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Mr. Woolas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimates he has made of the cost of
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increasing the age additions within the basic state pension by (a) £3 a week for the over-75s and (b) £5 a week for the over-80s. [89376]
Mr. Timms:
The net cost of introducing age addition of £3 per week for pensioners aged 75 to 79 and increasing the age addition paid to over-80's from £0.25 to £5.25 would be £640 million.
Notes:
1. Estimates for Retirement Pension have been provided by the Government Actuary's Department.
2. Means-tested benefit offsets have been estimated using the Income Support Simulation Model and the 1996/97 Family Resources Survey.
3. Estimates are in current prices and benefit rates, and are rounded to the nearest £10 million.
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the total amount of housing benefit, in thousands of pounds per annum, payable to tenants (a) in each local authority, (b) in each region and (c) nationally, for 1998-99. [89586]
Angela Eagle: Information is not available for 1998-99. Such information as is available has been placed in the Library.
Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the percentages of households with (a) no savings, (b) savings up to £1,500, (c) savings between £1,500 and £3,000, (d) savings between £3,000 and £8,000, (e) savings between £8,000 and £10,000, (f) savings between £10,000 and £16,000, (g) savings between £16,000 and £20,000, (h) savings above £20,000, among households with gross weekly income of (i) less than £100, (ii) £100 to £200, (iii) £200 to £300, (iv) £300 to £400, (v) £400 to £500, (vi) £500 to £600, (vii) £600 to £700 and (viii) over £700. [89878]
Angela Eagle:
The information is in the table.
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Gross weekly household income | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Capital | Less than £100 | £100 but less than £200 | £200 but less than £300 | £300 but less than £400 | £400 but less than £500 | £500 but less than £600 | £600 but less than £700 | £700 or more | Total households |
No savings | 43 | 48 | 39 | 27 | 21 | 17 | 13 | 8 | 30 |
Less than £1,500 | 17 | 18 | 22 | 25 | 29 | 26 | 23 | 17 | 22 |
£1,500 but less than £3,000 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 8 |
£3,000 but less than £8,000 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 14 |
£8,000 but less than £10,000 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
£10,000 but less than £16,000 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 6 |
£16,000 but less than £20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
£20,000 or more | 7 | 7 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 28 | 14 |
Total | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Notes:
1. The estimates are based on sample counts that have been adjusted for non-response using multi-purpose grossing factors that control for region, Council Tax band and a number of demographic variables. Estimates are subject to sampling error and to variability in non-response.
2. It should be noted that questions on assets are a sensitive part of the FRS questionnaire and have relatively low level of response, and hence higher level of imputation, compared to other parts of the survey. Responses are imputed in around one in ten cases. Evidence also suggests some under reporting of capital by respondents, and figures for income from these sources for pensioners are lower on the FRS compared to other surveys such as the Family Expenditure Survey. In addition, the under reporting of capital is likely to lead to an underestimate of income from the investment and thus contribute to underestimating gross weekly household income.
3. All percentages have been rounded to the nearest integer.
Source:
1997-98 Family Resources Survey (GB)
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Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the subject and date of each written briefing prepared by his Special Advisers for all Labour Members since May 1997 and the total number and total cost to date of these. [89992]
Mr. Timms: Special Advisers are appointed under terms and conditions set out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers. Schedule 1, part 1 of the Model Contract sets out the role and duties of Special Advisers. As well as research for Ministers and reviewing papers, contributing to policy planning within the Department and preparing policy papers, speechwriting and liaison with outside interest groups, their role explicitly includes liaising with the party and helping to brief party MPs. Records are not held of when such briefings are given. Similar arrangements have applied under successive Governments.
Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to co-ordinate Government policy for sports matters between departments. [88497]
Mr. Chris Smith: I have been asked to reply.
Government policy on sports matter is co-ordinated through the Cabinet Committee on Home and Social Affairs; specific questions might be dealt with by other Committees as appropriate.
Additionally the Sports Cabinet, which I chair, provides for a collective policy discussion of most strategic priorities for UK sport. The Ministers with responsibilities which affect sport in England also keep in close touch, and will continue to do so.
Mr. Livingstone: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Government will ensure that the retention for non-administrative reasons of departmental records over 30 years old is justified under the same criteria as those which justify extended closure of records over 30 years old at the Public Record Office. [89634]
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Government will take action to ensure that the retention for non-administrative reasons of departmental records over 30 years old will be justified under the same criteria as those which justify extended closure of records over 30 years old at the Public Record Office. [89637]
Mr. Vaz:
The current system for the retention by Government departments of records over 30 years old is explained in the White Paper "Open Government" (1993, Cm 2290), particularly paragraphs 9.8 and 9.23-9.27. Grounds for retention are laid out in paragraphs 9.23 and 9.26.
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When departments make applications to retain records, they are required to give clear and explicit reasons, making clear in each case what harm would be caused by release. These reasons are considered by the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Council on Public Records before being submitted to the Lord Chancellor. The Lord Chancellor permits departments to retain records for no more than 10 years before they must either release the records or submit another application for retention.
The withholding of public records for a period longer than 30 years is currently the subject of public consultation as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Freedom of Information Bill.
Mr. Livingstone:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Government will review the criteria against which the extended closure of records over 30 years old, under section 5(1) of the Public Records Act 1958, must be justified, with particular reference to (a) the definition of national security, (b) protection of the identities of confidential informants and (c) protection of those mentioned, or their relatives, from substantial distress or endangerment. [89632]
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Government will review the criteria against which the extended closure of records under section 5(1) of the Public Records Act 1958 must be justified, with special reference to (a) the definition of national security, (b) protection of the identities of confidential informants and (c) protection of those mentioned or their relatives from substantial distress and endangerment. [89635]
Mr. Vaz:
Revised criteria for the closure of records are included in the draft Freedom of Information Bill which is currently the subject of public consultation.
Mr. Livingstone:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Government will publish the guidelines given to departmental record officers on judging whether the release of a document is likely to cause substantial distress or endangerment to a person mentioned in that document or to relatives of such a person. [89633]
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Government will publish the guidelines given to departmental record officers on judging whether the release of a document is likely to cause substantial distress or endangerment to a person mentioned in that document or to relatives of such a person. [89636]
Mr. Vaz:
After an initial consultation draft in 1994, the Public Record Office produced guidance for departmental record officers in 1995. Copies of that guidance will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The guidance is currently being revised as part of the development of a Manual on Access to Public Records which will be issued
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in September 1999. It is proposed that this manual should be available to the public.
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