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Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the ability of parents of children who are suffering from attention deficit hyperactive disorder to access disability living allowance. [39434]

Maria Eagle [holding answer 1 March 2002]: Parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can claim disability living allowance (DLA) and have their child's entitlement assessed in the normal way. The claimant's medical condition is not, necessarily, the key factor in qualifying for DLA because entitlement to the allowance is based on walking difficulties and/or the need for personal care or supervision which arise from severe disability. For children under age 16, these needs must be substantially in excess of the normal requirements of a child of the same age who is in normal health.

The guidance to decision makers in the disability handbook contains a chapter on behavioural disorders including the likely care, supervision or mobility needs arising from ADHD. Currently, DLA is received by some 42,500 children whose primary disability is recorded as being a "behavioural disorder".

Notes:

1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

2. Figures are at 31 August 2001.

Source:

ASD Information centre: 5 per cent data.

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Foster Carers

James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if foster carers who give up work to care for foster children will be entitled to the Second State Pension; and if he will make a statement. [40335]

Mr. McCartney: Foster carers cannot qualify for state second pension simply because they are fostering a child. This is because they are not entitled to child benefit in respect of foster children.

They may, however, qualify for state second pension in respect of any child under the age of six for whom they receive child benefit. They will also qualify for state second pension where, throughout a complete tax year, they are entitled to invalid care allowance, or qualify for home responsibilities protection because they are caring for a disabled child, whether or not that child is a foster child.

James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to extend home responsibilities protection to foster carers; and whether it will cover the entire length of time they have been fostering. [40336]

Mr. McCartney: Foster carers whose allowance contains a reward element may be liable for national insurance contributions on a self-employed basis. Where there is no liability, they may choose to pay voluntary contributions to assist in qualifying for state retirement pension. Foster carers who receive child benefit for their own children aged under 16 will be eligible for home responsibilities protection. We will keep these arrangements under review as we do with all rules relating to benefits.

James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of extending home responsibilities protection to foster carers (a) caring for foster children and (b) to cover the entire length of time they have been fostering. [40337]

Mr. McCartney: We cannot calculate the cost of extending home responsibilities protection to foster carers whose retirement pension entitlement is not already protected since this is dependent upon the individual's circumstances at pension age.

Compulsory Retirement

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action the Government will take against companies who enforce retirement on male employees at 60 instead of 65. [37427]

Ms Hewitt: I have been asked to reply.

The Government are currently undertaking a public consultation exercise on implementation of the European employment directive. The directive provides a framework for member states to introduce legislation outlawing unfair discrimination at work on the grounds of age, sexual orientation, religion, and disability. Among the age issues on which we are seeking general views is whether employers should be able to require people to retire at a certain age and, if so, whether legal limits should be placed on their right to do so. We shall carry

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out a further consultation on specific age proposals later this year, developed in the light of responses to this consultation.

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Pensions replied on 25 February 2002, Official Report, column 781W, explaining that the Government actively encourage employers to value the contribution of older workers and to adopt flexible approaches to retirement.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Rail Journeys (Staff)

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it his policy that rail journeys undertaken by staff in his Department should ordinarily be on standard class tickets. [40443]

Mr. Leslie: The Civil Service Management Code requires all Government Departments and agencies to ensure that employees use the most efficient and economic means of travel in the circumstances, taking into account any management benefit and the needs of staff with disabilities.

Although entitlement to first class rail travel is an agreed condition of service at Band B2 level and above, Cabinet Office policy encourages use of standard class travel for all rail journeys outside the rush hours and for journeys of two hours or less.

First class travel for other journeys recognises the level of work which may need to be carried out by staff in grades B2 and above while travelling by train.

Official Visits

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) if he will list the official visits to (a) Paris and (b) Brussels made by each Minister in his Department in 2001 and the mode of travel used; and what guidance is provided to Ministers in his Department on the choice of mode of travel for such visits; [38158]

(2) if he will list the official visits within the UK outside London made by each Minister in his Department in 2001, giving for each (a) the origin and destination and (b) the mode of travel used; and what guidance is provided to Ministers in his Department on choice of mode of travel for official visits. [38192]

Mr. Leslie: Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Details of travel undertaken during the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 will be published in a similar form to previous years as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House.

All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

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The additional information requested in respect of UK travel is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Global Crossing

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the dates on which Ministers in his Department have received hospitality in their ministerial capacities since 1 January 1999 from Global Crossing; and if he will make a statement. [37685]

Mr. Leslie: Offers of hospitality which are accepted must be registered in line with the requirements of paragraph 139 of the Ministerial Code.

City of London Corporation

John McDonnell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list those functions, engagements and events which Ministers, his officials and advisers have attended which have been sponsored, funded, promoted and hosted by the City of London Corporation since 1997. [35709]

Mr. Leslie: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Secondments

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library the written agreements and protocols with the Whitehall and Industry Group governing their secondments to Government; and if he will list all the secondments placed under the auspices of the group since June 2001. [40561]

Mr. Leslie: A memorandum of understanding between the Cabinet Office, as sponsors of the Whitehall and Industry Group (WIG), and WIG is currently under negotiation. Copies of the agreement will be placed in the Libraries of the House in due course. It is open to any organisation to become a member of the Whitehall and Industry Group and some 45 Government Departments and agencies have joined. Copies of the information pack that organisations receive when they join WIG have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Currently two senior civil servants act as non-executive directors of the Whitehall and Industry Group.

Since June 2001 five secondments (lasting three months or more) have been arranged through WIG into Government Departments, comprising:

three into the Lord Chancellor's Department;


one into the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions; and


one into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

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