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RUC (Compensation Claims)
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide a breakdown from
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(a) 1 May 1998 to 30 April 1999 and (b) 1 May 1999 to 30 April 2000 of compensation claims against the RUC broken down into (i) new claims, (ii) claims disposed of, (iii) damages paid, (iv) plaintiff's solicitor's costs, (v) Crown solicitor's costs and (vi) Crown solicitor's outlay. [123884]
Mr. Ingram: The following table provides a breakdown of costs associated with compensation claims against the Royal Ulster Constabulary. It should be noted that the figures cover the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 financial years.
| April 1998 to March 1999 | April 1999 to March 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| New Claims | 654 | 693 |
| Claims disposed of | 480 | 365 |
| Damages paid (£) | 1,046,115 | 1,127,632 |
| Plaintiff's solicitor's costs (£) | 619,885 | 668,050 |
| Crown Solicitor's costs (£) | 735,637 | 900,738 |
| Crown Solicitor's outlay (£) | 408,159 | 386,033 |
RUC (Disciplinary Proceedings)
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (a) if he will set out the stages of disciplinary proceedings in the RUC from initial complaint to final outcome, (b) what considerations affect the time taken for the completion of each stage in the procedure, (c) when procedures were last reviewed and (d) what proposals have been adopted in the past five years to enhance the prompt and efficient administration of the system. [124106]
Mr. Ingram: The various stages of disciplinary proceedings are contained within The Police (Northern Ireland) Order 1987, the Royal Ulster Constabulary (Complaints etc.) Regulations 1988, The Royal Ulster Constabulary (Complaints)(Informal Resolution) 1988, The Royal Ulster Constabulary (Discipline and Disciplinary Appeals) Regulations 1988, The Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve (Part-Time)(Discipline and Disciplinary Appeals) Regulations 1988 and Guidance to the Chief Constable of Police Complaints and Discipline Procedures.
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The time taken to complete each stage of the disciplinary procedure is affected by many factors, including the nature and extent of the allegations, the complexity and availability of evidence, the resources devoted to the investigation, the progress of related criminal or civil proceedings and the level and nature of co-operation afforded by the complainant.
A comprehensive review of the police complaints system in Northern Ireland was carried out by Dr. Maurice Hayes, who published his report in January 1997. The present Independent Commission for Police Complaints will be replaced by the Office of the Police Ombudsman on 1 October 2000. The Police Ombudsman will receive and investigate all complaints about the police and will make recommendations for criminal and disciplinary action.
Garvaghy Road
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what undertakings he has entered into in relation to parades in the vicinity of Garvaghy Road, Portadown on 9 July with (a) the Orange Order, (b) the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition, (c) political parties and (d) the Irish Government. [123954]
Mr. Ingram: In the absence of a local agreement, it is entirely the responsibility of the Parades Commission to decide whether or not to allow a parade to take place, or to impose restrictions.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Disability Living Allowance
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of decisions by adjudication officers and decision makers on Disability Living Allowance have proceeded to (i) review stage and (ii) an independent appeal tribunal in each of the last five years. [124707]
Mr. Bayley: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
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| Decisions/submissions | 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000(5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial claim decisions | 503,170 | 515,795 | 466,960 | 383,794 | 371,431 |
| Renewal decisions | 154,102 | 167,794 | 176,164 | 194,579 | 185,518 |
| Reviews inside time(6) | 165,367 | 188,548 | 210,256 | 173,832 | 160,349 |
| Reviews outside time(7) | 167,594 | 170,786 | 159,798 | 126,964 | 116,234 |
| Appeal submissions | 33,761 | 39,323 | 48,047 | 46,986 | 46,574 |
(5) Figures for January were estimated for initial claims, renewals and reviews.
(6) Figures include reconsiderations under the new decision making process from October 1999.
(7) Figures include supersessions under the new decision making process from October 1999.
(8) Some reviews and appeals relate to claims made or reviewed in the previous year. It is therefore not possible to provide the exact proportion of the claims made in any year which proceed to review or appeal.
Source:
DSS Information Centre: 100 per cent. data.
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Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of each rate of Disability Living Allowance there have been in each of the last five years. [124711]
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Mr. Bayley: The information is in the table.
(9) Figures based on five per cent. data relating to 31 August
(10) Columns do not sum because many claimants are awarded both care and mobility components
Source:
DSS Information Centre
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Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much money has been paid out in Disability Living Allowance in each of the last five years. [124712]
Mr. Bayley: The information is in the table.
| Year | £ million |
|---|---|
| 1995-96 | 3,802 |
| 1996-97 | 4,498 |
| 1997-98 | 4,953 |
| 1998-99 | 5,336 |
| 1999-2000(11) | 5,630 |
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Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the (a) cost and (b) number of beneficiaries, in each of the next five years, of raising the upper age limit to (a) 70, (b) 75 and (c) 80 years for the Disability Living Allowance mobility component. [124688]
Mr. Bayley: The information is in the tables.
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| to age 70 | to age 75 | to age 80 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost (£ billion) | Gainers (Million) | Cost (£ billion) | Gainers (Million) | Cost (£ billion) | Gainers (Million) | |
| 2001-02 | 0.3 | 0.15 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 0.75 |
| 2002-03 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.45 | 1.6 | 0.75 |
| 2003-04 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 0.45 | 1.7 | 0.8 |
| 2004-05 | 0.5 | 0.25 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 0.85 |
| 2005-06 | 0.5 | 0.25 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 0.85 |
Notes:
1. Costs are in cash prices and rounded to nearest hundred million and number of gainers rounded to the nearest fifty thousand.
2. Estimates derived from model of entitlement based on 1996-97 Disability Survey and forecast caseloads.
3. Estimates are subject to a significant margin of error underlying uncertainties of modelling entitlement from available survey data. It is assumed that cases leave the benefit at an average rate for all DLA mobility cases.
4. Estimated costs include effects on income-related benefits.
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Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the (a) cost and (b) number of beneficiaries in each of the next five years, of removing the upper age limit for the Disability Living Allowance (i) mobility component and (ii) lower rate care component. [124687]
Mr. Bayley: The information is in the table.
| Cost of extending mobility component (£ billion) | Gainers (million) | Cost of extending care component (£ billion) | Gainers (million) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-02 | 2.6 | 1.30 | 0.2 | 0.30 |
| 2002-03 | 2.7 | 1.35 | 0.2 | 0.30 |
| 2003-04 | 2.8 | 1.35 | 0.3 | 0.30 |
| 2004-05 | 3.0 | 1.40 | 0.3 | 0.30 |
| 2005-06 | 3.1 | 1.45 | 0.3 | 0.30 |
1. Costs are in cash prices and rounded to nearest 100 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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