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Social Security Benefits (EU)
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what obligations there are under EU directives and regulations, and what proposals have been made for further steps, for ensuring that citizens of the European Union and their dependents are entitled to social security benefits in their country of residence within the Union. [139088]
Angela Eagle: EEC Regulation 1408/71 co-ordinates the social security systems of member states. These rules ensure that people covered by the scope of the regulation do not suffer undue loss of Social Security benefits if they move from one member state to another. The regulations prevent discrimination on grounds of nationality; they provide that contributions made in one member state may be taken into account when calculating benefit entitlement in another; and they stipulate which state is responsible for the payment of benefits.
Contributory benefits are generally paid by the state in which the person last worked and paid contributions. For non-contributory benefits, the general rule is that these are provided by the state where the person habitually resides in accordance with the legislation of that state.
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EEC Regulation 1612/68 also has an effect on certain social security rights. This regulation governs, among other things, access to social and tax advantages for migrant workers and members of their families who have moved within the EU and take up work or who retire after taking up work there.
Age and Generation Imbalance (EU)
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what studies have been carried out by (a) him, (b) institutions of the European Community and (c) other bodies for which he is responsible, into the nature and extent of the age and generation imbalance within member states of the European Community, with particular reference to the future obligations on national or Community revenue of such liabilities. [139086]
Angela Eagle: European Union institutions have produced a number of studies on the effect of aging populations on member states.
This Department has also contributed to the production of the report of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development "Maintaining Prosperity in an Ageing Society" and supports the continuing work of the organisation in this area. A number of other bodies such as the International Monetary Fund and the World bank have also published papers in this area.
Information on National Insurance Fund expenditure for future UK state pensions is contained in the Report by the Government Actuary on the Financial Effects on the National Insurance Fund of the Child Support and Pensions Bill 1999 (Cm 4573).
Benefit Fraud
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) pursuant to his oral answer of 13 November 2000, Official Report, column 639, what amount of detected Housing Benefit fraud can be attributed to organised crime in each year since 1990; and what proportion of total detected Housing Benefit fraud that represents; [139578]
- (2) if he will make a statement on the amount of detected benefit fraud which can be attributed to the claimant's failure to report a change of circumstances in each year since 1990; and what proportion of total detected benefit fraud that represents; [139576]
(3) pursuant to his oral answer of 13 November 2000, Official Report, column 639, what amount of detected benefit fraud can be attributed to organised crime in each year since 1990; and what proportion of total detected benefit fraud that represents; [139577]
(4) if he will make a statement on the amount of detected Housing Benefit fraud which can be attributed to the claimant's failure to report a change of circumstances in each year since 1990; and what proportion of total detected Housing Benefit fraud that represents. [139580]
Mr. Rooker: The information is not available in the format requested. However, it is believed that claimants' failure to report a change in circumstances to the Department is the major cause of fraud. Seven out of ten mistakes enter the system after an initial valid claim.
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Pensioners
Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his oral statement of 9 November 2000, Official Report, column 452, what was the basis of his calculation that one in six pensioner couples are retiring on income of more than £20,000 per annum; and if he will disaggregate this income by average amount earned from each source using the categories in the Pensioners Incomes Series. [139839]
Mr. Rooker: The Pensioners Incomes Series data set was based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS) 1998-99, a copy of which is in the Library.
Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his oral statement of 9 November 2000, Official Report, column 452, that one in six pensioner couples retire on an income above £20,000, what proportion of (a) single pensioners and (b) pensioners in total retire on an income above £20,000. [139840]
Mr. Rooker: I refer my right hon. Friend to the written answer I gave him on 20 November 2000, Official Report, column 67W.
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Judges' Lodgings
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment she has made of a reasonable travel to court time and distance for (a) a High Court, or more senior judge, (b) a circuit judge, (c) a district judge and (d) a tribunal chairman to travel to court or tribunals before requiring (i) overnight accommodation expenses to be met and (ii) judges' lodgings to be provided; and if he will make a statement. [139411]
Jane Kennedy: High Court judges, when on circuit, will normally stay in judges' lodgings close to their court. For those in the other specified categories, a night subsistence allowance is payable for sittings undertaken away from the office holder's principal court or tribunal. Circuit and district judges do not normally require overnight accommodation, as they are usually assigned to articular courts within reasonable travelling distance. However, they may receive expenses for being asked to sit elsewhere. No precise limit of distance or travelling time within which it would be considered reasonable for a judge to take hotel accommodation rather than return home has been prescribed. Cases are considered in the light of the individual circumstances, taking into account such considerations as the method of travel, the time of year and road conditions.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department under what circumstances judges are provided with a chauffeur and car when staying in judges' lodgings (a) for travel to and from court, (b) for travel to and from other public engagements and (c) for private travel; what is the total cost of this benefit; which judges' lodgings has the highest cost per annum for this benefit; what is the average cost per lodging; and if he will make a statement. [139410]
Jane Kennedy: Judges are provided with a chauffeur-driven car for all travel between lodgings and courts and for other official journeys while at the
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lodgings. A car is also provided, if required, to transport the judge between the lodgings and the station when he or she arrives and leaves at the start and finish of a period of occupancy. Judges are not provided with official transport for private travel.
- The total cost of car hire for the year 1999-2000 was £557,066.
- The judges' lodgings with the highest cost for 1999-2000 was Birmingham at £50,641.
- The average cost per lodgings for car hire was £17,408.
Jane Kennedy: While a judge is at a lodgings, his or her spouse or partner may also stay on the basis that the judge and spouse or partner share the same suite of accommodation.
A weekly allowance of £310 per week is made where one judge occupies a lodgings and £230 per week per judge where a lodgings is occupied by two judges or more, to cover the cost of all food and drink for judge, clerk and marshal. This sum also has to cover any additional expenditure incurred as a result of a spouse or partner accompanying the judge.
No additional charge is made as long as the judge's weekly allowance is not exceeded. If for any reason the allowance is exceeded any additional expenditure will be recovered from the judge concerned.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the arrangements are for overnight accommodation allowances and provision for (a) High Court and (b) circuit judges, when hearing cases away from home on circuit; and if he will make a statement. [139412]
Mr. Lock: When sitting on circuit, High Court judges normally stay in lodgings which are provided by the Lord Chancellor's Department. They do not receive any allowances as the costs are borne directly by the Lord Chancellor's Department. Circuit judges who have to stay away from home overnight are entitled to allowances for accommodation expenses. On occasion, under arrangements made on a particular circuit, circuit judges may be accommodated in judges' lodgings, in which case no allowances are payable.
Auld Inquiry
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the progress of the inquiry into criminal justice procedures by Sir Robin Auld. [139572]
Jane Kennedy: Lord Justice Auld has received over 900 written submissions to his review. He has held numerous meetings with individuals who work or have an interest in the criminal courts, and has published two interim reports, which are available on the review website (www.criminal-courts-review.org). He is now drafting his final conclusions and hopes to bring the review to a conclusion early in the new year.