| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Benefits Payments (Post Office)
Mr. Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy that, after 2003, pensioners will continue to be able to draw their pension in cash from a post office without having to pay a charge for doing so. [113137]
Mr. Paice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the impact of the decision by banks to charge for the use of automated telling machines owned by other banks on the ability of benefit recipients to obtain benefits in cash from post offices. [113516]
7 Mar 2000 : Column: 614W
Mr. Rooker:
Starting in 2003 we will be moving to a more modern, secure and efficient method of paying benefits through automated credit transfer (ACT). Payment by ACT will become the norm for paying benefits.
We have given an assurance that benefit recipients, whether paid by ACT or otherwise, will continue to have a choice of where they access their cash, with those who wish to collect at post offices still being able to do so. The recent statement about bank charges has no effect on this commitment.
However, we recognise that people will expect to be able to collect the exact amount of their benefits and without incurring charges. Arrangements will be put in place to ensure this happens.
Mr. Sanders:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was the average weekly level of Housing Benefit paid to (a) tenants of registered social landlords and (b) tenants of private landlords affected by the four weeks in arrears rule in the last 12 months for which figures are available; [112653]
Angela Eagle:
The answer is in the table.
7 Mar 2000 : Column: 613W
(2) what proportion of Housing Benefit claimants are (a) tenants of registered social landlords and (b) tenants of private landlords affected by the four weeks in arrears rule. [112621]
| Type | All recipients | Paid four weeks in arrears | Proportion paid four weeks in arrears (Percentage) | Average weekly amount of HB (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenants of registered social landlords | 840,000 | 242,000 | 29 | 54.50 |
| Tenants of private landlords | 971,000 | 352,000 | 36 | 61.10 |
Notes:
1. Figures are the latest available.
2. The number of recipients are rounded to the nearest thousand, proportions to the nearest whole per cent. and average amounts of benefit to the nearest ten pence.
3. Recipients refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.
Source:
Housing Benefit Management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample inquiries taken on the second Thursday in May 1998.
7 Mar 2000 : Column: 613W
Social Security Act 1992
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what reports he has requested under section 139A of the Social Security Act 1992; and if he will make a statement. [112704]
Angela Eagle: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has, to date, asked the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate to inspect and provide 103 reports to him under section 139A of the Social Security Administration Act 1992, on the administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit by local authorities.
Stakeholder Pension Scheme
Mr. Webb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the implication of delays in resolving the problems associated with the
7 Mar 2000 : Column: 614W
NIRS2 computer system for the date of implementation of the stakeholder pension scheme. [112949]
Mr. Rooker:
Detailed proposals are being developed for the implementation of stakeholder pensions and we do not expect the intended implementation date of April 2001 to be affected by the NIRS2 computer system.
Mr. Kidney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress his Department has made towards the procurement of new information and communication technology for the Child Support Agency. [111776]
Angela Eagle:
The Department is continuing to work closely with Affinity (the Department's private sector partner) to finalise the Information Technology support to be provided for the Child Support Agency, and to develop and agree the contractual arrangements.
7 Mar 2000 : Column: 615W
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he discussed plutonium policy during his recent visit to Moscow; and if he will make a statement. [112358]
Mr. Vaz:
FCO Ministers and officials hold regular discussions with the Russians on proliferation issues. The latest round of talks is taking place at official level on 3 March in Moscow.
Her Majesty's Government announced in December that it would be undertaking a Cross-cutting Review on Nuclear Safety in the Former Soviet Union. Plutonium disposition is one of the issues under discussion within the review.
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to him by the United States Secretary of State, about the progress made in implementing the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe. [112483]
Mr. Vaz:
We have worked closely with the United States Government on the Stability Pact since its launch in June 1999. The Foreign Secretary regularly discusses the full range of issues relating to the Balkans with Mrs. Albright.
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the head of UNMIK, about the rate at which contributions are being made to the resources of UNMIK. [112487]
Mr. Vaz:
The UK, along with its EU and G8 partners, has been discussing regularly with UNMIK the need for timely international support. The UK has already given $2 million this year and is in discussion with UNMIK about the allocation of a further $8 million. The EU has earmarked 45 meuros this year in budgetary support to UNMIK of which a first tranche of 10 meuros is scheduled to be made on 1 March.
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to him by Kosovo Police Commissioner Sven Fredriksen about resources needed to train local police in Kosovo. [112484]
Mr. Vaz:
The UK is in regular contact with the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Daan Everts, about all aspects of the OSCE's efforts in Kosovo, including police training. We are not aware of any representations made by Commissioner Fredriksen to the UK for additional resources needed to train local police in Kosovo.
We have recently increased our contribution of international police trainers to the OSCE Police School to 40 officers (25 per cent. of the international training staff currently in post).
7 Mar 2000 : Column: 616W
So far 349 recruits have graduated from the Police School. A further 250 recruits started their training on 22 February 2000.
We have also offered to pay £50,000 towards the cost of providing an independent water supply to the OSCE Police Training School.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham) of 21 February 2000, Official Report, columns 841-42W, on sanctions policy, if he will list the friends of the Iraqi regime to whom he referred. [112917]
Mr. Hain:
The reference covers all those who in one way or another lend their weight to the Iraqi government's attempts to have sanctions lifted without fulfilling in their entirety the obligations laid on it by the international community through the relevant Security Council resolutions.
Mr. McDonnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's study of the potential for establishing consulate facilities within the Punjab. [113002]
Mr. Hain:
Feasibility studies into the possibility of improving our services to visa applicants in Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Sylhet and Lahore have been initiated by my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz). These studies are being carried out now by our Posts in the region. We expect the exercise to be completed by mid-year and the results assessed before the summer recess.
The exercise does not include a review of the consular services offered to British Citizens by existing offices in the region.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the items or subjects proposed by each member Government and institution of the European Union for discussion at the IGC, relating to (a) unanimity qualified majority voting, (b) the scope of co-decision with the European Parliament, (c) the absorption of the European Convention of Human Rights into the European Union and Community Treaties and (d) other proposals. [113016]
Mr. Vaz:
The European Parliament and Commission gave their formal Opinions earlier this year. Member states have not made formal proposals. Negotiations have been proceeding on the basis of Presidency discussion papers, which the Presidency has promised to make available on the internet. The Government's position on the range of IGC issues is set out in the White Paper which was presented to the House on 15 February.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the date and location of meetings and scheduled meetings of the Intergovernmental Conference for a New European Treaty, the names of Ministers attending each meeting and
7 Mar 2000 : Column: 617W
the topics (a) discussed and (b) to be discussed; and if a report of the IGC's proceedings will be made prior to the next meeting of the European Council on 23 and 24 March. [113017]
Mr. Vaz:
There has been one meeting at Ministerial level and two meetings of the Government Representatives' Group. The full provisional timetable for meetings, including topics to be discussed, is available on the internet at www.portugal.ue-2000.pt. A list of member states' personal representatives will be placed in the Library of the House.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |