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Pensions

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect on incentives to contribute to private pension schemes of the fact that student maintenance loans are paid from gross income. [111068]

Maria Eagle: The Government recognise the value of saving for retirement in providing people with security, comfort in retirement and long-term independence and security. To address the problems that may have discouraged people of all ages from saving in the past the Government are implementing a strategy designed to create the right environment for saving; provide incentives to save through favourable tax treatment;

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and ensure everyone has access to the financial information they need to make informed savings decisions.

It also recognised that there will be times in many people's lives when they cannot afford both to contribute to a pension and meet their current needs, but it is important that people save when they can afford to do so. Student loans are repaid on an income contingent basis, which means that the amount repaid is affordable and does not prevent graduates from making other investments such as contributions to a pension scheme.

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if his Department will add projected life expectancy to the information available on government pension statements. [110406]

Malcolm Wicks: The pension forecast statements issued by the Department for Work and Pensions are to provide individuals with the information on state pensions to help them plan their incomes in retirement. The statements are personal to the individual and do not contain information on life expectancy of either the individual, or the general population.

Customer research conducted on the information contained in these statements has not highlighted the need to provide such information and there are currently no plans to do so.

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the promotional material for the pensions credit will make clear that products such as equity release affect any tax credits available. [111067]

Maria Eagle: A Guide to Pension Credit will be published in September. This publication will provide detailed information about the way income and capital is treated in the calculation and will make it clear that money raised from a loan on property or through equity release counts as capital.

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many responses he has received to the Green Paper on Pensions; and if he will place copies of the responses in the Library. [110904]

Maria Eagle: There have been over 800 responses to the consultation on the Green Paper, Simplicity, Security and Choice: Working and saving for retirement (Cm 5677).

We are analysing responses and will respond to the consultation in due course. Copies of the responses will then be placed in the Library.

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to increase the payment due under the caring allowance entitlement of the State Second Pension. [110858]

Maria Eagle: There are no plans to increase the level of State Second Pension for those who qualify through caring responsibilities.

Pensioner Benefits

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Middlesbrough,

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South and East Cleveland will benefit from (a) the increased state pension and (b) the additional winter fuel payments for over-80s. [111250]

Maria Eagle: We increased the basic state pension by above inflation in April 2003. Everyone who is entitled to a basic state pension will benefit from the increase.

Information relating to the additional payments to the over-80s is not available in the format requested. However, there are around 3,600 people in Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland constituency who are aged 80 or over. If they are entitled to a winter fuel payment, they will also be entitled to an additional payment.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Advertising Regulations

Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are in place restricting companies from marketing products to children under 16 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the regulations in place for responsible advertising. [111149]

Miss Melanie Johnson: Non-broadcast advertising in the UK is controlled primarily by self-regulation under which the Advertising Standards Authority is responsible for ensuring compliance with the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing. The Code contains specific rules on advertising to children.

For advertisements appearing on the television, the Independent Television Commission oversees compliance with its own Code of Advertising Standards and Practice. With regard to advertisements on the radio, the Radio Authority licences and regulates the independent radio industry, including radio advertising, in accordance with the statutory requirements of the Broadcasting Act 1990 and the Broadcasting Act 1996.

Arbre

Mr. Grogan : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from the new owners of Arbre; and if she will make a statement on the sale of Arbre. [111194]

Mr. Wilson: My officials have had discussions with the company interested in purchasing Arbre. There are a number of issues to be resolved before any announcement can be made. I hope that this matter can be brought to a satisfactory conclusion very soon.

Broadband

Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many homes and businesses in Shropshire have a broadband connection. [111661]

Mr. Timms: These data are not available.

Carbon Sequestrian Leadership Forum

Mr. Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the representation of the Government at the meetings of the

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Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum being held on (a) 14 and 15 May in San Francisco and (b) 23 to 25 June in Washington DC. [110456]

Mr. Wilson: The Government are considering their level of representation at these international meetings.

Employers' Liability Insurance

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations have been made to her Department by organisations in the voluntary sector which have had problems in obtaining employer liability insurance. [111109]

Nigel Griffiths: The DTI have not had representations from the voluntary sector because formal representations on this issue have been directed to the Home Office which is responsible for the voluntary sector, and to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which is leading a Government review of the employers' liability insurance system.

The DWP-led review of the employers' liability insurance system aims to assess the case for reform and, if such a case is demonstrated, to identify the objectives and options for such reform. It is due to report in Spring 2003. Further details of the review are available at http:/www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2002/health-safety/eli-review/index.htm

The Active Community Unit in the Home Office has set up the Insurance Cover Working Group (ICWG) to look into insurance difficulties for the voluntary sector and advise on practical solutions. The ICWG has engaged consultants, Alison Millward Associates, to undertake a study into the current position regarding the provision of insurance for the voluntary and community sector, including employers' liability insurance, and to make practical recommendations that will bring relief to the problems. The report is to be delivered to the ICWG on 16 June.

Once the recommendations of these reports have been considered, decisions will be taken to implement agreed practical solutions in partnership with the voluntary and community sector, the insurance industry, local authorities and Government Departments.

Energy Meetings

Mr. Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what meetings have taken place between the Minister of State for Energy and (a) the World Coal Institute and (b) the IEA Clean Coal Technology Centre in 2001, 2002 and so far in 2003; and what meetings are planned for the rest of 2003. [110457]

Mr. Wilson: No meetings have taken place between the Minister and the World Coal Institute and the IEA Clean Coal Technology Centre in this period, and none are planned for the rest of 2003. However, close contact is maintained between the Department of Trade and Industry and these organisations. DTI Officials attend the twice-yearly Executive Committee meetings of the IEA Clean Coal Technology Centre, the most recent of which was on the 24–25 April, and both the IEA Clean Coal Technology Centre and the World Coal Institute actively participate in the DTI's cleaner coal technology programme.

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