| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
27 Apr 2006 : Column 1238W—continued
Single Farm Payments
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the reasons for the difference in the actual and projected number of applications for Single Farm Payment; and how many of these additional applicants she expects to be (a) eligible for entitlement and (b) disallowed. [63334]
Jim Knight: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has recorded a total of 120,367 claim forms under the Single Payment Scheme in England, but this may include some duplicates. However, it is expected that the final number will remain in line with forecasts, which ranged from 110,000 to 130,000.
Given that the validation of claims is still progressing it is not possible at this stage to give meaningful figures on the number of claimants who will not receive a payment and/or entitlements.
Social Exclusion
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding streams her Department plans to finance in 2006–07 to tackle social exclusion. [56220]
27 Apr 2006 : Column 1239W
Jim Knight: There are a number of relevant funding streams that will be financed by Defra in the period 2006–07,covering two aspects of social exclusion in particular: fuel poverty and rural disadvantage.
Defra plays a leading role in taking forward the Government's commitment to tackle fuel poverty in vulnerable households in England by 2010. The new phase of the Warm Front Scheme, which is the key tool for tackling fuel poverty in the private sector in England, was launched in June 2005. In addition, it was announced in the 2005 Pre-Budget Report that an additional £300 million would be made available to tackle fuel poverty across the UK over the 2005–08 period. In England, this means that total fuel poverty funding over the same period will exceed £800 million.
The new Rural Social and Community programme, will provide funding for locally-determined activities aimed at tackling social exclusion and community capacity building in rural areas. The programme, worth £27 million over two years, commences on 1 April 2006.
In addition, Defra is investing £21.3 million through the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in order to promote sustainable delivery of rural services such as health, transport and education.
Water Companies
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated amount of water lost through broken pipes by each of the privatised water companies was in the last period for which figures are available. [65831]
Mr. Morley: The Director General of Water Services publishes leakage figures annually in the 'Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water' reports. Total water company leakage for 2004–05, in megalitres per day, was reported as follows:
27 Apr 2006 : Column 1240W
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment she has made of the level of dividends passed by water companies to their shareholders in each year since water services were privatised; [65102]
(2) what (a) amount and (b) proportion of total income of each water company was paid (i) to service debt and borrowing and (ii) in dividend payments to shareholders in each year since privatisation for which records are available. [65103]
Mr. Morley: Ofwat is the economic regulator of the water and sewerage companies in England and Wales. It sets price limits for each water company at price reviews. These are the maximum by which average charges may change each year. Ofwat sets price limits that allow each company to finance and fulfil its functions.
Dividends declared by the regulated companies are paid to their parent companies and are in their regulatory accounts. The companies are also required by Ofwat to provide a comprehensive explanation of the basis of the dividend. The parent companies report in their statutory accounts what is actually paid to shareholders.
Companies report to Ofwat each year in their profit and loss accounts the level of dividends and interest payments to service debt and borrowing. I will place copies in the House Library.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Alzheimer's Disease
Dr. Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what response he has made to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence appraisal consultation document on drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in relation to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [66143]
Mr. Woodward: Guidance produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is only applicable to England and Wales and does not currently extend to Northern Ireland. In light of this, the Department of Health, Social Service and Public Safety has not made a response to the Institute's appraisal consultation documents on drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
The Department is in the process of establishing formal links with the Institute and will advise the Health and Personal Social Services on the applicability to Northern Ireland of the Institute's final recommendations on the Alzheimer's drugs.
Capital Expenditure (Schools)
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total capital expenditure has been for each school in the 100 (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Northern Ireland with the (i) highest and (ii) lowest percentage of children receiving free school meals in each of the last 10 years. [65995]
27 Apr 2006 : Column 1241W
Angela E. Smith: Free school meals entitlement instead of pupils receiving free school meals is a better measure of need. Data for percentages of pupils actually receiving free school meals are held by Education and Library Boards and it would not have been possible to extract the data for all the years requested inside the allocated timescale.
The information on major works capital expenditure using free school meals entitlement will be placed in the Library.
Child Sex Abuse
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what correspondence he has received from members of the public on child sexual abuse by clerics. [65506]
Mr. Woodward: The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has received one letter asking if there was going to be an independent public inquiry into allegations of clerical child sexual abuse and two telephone calls seeking advice on how to report allegations of abuse by clergy.
The Police Services of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has received two pieces of correspondence from members of the public on this subject during the past year.
PSNI and Social Services are the statutory organisations with powers to investigate allegations of abuse.
Civil Partnerships
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 24 November 2005, Official Report, column 2197W, on homosexual civil partnerships, whether (a) council staff and (b) registrar's office staff who have objections of a religious, moral or conscience nature can refuse to participate in civil partnership ceremonies. [36561]
27 Apr 2006 : Column 1242W
Angela E. Smith: I am sorry for the delay in replying which was caused by an administrative error.
Each district council in its role as a local registration authority is required to appoint a Registrar of Civil Partnerships. In discharging this duty district councils as employers are required to comply with all relevant legislation.
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 24 November 2005, Official Report, column 2197W, on homosexual civil partnerships, what plans he has to provide (a) information, (b) training and (c) assistance to ensure that (i) council staff and (ii) registrar's office staff with objections to homosexual and lesbian civil partnership ceremonies of a religious, moral or conscience nature are properly protected. [36562]
Angela E. Smith: I am sorry for the delay in replying which was caused by an administrative error.
Each district council in its role as a local registration authority is required to appoint a Registrar of Civil Partnerships. In discharging this duty district councils as employers are required to advise staff of their rights and responsibilities under the law.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |