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LEADER+ Programme
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements he has made for the implementation of the LEADER+ Programme in England. [139447]
Mr. Morley: MAFF has submitted the draft England LEADER+ Programme to Brussels; similar arrangements are being made for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
I have arranged for copies of the Programme document to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
GM Feedstuffs
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide updated information on the project to feed GM maize and corn to chickens, including the date on which the project commenced, the date it will finish, the date when its results will be available and who is undertaking it. [136485]
Ms Quin [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The design of this project is still being considered and hence it has not yet started. The objective of the research is to establish if DNA molecules from GM feed ingredients can be detected in poultry meat at slaughter. When the experimental protocol has been finalised the research is expected to last about 18 months. The findings will be published once the experimental data are analysed at the end of the research phase. It is envisaged that the project will be undertaken by ADAS Consulting Ltd.
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SOCIAL SECURITY
Miners' Compensation
Mr. Alasdair Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the value of compensation clawback from (a) Scottish and (b) UK ex-miners as a result of the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997. [135119]
Mr. Bayley: We do not have a current estimate of the amount of benefit that will be recovered from the Department of Trade and Industry in respect of UK ex-miners cases as a result of the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997.
The number of claims settled to date has been relatively small. Claims by ex-miners against the former British Coal Board are a unique situation, and we will be able to prepare reliable estimates only once more robust information regarding the numbers of potential claims, and the potential amounts to be recovered, becomes available.
Mr. Alasdair Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the estimated average delay arising from the need to assess recovery of compensation under the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997 was in the last 12 months in payment of compensation to ex-miners suffering from respiratory diseases. [135122]
Mr. Bayley: The Compensation Recovery Unit has a statutory obligation to advise compensators of the amount to be recovered, within 28 days of a request for this information. This obligation is being met in 99.8 per cent. of cases. In cases where the information is not sent within 28 days, the Unit loses its right to recover and the compensator is entitled to settle without further reference to the Unit.
Compensators (including the Department of Trade and Industry) apply to this Department for details of the amount to be recovered well in advance of making any settlement, and apply periodically for revised details. Thus they are in possession of current details on the date that an agreement to settle is made, and compensation may be paid without delay.
Mr. Alasdair Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the recovery of compensation payments under the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997 is applicable if the recipient of compensation is the widow of the original claimant. [135120]
Mr. Bayley: Yes. The requirement to recover compensation payments applies in respect of the benefits paid to the person who suffered the accident, injury or disease, irrespective of whether the actual recipient of the compensation payment is someone other than the person who suffered the accident, injury or disease. Recovery is made at source from the compensator, never from the recipient.
Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many certificates have been issued by the Compensation Recovery Unit to reclaim benefits from damages received under the miners' compensation settlement; what was the original amount earmarked that could be reclaimed under these certificates; and what is currently the estimated amount. [136430]
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Mr. Bayley: The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Income Support
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of Income Support who are (i) unemployed and (ii) single parents have been in receipt of the benefit for (a) up to one year, (b) one to two years, (c) two to three years, (d) more than three years and (e) other periods for which information is available. [137094]
Angela Eagle: Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance replaced Income Support as the income related benefit for unemployed people with effect from October 1996. Recipients of Income Support may however, work part time for up to 16 hours per week. Their partner, should they have one, may work up to 24 hours per week without affecting entitlement to Income Support.
| Duration | Number of claimants |
|---|---|
| Under 1 year | 213.0 |
| 1-2 years | 150.9 |
| 2-3 years | 104.2 |
| 3 years and over | 442.0 |
| Total of all cases | 910.1 |
Notes:
1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and quoted in thousands
2. Based on 5 per cent. sample (therefore subject to sampling error)
3. Lone parents are single claimants with dependants who are not receiving the disability or pensioner premium
Source:
Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, May 2000
| Thousand | |
|---|---|
| Duration | Number of claimants |
| Under 1 year | 562.6 |
| 1-2 years | 113.5 |
| 2-3 years | 50.3 |
| 3 years and over | 98.1 |
| Total of all cases | 824.5 |
Notes:
1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and quoted in thousands
2. Based on 5 per cent. sample therefore subject to sampling error
3. Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance claimants may have underlying entitlement to benefit via the contributory route
4. Jobseeker's Allowance replaced Income Support for the unemployed with effect from October 1996
Source:
Jobseeker's Allowance Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, May 2000.
Pensions Advisers
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensions advisers at each grade in his Department there were in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000; and what was the relevant staff establishment in each year. [137759]
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Mr. Rooker: The Department has no specific pension adviser posts. All staff engaged on pensions work give advice to the public. Staffing information is not held on specific areas of work.
Disability Living Allowance (Appeals)
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of those claimants who are successful at disability living allowance appeal tribunals have had to wait in excess of (a) one month, (b) two months and (c) three months for arrears to be paid in the last 12 months. [138055]
Mr. Bayley: The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Appeals Service Tribunal
Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what factors underlay the decision to replace the Independent Tribunal Service with the Appeals Service Tribunal. [138300]
Angela Eagle: The Independent Tribunal Service (ITS) was a tribunal non-Departmental Public Body under a Presidential system. The President was responsible not only for judicial functions but also for the administration of the five tribunals. As a member of the judiciary, the President was not accountable to Parliament for the performance of ITS, and it was not possible to set targets relating to appeals administration.
The Social Security Act 1998 provided the legislative framework to introduce a more streamlined and efficient appeals system. The President remains the judicial head of appeal tribunals and is responsible for their independent functions.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State assumed responsibility for the administration of appeals from 1 June 1999 and the Appeals Service agency, headed by a Chief Executive, was established on 3 April 2000. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has set the agency key financial and performance targets which are detailed in its published Business Plan for 2000-01.
Basic Pension
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what increases in the basic pension for 2001-02 and 2002-03 would result if the 0.3 per cent. reduction in employers' contribution rates was cancelled and the money spent on the basic pension. [138351]
Mr. Rooker [holding answer 15 November 2000]: The 0.3 per cent. reduction relates to the climate change levy and therefore has no relevance to Social Security policy issues.
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