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State Second Pension
Mr. Webb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his oral statement of 19 November 1999, Official Report, column 314, which is the earliest year in which a person earning £6,000 a year could receive more than £50 a week exclusively through the state second pension. [100191]
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Mr. Rooker:
An employee earning £6,000 per year throughout their working life could retire with £50 per week from the State Second Pension in 2047. This would be in addition to a full basic State Retirement Pension.
Notes:
1. State Second Pension is assumed to start in 2002.
2. Earnings and pension figures are in 1999 earnings terms.
3. The calculation is based on a person earning £6,000 per year (in today's earnings terms) for a full working life. A full working life is 49 years, beginning at age 16 and ending at age 65.
Correspondence
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 28 September regarding a constituent, ref. 17161. [100074]
Angela Eagle: A reply was issued to my hon. Friend on 25 November 1999.
Motability
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many cases termed as priority by Motability are outstanding due to lack of funding; what arrangements he has put in place to ensure that future cases are not subjected to delay; and if he will ensure that the outstanding priority cases are progressed as a matter of urgency; [99654]
- (2) if he will make a statement on the outcome of his meeting with the governors of Motability on 27 October 1999. [99653]
Mr. Bayley: I held a meeting on 27 October 1999 with one of Motability's Governors, the Vice Chairman and other officers of Motability, to discuss proposals for the future funding of the Mobility Equipment Fund (MEF). The meeting was helpful and constructive. I hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.
24 MEF renewal cases have been deferred due to insufficient funding. These should be cleared by February 2000. A further 15 other priority cases should be cleared as soon as possible after February.
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Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security under what circumstances the Independent Tribunal Service is required to hold a re-hearing of an appeal case; and if he will review the law with regard to such cases. [99547]
Angela Eagle:
The law relating to the re-hearing of an appeal was reviewed recently and is set out in the Social Security Act 1998. The Act sets out three circumstances when a tribunal's decision can be set aside and referred to a new tribunal for a re-hearing.
We have carried forward provisions for the Independent Tribunal Service/The Appeals Service to set aside decisions on certain grounds. This is where a relevant document was not received by all parties on time or where a party to the proceedings was not present at the hearing.
We have also retained the provisions for set aside by the Social Security and Child Support Commissioners. A Commissioner can set aside a tribunal's decision where it is erroneous in law and refer the appeal back to the Independent Tribunal Service/The Appeals Service for a new decision.
The Act introduces new provisions for tribunal decisions on Social Security Benefits to be set aside where the original decision is erroneous in law. This allows a tribunal to correct its own decision where it is clearly wrong or where both the appellant and the Secretary of State consider that the decision is erroneous in law. This new provision does not remove the right of appeal to a Commissioner but it dispenses with the need for an appeal to go to the Commissioners in some circumstances.
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects the Independent Tribunal Service to provide the hon. Member for Aylesbury with the clarification of the case of Mr. David Reader (references D04 048 1999 00512 and D04 048 1999 00981) which was promised by the Regional Chairman of the Independent Tribunal Service in his letter of 13 August. [98758]
Angela Eagle
[holding answer 22 November 1999]: This is a matter for the President of the Appeals Service, His Honour Judge Harris. However, I understand Robert Martin, the Regional Chairman, replied to the hon. Member on 19 November with further information about the case of Mr. Reader.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of people with non-child care responsibilities (a) who are entitled to and (b) who claim Home Responsibilities Protection. [98511]
Mr. Bayley:
The entitlement conditions for Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) for non-child carers are very similar to those for Invalid Care Allowance (ICA). The majority of people who fulfil those conditions will claim ICA which attracts automatic National Insurance credits and hence, they do not require HRP. No reliable information is available on the numbers of non-child carers without ICA who are either entitled to or claim HRP.
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Mrs. Curtis-Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the Child Support Agency's policy is in respect of the enforcement of maintenance orders against former partners now residing overseas, with particular reference to the case of Mrs. J. Basu of Formby. [98603]
Angela Eagle:
The Child Support Agency does not have jurisdiction to enforce maintenance orders made against former partners now residing overseas. This is a matter for the Lord Chancellor's Department, who are currently pursuing Mrs. Basu's case.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons he has delayed the implementation of the new pay structure for the armed forces until April 2000; and what will be the consequent saving to his budget. [99922]
Mr. Spellar:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Crausby) on 19 November 1999, Official Report, column 14W, in which I stated that the new pay structure for the Armed Forces was to be delayed by one year to April 2001 because the process of implementing this major project has proved more complex than had been originally anticipated. This delay will ensure that there is no risk to the pay of our Service men and women. There will be no consequent saving to the Defence budget.
The transition to the new pay structure is expected to involve additional costs. The pay rates for the new system will be recommended by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body, and these will not be known until early 2001. Therefore I am withholding details of our planning assumptions under Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Mr. Welsh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will estimate the current value of fighting equipment in the (a) Army and (b) RAF; [99650]
(3) what is the current estimated value of land and property (i) in Scotland, (ii) in the UK and (iii) overseas within the responsibility of the (a) Defence Secondary Care Agency, (b) Defence Transport and Movement Executive, (c) Duke of York's Royal Military School, (d) Joint Air Reconnaissance Information Centre, (e) Logistics Information Systems Agency, (f) Medical Supplies Agency, (g) Military Survey and (h) Ministry of Defence Police; and if he will further estimate the current value of (1) plant and machinery, (2) vehicles and (3) investments for each of these groups; [99782]
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(4) what is the current estimated value of land and property in (i) the UK Support Command (Germany), (ii) 1 (UK) Armoured Division, (iii) Overseas Detachment (Canada), (iv) Overseas Detachment (Nepal) and (v) Overseas Detachment (Belize); [99775]
(5) what is the current estimated value of land and property (i) in Scotland, (ii) in the UK and (iii) overseas allocated within the responsibility of (a) the Air Officer Commanding in Chief RAF Personnel and Training Command and (b) Air Officer Commanding in Chief RAF Logistics Command; [99778]
(6) what is the current estimated value of land and property (i) in Scotland, (ii) in the UK and (iii) overseas allocated within the responsibility of the Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff; [99779]
(7) what is the current estimated value of land and property in Scotland within the responsibility of the Commander in Chief Land Command; [99772]
(8) what his estimate is of the value of land and property (a) in Scotland, (b) in the United Kingdom and (c) overseas within the responsibility of the (i) Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation, (ii) Naval Bases and Supply Agency, (iii) Naval Manning Agency, (iv) Naval Recruiting and Training Agency, (v) Pay and Personnel Agency and (vi) Queen Victoria School; and if he will further estimate the current value of (1) plant and machinery, (2) vehicles and (3) investments for each of these bodies; [99787]
(9) if he will estimate the current value of fighting equipment in the Royal Navy, stating separately the current value of the nuclear submarine fleet and nuclear missile capacity; [99665]
(10) if he will state the current estimated value of land and property in (i) Scotland, (ii) the UK and (iii) overseas within the responsibility of the (a) RAF Logistic Support Services, (b) RAF Maintenance Group Defence Agency, (c) RAF Personnel Manning Agency, (d) RAF Signals Engineering Establishment, (e) RAF Training Group Defence Agency, (f) Service Children's Education, (g) Ships Support Agency and (h) Specialist Procurement Service; and if he will further estimate the current value of (1) plant and machinery, (2) vehicles and (3) investments for each of these bodies; [99773]
(11) what is the current estimated value of land and property in Scotland allocated within the responsibility of the Air Officer Commander-in-Chief RAF Strike Command, including USUF sites; and what is the total value of property and land allocated within the responsibility of the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Strike Command, indicating figures for (i) the UK and (ii) overseas; [99777]
(12) what is the current estimated value of land and property (i) in Scotland, (ii) in the UK and (iii) overseas within the responsibility of the (a) Defence Analytical Services Agency, (b) Defence Bills Agency, (c) Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency, (d) Defence Codification Agency, (e) Defence Dental Agency, (f) Defence Estates Organisation, (g) Defence Intelligence and Security Centres, (h) Defence Medical Training Organisation and (i) Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency; and if
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(13) what is the current estimated value of land and property (a) in Scotland, (b) in the United Kingdom and (c) overseas within the responsibility of the (i) Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, (ii) Hydrographic Office and (iii) Meteorological Office; and if he will further estimate the current value of (1) plant and equipment, (2) vehicles and (3) investments for each of these bodies; [99785]
(14) what is the current estimated value of land and property (i) in Scotland, (ii) in the UK and (iii) overseas within the responsibility of (a) the armed forces personnel Administration Agency, (b) the Army Base Repair Organisation, (c) the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency, (d) the Army Personnel Centre, (e) the Army Technical Support Agency and (f) the Army Training and Recruiting Agency; and if he will further estimate the current value of the (1) plant and machinery, (2) vehicles and (3) investments for each of these groups; [99780]
(15) what is the current estimated value of the land and property in Scotland allocated within the responsibility of the Commander in Chief Fleet; [99788]
(16) what is the current estimated value of land and property in Scotland allocated within the responsibility of the (i) Adjutant General (Personnel and Training Command) and (ii) Quartermaster General; [99776]
(17) if he will estimate the current value of (a) land and property and (b) other assets in (i) Scotland, (ii) the UK and (iii) overseas held by each of his executive non-departmental public bodies; [99660]
(18) what is the current estimated value of land and property in (i) Scotland, (ii) the UK and (iii) overseas allocated with the responsibility of (a) the Chief of Defence Procurement and (b) the Second Permanent Under-Secretary of State; [99774]
(19) if he will estimate the current value of land and property in Scotland held by the Territorial Army; [99664]
(20) if he will estimate the current value of heritage assets in the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) RAF. [99651]
Mrs. Ewing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the current value of investments held by the (a) Army, (b) Navy and (c) RAF. [99652]
Mr. Spellar:
This information is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Members and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Welsh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current value of contracts for uniforms held with companies in (a) Scotland, (b) the UK and (c) in total. [99661]
Mr. Spellar:
This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency (DCTA). I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
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(2) if he will estimate the current value of (a) plant, (b) machinery and (c) vehicles held by the (i) Royal Navy, (ii) Army and (iii) RAF; [99649]
he will further estimate the current value of (1) plant and machinery, (2) vehicles and (3) investments for each of these groups; [99781]
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| Total value of contracts placed | 13.039 |
| Value of contracts to UK | 12.759 |
| (Of which to Scottish companies | 1.394) |
| Value of contracts outside UK | 0.280 |
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