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India
Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid programmes her Department is supporting in India in the current financial year; at what cost; and what was the comparable figure for 1998-99. [97583]
Clare Short: Our programme in India is increasingly focused on working with the states of Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal towards the goal of poverty elimination. The bilateral programme includes activities in rural development, water and sanitation, urban poverty, education, health, governance and empowerment, energy and emergency humanitarian assistance as well as assistance through non-governmental organisations. We also help indirectly through contributions to the European Commission and other multilateral organisations.
DFID spending for India in the current financial year is expected to be in the region of £100 million. The provisional figure for the 1998-99 out-turn for our India programme is £83.9 million, although this does not capture all DFID spending for India. The final figure for all DFID spending for India during the last financial year will be published in our next Departmental Report.
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Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations she has received on women's human rights in Pakistan; and if she will make a statement. [97816]
Clare Short:
We regularly receive such representations from human rights' groups and from individuals. We take every opportunity to ensure that the Pakistan authorities are aware of our concerns, and in particular about discrimination against women. We take account of gender equality issues as a matter of course in our bilateral development assistance, which has focused upon reducing poverty and increasing basic rights and access to essential services--especially for women and girls.
Mr. Sayeed:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will take steps to ensure that Government procurement, competition policy and investment are addressed at the WTO Seattle Conference. [97896]
Mr. Byers:
I have been asked to reply.
Government procurement, competition policy and investment are three of the UK's and EU's priorities for the new comprehensive round of trade negotiations which we hope will be launched at the WTO Seattle Conference. We are pressing hard for these subjects along with our other priorities, including agriculture, services, industrial tariffs and regulatory issues, to be included in the new Round agenda.
Mr. Sayeed:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her policy is on making the WTO subject to greater scrutiny and accountability; and what plans she has to suggest such changes at the WTO Seattle Conference. [97893]
Mr. Byers:
I have been asked to reply.
Increasing the transparency of the operations of the WTO, including through High Level Meetings and derestriction of documents, is a high priority for the UK and the WTO. The UK and EU are pushing for decisions to be taken on WTO transparency at the WTO Seattle Conference. At the same time, however, we believe that there is an equal if not greater responsibility on member state Governments to improve communication on trade issues, since it is Governments who make and decide the rules and policies of the WTO in Geneva. This includes dialogue with interest groups and consultation with Parliament. The UK has been working hard at national level to do more in this area and we will continue to do so in the future.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cases of people incorrectly claiming Incapacity Benefit instead of the long-term unemployed benefit have been identified (a) this year and (b) in each of the last three years. [97268]
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Mr. Bayley:
Entitlement to Incapacity Benefit depends upon a person meeting the requirements of either the Own Occupation Test or the All Work Test. For those in recent employment, the Own Occupation Test applies; this requires a medical certificate confirming that the person is unable to perform their usual job. After six months for these claimants, and from the outset for those not in recent employment, the All Work Test applies; this determines whether the person reaches a set level of physical and/or mental incapacity. People who do not satisfy the relevant test but nevertheless have a degree of mental or physical incapacity can claim Jobseeker's Allowance as unemployed and restrict their availability in any way providing the restrictions are reasonable in the light of their physical or mental condition.
| Did not satisfy the Own Occupation Test | Did not satisfy the All Work Test | |
|---|---|---|
| 1995-96 | 1,300 | 52,700 |
| 1996-97 | 1,200 | 94,700 |
| 1997-98 | 1,600 | 86,300 |
Note:
Figures are taken from a 1 per cent. sample of Incapacity Benefit recipients
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women have claimed (a) Incapacity Benefit and (b) Severe Disablement Allowance (i) this year and (ii) in each of the last three years. [97266]
Mr. Bayley: Information split by gender is not available on the number of claims made for Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance, some of which will not result in an award of benefit.
| Spells commencing in the period | Incapacity Benefit | Severe Disablement Allowance |
|---|---|---|
| 13 April 1995-31 March 1996 | 320,700 | 19,900 |
| 1 April 1996-31 March 1997 | 329,800 | 19,500 |
| 1 April 1997-31 March 1998 | 325,100 | 14,200 |
Note:
Figures are taken from a 1 per cent. sample of claimants
Child Support
Mr. Gardiner:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will seek to amend the Child Support Acts so that the provision of false information to the Agency relating to income and declared and undeclared earnings is treated as fraud and a criminal offence under the Acts. [97713]
10 Nov 1999 : Column: 557
Angela Eagle:
As the White Paper "A new contract for welfare: Children's Rights and Parents' Responsibilities" indicated, when legislation for a reformed child support scheme is introduced, we plan to include new criminal penalties for supplying false information in relation to child support and failing to supply information when required to do so. Any person who is subject to the new offence will be liable to a fine of up to £1,000 on conviction.
Mr. Nigel Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many British citizens living overseas who retired before 1979 were in receipt of frozen pensions in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [97745]
Mr. Rooker:
The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is on overseas pensioners who retired prior to 1979 for individual years from 1994. This information is in the table.
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 81,600 |
| 1995 | 76,800 |
| 1996 | 71,500 |
| 1997 | 65,300 |
| 1998 | 59,100 |
| 1999 | 51,100 |
Notes:
1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred.
2. Information has been supplied using a 5 per cent. sample from the Pensions Strategy Computer System (PSCS).
3. The figures supplied are for the number of people reaching state pension age before 1979. They do not indicate whether the people received Retirement Pension in the year of reaching that age.
Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many British citizens living overseas and in receipt of frozen pensions retired (a) before 1979, (b) between 1979 and 1992 and (c) since 1992. [97744]
Mr. Rooker: The information is in the table.
| Total | |
|---|---|
| Before 1979 | 51,100 |
| 1979-92 | 260,500 |
| Since 1992 | 140,200 |
Notes:
1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred.
2. Information is based on a 5 per cent. sample of the Pensions Strategy Computer System (PSCS).
3. The table shows the number of people who reached state pension age in a given year. It does not indicate whether the people actually received their retirement pension in the year of reaching state pension age.
Mr. Viggers:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what criteria are used to determine the countries
10 Nov 1999 : Column: 558
in which United Kingdom state pensions are uprated in line with inflation; and what proposals he has to amend those criteria. [97897]
Mr. Rooker:
UK State Pensions have been payable in certain countries outside the UK since 1929--initially in HM Dominions and then, between 1948-1955, in a small number of European countries. In 1955 Retirement Pensions and widows benefits became payable worldwide. However, upratings were not normally payable.
Over time, the UK has concluded reciprocal social security agreements with some 30 countries. Although most provide for payment of upratings, that is not the primary purpose of such agreements. They are intended mainly to provide a measure of co-ordination between social security schemes for people moving between the UK and the other country during their working lives.
A major consideration in deciding whether to enter into an agreement is the extent to which the advantages to be gained outweigh the cost of negotiating and administering the agreement. Most of the UK's reciprocal social security agreements are over 25 years old. The last to come into force which provides for upratings was in 1992 (with Barbados) and fulfilled a commitment given in the 1970s.
We have no plans to change the current arrangements for uprating UK pensions abroad.
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