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SOCIAL SECURITY
Industrial Injuries
Mr. Nicholls: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the length of delays in matters being listed for hearing at tribunals concerning claims for industrial injuries disablement benefit; and if he will make a statement. [145754]
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Mr. Bayley: The information is as follows:
| Average time between lodgement by the appellant and first hearing | |
|---|---|
| 1/10/97 to 30/09/98 | 35.7 |
| 1/10/98 to 30/09/99 | 35.9 |
| 1/10/99 to 30/09/2000 | 30.8 |
Notes:
1. Figures from the GAPS system are subject to updating on a quarterly basis and may differ from previously published figures.
2. Figures are provisional and may be subject to revision.
3. The overall average waiting time has improved in the period of 1 October 1999 to 30 September 2000 following the introduction of the new arrangements for decision making and appeals.
Source:
100 per cent. download from the Appeals Service Generic Appeals Processing System (GAPS)
Child Support
Mr. Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the new child support scheme indicates the categories of expenditure covered by the Child Support Agency maintenance payment. [146121]
Mr. Rooker: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bethnal Green and Bow (Ms King) on 6 November 2000, Official Report, column 99W.
Minimum Income Guarantee
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reasons pensioner families in the top income decile are eligible for the minimum income guarantee, as indicated in chart 5.3 of the latest Pre- Budget report. [146345]
Mr. Rooker: Entitlement to the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) is determined on a Benefit Unit basis and hence it is possible for pensioners with MIG entitlement to live with others who have incomes sufficiently high to place the household in the top decile. Chart 5.3 in the latest pre-Budget report measures income gains by household equivalised income. This definition means that income is equivalised across all members of the household.
Pensioners (Australia)
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Erewash (Liz Blackman) of 21 December 2000, Official Report, column 260W, concerning pensioners with a period of residence in Australia, when the arrangements to protect their position will be put in place; what the arrangements will be; and what steps will be taken to notify people with periods of residence after 5 April 2001. [146391]
Mr. Rooker: Arrangements are in place to protect the basic state pension position of people with periods of residence in Australia, which began during the currency
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of the Social Security Agreement with Australia, on their return to live permanently in the United Kingdom. The arrangements are that these people can use periods of residence in Australia up to 5 April 2001 as periods for which National Insurance contributions have been paid. The termination of the Agreement has been publicised in the media and in leaflets.
Disability Living Allowance
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 17 January 2001, Official Report, column 283W, on Disability Living Allowance, what information is collated by his Department; and if he will publish it. [146703]
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Mr. Bayley: A range of information about Disability Living Allowance is collated. Details of claims, reviews, appeals and awards, together with success rates, are published in the Department's Disability Care and Mobility Quarterly Statistical Enquiry which is available in the Library.
Agency Jobs (Tyne and Wear)
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many whole-time jobs there were in each agency within his Department in each district of Tyne and Wear in each of the last five years. [147008]
Mr. Rooker: The information available is shown in the table. This relates to the number of jobs filled on a whole-time basis for each of the last complete financial years.
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| Agency | Newcastle | Durham | Wearside | South Tyneside | Longbenton | Arden House, Newcastle | Grand total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 March 2000 | ||||||||
| BA | 183 | 109 | 22 | 166 | 3,996 | 131 | 4,607 | |
| ITSA | -- | -- | -- | -- | 529 | -- | 529 | |
| DSS HQ | -- | -- | -- | -- | 146 | -- | 146 | |
| CSA | -- | -- | -- | 27 | 744 | -- | 771 | |
| WPA | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 4 | 4 | |
| Grand total | 183 | 109 | 22 | 193 | 5,415 | 135 | 6,057 | |
| 31 March 1999 | ||||||||
| BA | 181 | 114 | 22 | 167 | 3,882 | 90 | 4,456 | |
| CA | -- | -- | -- | 37 | 3,728 | -- | 3,765 | |
| ITSA | -- | -- | -- | -- | 530 | -- | 530 | |
| DSS HQ | -- | -- | -- | -- | 130 | -- | 130 | |
| CSA | 7 | -- | -- | 49 | 559 | -- | 615 | |
| WPA | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2 | 2 | |
| Grand total | 188 | 114 | 22 | 253 | 8,829 | 92 | 9,498 | |
| 31 March 1998 | ||||||||
| BA | 169 | 87 | 27 | 167 | 3,464 | 145 | 4,059 | |
| CA | -- | -- | -- | 36 | 3,672 | -- | 3,708 | |
| ITSA | -- | -- | -- | -- | 509 | -- | 509 | |
| DSS HQ | -- | -- | -- | -- | 154 | -- | 154 | |
| CSA | 12 | -- | -- | 29 | 463 | -- | 504 | |
| WPA | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | |
| Grand total | 181 | 87 | 27 | 232 | 8,262 | 146 | 8,935 | |
| 31 March 1997 | ||||||||
| BA | 173 | 104 | 63 | 183 | 3,420 | 186 | 4,129 | |
| CA | -- | -- | 6 | 51 | 3,741 | -- | 3,798 | |
| ITSA | -- | -- | -- | -- | 521 | -- | 521 | |
| DSS HQ | -- | -- | -- | -- | 160 | -- | 160 | |
| CSA | 13 | -- | -- | 29 | 453 | -- | 495 | |
| WPA | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2 | 2 | |
| Grand total | 186 | 104 | 69 | 263 | 8,295 | 188 | 9,105 | |
| 31 March 1996 | ||||||||
| BA | 206 | 79 | 56 | 212 | 3,554 | 179 | 4,286 | |
| CA | -- | -- | 13 | 34 | 3,892 | -- | 3,939 | |
| ITSA | -- | -- | -- | -- | 547 | -- | 547 | |
| DSS HQ | -- | -- | -- | -- | 161 | -- | 161 | |
| CSA | 10 | 3 | -- | 9 | 292 | -- | 314 | |
| WPA | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 4 | 4 | |
| Grand total | 216 | 82 | 69 | 255 | 8,446 | 183 | 9,251 | |
BA: Benefits Agency
CA: Contributions Agency
ITSA: Information Technology Services Agency
DSSHQ: Includes information in respect of Independent Statutory Bodies
CSA: Child Support Agency
WPA: War Pensions Agency
Notes:
1. Information is included for CA (Contributions Agency) up to 31 March 1999; CA transferred to Inland Revenue on 1 April 1999
2. Information on ITSA is included for the whole period--outsourcing not completed until September 2000
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War Widows
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to reply to the letter of 18 October 2000 from Mr. Parrett concerning war widows. [147039]
Mr. Bayley: A reply was sent on 24 January with an apology for the delay that has occurred.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Peace Process
4. Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on international support for developing the peace process in Northern Ireland. [145477]
22. Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on international support for the peace process in Northern Ireland. [145495]
Mr. Mandelson: There continues to be widespread international support for our attempts to bring about a lasting peace in Northern Ireland.
9. Mr. Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the peace process in Northern Ireland. [145482]
17. Mr. Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on developments in the peace process in Northern Ireland. [145490]
Mr. Mandelson: We are continuing to make progress on the commitments made in May last year fully to implement the Good Friday agreement. We still have some way to go, but the discussions between the Northern Ireland political parties and the Prime Minister last week were constructive and I believe there is a desire from all quarters to move forward.
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