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19 May 2004 : Column 1087W—continued

Pensions

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 23 April 2004, Official Report, column 709W, on pension forecasts, how many combined pension forecasts have been issued in each month since their introduction; and how frequently they are reissued to individuals. [171103]

Malcolm Wicks: DWP does not hold information on the number of combined pension forecasts that are issued by employers and providers each month. However, the figures in the following table show the number of state pension forecasts that DWP has supplied to an employer or pension provider for
 
19 May 2004 : Column 1088W
 
inclusion in a combined pension forecast. This information is supplied for each month since the introduction of combined pension forecasts.

All the employers and providers currently delivering combined pension forecasts issue them annually to their scheme members.

Date	Volume
Pilot year 1	19,291
Pilot year 2	15,543
2001
October	0
November	0
December	0
2002
January	0
February	0
March	0
April	14,602
May	0
June	467
July	9,127
August	0
September	5,537
October	0
November	0
December	1,168
2003
January	0
February	0
March	0
April	30,005
May	20,497
June	113,223
July	97,310
August	82,945
September	52,543
October	88,324
November	138,152
December	131,317
2004
January	150,202
February	77,700
March	72,095
Total	1,120,048

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people who claimed the state pension but lived outside the United Kingdom in each year from 1990–91 to 2003–04; and if he will make a statement. [173908]

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is in the table.

September	Number of people
1990	575,800
1991	609,900
1992	632,000
1993	630,100
1994	674,300
1995	712,800
1996	741,700
1997	770,200
1998	797,300
1999	834,100
2000	857,600
2001	887,700
2002	913,300
2003	952,400

Notes:
1. The figures are for cases outside Great Britain and are rounded to the nearest hundred.
2. Figures for September 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993 do not include people receiving only additional pension or graduated retirement benefit.
Sources:
1. Figures for September 1990 to September 1994 were taken from the Social Security Statistics publication 1995.
2. Figures for September 1996 and September 1997 were taken from the Social Security Statistics publication 1999.
3. Figures from September 1997 to date were taken from the 5 per cent. samples from the Pensions Strategy Computer System taken on 30 September of each year.




 
19 May 2004 : Column 1089W
 

PRIME MINISTER

Iraq

Mrs. Calton: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what (a) instruction and (b) guidance (i) his officials and (ii) Ministers were following prior to the decision not to make the February International Committee of the Red Cross report available to him as soon as it became available to his office; [173573]

(2) what (a) written and (b) oral briefing was provided by officials in his office to inform him of the contents of the International Committee of the Red Cross report and actions taken (i) as a result of officials having read the report and (ii) prior to the full report being made available to him. [173574]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the right hon. Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) at Prime Minister's questions on 12 May 2004, Official Report, columns 347–49.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Community Legal Services Partnerships

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representation community legal services partnerships have on local strategic partnerships; and if he will liaise with appropriate ministerial colleagues to promote such representation. [173953]

Mr. Lammy: Working relationships between Community Legal Service Partnerships (CLSPs) and Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) are active in all areas. CLSPs are represented in a number of LSPs throughout England (there are no LSPs in Wales). There are variations to the extent to which CLSPs are joining up with LSPs, and to the form of representation, due to the varying nature and structure of each LSP. Ongoing work to develop relationships between CLSPs and LSPs is being actively pursued throughout the English regions.
 
19 May 2004 : Column 1090W
 

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the workings of community legal services partnerships, with particular reference to (a) research into patterns of need, supply and capacity, (b) priorities for service development and the deployment of resources, (c) disseminating good and best practice and (d) publicising services which are available. [173954]

Mr. Lammy: The Independent Review of the Community Legal Service (CLS), which was published on 28 April 2004, provides a detailed assessment of the workings of CLS Partnerships. The Review recommends that CLS Partnerships have their activities re-focused in the short-term, and are placed on a statutory footing in the longer term. My Department is currently seeking views on the Review's recommendations, as part of a process of consultation. We will be considering the best way in which to build on the success of the CLS in the light of the Review's recommendations and the comments we receive. In addition, we have announced a fundamental legal aid review, which will look at the long-term future of the legal aid system, focusing on how best to provide publicly funded legal services to those who need them.

Timber

Ms Walley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the Department plans to contribute financially to the establishment of the second phase of the Central Point of Expertise on Timber. [167624]

Mr. Lammy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 10 May 2004, Official Report, column 31W.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Criminal Justice

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress made on the Attorney General's examination of police powers, bail arrangements and other criminal justice matters announced by the right hon. Member for Hamilton, North and Belshill (Dr. Reid) on 24 July 2002; and if he will publish the Attorney General's conclusions. [172155]

Mr. Pearson: On 29 August 2002 the Attorney-General delivered to the then Secretary of State a paper outlining measures which might be taken to improve the possibilities of successful prosecution for acts of terrorism, violence and organised crime. The paper recommended that policy consideration be given to the introduction of an ASBO regime for Northern Ireland, that consideration be given to the use of section 108 of the Terrorism Act, that the DPP and Police should give further consideration on how co-operation could be improved, and that policy consideration be given to introducing pre-charge bail conditions. In September 2002, the Northern Ireland Law and Order Action Group was established and it has since considered ASBOs and bail in detail.
 
19 May 2004 : Column 1091W
 

Following a public consultation on measures to tackle anti-social behaviour in Northern Ireland, a further consultation of legislative proposals to introduce anti-social behaviour orders is under way.

Cases are proceeding through the courts in which section 108 statements have been made.

The two pilot schemes for the new Public Prosecution Service have introduced co-location working practices in which police officers operate from Prosecution Service offices, thus allowing the police immediate access to prosecution lawyers for advice on prosecutorial issues. Co-location will provide a firm basis on which to build closer co-operation.

The introduction of pre-charge bail conditions will be taken forward as part of a review of Police and Criminal Evidence (PACE) in Northern Ireland announced by the then Minister of State in a written ministerial statement on 26 February 2004.

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