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Military Aircraft Accidents
Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many accidents there were in which deceased aircrew were found guilty of gross negligence in aircraft that were not fitted with cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders since 1980; and what proportion of accidents involving military aircraft this represented. [108491]
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Mr. Spellar [pursuant to the reply, 7 February 2000, c. 31W]: I regret that there was an error in the information given. The answer provided was based on an examination of aircraft summaries rather than the original Board of Inquiry reports.
We have now completed a detailed check of the Board of Inquiry reports of the military aircraft accidents from 1 January 1980 to 31 December 1999. There were 486 aircraft accidents and a further 51 personal injury cases involving aircraft within this period. Of the 486 accidents, 317 occurred in the first 10 years. In 20 of the accidents, findings for gross, culpable or serious negligence were made against deceased aircrew in aircraft not fitted with cockpit voice recorders and accident data recorders; 16 of the cases occurred in the first 10 years.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Tax Credits
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many households would be taken off (a) Housing Benefit and (b) Council Tax Benefit in each tenure category if a flat rate housing allowance was introduced for recipients of Working Families Tax Credit and Disabled Persons Tax Credit at (i) £10, (ii) £15, (iii) £20, (iv) £25 and (v) £30 per week. [125412]
Angela Eagle: Precise estimates cannot be made because of the uncertain behavioural effects that would result from the introduction of such an allowance. However, we estimate that introducing a flat rate housing allowance of £30 per week for all recipients of the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) would move some claimants off Housing Benefit (HB) in Great Britain in a full year. Assuming that eligible rent in Housing Benefit is reduced by the amount of the housing allowance, the estimated numbers moving off benefit is dependent on the way in which the extra income is treated in the assessment of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (CTB). The following table gives estimated results based upon either disregarding the housing allowance as income so that claimants do not lose in net income terms, or counting the housing allowance as income so that claimants actually lose in net income terms:
| Housing Benefit | Council Tax Benefit | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing allowance disregarded | 140 | 0 |
| Housing allowance assessed as income | 170 | 90 |
Notes:
1. Estimates are based on the Family Resources Survey.
2. There is currently no administrative data to link WFTC receipt with HB or CTB, so estimates based solely on household survey data should be treated as illustrative only.
3. This household sample does not have an adequate sample size or the necessary information on disability to be able to produce corresponding estimates for Disabled Persons Tax Credit. The reduction in the number of recipients of Housing Benefit as a result of introducing the allowance for recipients of Disabled Persons Tax Credit is, however, likely to be small.
4. Some cases taken-off Housing Benefit may also be among those taken off Council Tax Benefit, so totals cannot be summed.
5. Separate estimate for each tenure category are not available.
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Housing Benefit
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what would be the gross and net costs of introducing a flat rate housing allowance to single people under retirement age currently in receipt of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit if such an allowance was set at (a) £10, (b) £15, (c) £20, (d) £25 and (e) £30; how many people would be entitled to such an allowance and how many people would be taken off Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit completely in each category (a) to (e); [125413]
- (2) if he will estimate the net costs of a flat rate housing allowance, assuming savings on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, if such an allowance was set at (a) £10 per week, (b) £15 per week, (c) £20 per week, (d) £25 per week and (e) £30 per week. [125410]
Angela Eagle: The information is not available as introducing a flat rate housing allowance would need to be considered in the context of the employment tax credit. As set out in chapter 3 of the Treasury paper "Tackling Poverty and Making Work Pay--Tax Credits for the 21st Century", we will extend the principle of the Working Families Tax Credit to people without children. The detailed design parameters of the new credits have yet to be finalised.
Pensions
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of people who will be without any pension entitlement on retirement in (a) 2000 and (b) each five year period thereafter to 2050; and if he will make a statement. [127837]
Mr. Rooker: We are working towards a system which will ensure that no one will retire without a pension entitlement.
Minimum Funding Requirement
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 28 June 2000, Official Report, column 533W, on the minimum funding requirement, which organisations he will be considering representations from; when he will make public the report from the Faculty and Institute of Actuaries; and if he will make a statement. [129213]
Mr. Rooker: We intend to publish the report from the Faculty and Institute of Actuaries alongside a consultation document on any proposals for change arising from the review of the minimum funding requirement. We will consider all representations that we receive in response to the consultation.
Disability and Carers Benefits Directorate
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the practice of the Director of the Disability and Carers Benefits Directorate in replying to letters from hon. Members writing on behalf of constituents; and if he personally signs such replies. [130008]
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Mr. Bayley: When letters are received from hon. Members, acknowledgements are issued on the day of receipt with a commitment to respond fully within 10 working days. This is in line with the Secretary of State's targets for answering correspondence.
The Director of the Disability and Carer Benefits Directorate personally signs replies unless he is unavailable. A nominated deputy will then reply on his behalf.
Family Credit
Mr. Ian Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes have taken place in staff and premises since the ending of family credit; and what future changes are planned. [130007]
Angela Eagle: Family Credit was centralised in the North West. Working Families Tax Credit replaced Family Credit from 5 October 1999. At the time, the majority of staff transferred to the Inland Revenue and they continued to use the same premises.
Mr. Ian Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what average time was taken from receipt of application to payment of benefit for family credit; and what was the average number of cases outstanding over the last year of its operation. [130004]
Angela Eagle: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
| Target | Achievement against target (April 1999 to September 1999) |
|---|---|
| 60 per cent. of applications settled within 13 working days | 83.7 |
| 95 per cent. of applications settled within 42 working days | 98.9 |
| 90 per cent. of "express" applications settled within five working days | 90.1 |
The average number of Family Credit cases outstanding in Great Britain during year ending September 1999 was 42,000.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Milk
Mr. Robertson: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on (a) the level of farm gate milk prices and (b) the milk industry, since the breaking up of Milk Marque. [126932]
Ms Quin: The Government recognise the considerable problems currently facing the dairy industry, where a combination of factors have reduced milk prices and had a consequential effect on incomes in the sector over the past two years. It is difficult to predict how the creation of the Milk Marque successor companies will affect milk prices in the longer term. Much will depend on the way in which the new companies are run as well as other
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factors, such as the sterling/euro exchange rate. It should also be noted that the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has announced that the successors to Milk Marque will be able to become involved in processing.
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