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14 Oct 2004 : Column 341W—continued
Women and Work Commission
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her written statement of 11 October 2004, Official Report, columns 6–8WS, on the Women and Work Commission, what the proposed (a) resource budget and (b) departmental staff numbers to support the Women and Work Commission are; and if she will make a statement. [191855]
Jacqui Smith: The Women and Work Commission is an ad hoc advisory body of unpaid Commissioners who will report within a year. Support for the Commission will come from existing DTI/Women and Equality Unit resources.
(a) The projected resource budget is £300,000 of which £150,000 is projected administration costs and 150,000 is programme budget.
(b) The WWC Secretariat consists of three dedicated full time equivalent posts.
WORK AND PENSIONS
Benefits (East Lothian)
Anne Picking: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average minimum income guarantee payment is to pensioners in East Lothian constituency. [190146]
Malcolm Wicks: The minimum income guarantee was replaced by pension credit from 6 October 2003. The average pension credit award in East Lothian at 31 August 2004 was £36.54.
Anne Picking: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners were in receipt of minimum income guarantee in East Lothian constituency at the last date on which it was paid. [190148]
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Malcolm Wicks: As at 3 October 2003, there were 2,360 minimum income guarantee claimants in East Lothian parliamentary constituency. Pension credit replaced minimum income guarantee as at 6 October 2003.
Note:
Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
Anne Picking: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners are (a) eligible for and (b) in receipt of pension credit in East Lothian constituency. [190147]
Malcolm Wicks: Information on the number of people likely to be eligible for Pension Credit is not available at constituency level. However, we estimate that approximately 350,000 households in Scotland, corresponding to approximately 450,000 individuals (rounded to the nearest 50,000), are likely to be eligible for pension credit in 2004–05. Information on the number of pension credit recipients in Scotland and East Lothian is given in the table.
| Households | Individuals | |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 271,900 | 325,355 |
| East Lothian | 3,635 | 4,400 |
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five
2. Individual recipients include a small number of partners under age 60
Occupational Pension Schemes
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many letters he has sent to occupational pension schemes in wind-up, in connection with his Financial Assistance Scheme, asking them to supply scheme data by 12 November; and if he will estimate the average cost to each scheme of providing the information requested. [190645]
Malcolm Wicks: Letters were sent to scheme trustees, administrators and actuaries through a number of professional bodies on behalf of the Department. The professional bodies who agreed to send these letters included the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority; the Association of Corporate Trustees; the Faculty and the Institute of Actuaries and the National Association of Pension Funds. They were advised to circulate the letter as widely as possible and it is also available on the Department's website.
The cost of providing the information requested will depend on the quality and availability of individual scheme records. The impact, if any, on scheme funds in providing this information, will depend on the extent to which those involved in administering the schemes are able to absorb any costs incurred rather than passing them on to scheme funds. The Government are still seeking industry contributions to the Financial Assistance Scheme and this is an opportunity for members of the pensions industry to provide one. We encouraged those involved to keep costs to a minimum.
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Pension Credit
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many over-75s are claiming the guarantee credit element of the pension credit. [190644]
Malcolm Wicks: As at August 2004, the number of customers aged 75 and over claiming the guarantee credit element of pension credit was 1,081,430.
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what review of the application process for receipt of the pension credit has been undertaken since the scheme was introduced. [190370]
Malcolm Wicks: The application process for pension credit has been designed to be straightforward for pensioners and their family and friends, who may apply on their behalf. The pension credit application line (freephone 0800 99 1234), which is the main method of applying, is working well and at the end of August had taken around 4.48 million calls since it became operational on 7 April 2003. The Pension Service is able to offer alternative ways of applying to suit individual circumstances. Independent research, a summary of which was placed in the Library in January, found high levels of customer satisfaction with the application line and with the application process overall. We have made minor improvements to the application process in the light of experience and will continue to do so, although there are no current plans for a fundamental review.
TREASURY
Gift Aid
14. John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to announce the outcome of the consultation on his Department's plans to amend the Gift Aid rules on day memberships. [190550]
John Healey: Representatives of heritage and conservation charities have been involved in discussions about possible changes to the Gift Aid rules. We are considering carefully the points they and others have raised, and we will consider changes as part of the normal Budget process.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
15. Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on using fiscal measures to encourage reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. [190551]
John Healey:
The Government believe that well-designed economic instruments, alongside other policies, can play an important role in reducing CO 2 emissions. A number of measures have been introduced to help achieve this, including the Climate Change Levy, Company Car Tax reform and Enhanced Capital Allowances for energy-saving equipment. The Government will continue to explore options for using cost-effective economic instruments, including fiscal measures, to reduce CO 2 emissions, taking account of all social, economic and environmental objectives.
14 Oct 2004 : Column 344W
Science
17. Dr. Iddon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on Government expenditure on science. [190553]
John Healey: The Government regularly receives representation on science spending.
Most recently, in developing the "Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004–2014", published in July, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department for Education and Skills and HM Treasury jointly undertook a wide-ranging consultation exercise, and received over 200 replies from individuals and organisations in academia, business, the charity sector, and from the regional and devolved Administrations.
National Insurance Fund
18. Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the current surplus in the National Insurance Fund. [190555]
Dawn Primarolo: The Government Actuary estimates that the surplus in the National Insurance Fund will be £29.6 billion for 2004–05.
Red Diesel
19. Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that private pleasure craft will be able to use red diesel after 31 December 2006. [190556]
John Healey: Use of red diesel, which has an effective duty rate of 4.42 pence per litre, is permitted in private pleasure craft in the UK under a derogation from the European Energy Products Directive. This derogation is due to expire at the end of 2006 and we will be discussing it with other member states closer to that date, in the light of the views of stakeholders, including boat owners.
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