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Pensions
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money was spent by the relevant pension fund on paying pensions to retired (a) teachers and (b) university staff in 2001–02; if she will estimate the corresponding amounts to be spent in (i) five years' time, (ii) 10 years' time, (iii) 20 years' time and (iv) 30 years' time; if she will estimate in each case the
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proportion of such liabilities which will arise from (A) unfunded pension schemes and (B) pre-funded pension schemes; and in the case of pre-funded schemes, if she will estimate the value of the corresponding pre-funded funds in each of these years. [66561]
Mr. Miliband: The projected expenditure on pension benefits in respect of members of the teachers' pension scheme for the years in question is shown in the table. The
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teachers' pension scheme, which covers schools, further education establishments and the "post 1992" university sector, is an unfunded scheme.
| Year ending 31 March | Projected outgo(8) |
|---|---|
| 2002 | (9)4.0 |
| 2007 | 4.3 |
| 2012 | 4.6 |
| 2022 | 5.0 |
| 2032 | 5.0 |
(8) Constant earnings terms, real earnings growth 1.5 per cent. a year.
(9) Based on "Actual outgo" for 2001–02 of £3.96 billion.
Source:
Government Actuary's Department.
Academic staff in the "pre 1992" universities are generally members of the universities superannuation scheme. This is a fully funded private sector scheme. Non-academic staff in all universities can be members of one of a number of private sector funded schemes or the funded local government pension scheme depending on the pension arrangements made by individual universities.
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SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Sentence-review
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Solicitor-General, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Isle of Wight, 30 April 2002, Official Report, column 635W, if she will provide equivalent figures for each year between the coming into effect of the legislation and April 2001. [55080]
The Solicitor-General: The following table shows the number of offenders whose sentences were referred by the Law Officers to the Court of Appeal as unduly lenient sentences from 1989 to 1999 and the decisions of the Court of Appeal. Records maintained by the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers for this period do not distinguish between cases referred to the Law Officers by the CPS, members of public or hon. Members. Nor do the records show how many were not eligible for referral because they were received by the Law Officers out of time.
The records for 2000 onwards are more detailed. They are being reviewed and I shall, by the end of July, write to the hon. Member and place an answer in the House of Commons Library.
| Offenders referred by the Law Officers to the CA | Number of references withdrawn | Leave Granted by the Court of Appeal | Number of referrals Court of Appeal held to be ULS | Sentences increased by the Court of Appeal | Sentences unchanged by Court of Appeal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 9 | 2 | 7 | — | 7 | 1 |
| 1990 | 25 | 5 | 19 | — | 17 | 2 |
| 1991 | 26 | 3 | 22 | — | 18 | 4 |
| 1992 | 37 | 4 | 32 | — | 29 | 3 |
| 1993 | 30 | 2 | 28 | — | 24 | 4 |
| 1994 | 50 | 2 | 46 | — | 39 | 7 |
| 1995 | 77 | 4 | 73 | — | 68 | 5 |
| 1996 | 68 | 2 | 64 | — | 49 | 15 |
| 1997 | 70 | 1 | 66 | 58 | 47 | 19 |
| 1998 | 95 | 10 | 80 | 74 | 69 | 10 |
| 1999 | 89 | 6 | 80 | 72 | 59 | 21 |
MINISTER FOR WOMEN
Private Members' Clubs
Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Minister for Women what recent research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated which assesses discriminatory treatment experienced by women at private members' clubs open to both men and women. [66876]
Ms Hewitt: There has been no formal assessment of discriminatory treatment experienced by women members of mixed sex private clubs.
We have consulted interested parties. For example, the Club and Institute Union (CIU), which represents over 2 million club members and to which the vast majority of "working men's clubs" belong, reports that of their 2680 clubs, some 60 per cent. still deny their female members full rights.
Child Benefit Reductions
Helen Jackson: To ask the Minister for Women what assessment she has made of the effect on women's incomes of reducing child benefit for parents whose children truant. [57955]
Ms Hewitt: The Government are considering a number of measures to combat truancy. We are therefore looking at ways of ensuring parents meet their responsibilities in bringing up their children.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Beer Sales
Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee how much beer was sold to the House in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02. [65238]
Mr. Dennis Turner: During the 12-month period from April 2000 until March 2001, the House of Commons Refreshment Department purchased 61,096 pints of draught beers and lagers and a total of 18,831 bottles of beers and lagers. During the 12 months from April 2001 until March 2002, the Department purchased 53,568 pints of draught beers and lagers and 15,228 bottles.
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WORK AND PENSIONS
Pensions Simplification
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Pickering report on pensions simplification will be published. [68396]
Mr. Andrew Smith: Alan Pickering's report will be published on Thursday 11 July and placed in the Library. Copies for hon. Members will be available in the Vote Office and the report will be published on the Department's internet site at www.dwp.gov.uk.
Child Support Agency
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 19 April 2002, Official Report, column 1213W, on the Child Support Agency, if he will place copies of the OGC Gateway reviews in the Library. [53078]
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. Todd, dated 3 July 2002:
- The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply by me.
- You ask if, pursuant to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions answer of the 19th April, Official Report column 1213w on the Child Support Agency, if he will place copies of the two OGC Gateway reviews in the Library.
- I do not think that it is appropriate to do so. The strength of the OGC Gateway review process is that it is speedy and generates robust, unvarnished opinion and advice. This is invaluable and I would not wish to see an awareness that a report may become public, to constrain the reviewers willingness to provide advice in this way.
- This concern is recognised in the code of practice on access to government information. This exempts from disclosure, inter alia "information whose disclosure would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion, including: internal opinion, advice, recommendation, consultation and deliberation". Against that background I am sorry but I am unable to reply positively to your request.
Benefits Decision Reviews
David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under what circumstances a Minister will decide to review a decision taken by decision makers on benefits; and if he will make a statement. [55581]
Mr. Nicholas Brown [holding answer 10 May 2002]: Decisions on applications to change decisions are made on behalf of the Secretary of State by decision makers who are suitably trained and experienced. The Department has put in place a structured and transparent system for dealing with such applications. Claimants can lodge an appeal to an independent tribunal if they disagree with the decision of the decision maker.
Minimum Income Guarantee
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in (a) the north-west,
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(b) Lancashire and (c) Burnley have claimed the minimum income guarantee, and in each case how many claims have been awarded in the last 12 months. [65548]
Mr. McCartney: The information requested is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is shown in the table:
| Area | Number of MIG claims |
|---|---|
| Burnley parliamentary constituency | 3,000 |
| Lancashire | 35,400 |
| North-west GOR | 244,300 |
Source:
Income Support Quarterly Enquiry, February 2002
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