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Funeral Costs
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to revise the rules to help with funeral costs. [158837]
Angela Eagle: Help with funeral costs is available to those on the lowest incomes through the Social Fund. We recently announced that with effect from 7 October 2001 we are amending the Social Fund Funeral Payment regulations to ensure that claimants' relatives who are in receipt of help under the National Asylum Support Service are treated in the same way as those receiving qualifying benefits.
In addition, the capital of those people who qualify for a Social Fund Funeral Payment for a death occurring on or after 7 October 2001 will no longer be taken into account. This changes the current provision whereby those who qualify have their award reduced by the amount of capital they have over £500 (£1,000 if the claimant or partner is aged 60 or over).
Far East Prisoners of War
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many former Japanese internees have been refused compensation payments on the grounds of nationality; and in how many cases inquiries are on-going; [158839]
- (2) how many former Japanese internees who were regarded as British before 1981 who held British UK-based passports until their deaths have been refused compensation on the grounds of non-British nationality. [158840]
Mr. Bayley: The administration of the ex-gratia scheme for former captives of the Japanese is a matter for the acting Chief Executive of the War Pensions Agency, Alan Burnham. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Alan Burnham to Mrs. Lait, dated 3 May 2001:
- I am writing in response to your recent Parliamentary Questions concerning ex-gratia payments to former civilian internees of the Japanese during the Second World War.
- Up to 17.4.01 a total of 25,414 applications have been received for the ex-gratia payment and payments have been made to a total of 19,373 applicants. 484 applicants have been advised that their application has been rejected as they do not meet the entitlement conditions.
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- Our records indicate that to date no applications have been rejected on grounds of non-British nationality. There are approximately 3600 cases where we are having to undertake further enquiries to confirm eligibility. The issues to be resolved in these cases vary and may include confirming details of internment, determining nationality or establishing bank details to facilitate payment.
Mr. Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many prisoners held captive by the Japanese during world war two are eligible for the Government's compensation payment; how many have been awarded payment; and at what cost. [159364]
Mr. Bayley: The administration of the ex-gratia compensation scheme for former captives of the Japanese is a matter for the acting Chief Executive of the War Pensions Agency, Alan Burnham. He will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Alan Burnham to Mr. Alan Hurst, dated 3 May 2001:
- I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question concerning ex-gratia payments payable to former prisoners of war of the Japanese.
- We know the total number of UK service personnel who were captured in the Far East during the Second World War but there is no precise way to determine how many survive today. Accordingly it is difficult to provide a precise estimate of the numbers of people eligible for a payment.
- As at 30 April 2001 a total of 19,717 ex-gratia payments had been made at a total cost of £197,170,000. Of these, 7635 were made to former prisoners of war, 10671 to the surviving spouses of former prisoners of war, 989 to former civilian internees and 422 to the surviving spouses of former civilian internees.
- Please do not hesitate to contact me again if you require any further information.
Home Visits
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of home visits in each year since 1996. [159422]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 27 April 2001]: The information that is available is in the table.
| Cost (£) | |
|---|---|
| 1998-99 | 5,796,222 |
| 1999-2000 | 53,364,807 |
| 2000-01 | 50,819,559 |
(20) Costs are for full years except 2000-01, which is up to February 2001
Benefit Fraud
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what evidence he has collated on the impact of the Targeting Fraud advertising campaign on the number of people reported for benefit fraud; and if he will make a statement. [159698]
Mr. Rooker [holding answer 1 May 2001]: After years of neglect, we have put in place an effective strategy for tackling benefit fraud. As part of this, the Targeting Fraud advertising campaign is intended to change public attitudes in the longer-term by positively reinforcing honest behaviour, creating a climate of intolerance to
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benefit fraud and undermining its social acceptability. It is not intended specifically to increase the number of people reported for benefit fraud.
An evaluation of the national Targeting Fraud campaign is being conducted and will be published in due course. A report on the pilot stage of the campaign showed that it was successful in changing public attitudes towards benefit fraud.
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to use the information collected through the current census to help reduce the incidence of benefit fraud. [159702]
Mr. Rooker [holding answer 1 May 2001]: None. Confidentiality of the census is key to its success. The census produces only statistics and people can be assured that no information is released which allows identification of individuals or households.
Attendance Allowance
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many complaints have been made about the administration of Attendance Allowance in each month since January 1997. [159703]
Mr. Bayley: The administration of Attendance Allowance is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. David Willetts, dated 1 May 2001:
- The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many complaints have been made about the administration of Attendance Allowance in each month since January 1997.
- Information is not available prior to April 1998. From April 1998, the number of complaints made about Attendance Allowance by letter, telephone or in person is in the table.
| 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 47 | 96 | 327 |
| May | 54 | 146 | 362 |
| June | 70 | 159 | 398 |
| July | 71 | 175 | 420 |
| August | 104 | 209 | 342 |
| September | 105 | 185 | 280 |
| October | 90 | 199 | 278 |
| November | 59 | 188 | 251 |
| December | 51 | 117 | 178 |
| January | 90 | 301 | 220 |
| February | 109 | 294 | 188 |
| March | 99 | 437 | 260 |
Whilst the above figures may include complaints about the administration of the Attendance Allowance, it should be noted that they also include general expressions of disagreement with the amount of benefit awarded. Disputes of this nature must be pursued through the decision making and appeals process.
You will be aware from my reply of 10 April 2001 to your previous Parliamentary Question about Disability Living Allowance complaints that they were subject to a steady increase arising from a temporary backlog of work following the introduction of new decision making and appeals procedures. Attendance Allowance claims and subsequent complaints were similarly adversely affected but, as with Disability Living Allowance, the backlog of work has now been cleared and the overall level of complaints has reduced since August 2000.
I hope this is helpful.
3 May 2001 : Column: 790W
Refrigerants
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what his Department's policy is regarding the purchase of (a) hydrocarbons and (b) other environmentally benign refrigerants to meet the refrigeration and other relevant energy needs of buildings and premises owned and leased by his Department; what guidance he has issued on this subject to regional and local departmental offices; and if he will make a statement; [160015]
- (2) to what extent his Department's headquarters buildings use hydrofluorocarbons for (a) refrigeration and (b) air conditioning; what amounts of hydrofluorocarbons have been purchased in each year since 1995; and what plans he has to phase out the (i) purchase and (ii) use of hydrofluorocarbons; [160013]
(3) which London headquarters building or premises owned and leased by his Department use (a) chlorofluorocarbons and (b) hydrochlorofluorocarbons for refrigeration and other relevant energy needs; if he will publish details of such use and the reasons for it; and what guidance he has issued on this subject to regional and local DSS offices. [160021]
Mr. Bayley [holding answer 1 May 2001]: The Department's Improvement Programme for Greening Operations requires the Department and its Estates Partners to specify against products with a high global warming potential.
We and our Estates Partners are committed to replacing any such system at the end of its useful life, or before, in accordance with the necessary protocols relevant at the time, and the general phasing out of all ozone depleting substances. Replacement systems will use the new, more environmentally friendly products.
It is not possible to provide details for the amounts of hydrofluorocarbons purchased by, or on behalf of the Department since 1995.
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