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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 2 November 2005
WALES
Electoral System (National Assembly)
11. Mr. David: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for reforming the electoral system for the National Assembly for Wales. [22535]
Mr. Hain: The Government proposals to address problems with the current electoral system are set out in chapter 4 of the Better Governance for Wales" White Paper, which was published on 15 June 2005.
Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the Government's proposals to reform the system of election of members of the National Assembly for Wales Government. [21708]
Mr. Hain: The Government's proposals to address problems with the current electoral system are set out in Chapter 4 of the Better Governance for Wales" White Paper, which was published on 15 June 2005.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the National Assembly for Wales on future voting arrangements for elections; and if he will make a statement. [23049]
Mr. Hain: I have regular discussions with colleagues in the National Assembly for Wales.
The Government's proposals to address the electoral system are set out in Chapter 4 of Better Governance for Wales", White Paper which was published on 15 June 2005.
Council Tax Rebanding
12. Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with National Assembly for Wales Ministers on council tax rebanding. [22537]
Mr. Hain: I regularly meet the First Minister to discuss matters affecting Wales.
Road Safety
13. Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with police forces in Wales on improving road safety. [22538]
Nick Ainger: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with police forces in Wales on a variety of issues including road safety.
Under the Government's road safety strategy we are seeking a 40 per cent. reduction in deaths and serious injuries by 2010. The Road Safety Bill currently being considered in the other place will help make this possible.
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Drug and Alcohol Abuse
14. Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures are being taken to tackle drug and alcohol abuse in Wales. [22539]
Nick Ainger: Wales is tackling drug and alcohol misuse by the delivery of its national substance misuse strategy. The strategy in Wales is implemented at a local level by the 22 Community Safety Partnerships via the delivery of their action plans.
Dentistry
Dr. Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Department of Health on the availability of NHS dental services in Wales. [22536]
Nick Ainger: I regularly meet with the Assembly Health Minister to discuss dental services in Wales. In addition, following last Friday's meeting with National Assembly Wales, Department of Health and the British Dental Service to discuss Dental contracts in the UK, my hon. Friend Peter Hain will be meeting the Secretary of State for Health tomorrow to discuss the on-going negotiations on the new dental contracts for England and Wales.
Devolution
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales who he has consulted on the future of devolution for Wales in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [23048]
Mr. Hain: Following the launch of the Government's White Paper Better Governance for Wales" on June 15, there was a comment period, which finished on September 16. Eighty-two responses were received, and they can be found on the Wales Office website.
English Hospital Treatments
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Welsh patients were treated in English hospitals in the last year for which figures are available. [18673]
Mr. Hain: 38, 665 Welsh patients were treated in English hospitals last year.
It is important that patients are able to access treatment, including specialist treatment, at the nearest hospital. Due to medical and geographical reasons, some provision of services has always been across border.
Continuous improvements are being made in the management of cross border referrals, and a joint protocol was launched in March of this year to clarify responsibilities and guide health commissioners in managing patient flows.
Youth Crime
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on youth crime in Wales. [22805]
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Mr. Hain: The Government are supporting a wide-ranging programme to tackle youth offending and to prevent children being drawn into crime in the first place. This includes tackling deprivation and working with families and education services, along with on-going implementation of the 10-year anti-drugs strategy. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister recently announced a major new drive to increase the take-up of parenting contracts and orders, as part of our strategy for fostering respect in society.
WORK AND PENSIONS
50-plus Year-Olds
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many adults aged between 50 and state pension age there were in (a) 1997 and (b) 2005; and how many were in work in each year. [23284]
John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Neil Gerrard, dated 2 November 2005:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the number of adults aged between 50 and state pension age in 1997 and 2005; and how many of them were in employment. (23284)
The attached table provides the available information. The table covers the three month period ending in August of the years 1997 and 2005.
These estimates from the Labour Force Survey are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability.
(1) Covering men aged 50 to 64 and women aged 50 to 59 in private households, student halls of residence and NHS accommodation.
(2) Number of people in employment as a percentage of all persons in the relevant age group.
Source:
ONS Labour Force Survey
EDS
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last met representatives of EDS. [17584]
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Mr. Timms: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, met with Michael Jordan, Chairman and Chief Executive of EDS on 27 July 2005. Officials from the Department meet with EDS executives on a regular basis.
Pensioner Benefits
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in the Kettering constituency received (a) the state pension, (b) applied for pension credit and (c) received the pension credit in each year since 1997. [22602]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 28 October 2005]: Information is not available on the number of pension credit applicants at constituency level.
The information available is presented in the following two tables.
Notes:
1. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
2. The figures for March 2000 to March 2002 are based on data from the 5 percent. samples.
3. The figures for May 2002 to May 2005 are directly from the WPLS 100 percent. data.
Source:
DWP Information directorate: Work and Pensions longitudinal study
| Date | Total (thousands) |
|---|---|
| May 2005 | 4.3 |
| May 2004 | 4.0 |
| November 2003 | 3.2 |
Notes:
1. Pension credit was introduced on 6 October 2003 and replaced minimum income guarantee (income support for people aged-60 or over). The vast majority of people who were previously in receipt of the minimum income guarantee transferred to pension credit in October 2003.
2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
Source:
DWP Information directorate: Work and Pensions longitudinal study 100 per cent. data.
Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in the Kingston and Surbiton constituency have received (a) the Christmas bonus, (b) the over-80s age top-up and (c) winter fuel payments in each year since 1997. [23884]
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Mr. Timms: The available information on the Christmas Bonus is in the table below and is based on the estimates of state pension recipients.
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
3. The figures for September 1999 to March 2002 are based on data from the 5 per cent. samples.
4. The figures for May 2002 to May 2005 are directly from the WPLS 100 per cent. data.
5. Data sources are not available prior to September 1999.
Source:
WP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) 100 per cent. data and 5 per cent. samples.
We do not collect information on the over 80s age top up of 25p a week by constituency, however, they are comparable with the figures shown for the 80+ annual payment in the table.
Information relating to winter fuel payments for the winters of 1997–98 and 1998–99 is not available. The information for Kingston and Surbiton constituency from winter 1999–2000 is in the table, including details of the 80+ annual payment introduced in winter 2003–04 and now included as part of the winter fuel payment to those aged 80 or over. These figures are also available in the Library.
Notes:
1. Data is taken at the specified dates.
2. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
4. Local authorities and parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
5. Those receiving the 80+ annual payment are also receiving a winter fuel payment.
Source:
Information Directorate, 100 per cent. sample
Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in the Kingston and Surbiton constituency have (a) received the state pension, (b) applied for pension credit and (c) received the pension credit in each year since 1997. [23885]
Mr. Timms: Information is not available on the number of pension credit applicants at constituency level.
The information available is presented in the following two tables.
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Notes:
1. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
2. The figures for March 2000 to March 2002 are based on data from the 5 percent. samples.
3. The figures for May 2002 to May 2005 are directly from the WPLS 100 percent. data.
Source:
DWP Information directorate: Work and Pensions longitudinal study
| Date | Total (thousands) |
|---|---|
| May 2005 | 3.0 |
| May 2004 | 2.7 |
| November 2003 | 2.3 |
Notes:
1. Pension credit was introduced on 6 October 2003 and replaced minimum income guarantee (income support for people aged-60 or over). The vast majority of people who were previously in receipt of the minimum income guarantee transferred to pension credit in October 2003.
2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
Source:
DWP Information directorate: Work and Pensions longitudinal study 100 percent. data.
Mr. Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what date the £200 council tax rebate will be paid to pensioner households in England. [22582]
Mr. Timms: In most cases the £200 payment to help with council tax bills will be paid automatically with the winter fuel payment. Payments will be made over a number of weeks from early November. Eligible people who do not receive a winter fuel payment will need to claim. Claims must be received by 30 March 2006.
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