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TREASURY
EU Stability Pact
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy on the application of the EU Stability Pact to the UK. [123830]
Miss Melanie Johnson: As set out in Articles 99 and 104 of the EC Treaty, the UK once a year submits a Convergence programme as part of the Stability and Growth Pact.
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what obligations are imposed on him in respect of public spending by the EU stability pact; and what contribution these have made to ensuring that divergences in the economic cycle between the UK and Europe are reduced. [124349]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Under Council Regulation (EC) No. 1467/97, the UK should
- endeavour to avoid excessive deficits.
Sterling Deposits
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the change in 1998 and 1999 in (a) foreigners' holdings of sterling deposits and (b) UK residents' deposits overseas, including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. [124346]
Miss Melanie Johnson: This information can be found in tables 5A, 5B, 6A and 6B of the "BIS Quarterly Review", and table B8 of "Bank of England Monetary and Financial Statistics".
Exchange Rate
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what commitments have been made by the UK to the EU convergence programme; how far these have been
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breached; and what contributions they have made to ensuring more stability in the Sterling-Euro exchange rate. [124350]
Miss Melanie Johnson: In line with the Stability and Growth Pact, the Government submit a Convergence Programme to the European Commission and the Council, which provides an annual update of our economic performance. The economic forecasts and fiscal projections for the 1999 Convergence Programme are those given in the Pre-Budget Report.
Inflation Target
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the benefits and consequences of including asset prices in the Bank of England's inflation target; and if he will make a statement. [124348]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is required to meet the Government's clear inflation target of 2.5 per cent. RPIX inflation. Dual target systems have in the past led to macroeconomic instability for example, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The MPC takes into account all relevant information, including asset prices, in making its judgment on interest rates to achieve the Government's inflation target.
National Insurance
Ms Roseanna Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the additional annual revenue from raising the ceiling on employees' national insurance contributions to (a) the level at which taxpayers became liable for higher rate income tax and (b) £1,000 a week. [124250]
Dawn Primarolo: The full year yields from increasing the Upper Earnings Limit (UEL) and Upper Profits Limit (UPL) in 2001-02 are given in the table.
| 2001-02 | Exchequer yield |
|---|---|
| Increase the UEL/UPL to: | |
| higher rate threshold | 840 |
| to £1,000 per week | 2,560 |
The estimates are consistent with the March 2000 Budget.
Census
Barbara Follett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish the proposed forms of questionnaire that will be required to be completed in next year's census of population in England and Wales. [124924]
Miss Melanie Johnson: I have today laid before the House the Census Regulations 2000 (Statutory Instrument 2000-1473) which include facsimile copies of the forms to be completed by householders, individuals and persons in charge of communal establishments in respect of the next census of population in England and Wales, to be taken on 29 April 2001. The Regulations also provide for
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the appointment of persons to carry out the field operations and the detailed arrangements for the conduct of the census. Pending the progress of the Census (Amendment) Bill these forms do not currently contain a question on religion.
Corresponding Regulations covering the Census in Scotland were laid before the Scottish Parliament on 5 April. Similar Regulations covering the Census in Northern Ireland were made on 25 May.
National Statistics
Mrs. Lawrence: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish the Framework Document relating to National Statistics. [124930]
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Miss Melanie Johnson: National Statistics will be launched tomorrow. The Framework Document and the list of statistics for initial inclusion in National Statistics will be laid before both Houses tomorrow morning. Copies will be available in the Vote Office.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Disability Living Allowance
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of independent appeals on Disability Living Allowance cases have resulted in a decision being amended (i) upwards and (ii) downwards in each of the last five years. [124708]
Mr. Bayley: The information is in the table.
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| Appeal decisions | 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All decisions | 28,225 | 35,551 | 38,194 | 49,000 | 47,775 |
| Award reduced | 33 | 56 | 78 | 87 | 106 |
| As percentage | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Award increased | 4,593 | 5,741 | 5,662 | 6,523 | 5,714 |
| As percentage | 16.3 | 16.1 | 14.8 | 13.3 | 12.0 |
| Award varied | 155 | 210 | 279 | 356 | 306 |
| As percentage | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.6 |
| Allowed | 11,801 | 13,346 | 12,710 | 16,261 | 16,725 |
| As percentage | 41.8 | 37.5 | 33.3 | 33.2 | 35.0 |
Note:
The following categories were also included to provide a complete picture of outcomes on DLA appeals:
1. Award varied is where the length of award changes or the monetary value remains the same but components change.
2. Allowed is where Lay Review/Appeal is determined in favour of the claimant.
Source:
DSS Information Centre: 100 per cent. data.
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Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the (a) net cost and (b) number of beneficiaries of abolishing Attendance Allowance and
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removing the upper age limit for Disability Living Allowance in each of the next five years. [124416]
Mr. Bayley: The information is in the table:
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| 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost (£ billion) | 2.8 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.4 |
| Gainers (million) | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.45 | 1.5 |
Notes:
1. Costs are in cash prices and rounded to nearest hundred million and number of gainers rounded to the nearest 50,000.
2. Estimates derived from model of entitlement based on 1996-97 Disability Survey and forecast case loads.
3. Estimates are subject to a significant margin of error reflecting underlying uncertainties of modelling entitlement from available survey data.
4. Estimated costs include effects on income related benefits.
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Widows Pension
Mr. Alasdair Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people claim the widow's pension in (a) Scotland, (b) Dumfries and Galloway and (c) Galloway and Upper Nithsdale parliamentary constituency. [124715]
Mr. Rooker: At 31 March 1999 there were 29,000 recipients of Widows' Benefit living in Scotland. Information is not available below national level.
- Notes:
- 1. The figure is the total recipients of Widow's Pension and Widowed Mother's Allowance.
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- 2. The figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.
- Source:
- 5 per cent. sample from Pension Strategy Computer System.
Minimum Income Guarantee
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the extra total cost of the minimum income guarantee for pensioners over and above the cost of income support for which pensioners were previously eligible. [124344]
Mr. Bayley: During the lifetime of this Parliament the extra total cost of the minimum income guarantee and
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associated benefits for pensioners over and above the cost of Income Support for which pensioners were previously eligible is estimated to be £2.2 billion in real terms.
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what methods he uses to measure the annual increase in earnings for the purpose of uprating the minimum income guarantee. [124393]
Mr. Bayley: In line with the Government's commitment to provide security in retirement for the poorest pensioners, the minimum income guarantee has been increased by 4.6 per cent., in line with the increase in average earnings. This measure of earnings growth reflects the 12-month headline rate and is based on a three-month average up to July 1999, published in The Stationery Office's "Monthly Digest of Statistics".
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances a pensioner with income above the minimum income guarantee level who claims all the benefits to which they are entitled can be worse off than if they were receiving the minimum income guarantee. [124391]
Mr. Bayley: We are not aware of a situation where an individual with weekly income above the minimum income guarantee (MIG) level would be worse off, in terms of weekly cash income, after claiming all the benefits to which they are entitled.
Receipt of the MIG does provide a pensioner with access to certain additional services, such as free school meals and social fund budgeting loans, that are not available to those not entitled.
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