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Asperger's Syndrome
Mr. McDonnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support the Government are providing for research into the causes and treatment of Asperger's Syndrome. [112690]
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Mr. Hutton:
The Medical Research Council (MRC)--which receives most of its income via grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry--is the main agency through which the Government support research on the causes and treatment of clinical conditions. In 1998-99 the MRC's spend on research related to autism and Asperger's Syndrome was £1.03 million. The National Research Register also contains details of work supported through the National Health Service Research and development levy or from other sources. It lists a number of Asperger's Syndrome projects currently in progress or recently completed.
Mr. McDonnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support the Government are providing to organisations catering for the needs of adult suffers of Asperger's Syndrome. [112688]
Mr. Hutton:
We are currently funding a three-year project which the National Autistic Society is undertaking to identify the support and care needs of people with Asperger's Syndrome. A key objective of this work is to disseminate the findings to local authorities, other service providers and professionals. These will inform improvements and additions to local provision of services for this group.
Mr. McDonnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate the Government have made of the number of sufferers of Asperger's Syndrome (a) below and (b) above the age of 18 years. [112687]
Mr. Hutton:
Prevalence of Asperger's Syndrome in England is uncertain. A recent estimate provided to the Department is that it appears to affect one child in every 350. This suggests that the number of people in England with Asperger's Syndrome might be approximately 140,000.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the future status of the NHS Pensions Agency. [113419]
Mr. Milburn:
A quinquennial review of the NHS Pensions Agency completed in 1998 concluded that the Agency had performed well since it was established and in particular had successfully implemented a major programme of change to improved efficiency and the quality of service to all its customers. I am placing a copy of the report in the Library today.
In the first instance I have decided to leave administration of the core NHS Superannuation Scheme within the Agency but I have committed them to outsource, under one facilities management contract, the Agency's support and ancillary services. This contract will cover at least 55 per cent. of the Agency's current running costs. I have tasked the Agency in partnership with the supplier to secure further improvements in efficiency that approach the best returns forecast by the review for full contractorisation.
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20. Mr. David Heath:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the level of take-up of benefits in rural areas. [111851]
Mr. Bayley:
Information on the level of take-up of benefits specifically in rural areas is not available.
21. Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he last reviewed his target for the reduction of benefit fraud for the year 2000-01. [111852]
Mr. Rooker:
As published in the Public Service Agreement, for the first time we have set a single outcome target to reduce fraud and error in the two major benefits by 30 per cent. by March 2007, with at least a 10 per cent. reduction by March 2002.
The latest results were published by the Government Statistical Service on 28 January 2000.
30. Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the level of fraud within the social security system. [111862]
Mr. Rooker:
We are determined to reduce the level of fraud and error in the Social Security system. We are now measuring the level of fraud and error, in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance, the two most vulnerable benefits, by thoroughly investigating a monthly random sample of cases in each Benefit Agency area. These measurements allow us, for the first time, to set targets for cutting fraud against which our progress can be judged.
32. Miss Kirkbride:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will report on progress in tackling housing benefit fraud. [111866]
Angela Eagle:
I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's oral answer to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) and the right hon. Member for Cities of London and Westminster (Mr. Brooke) today, Official Report, column 756.
Mr. Heald:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were employed in the Benefit Fraud Investigation Service on 1 March in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000. [112789]
Mr. Rooker:
This is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Oliver Heald, dated 3 March 2000:
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The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people were employed in the Benefit Fraud Investigation Service on 1st March in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000.[112789]
The figures below represent the number of staff in post for the Benefit Fraud Investigation Service (BFIS) for each operational year since April 1996. Figures for specific dates are not available.
| BFIS | Total |
|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 5,000 |
| 1997-98 | 5,184 |
| 1998-99 | 5,183 |
| 1999-2000 | (18)5,064 |
(18) Figure correct as at October 1999, end of year figures not yet available
I hope this is helpful.
Housing Benefit
22. Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on Housing Benefit for students. [111853]
Angela Eagle: Most full-time students are supported by the student support system which is designed to meet their needs. Full-time students in the vulnerable groups are entitled to claim Housing Benefit as are part-time students.
Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when his Department will issue a standard housing benefit form for those local authorities not participating in the verification framework scheme. [112155]
Angela Eagle: The Department is considering the supplementary recommendations of John Scampion's report on organised benefit fraud that a common "baseline" application form for Housing Benefit (HB) and Council Tax Benefit (CTB) should be introduced following consultation with local government and the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate.
Disabled People
24. Mr. Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to help disabled people stay in work. [111855]
Mr. Bayley: The New Deal for Disabled People pilots have already helped over 2,000 disabled people to move into or stay in employment. The Disabled Person's Tax Credit is helping to make work pay; and our recently announced improvements in the support provided by the Independent Living Funds are intended to help severely disabled people to keep a higher proportion of their income from work.
31. Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on progress made with the New Deal for the Disabled. [111863]
Mr. Bayley: The New Deal for Disabled People is piloting a range of measures. The results have been very encouraging, with over 2,000 disabled clients starting work so far. We are now considering how the help provided by this New Deal might be extended in the light of the lessons emerging from the pilots.
Minimum Income Guarantee
25. Mr. Blizzard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners are eligible to benefit from the minimum income guarantee; and how many have done so. [111856]
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Mr. Bayley:
Around 1.5 million pensioners are already receiving their Minimum Income Guarantee through income support. We must now turn our attention to 500,000 pensioners, more who may not be claiming their Minimum Income Guarantee. We will be announcing details of the national campaign shortly.
Mr. Hilary Benn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library a guide to pensioners' entitlement to the minimum income guarantee; and how it can be claimed. [112555]
Mr. Bayley:
The minimum income guarantee is delivered through Income Support. Details on pensioners' entitlement and how to make a claim are contained in the Income Support guide, IS20. I am a placing copy in the Library.
Mr. Hilary Benn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people aged 65 years and over are currently receiving the minimum income guarantee in (a) the Leeds, Central parliamentary constituency and (b) the City of Leeds. [112552]
Mr. Bayley:
The minimum income guarantee relates to income support pensioners. The information is in the table.
| Constituency | Pensioners aged 65 and over |
|---|---|
| Leeds Central | 2.9 |
| Leeds East | 2.4 |
| Leeds North East | 2.4 |
| Leeds North West | 1.6 |
| Leeds West | 2.4 |
| Elmet | 1.5 |
| Morley and Rothwell | 2.1 |
| Pudsey | 2.1 |
Notes:
1. Sample size 5 per cent., therefore subject to sampling error.
2. Pensioners are defined as benefit units where either the claimant and/or their partner is aged 65 years or over.
3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.
Source:
Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, November 1999.
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