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Departmental Properties
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those properties held by his Department and agencies responsible to him which are (a) wholly and (b) mainly unoccupied at present, giving locations and when they became so unoccupied in each case. [105304]
Mr. Paul Murphy: My Department holds only one property, and it is fully occupied.
Working Families Tax Credit
Mr. Alan W. Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has discussed with Treasury Ministers the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit in Wales. [103497]
Mr. Hanson: My right hon. Friend and I regularly meet with colleagues in Whitehall and discuss a wide range of issues. I fully support the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit.
Post Offices
Mr. Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Department of Trade and Industry on the potential effect of the proposed payment of benefits into bank accounts and the effect this may have on rural post offices in Wales. [105571]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I speak regularly with colleagues in Whitehall and we discuss a number of issues. My officials have had a number of discussions with their counterparts in the Department of Trade and Industry. I am fully aware of the planned move to an Automated Credit Transfer system that will assure a safer, modern and efficient way of paying benefits. In addition, the Prime Minister announced on 21 October 1999 that the Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) in the Cabinet Office is to carry out a study on the Post Office network which will seek to identify the contribution made by post offices to the viability of local communities. Close independent monitoring of the post office network will ensure that proposed closures which would create significant problems of access to post office counter services, including in rural areas, are taken up with the Post Office, which will then be able to investigate how access needs can best be met.
SOCIAL SECURITY
State Second Pension
Gillian Merron: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he plans to publish the Government Actuary's report on the financial effects for the National Insurance Fund of the proposed state second pension. [106278]
Mr. Rooker: The report is being laid before Parliament today (Cm 4573).
Asbestos-related Diseases
Mr. Worthington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will ask the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council to consider whether lung cancer should be classified as a prescribed industrial disease
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in cases where significant asbestos-related work history is combined with unprotected exposure to asbestos dust; [104778]
(3) what reports he has received on the reliability and sensitivity of CT scans and Chest X-rays in indicating the presence of asbestos-related disease. [104826]
Mr. Bayley:
The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council provide us with independent expert advice on the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme. In their report "Asbestos Related Diseases" (Cm 3467 published in November 1996) the Council investigated thoroughly the prescription of asbestos-related diseases, including the relationship between lung cancer and asbestos exposure, and whether CT scans would be appropriate within this benefit scheme. The Council recommended certain changes that were beneficial to claimants, which were brought into effect from April 1997. The Council continues to carefully monitor research, studies, publications and scientific developments in relation to asbestos-related lung disease, as they do for the other prescribed diseases. The Council have made no recommendations to me about asbestos-related diseases since 1996, and we are confident that the Council would re-examine any issue if new scientific evidence emerged. They would then make recommendations, which we would consider carefully.
Mr. Worthington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what support his Department offers to victims of (a) pneumoconiosis and (b) an asbestos-related disease. [104828]
Mr. Bayley:
The Department provides financial support through the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme, which gives no-fault compensation for disablement resulting from work as an employed earner, either as a result of an accident at work or through contracting certain prescribed occupational diseases. Pneumoconiosis (including asbestosis) and three other asbestos-related diseases are prescribed for this purpose. Other Social Security benefits, as appropriate in individual cases, would also be available depending on the person's circumstances.
Mr. Worthington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to improve the diagnosis of asbestos-related diseases, especially in areas with a high prevalence of such disease. [104827]
Mr. Bayley:
We do not propose to change the method of diagnosis of asbestos-related disease for the purposes of the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme. Diagnosis methods are the same throughout Great Britain, and we are advised by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on appropriate criteria.
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Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those properties held by his Department and agencies responsible to him which are (a) wholly and (b) mainly unoccupied at present, giving locations and when they became so unoccupied in each case. [105311]
Angela Eagle:
In early 1998, all of the Department's properties were transferred to the private sector under two separate Private Finance Initiative contracts. We now no longer own nor hold any property. Instead, serviced office accommodation is purchased from our two private sector partners, Trillium and the Newcastle Estate Partnership.
The deal which we negotiated with Trillium, the PRIME contract allowed us to hand back all of our "surplus" space, in both wholly and partly unoccupied buildings, to Trillium so that there is now no continuing cost to the Department. The Department also has the flexibility to vacate and hand back further space over the life of the contract, at nil cost, so it is extremely unlikely that we will have any surplus accommodation in the future. The only unoccupied space that is maintained is held for strategic reasons.
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received concerning the Government's plans to switch payments from benefits and pension books to bank transfers and the impact of this change on local post offices; and if he will make a statement. [106041]
Mr. Rooker:
I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Vale of Glamorgan (Mr. Smith) on 6 December 1999, Official Report, column 374W.
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Ms Oona King:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost of restoring the link between the basic state pension and average earnings in the UK. [105250]
(2) what advice he has received from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on the relationship between lung cancer and significant asbestos exposure in the absence of asbestosis; [104779]
| Gross Costs | Net Costs | |
|---|---|---|
| With linked benefits | ||
| 2000-01 | 1,300 | 1,000 |
| 2010-11 | 8,500 | 7,500 |
| Without linked benefits | ||
| 2000-01 | 1,100 | 850 |
| 2010-11 | 7,500 | 6,500 |
Notes:
1. Gross costs have been calculated by GAD. Net costs have been calculated using the 1999-2000 Policy Simulation and PENSIM models to take account of means-tested benefit offsets.
2. Estimates for the year 2000-01 have been rounded to the nearest 50 million, and for 2010-11 to the nearest 100 million. Estimates are in 1999 prices.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Property Sales
Mr. Breed: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what dates (a) Melbourne Place, Topcliffe Road, Sowerby, North Yorkshire, (b) the former RAF station at Strubby, Alford, Lincolnshire, (c) 4 Almondbank, Perth, (d) 5 Almondbank, Perth, (e) the Experimental Horticultural Station at Efford, Lymington, Hampshire and (f) Barnhall, Wickford, Essex, were offered for sale; and what is the current position with regard to the disposal of each property. [104682]
Mr. Morley:
The information requested is as follows:
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| Property | |
|---|---|
| Melbourne Place, Topcliffe Road, Sowerby, North Yorkshire | Not yet offered for sale. Awaiting issue of Certificate of Lawfulness of Proposed Use or Development by the local planning authority. The site will be marketed thereafter |
| The former RAF Station at Strubby, Alford, Lincolnshire | First offered for sale in February 1995. Little interest from potential purchasers. The site was finally sold in July 1999 |
| 4 Almondbank Perth | First offered for sale in July 1996. Little interest from potential purchasers. Investigations are under way into the potential for redevelopment and discussions are taking place with the local planning authority |
| 5 Almondbank Perth | Not yet offered for sale although part of the site was sold back to a former owner in 1996. Agents have advised that marketing of the site should be delayed until the position with regard to 4 Almondbank is clarified |
| The Experimental Horticultural Station at Efford, Lymington, Hampshire | Not offered for sale on the open market. Until recently this site was fully occupied by Horticulture Research International under the terms of a lease. They have recently surrendered the northern sector of the site to the Ministry. Part of this was sold in October 1999 to the successor of the former owner under the terms of the Crichel Down Rules. Contracts have been exchanged for the sale of the remainder to the same person on the same basis |
| Barnhall, Wickford, Essex | Not yet offered for sale. The Ministry is collaborating with the local authority which owns some adjacent land with a view to selling the MAFF land for development in due course |
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Mr. Breed:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what dates (a) the former Central Science Laboratory at London Road, Slough, (b) Greythorpe Road and 168 Sinclair Road, Aberdeen, (c) Tangley Place, Worplesdon, Guildford, (d) Pocklington Industrial Estate, East Yorkshire, (e) 130 Hyndford
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Road, Lanark and (f) Gravel Pit, Hertford Road, Hoddesdon, Hampshire, were offered for sale; and what is the current position with regard to the disposal of each property. [104683]
Mr. Morley:
The information requested is as follows:
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| Property | |
|---|---|
| Central Science Laboratory, London Road, Slough | First offered for sale in November 1998. The property was sold in July 1999 |
| Greythorpe Road and 168 Sinclair Road, Aberdeen | First offered for sale in August 1998. Missives will shortly be concluded, after which the purchaser will apply for detailed planning consent |
| Tangley Place, Worplesdon, Guildford | First offered for sale in January 1997. This property was sold in January 1999 |
| Pocklington Industrial Estate, East Yorkshire | First offered for sale in June 1997. This property was sold in June 1998 |
| 130 Hyndford Road, Lanark | First offered for sale in January 1995. This property was sold in February 1998 |
| Gravel Pit, Hertford Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire | First offered for sale in January 1995. Sale delayed while appropriate planning consents were sought and access problems resolved. This property was sold in October 1999 |
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Mr. Breed:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what dates the properties at (a) Tattenhall Road, Tattenhall, Chester, (b) Little Glen Road, Glen Parva, Leicester, (c) Kendal Road, Harlescott, Shrewsbury, (d) Trentside, Gunthorpe, Nottingham, (e) Caton Road, Claughton, Lancaster and (f) Nant Alyn Road,
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Rhydymwyn, Mold, Flint, were offered for sale; and what is the current position with regard to the disposal of each property. [104684]
Mr. Morley:
The information requested is as follows:
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| Property | |
|---|---|
| Tattenhall Road, Tattenhall, Chester | First offered for sale in August 1995. Planning difficulties resulted in the sale being postponed. Currently let on short term lease pending re-assessment of development potential |
| Little Glen Road, Glen Parva, Leicester | First offered for sale in July 1995. First prospective purchaser unwilling to agree detailed terms. Contract for sale with new purchaser about to be exchanged |
| Kendal Road, Harlescott, Shrewsbury | First offered for sale in January 1997. Currently awaiting outcome of appeal against refusal to grant planning consent. When this is known the site will be re-marketed |
| Trentside, Gunthorpe, Nottingham | Not offered for sale on the open market. Negotiations under way for a sale to the successors of the former owners under the terms of the Crichel Down Rules |
| Caton Road, Claughton, Lancaster | First offered for sale in February 1996. Little realistic interest from potential purchasers. Offer to purchase has recently been accepted and legal documentation is now being prepared |
| Nant Alyn Road, Rhydymwyn, Mold, Flint | Not yet offered for sale. The site is believed to be contaminated as a result of the use made of it during the last war. The need for decontamination is being assessed |
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