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Midwives

Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwives were in training in NHS hospitals in the Greater London area on 1 May. [127869]

Mr. Denham: The responsibility for the training of midwives rests with higher education institutions rather than National Health Service trusts. Trusts do however provide clinical placements for student midwives and continuing professional development opportunities. The information requested is not collected centrally.

Beta Interferon

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive from NICE its assessment of the efficacy of beta interferon in treating persons with MS. [127860]

Mr. Denham: I understand that the National Institute for Clinical Excellence plans to issue its guidance to the National Health Service in early August, unless one of the parties concerned appeals formally against the outcome of the appraisal.

Foster Care

Mr. Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his plans to provide for young people to remain in foster care beyond the age of 18 years. [128315]

Mr. Hutton: Under the Children Act 1989, children can be looked after until they reach the age of 18. Foster care therefore comes to an end at 18. However, it would be possible, if desired, for the young person to continue to live with his former foster parents, for example under a supported lodgings arrangement. In addition, under section 20(5) of the Children Act a council can provide accommodation in a community home for a person aged between 16 and 21 should his welfare require it.

The Children (Leaving Care) Bill does not affect either of these provisions. However, the Bill does create significant new aftercare duties which will require councils to continue to assist care leavers, should their welfare require it, until they are 21, or beyond if they are still in an agreed programme of education or training.

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Waterhouse Report

Mrs. Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to publish the Government's response to the report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the abuse of children in care in the former county council areas of Gwynedd and Clwyd since 1974, entitled "Lost in Care". [128313]

Mr. Hutton: I am pleased to announce that the Government's response to Sir Ronald Waterhouse's report into the tragic events in North Wales is being published today. The response is called "Learning the Lessons" and copies have been placed in the Vote Office and the Library.

SOCIAL SECURITY

Income Support

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioner claimants of income support there were in (a) the North East, (b) the City of Newcastle upon Tyne and (c) the constituency of Newcastle upon Tyne and what the average payment of income support was in each of the last three years; how many claimants of the pensioners' income guarantee there now are for the same areas; and what was the average payment of income support in each of the last three years. [127973]

Mr. Bayley: The Minimum Income Guarantee is delivered through Income Support. It was designed to provide poorer pensioners with a higher income threshold and this April was increased in line with average earnings. The current rates are £78.45 for a single pensioner and £121.95 for a couple. The information is in the table.

Income Support pensioners in Newcastle Central Parliamentary constituency, Newcastle City local authority, and North-east Government Office region--February 1998 to 2000

	Number	Average weekly amount (£)
	North-east
February 1998	93,600	36.19
February 1999	91,200	36.58
February 2000	91,400	38.71
	Newcastle Central PC
February 1998	3,600	31.70
February 1999	3,500	33.78
February 2000	3,500	40.11
	Newcastle City LA
February 1998	11,500	32.89
February 1999	10,900	34.88
February 2000	11,400	37.84

Notes:

1. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

2. Pensioners are defined as benefit units where the claimant, and/or partner are aged 60 or over.

3. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

Source:

Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, February 1998 to 2000

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Winter Fuel Allowance

Miss Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people over 60 in Morecambe and Lunesdale are eligible for the Winter Fuel Allowance. [127642]

Angela Eagle: In the previous winter (1999-2000), 18,928 people in the Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency received a winter fuel payment automatically, by virtue of their entitlement to a Social Security benefit. Actual numbers of beneficiaries for winter 2000 will not be known until later in the year (the qualifying week is 18 September 2000). In addition 10,087 claims forms/ mailshots have also been issued to people in the constituency, who based on Departmental records, may be eligible for winter fuel payments for both previous winters and this coming winter as a result of the European Court judgment.

A national and regional advertising campaign will commence early July 2000 to encourage people who have not received a claim form to contact the Winter Fuel Helpline.

ACT (Fraud Savings)

Mr. Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the fraud savings resulting from automation of benefit payments at post offices. [126521]

Mr. Rooker: The move to Automated Credit Transfer as the normal method of payment will bring significant savings from reduced levels of fraud. The move will begin in 2003, but full savings will not be realised until 2005, when the transition from current paper based methods of payment is complete.

A large number of fraud prevention measures are in place to manage the fraud risk relating to order books and girocheques but latest figures indicate that despite these measures around £100 million was lost in 1998-99.

The modernisation and automation of methods of payment will virtually eliminate instrument of payment fraud.

Benefit Fraud Inspectorate

Mr. Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish the reports of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate in respect of Southwark and Maidenhead councils; and what arrangements have been made to support local authorities in their efforts to counter Housing and Council Tax Benefit fraud through the promotion of good practice guidance. [128863]

Mr. Rooker: Benefit Fraud Inspectorate reports have been published today in respect of Southwark and Windsor and Maidenhead Councils. From these reports, and others, it is clear that many local authorities are failing to reach adequate standards of performance to secure Housing and Council Tax Benefit administration and counter the threat of fraud.

We have already introduced a number of initiatives aimed at helping councils and I am pleased to announce another measure that will provide practical support. The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) has today published its second Local Authority Good Practice Guide. This Guide

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provides first hand experience from the BFI's inspection work and addresses a large range of issues. The BFI has worked closely with other Agencies as well as council staff to provide authorities with an in-depth understanding of what risks and threats they face, as well as various measures that can be taken to counter them.

This is an important step forward in the intelligence available to authorities and one I expect will be used. The BFI's reports provide an early warning on local authority benefit performance standards and I will be monitoring the progress of authorities taking up these good practices through future inspection reports.

Copies of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate reports and the Local Authority Good Practice Guide have been placed in the Library.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

Access Funds

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the report of the Review of Access Funds and Hardship Loans will be available. [128757]

Mr. Wicks: Copies of the Report have today been placed in the Library of the House. My noble Friend the Minister for Education and Employment is sending copies of the Executive Summary to every higher education and further education institution which administers Access Funds or Hardship Loans in England and Wales.

The Review looked at ways in which these two schemes can be used more effectively to widen access and prevent hardship, with a particular emphasis on mature students. My right hon. Friend attaches great importance to widening access and £87 million will be available next year through the Access Bursary and Hardship Funds. Hardship Loans were introduced by this Government to provide extra targeted help for students in financial difficulty.

The Review concluded that changes in the arrangements for offering help to students through these schemes were needed. The Report contains a total of 20 recommendations on administration of the Funds, as well as further support for mature students. Many of the recommendations addressed to the Department have already been implemented or are being put in place for 2000-01.

A package of measures to provide additional help for mature and disadvantaged students was announced on 25 January. This package includes £17 million for non-repayable Bursaries in 2000-01 for mature students; a new Childcare Grant from 2001-02 and £10 million for Opportunity Bursaries to improve access to higher education for bright pupils from lower socio-economic groups. In addition, we have provided £2 million to help higher education institutions with the cost of administering the Bursaries for mature students in 2000-01.

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