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Social Security Benefit: Cost of Any Increase
Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What would be the cost of raising (a) social security benefits across the board by 1 per cent and (b) income support by 1 per cent, assuming no change in the numbers of people dependent on benefits.[HL403]
Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The estimated cost of increasing social security benefits across the board by 1 per cent for gainers only is estimated to be £850 million in 2000-01. The estimated cost of increasing income support by 1 per cent for gainers only is estimated to be £130 million in 2000-01. Notes: 1. The figures shown for 2001 arise from the increase in 2000 (no additional change from normal uprating is assumed in 2001). All figures are based on the Treasury economic assumptions as at February 1999. 2. The figures exclude working families tax credit or disabled persons tax credit (family credit/disability working allowance), as these are now under the control of Inland Revenue. 3. Income support forecasts are attained from ASD4 forecasts. 4. All costs are for gainers only and exclude all floaters-on. 5. All costs are rounded to the nearest £5 million and are presented in cash terms.
Organophosphate Sheep Dips
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether manufacturers of licensed organophosphate sheep dips are required to notify
- the licensing authorities of any changes they make in the trade formulation of their products; and, if so, whether any such notifications were received between 1985 and 1994; what they were; and what reasons were given for any changes.[HL321]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Hayman): All changes in formulations to authorised veterinary medicinal products must be notified in advance to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and are subject to scrutiny for authorisation. The active ingredient of every organophosphorus sheep dip is shown on the label of the product. Phenols were voluntarily withdrawn by manufacturers from sheep dip products following a review by the Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) in 1992. The reasons for the withdrawal of phenols are a matter for the companies concerned. It is likely that they were withdrawn because there was considered to be insufficient return from the market to justify the research needed to satisfy the further requests for data made by the VPC. Details of other changes in formulation could be identified only at disproportionate cost.
Welsh Local Authorities: Financial Support
Lord Roberts of Conwy asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What will be the amount of support from central government grant and business rates to local
- authorities in Wales next year; and what percentage increase this represents.[HL199]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: The Government of Wales Act 1998 makes provision for the Secretary of State for Wales to make payments to the National Assembly for Wales out of money provided by the UK Parliament of such amounts as he may determine. However, the allocation of these resources among individual programmes is made according to the Assembly's own priorities. Subject to the provisions of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, the amount of revenue support grant and the distributable amount of non-domestic rates are matters for the Assembly.
Lord Roberts of Conwy asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What will be the amount of income support grants to Welsh local authorities next year; and what percentage increase this represents.[HL200]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: The amount of income support grants to Welsh local authorities is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
Lord Roberts of Conwy asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What will be the total amount of specific and special grants given to local authorities in Wales next year; and what percentage increase this represents.[HL201]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: This is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
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