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Retirement Age

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on the statutory retirement age in the UK. [162861]

Malcolm Wicks: There is no statutory retirement age in the UK, in the sense of an age at which legislation requires a person to retire.

The state pension age is currently 65 for men and 60 for women but will increase gradually from 60 to 65 between 2010 and 2020 to allow employees and employers as well as companies running pension schemes time to plan for and implement the changes.

We have signalled our intention to maintain the state pension age at 65 (there is a consensus that people should have the right to work longer but that this should be voluntary and not forced). However, both Private and State Pension systems allow individuals to work past this age and accrue higher pensions.

Proposals in the Pensions Bill will allow individuals to receive better rewards for deferring their state pension in the form of a lump sum payment or increased pension when an individual eventually retires.

The minimum age at which tax privileged retirement benefits can be drawn from a private pension scheme will be raised to 55 years by 2010. It is possible to retire earlier in exchange for an actuarial reduction of private pension. The actual amounts are dependant on the type of pension scheme and when the employee retires. It is a requirement of tax legislation that schemes should have a normal pension age reflecting the age at which individuals would usually withdraw their pension.

We are proposing to raise the age at which public sector employees can draw an unreduced pension from 60 to 65. This age would apply regardless of the employee's length of service but certain occupations where the physical capacity of the job justify the award of a normal pension at a lower age will continue.

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Science Strategy

Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken to enhance science in his Department since the publication of the Government's science strategy, Investing in Innovation. [162247]

Malcolm Wicks: Evidence from research plays a key role in developing, monitoring and evaluating the business of the Department. The Department has developed a cycle of investigation and research, leading to informed planning to implement change (sometimes through pilots which refine innovative approaches), and then monitoring to assess the impact. This cycle is reflected in a parallel process of consulting upon and commissioning our social research programme through open tendering. The analytical community has been reorganised and aligned with policy and delivery units, integrating analysis and policymaking to provide the highest level of evidence-based policy making. The Department has maintained the level of research spending, and rigorous evaluation and monitoring of new developments. All research is published on the internet so that it is freely available to anyone who would wish to use it.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Asbestos

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of buildings occupied by (a) staff of the Department and (b) staff of the Department's executive agencies have been surveyed for the purpose of identifying the presence of asbestos prior to implementation of the control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002. [159368]

Ms Hewitt: The Department of Trade and Industry has ensured all buildings occupied by its staff that could contain asbestos have been surveyed for the purpose of identifying the presence of asbestos prior to the implementation of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002. For those Executive Agencies where the Department holds information, the position is similar.

Letter from Caren Fullerton to Malcolm Bruce, dated 24 March 2004:

Within the past 9 months surveys have been undertaken in each of the 5 buildings occupied by Patent Office staff, for the purpose of identifying the presence of asbestos prior to implementation of the control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002.

The surveys were arranged and managed by The Patent Office in respect of the 3 buildings solely occupied by Patent Office staff, and by the Office for National Statistics and the Charity Commission in respect of buildings where the Patent Office is a minor occupier.

Letter from Claire Clancy to Malcolm Bruce, dated 24 March 2004:

I am responding to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on behalf of Companies House, which is an Executive Agency of the DTI.

A survey of our Cardiff offices was carried out in August 2002 by a specialist consultant in accordance with the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002. They compiled a detailed

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asbestos register which has been updated as work is carried out. The building accommodates 1,264 Companies House staff and approximately 300 tenants from the DTI and DWP.

Our offices in Edinburgh and London accommodating 47 staff, are rented from the DWP and the Insolvency Service respectively, and are therefore outwith our control.

Letter from David Smith to Malcolm Bruce, dated 24 March 2004:

You have asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for information about asbestos surveys in relation to the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 in her Department and its Agencies. This request has just been passed to me in respect of the Radiocommunications Agency.

The Radiocommunications Agency ( RA) was a DTI Agency until 28 December 2003 when its responsibilities, functions and assets (including land and buildings) were transferred to the Office of Communications (Ofcom).

As the Agency's Accounting Officer, I continue to have responsibility for ensuring that the transfer of staff and DTI assets have been properly carried out and reflected in the RA accounts as part of the implementation of the Communications Act 2003. But from 29 December the relevant Accounting Officer for the information you are seeking is Ofcom's Chief Executive, Stephen Carter. Ofcom is a statutory corporation and therefore falls outside the arrangements by which Agencies respond to Parliamentary Questions.

For future reference, Mr Carter's address is:

Office of Communications

Riverside House

2a Southwark Bridge Road

London SE1 9HA.

Letter from Graham Horne to Malcolm Bruce, dated 24 March 2004:

The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Service in respect to your question (2003/1822) dated 3 March 2004 asking which buildings occupied by staff of the Department's executive agencies have been surveyed for the purpose of identifying the presence of asbestos prior to implementation of the control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002.

The Insolvency Service has surveyed all of its buildings for asbestos, apart from one, which will be surveyed in April 2004.

Letter from J. W. Llewellyn to Malcolm Bruce, dated 24 March 2004:

The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) to your question about surveys for identifying the presence of asbestos in buildings occupied by NWML staff.

The National Weights and Measures Laboratory moved into a purpose built laboratory at Teddington in 1988. The building has been surveyed recently and the preliminary report confirms that no asbestos is present.

Bullying

Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her policy towards bullying in the workplace by senior management personnel, with particular reference to local government officers. [163233]

Mr. Sutcliffe: The Government take the issue of bullying at work very seriously. We believe bullying is unacceptable whether by senior managers or between colleagues in any sector of industry.

This spring the Government intend to consult on a code of conduct for local administration employees. The aim of such a code would be to establish broad ethical

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principles for all authority employees. Such a code would complement the existing model code for councillors, and could be incorporated into the conditions of service of the employees of all relevant local authorities. Among the provisions which the code could contain would be a requirement that the employee must treat others with respect.

Civil Partnerships

Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether there is a requirement on the United Kingdom to create a legal status for same-sex couples. [163087]

Jacqui Smith: The Government are proposing the creation of a new legal relationship of civil partnership for reasons of general equality and social justice. There is no legal requirement on the United Kingdom to create a legal status for same-sex couples.

Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether legal rights and benefits to which married couples are entitled will not be given to registered same-sex couples in the Civil Partnership Bill. [163088]

Jacqui Smith: The Government consulted on the extent and nature of rights and responsibilities to which civil partners should be entitled last year. The Government will make clear their proposals on introduction of the forthcoming Civil Partnership Bill.

Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how long a same-sex couple will be required to live together before they can register their partnership under the proposed Civil Partnership Bill. [163089]

Jacqui Smith: The Government's policy is that same-sex couples would not be required to live together before entering a civil partnership.

Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reason unfaithfulness similar to adultery has been omitted as a ground for dissolution of civil partnerships; and what obligation there is upon those entering a civil partnership to stay together for life. [163090]

Jacqui Smith: The detailed proposals for a dissolution procedure will appear in the forthcoming Civil Partnership Bill. Government policy is that the conduct of a civil partner who is unfaithful could amount to unreasonable behaviour on which dissolution proceedings could be grounded. This would be a matter for individual dissolution proceedings.

The Government's proposals for civil partnership are designed for those people in, or wishing to enter into, same-sex couple relationships that are intended to be permanent. The significant rights and responsibilities flowing from the new legal relationship of civil partnership and the formality of the proposed dissolution procedure underline the seriousness of the commitment expected.

Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what legal protection will be afforded to registrars who hold a principled and conscientious objection to conducting a civil partnership registration under the proposed Civil Partnership Bill. [163091]

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Jacqui Smith: The Government's policy is that there would be a legal requirement on registration authorities to provide the means to register a civil partnership. This would have to be provided to the same high standards as for other statutory services.

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