for paying travelling expenses. The Benefits Agency took a decision from 1 July 1998 to amend the expenses rate 6.5 pence per mile for claimants using their own vehicles to attend examinations.
The change was made in order to correct the wide variations in the interpretation of previous instructions. It was concluded that the Benefits Agency was paying rates which were not consistent with existing policies and that expenses payments should be reduced from 22.5p per mile to 6.5p per mile to cover actual fuel costs. This level was consistent with paying actual public transport costs and was introduced in order to ensure that all claimants are treated in the same way regardless of where they live. The new rate was not introduced as a result of the contracting out of the Benefits Agency Medical Services but was introduced by the Benefits Agency before the private sector took over the delivery of the service.
I am advised that the Benefits Agency is currently undertaking a review of the above rate to ensure the objectives of the original change are still being met. The results of the review will be made available in due course.
I hope this is helpful and if you need any further information, I will be happy to assist.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many Benefit Agency Security and Investigation Service (BASIS) staff are employed in each administrative region; how many job vacancies in the Service currently exist in each region; and how many of these have existed for more than a year.
As of today's date, BASIS staffing levels are as follows:
| Northern Territory | Southern Territory | |
|---|---|---|
| Complement | 85 | 136 |
| Current vacancies | 17 | 50 |
| Vacancies existing for one year | 9 | 11 |
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