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10 Jul 2003 : Column 971W—continued
British Overseas Territories
Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what responsibilities his Department undertakes in connection with British overseas territories. [123898]
Mr. Pond: The Department for Work and Pensions does not have any direct responsibilities concerning the overseas territories. However, the Department is responsible for managing two EU Structural Fund programmes designed to strengthen economic and social cohesion. Organisations from Gibraltar are eligible to participate in the two programmes.
British Sign Language Initiatives
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much of the funding for British Sign Language initiatives has been allocated to Northern Ireland. [121914]
Angela Smith: I have been asked to reply.
As language policy was devolved to Northern Ireland's local administration, none of the funding allocated by the Department for Work and Pensions to British Sign Language will be allocated to Northern Ireland.
My officials in the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure are considering options for supporting British and Irish sign languages in Northern Ireland.
Carers Allowance
Mrs. Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people over the state retirement age have (a) applied for and (b) received the full carer's allowance since October 2002; [124349]
- (2) how many people over the state retirement age, living in Devon, have (a) applied for and (b) received the carers' allowance since October 2002. [124353]
Maria Eagle [holding answer 8 July 2003]: The information is in the following tables and relates to the period October 2002 to February 2003. The majority of carers over state pension age who qualify for carer's allowance also receive a state pension of an equal or higher amount. In these circumstances, the overlapping benefits rules preclude the payment of carer's allowance. However, people affected in this way can, if they are on a low income, qualify for the carer premium payable with income related benefits.
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| Number | |
|---|---|
| (a) Claims | 25,630 |
| (b) In payment in full | 560 |
| Number | |
|---|---|
| (a) Claims | 290 |
| (b) In payment | 20 |
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
2. The "claims" figures refer to the number of people over state pension age making a claim. Each person may have made more than one claim.
3. The "in payment in full" figure relates to any over state pension age person in Great Britain receiving the full amount of the allowance at the end of any month from October 2002 to February 2003.
4. The "in payment" figure relates to any over state pension age person, in Devon receiving payment of the allowance at the end of any month from October 2002 to February 2002.
5. The figures for Devon exclude Unitary Authorities within the ceremonial boundary.
6. State Pension age is 60 for women and 65 for men.
Source:
100 per cent. data from the Carer's Allowance Computer System (CACS) supplied by Information and Analysis Directorate. Figures are at 28 February 2003
Child Support Agency
Dr. Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what review and evaluation strategies his Department uses to monitor the work of the Child Support Agency in ensuring that those who refuse to pay maintenance for their children are made to do so. [124026]
Mr. Pond: The Child Support Agency, as part of the Department for Work and Pensions, is regularly monitored in its progress towards a range of targets including those on collection of maintenance liabilities. The Secretary of State's targets for 2003–04 are published in the Agency's business plan, a copy of which is in the Library.
Council of Ministers
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department's vote in the Council of Ministers against a legislative proposal (a) was and (b) was not sufficient to achieve with other member states a blocking minority. [117213]
Mr. Pond: Information for the period before 1999 is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Since January 1999, as far as we have been able to verify, the Department has not voted against any legislative proposals at any Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council.
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Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department abstained in the Council of Ministers on a legislative proposal which was passed by qualified majority voting. [117236]
Mr. Pond: Information for the period before 1999 is available only at disproportionate cost.
Since January 1999, there have been no occasions where the Department has abstained on a legislative proposal which was passed by qualified majority voting.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department has been outvoted by qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers broken down by legislation and year. [117240]
Mr. Pond: Information for the period before 1999 is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Since January 1999, there have been no occasions where the Department has been outvoted by qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department indicated dissent from a proposal in the Council of Ministers but did not register a vote or abstention. [117255]
Mr. Pond: The information for the period before 1999 is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Since January 1999, there have been no occasions where the Department has indicated dissent from a proposal in the Council of Ministers but did not register a vote or abstention.
EU Regulations
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many regulations originating from the EU have been implemented by his Department in each of the last five years. [120747]
Mr. Pond: EC Regulations are, in general, directly applicable in the member states, without the need for further incorporation in national law. However, some Regulations require UK measures to make them workable and enforceable. Some Regulations enact small or technical amendments. The number of Regulations implemented by the Department for Work and Pensions in each of the last five years is as follows:
Council Regulation (EEC) 304/2003 of 28 January 2003 concerning the export and import of certain dangerous chemicals.
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Council Regulation (EC) 859/2003 of 14 May 2003 extending the provisions of Regulation (EEC) 1408/71 and Regulation (EEC) 574/72 to cover nationals of third countries who are not already covered by those provisions solely on the ground of their nationality.
Commission Regulation (EC) 1687/2002 of 25 September 2002 on an additional period for notification of certain active substances already on the market for biocidal use as established in Article 4(1) of Regulation (EC) No. 1896/2000.
Council Regulation (EC) 1386/2001 of 5 June 2001—Miscellaneous Amendments to Regulation (EEC) 1408/71 and Regulation (EEC) 574/72.
Council Regulation (EC) 00/1896 of 7 September 2000 on the first phase of the programme referred to in Article 16(2) of Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on biocidal products.
Council Regulation (EC) 00/2364 of 25 October 2000 concerning the fourth list of priority substances as foreseen under Council Regulation (EEC) No. 793/93.
Council Regulation (EC) 307/1999 of 8 February 1999 extending the provisions of Regulation (EEC) 1408/71 and Regulation (EEC) 574/72 to cover students.
Council Regulation (EC) 1399/1999 of 29 April 1999—Miscellaneous Amendments to Regulation (EEC)1408/71 and Regulation(EEC) 574/72.
Council Regulation 1260/1999 of 21 June laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds.
Council and European Parliament Regulation 1784/1999 of 12 July 1999 on the European Social Fund.
Council Regulation (EC) 1223/1998 of 4 June 1998—Miscellaneous Amendments to Regulation (EEC) 1408/71 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, to self-employed persons and to members of their families moving within the Community and (EEC) 574/72 laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EEC) 1408/71.
Council Regulation (EC) 1606/98 of 29 June 1998 extending the provisions of Regulation (EEC) 1408/71 and Regulation (EEC) 574/72 to cover special schemes for civil servants.
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