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Pension Books

Mr. Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what performance targets exist for the issue of pension books; [124234]

(2) what is the average length of time it takes for a widow to receive her pension book from the date of bereavement; [124233]

(3) how many pension books have been recalled due to errors by the Benefits Agency in each of the past three years. [124235]

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Mr. Rooker: The administration of benefits is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to my hon. Friend. If he has a particular constituency problem then perhaps he will write to me.

Letter from Charlie MacKinnon to Mr. Clive Efford, dated 6 June 2000:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked Alexis Cleveland to reply to your recent Parliamentary questions about the performance targets for the issue of pension books, the average time it takes a widow to receive her pension book from the date of bereavement and the number of pension books that have been recalled due to errors by the Benefits Agency in each of the past three years. Due to annual leave I am replying on her behalf.

At April 2000, 56% of widows and retirement pensioners received their payments by order book, out of a customer base in excess of 11 million.

The Benefit Agency does not have a target for the issue of order books. It measures performance from the date a claim is received to the date the benefit is awarded. The current clearance targets for straightforward Retirement Pension claims is 95% within 60 days and for Widows Benefit claims 85% in 30 days. On average a Widows Benefit claim is awarded within seven days of receipt of the claim.

Once the benefit has been awarded on the Pension Strategy Computer System an electronic interface between that system and the Area Computer Centre arranges for the production and issue of the order book to the relevant destination. This can be the post office or the customer's home address.

I am unable to advise you of the number of pension books that have been recalled over the last three years due to Benefit Agency error as Pension order books are recalled for a number of reasons including changes in customer's circumstances. Detailed records are not kept on the reasons for recall.

I hope this is helpful.

Reciprocal Agreement (Yugoslavia)

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what reciprocal agreement exists between the United Kingdom and Yugoslavia over the payment of social security benefit; which benefits it covers; if it applies to asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement. [125033]

Angela Eagle: The UK has had a bilateral social security agreement with the former Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia since 1958. Following the break-up of the Republic, the UK continues to apply the agreement to the now separate independent states until such time as revised agreements are entered into with them individually.

The agreement covers Retirement Pension, Widows Benefit, Incapacity Benefit, contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Maternity Benefits, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit and Child Benefit. Where a person does not fully satisfy the conditions for any of those benefits, the agreement can help them qualify if they have contributed to both countries' social security schemes. There is no special provision in the agreement for asylum seekers.

Fraud

Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those local authorities that have not introduced penalties for fraud under the Social Security (Fraud) Act 1997. [125100]

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Angela Eagle: All local authorities have the power to offer administrative penalties to those shown to be claiming Housing Benefit fraudulently, as an alternative to criminal proceedings. From 1999-2000, local authorities have been asked to provide data on the number of penalties offered. These figures are not yet available.

Opinion Research

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 25 May 2000, Official Report, column 619W, concerning market and opinion research, if he will list the title and purpose of each item of research. [124848]

Mr. Rooker: A title and brief description of all research commissioned under the Department's Research Programme, including public opinion research, can be found in the Department's Research Yearbook published annually. A copy of the annual Research Yearbook is available from the House of Commons Library.

In addition, the War Pensions Agency carries out an annual survey among its customers entitled "War Pensions Agency Customer Research Survey". The objective of this survey is to assist the Agency in determining the needs, expectations and satisfaction of current and future war pensioners.

A list of research conducted by the Communications Directorate since 1 May 1997 is available in the Library.

Integrated Child Credit

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the cost of introducing the integrated child credit; what steps are being taken to ensure that the scheme is delivered at the planned time; and if he will make a statement. [124549]

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.

The integrated child credit announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget Speech will be introduced from 2003 and administered by the Inland Revenue alongside the employment tax credit.

The Budget Paper "Tackling Poverty and Making Work Pay: Tax Credits for the 21st century" gives more details of the proposals.

HEALTH

Surrey and Sussex Healthcare Trust

Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will make a decision on the future provision of acute services by the Surrey and Sussex Healthcare Trust. [124945]

Ms Stuart: Ministers are fully aware of the strength of local feeling about this issue. A final decision, which will be made as soon as possible, will only be made in the best interests of the local community.

Correspondence

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter of 1 February from the hon. Member for Aylesbury about the case of Mrs. Sylvia Morgan. [125063]

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Ms Stuart: Unfortunately, we do not appear to have received the hon. Members letter on behalf of Mrs. Sylvia Morgan. If he passes me a copy of the letter I will ensure that a response is forthcoming as soon as possible. I apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Norfolk and Norwich Hospital

Mrs. Shephard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many intensive care beds there were at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital on (a) 1 June 2000 and (b) 1 April 1997. [125059]

Ms Stuart: The Norfolk and Norwich Hospital had six intensive care beds at 1 April 1997 and 1 June 2000. However, as part of their planning for the 1999-2000 winter period, the trust made provision for two additional intensive care beds by transferring resources from its high dependency beds, which reduced in number from six to four.

We have recently announced a significant investment of £150 million of additional resources to improve capacity of critical care services and the Eastern Regional Office of the National Health Service Executive is currently discussing with Norfolk and Norwich Health Care NHS Trust how the trust will improve its critical care services for the coming winter.

Organic Food

Mr. Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research his Department has carried out on the (a) composition and (b) impact on health of organic food. [118571]

Ms Stuart: The Department has not carried out any research on either the composition or impact on health of organic food.

Responsibility for matters relating to the safety and composition of food now rests with the Food Standards Agency. I am advised by the agency that although it has not carried out any research into the composition of organic food it is aware that a number of studies on this subject have been carried out over the last 10 years. I am also advised that the agency has a programme of research assessing microbiological safety issues that are relevant to the production of both organic and conventionally grown fruit and vegetables.

Mobile Phones

Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the Stewart Committee on Mobile Phones and Health. [122311]

Yvette Cooper: The Stewart report published on 11 May includes over 30 wide-ranging recommendations. We issued our initial response on the same day and copies are available in the Library. We will implement the research in a comprehensive programme costing several million pounds. We plan to launch this programme by September. Further discussions have been held with the Stewart Group about the provision of information to the public about the use of mobile phone technology. Other recommendations are being taken forward by the appropriate Government Departments and agencies.

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Mr. Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned on the health risks of (a) mobile telephones and (b) telecommunication masts; and if he will make a statement. [122354]

Yvette Cooper: The Department has funded two research projects on possible effects of radio frequency fields similar to those emitted by mobile phones and base stations. (i) a behavioural study of rodents and (ii) a human study involving psychological tests under simulated mobile phone use. The Department is also providing support for the World Health Organisation International Electromagnetic Fields Project and a multinational study of brain cancer and mobile phone use.

Preparations are currently under way to set up a substantial programme of research funded jointly by Government and industry. Details will now be taken forward in the light of the recommendations of the independent group on mobile phones and health (Stewart Report). This report was published on 11 May and copies have been placed in the Library.

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned into the possible links between proximity to mobile phone transmitter masts and the development of cancers; and if he will make a statement. [124095]

Yvette Cooper: The Department has not commissioned any research into links between proximity to transmitter masts and cancers. The Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (the Stewart group) was set up to investigate the broader public health implications of mobile phone technologies. The group's report was published on 11 May and copies are in the Library. The report includes a number of recommendations for research which are being taken forward by Government in a comprehensive programme of research costing several millions of pounds. It is planned to launch this programme by September.

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