House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 30 Nov 2000 (pt 41)

Independent Living Fund

Mr. Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the (a) number of recipients of, (b) total expenditure on and (c) upper and lower payments made by his Department from the Independent Living Fund for each of the last three years. [141144]

Mr. Bayley: The Independent Living Funds (ILFs) operate on a UK basis and the number of recipients of payments from the ILFs for the last three years was as follows:

31 March 1998: 15,575

31 March 1999: 15,189

31 March 2000: 15,262.

The total UK expenditure for the last three years was:

Year ending 1997-98: £113,655,548

Year ending 1998-99: £117,745,387

Year ending 1999-2000: £126,154,830.

30 Nov 2000 : Column: 866W

The maximum sums payable by the Funds remained unchanged since their inception in 1993 until 27 January 2000. From 1993 the maximum payment paid by the Independent Living (Extension Fund) was £560 per week and for the Independent Living (1993) Fund £300 per week. In January these amounts were increased to £625 for the Extension Fund and £375 per week for the 1993 Fund. The lowest payment made in an individual case in each of the last three years was £1 per week.

Mr. Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost to his Department of removing the means test from the Independent Living Fund. [141145]

Mr. Bayley: Up to date information is not available. I will write to the hon. Member shortly with the information.

Benefit Fraud

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which of the principal and supplementary recommendations in the Scampion report on organised benefit fraud (a) have been accepted, (b) are being considered and (c) have been rejected; if local authorities have been notified of the Scampion report; and if he will place the full text of the report on the internet. [141049]

Mr. Rooker: Following the Scampion Report work is under way in the following main areas:

strengthen the central organised fraud investigation service

establish a National Benefits Intelligence Unit

set up joint working agreements with LAs

replace Weekly Benefit Savings

take forward and provide an audit trail for supplementary recommendations.

Local authorities have been notified of the Scampion report and have been involved in the consultation process for joint working and the review of subsidy arrangements.

The report will be available on the internet shortly.

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what working estimate was used by his Department for Housing Benefit fraud; what the level was of detected housing benefit fraud in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [139329]

Angela Eagle: Housing Benefit fraud was not measured prior to 1993. The method of measurement was changed in 1998 as a result of reports by the National Audit Office and Audit Commission. This makes it impossible to make a meaningful comparison across the period.

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 17 November 2000, Official Report, column 807W, on benefit fraud, if he will set out the specific measures of the direction issued to Northampton Borough Council. [141006]

Mr. Rooker: I have placed a copy of the direction in the Library.

30 Nov 2000 : Column: 867W

NORTHERN IRELAND

Hamill Case

Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under what powers the Police Ombudsman in Northern Ireland has commenced an investigation into the Hamill case. [141161]

Mr. Ingram: The Police Ombudsman is supervising the investigation into the complaint against the police made in relation to the murder of Robert Hamill under the provisions of Part VII of the Police (NI) Act 1998. The Commencement Order signed by the Secretary of State on 4 November 2000 provides that complaints which were made under the 1987 Police (NI) Order shall continue to be dealt with under Part VII of the Police (NI) Act 1998.

Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust

Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will set out the criteria by which funds for the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust are distributed; [139814]

Mr. Ingram: The Core Funding for Victims/Survivors Groups Grant Scheme is administered by the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust (NIVT) on behalf of the Victims Liaison Unit in the Northern Ireland Office. The criteria used by NIVT are set out in the Guidance for Applicants brochure produced by NIVT. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

The geographical distribution of funding is given in the following table by District Council area. In addition, a number of the groups which have received funding provide services on a regional basis.

District council area £

Armagh 2,000

Belfast 576,398

Coleraine 73,660

Cookstown 3,100

Craigavon 80,000

Derry 7,550

Down 87,800

Dungannon 10,000

Fermanagh 81,346

Newry and Mourne 1,070

North Down 88,718

Omagh 44,190

Strabane 86,000

Regional 985,787

Total 2,127,619

District council area	£
Armagh	2,000
Belfast	576,398
Coleraine	73,660
Cookstown	3,100
Craigavon	80,000
Derry	7,550
Down	87,800
Dungannon	10,000
Fermanagh	81,346
Newry and Mourne	1,070
North Down	88,718
Omagh	44,190
Strabane	86,000
Regional	985,787

Total	2,127,619

WALES

Children's Commissioner for Wales

Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the establishment of a Children's Commissioner for Wales. [139934]

30 Nov 2000 : Column: 868W

Mr. Paul Murphy: The office of the Children's Commissioner for Wales is being established under the Care Standards Act, which received Royal Assent on 20 July. The role of the Commissioner reflects Sir Ronald Waterhouse's first recommendation in his report "Lost in Care".

The Commissioner's functions will extend to all social care services for children regulated by the Act: children's homes, residential family centres, local authority fostering and adoption services, fostering agencies, voluntary adoption agencies, domiciliary care, private and voluntary hospitals and clinics, the welfare aspects of daycare and childminding services for all children under the age of eight, and the welfare of children living away from home in boarding schools.

The Commissioner's functions include the review and monitoring of arrangements by the service providers above for dealing with complaints, whistle-blowing and advocacy; the provision of advice and information; the examination, where the Commissioner considers appropriate, of the cases of particular children to be defined in regulations who are receiving or have been in receipt of such services; the provision of assistance, including financial assistance, and representation, in respect of proceedings or disputes or in relation to the operation of procedures and arrangements monitored by the Commissioner; and making reports, including an annual report on the exercise of his/her functions to the National Assembly for Wales.

Dee Estuary

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements are being put in place for the maintenance of the ecology of the Dee Estuary in advance of the forthcoming water framework directive and the Dee Estuary Strategy. [140430]

Mr. Paul Murphy: In relation to that part of the Dee Estuary falling in Wales, this is a matter for the National Assembly.

Special Educational Needs

Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by local education authority the number of cases taken to the Tribunal for Special Educational Needs each year from its inception until July 1999, indicating the number of cases in which the tribunal ruled that additional support should be provided for children with special needs. [140567]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister for School Standards on 28 November 2000, Official Report, column 583W.

Child Protection Registers

Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, for each local authority area, how many children there were on child protection registers broken down, by type of abuse, in (a) 1990, (b) 1997 and (c) 2000; and what was the rate of abuse per 10,000 children for Wales. [140565]

Mr. Paul Murphy: Figures for 1990 and 1997 are set out in the table. Since 1 July 1999, this has been a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

Children on Child Protection Registers

Neglect, physical and sexual abuse Neglect and physical abuse Neglect and sexual abuse Physical abuse and sexual abuse Neglect (only) Physical abuse (only) Sexual abuse (only) Emotional abuse (only) Grave concern: household contains known abuser Grave concern: other Total Rate per 10,000 population aged 0-17 years

at 31 March 1990

Clwyd 1 4 0 1 19 83 54 16 107 86 371 39

Dyfed 0 25 3 2 37 60 26 25 68 109 355 45

Gwent 0 9 0 1 61 122 32 14 36 92 367 35

Gwynedd 0 1 1 1 8 10 2 0 15 20 58 11

Mid Glamorgan 0 5 0 0 12 61 23 15 35 28 179 14

Powys 0 0 1 0 20 10 9 2 21 22 85 33

South Glamorgan 1 8 2 5 106 112 26 34 144 315 753 78

West Glamorgan 0 1 2 1 12 23 8 2 64 21 134 16

Wales 2 53 9 11 275 481 180 108 490 693 2,302 35

at 31 March 1997:

Isle of Anglesey 0 0 0 0 7 4 4 2 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 17 11

Gwynedd 0 5 5 4 16 24 15 13 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 82 32

Conwy 0 5 0 1 18 27 1 2 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 54 24

Denbighshire 0 1 0 0 9 16 3 8 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 37 18

Flintshire 0 2 0 0 3 12 12 2 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 31 9

Wrexham 0 3 2 0 6 10 3 7 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 31 11

Powys 0 2 3 0 12 1 6 19 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 43 16

Ceredigion 0 0 0 0 7 9 9 8 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 33 24

Pembrokeshire 0 1 1 0 26 13 13 19 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 73 28

Carmarthenshire 0 6 0 2 54 27 12 24 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 125 34

Swansea 0 0 0 0 32 36 33 22 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 123 24

Neath Port Talbot 0 0 0 0 60 42 16 40 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 158 50

Bridgend 0 0 0 2 4 22 1 8 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 37 12

The Vale of Glamorgan 0 6 0 4 13 44 8 33 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 108 37

Cardiff 4 35 5 6 143 109 48 112 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 462 61

Rhondda, Cynon, Taff 0 8 2 0 47 30 12 36 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 135 24

Merthyr Tydfil 1 7 0 0 22 12 12 14 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 68 46

Caerphilly 5 12 1 4 31 50 30 19 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 152 36

Blaenau Gwent 0 0 2 0 23 10 8 7 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 50 29

Torfaen 0 2 0 0 10 19 6 2 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 39 18

Monmouthshire 0 0 0 1 16 16 5 7 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 45 23

Newport 0 3 6 6 55 29 19 8 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 126 37

Wales 10 98 27 30 614 562 276 412 ⁽³²⁾-- ⁽³²⁾-- 2,029 30

	Neglect, physical and sexual abuse	Neglect and physical abuse	Neglect and sexual abuse	Physical abuse and sexual abuse	Neglect (only)	Physical abuse (only)	Sexual abuse (only)	Emotional abuse (only)	Grave concern: household contains known abuser	Grave concern: other	Total	Rate per 10,000 population aged 0-17 years
at 31 March 1990
Clwyd	1	4	0	1	19	83	54	16	107	86	371	39
Dyfed	0	25	3	2	37	60	26	25	68	109	355	45
Gwent	0	9	0	1	61	122	32	14	36	92	367	35
Gwynedd	0	1	1	1	8	10	2	0	15	20	58	11
Mid Glamorgan	0	5	0	0	12	61	23	15	35	28	179	14
Powys	0	0	1	0	20	10	9	2	21	22	85	33
South Glamorgan	1	8	2	5	106	112	26	34	144	315	753	78
West Glamorgan	0	1	2	1	12	23	8	2	64	21	134	16
Wales	2	53	9	11	275	481	180	108	490	693	2,302	35

at 31 March 1997:
Isle of Anglesey	0	0	0	0	7	4	4	2	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	17	11
Gwynedd	0	5	5	4	16	24	15	13	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	82	32
Conwy	0	5	0	1	18	27	1	2	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	54	24
Denbighshire	0	1	0	0	9	16	3	8	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	37	18
Flintshire	0	2	0	0	3	12	12	2	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	31	9
Wrexham	0	3	2	0	6	10	3	7	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	31	11
Powys	0	2	3	0	12	1	6	19	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	43	16
Ceredigion	0	0	0	0	7	9	9	8	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	33	24
Pembrokeshire	0	1	1	0	26	13	13	19	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	73	28
Carmarthenshire	0	6	0	2	54	27	12	24	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	125	34
Swansea	0	0	0	0	32	36	33	22	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	123	24
Neath Port Talbot	0	0	0	0	60	42	16	40	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	158	50
Bridgend	0	0	0	2	4	22	1	8	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	37	12
The Vale of Glamorgan	0	6	0	4	13	44	8	33	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	108	37
Cardiff	4	35	5	6	143	109	48	112	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	462	61
Rhondda, Cynon, Taff	0	8	2	0	47	30	12	36	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	135	24
Merthyr Tydfil	1	7	0	0	22	12	12	14	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	68	46
Caerphilly	5	12	1	4	31	50	30	19	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	152	36
Blaenau Gwent	0	0	2	0	23	10	8	7	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	50	29
Torfaen	0	2	0	0	10	19	6	2	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	39	18
Monmouthshire	0	0	0	1	16	16	5	7	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	45	23
Newport	0	3	6	6	55	29	19	8	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	126	37
Wales	10	98	27	30	614	562	276	412	⁽³²⁾--	⁽³²⁾--	2,029	30

⁽³²⁾ Not applicable

Note:

Comparisons between abuse categories for these years are not possible as the category 'Grave concern' was discontinued in 1993. Continuing Grave concern cases were assigned to another category.

30 Nov 2000 : Column: 869W

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