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Integrated Inquiry Service
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place the report he has received from Affinity on the Integrated Inquiry Service in the Library. [19510]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: Reports provided to the Department by Affinity are restricted by a statement of confidentiality. Affinity have not consented to their reports on the Integrated Inquiry Service being placed in the Library.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will answer (a) questions 10435 and 10434, on the Child Support Agency, tabled by the hon. Member for Northavon on 23 October, (b) questions 14034 and 14299, on the Jobcentre Plus computer systems, tabled by the hon. Member for Northavon on 7 and 8 November, and (c) question 14298, on post-11 September security measures in benefit offices, tabled by the hon. Member for Northavon on 8 November. [22310]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: Questions 10435 and 10434 were answered on 10 December 2001, Official Report, columns 610-11W and questions 14034, 14299 and 14298 were answered today, Official Report, columns 776-77W.
State Pension (Hospital Stays)
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to review the practice of
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docking state pensions as a result of a hospital stay of more than six weeks; what representations he has received on the issue; and if he will make a statement. [14386]
Mr. McCartney: The Department in conjunction with the Department of Health, is looking at issues affecting hospital in-patients, including the rules governing the downrating of benefits.
Child Support Agency
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints his Department has received in each of the last five years from members of the public in respect of the work of the Child Support Agency. [17950]
Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Norman Lamb, dated 7 December 2001:
- The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply from me.
- You asked how many complaints the Department has received in each of the last five years from members of the public in respect of the work of the Child Support Agency.
- My records show that the following number of complaints were received about our work—for completeness I also show our caseload as at the end of each year.
| Year | Number of complaints | Caseload |
|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 23,588 | 579,200 |
| 1997–98 | 27,875 | 758,580 |
| 1998–99 | 28,073 | 923,960 |
| 1999–2000 | 21,159 | 1,030,100 |
| 2000–01 | 19,634 | 1,048,920 |
I hope this is helpful.
Pension Credit
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how he will identify eligible recipients for the pension credit who are above state pension age; and if he will make a statement. [22373]
Mr. McCartney: Pensioners who already receive the minimum income guarantee (MIG) will not have to make an application. They will automatically receive pension credit. For other pensioners who become eligible for pension credit as a result of the more generous rules, we are building on lessons learned from other recent initiatives. We will ensure our communications to pensioners are closely targeted and designed to help them to understand their entitlements.
TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
THE REGIONS
Housebuilding (Floodplains)
Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he has taken to ensure that local planning
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authorities follow Government guidelines regarding housebuilding on floodplains; and if he will make a statement. [13889]
Ms Keeble: The Government are continuing to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the new Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 25 through the high-level targets published by the then Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in November 1999. The reports for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 provide a baseline for the situation before PPG 25 was published. We are also looking with the Environment Agency at monitoring PPG 25 through data on planning applications and land-use change statistics. We are committed to a general review of the guidance three years after publication in the light of emerging experience of its use and of developing information on climate change.
Should there be substantive evidence that the guidance is not being followed, we would consider the introduction of a flooding Direction requiring local planning authorities to refer to the Secretary of State applications they are minded to permit in the face of sustained objections from the Environment Agency.
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the amount of brownfield land available for development which is located in areas susceptible to flooding. [14255]
Ms Keeble: Information on previously developed land in England in areas susceptible to flooding was included in the Supplementary memorandum by the Minister for Housing and Planning to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee, published in Volume II of their Second Report for Session 2000–01, "Development on, or affecting the floodplain".
Based on sites reported by responding local authorities, the estimated total area of previously developed land suitable for housing in England was at least 22,210Ha, of which 2,960Ha (13 per cent.) were within areas of flood risk identified on the 1999 indicative floodplain maps produced by the Environment Agency.
Railtrack
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which advisers were present at the meeting convened by his Department on 13 September to discuss Railtrack. [18223]
Mr. Byers: Details are contained in the documents placed in the Library on 23 October.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) how much money the administrator of Railtrack has said will be required for renewals, maintenance and operating expenses for Control Period 2 of 2001 to 2006; [18945]
- (2) how much was the Railtrack administrator's most recent estimate of the network's infrastructure investment needs in Control Period 2 of 2001 to 2006; [18957]
Mr. Jamieson: The administrator is currently reviewing Railtrack's expenditure needs.
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many contracts for (a) lawyers, (b) accountants, and (c) consultants have been
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(i) let and (ii) advertised since 5 October on matters related to (A) Railtrack and (B) railway policy by (1) his Department, (2) the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) and (3) Railtrack in Administration. [19429]
Mr. Spellar: My Department is in the process of letting three contracts since 5 October, to provide financial, legal and technical advice to the team being assembled to develop proposals for a company limited by guarantee. The SRA let or advertised none. Railtrack's contracts are a matter for them.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether the Railtrack pension fund was in surplus or deficit and by how much immediately prior to Railtrack administration. [20090]
Mr. Jamieson: The Railtrack Shared Cost Section is a section of the Railways Pension Scheme. The most recent valuation for funding purposes was carried out by the actuary as at 31 December 1998. The results of the valuation showed that at 31 December 1998 the actuarial value of the assets of the Railtrack section was £867.2 million, liabilities and reserves totalled £804.3 million, leaving a surplus of £62.9 million. The funding level of the Railtrack section was 108 per cent. After a package of benefit improvements the section funding was 102 per cent. The next valuation is due as at 31 December 2001, with the results expected at the end of 2002.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent assessment he has made of the morale of Railtrack employees. [20749]
Mr. Jamieson: There are many dedicated, efficient and effective people at Railtrack committed to the rail network. Both we and the Administrator attach great importance to maintaining staff morale. We support the work being done by the Administrator with Railtrack's management to achieve this.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what representations he has received from (a) individuals, (b) non-governmental organisations and (c) companies regarding the feasibility of Railtrack plc operating as a company limited by guarantee (i) prior to and (ii) after Railtrack plc was placed into administration; and if he will place copies of the documentation in the Library; [21042]
- (2) what assessments have been conducted (a) by his Department, (b) by other Departments and (c) by other organisations for his Department to study the feasibility of Railtrack plc operating as a company limited by guarantee (i) prior to and (ii) after Railtrack plc was placed into administration; and if he will place copies of the documentation in the Library; [21041]
(3) if he will list the documents on which he consulted (a) prior to and (b) after Railtrack plc was placed into administration when considering which alternative model for Railtrack plc to put forward to the Railway Administrator; and if he will place the documents in the Library. [21043]
Mr. Jamieson: The outline of a proposal for a company limited by guarantee (CLG) has been developed by Government and their advisers. The proposal is
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soundly based and reflects lessons learned as a result of the failures of the existing regime. The CLG model is tried and tested elsewhere. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not consulted on the CLG proposal either prior to or since Railtrack plc was placed into administration. It will be for the CLG bid team, currently being established under the leadership of Ian McAllister, to develop a robust proposal and to consult as it sees fit. The views of rail industry stakeholders and others will be important in developing the bid.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was the (a) length and (b) proportion of track not meeting the minimum required standard for each month between January 2000 and November 2001 (i) in total, (ii) subdivided by zonal area and (iii) subdivided by train operating company area. [21037]
Mr. Jamieson: Railtrack advise that they do not hold information to this level of detail.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had regarding the possible safety implications of (a) the Administration and (b) a possible successor organisation to Railtrack with (i) the Health and Safety Executive, (ii) the Health and Safety Commission, (iii) HMRI, (iv) Lord Cullen and (v) others. [21031]
Mr. Jamieson: My Department and the Administrators have consulted fully with the Health and Safety Executive on all safety matters.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what requests he has received for funding additional to those detailed in section 2 of the commercial loan agreement with the Railtrack administrator, as provided for in those clauses. [21481]
Mr. Jamieson: No additional monies have been requested beyond the initial amount of the loan agreement.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what benchmarks are used to assess budget variations in section 8.1.6 (a) of the commercial loan agreement with the Railtrack administrator. [21485]
Mr. Jamieson: The management accounts required under section 8.1.6 (a) of the commercial loan agreement, are prepared by Railtrack plc and represent actual results. These are compared to the budgeted results for the same period. Railtrack plc provides a commentary explaining the major variances between the budget and actual results.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what management accounts have been supplied by the Railtrack administrator under section 8.1.6 (a) of the commercial loan agreement. [21487]
Mr. Jamieson: Two sets of management accounts have been received.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what financial forecasts have been made by the Railtrack administrator under the terms of section 8.1.6 (f) of the commercial loan agreement. [21484]
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Mr. Jamieson: There is no such requirement on the administrator.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what rate of interest is being received by the Government under section 4.2 of the commercial loan agreement with the Railtrack administrator. [21479]
Mr. Jamieson: The rate of interest will be calculated by the Secretary of State in accordance with section 4.2 of the loan agreement and will be paid to him, and at a date determined by him, in accordance with the said agreement.
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much money has been made available as (a) cash, (b) loan and (c) guarantee to Railtrack in administration. [22117]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 10 December 2001]: £1,222,734,244 under the trust facility outlined in sections 2.1 and 2.2 of the commercial loan agreement.
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action has been taken to ensure high safety standards by Railtrack in administration. [22122]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 10 December 2001]: The Health and Safety Executive is working closely with both Railtrack plc and the administrator to ensure that safety in the railways is maintained. The administrator has recruited the HSE's former Deputy Chief Inspector of Railways to ensure technical issues are properly considered.
On 8 October, the HSE issued a formal Direction to Railtrack plc, as holders of an accepted railway safety case, to prepare and submit a revision to the safety case in the light of the changed organisational and administrative arrangements. The HSE also summarised for Railtrack plc, and brought to the attention of the administrator, the key continuing responsibilities of Railtrack plc's management under its safety case. HSE recently confirmed acceptance of Railtrack's revised safety case.
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what reports he receives from Railtrack in administration concerning (a) finance and (b) safety; and how often he receives reports. [22121]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 10 December 2001]: To date the Secretary of State has received nine weekly reports and two four-weekly management reports. Safety regulation is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive.
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many miles of track are subject to speed restrictions pending repair or renewal; and how many speed restrictions are in place on the network. [22120]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 10 December 2001]: Railtrack reports that the number of temporary speed restrictions in place across its network in Great Britain as at Monday 3 December 2001 were 650.315 miles of track subject to speed restrictions pending repair or renewal.
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