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Second State Pension Contracted-out NI Contributions
Lord Blackwell asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What level of National Insurance contribution rebate they plan for those contracting out of the new second state pension when introduced; and whether they intend that those earning £9,000 or less with an existing stakeholder pension would benefit from contracting out of the second state pension. [HL4664]
Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The Government Actuary is currently considering the responses to his consultative note on the level of National Insurance Rebates for those contracting out of the state additional pension for the period 2002-2007. He will make his recommendations to the Secretary of State in due course. Early next year, when the Secretary of State has considered the Government Actuary's recommendations, he will lay a report before both Houses setting out the proposed level of the rebates.
Minimum Income Guarantee
Baroness Castle of Blackburn asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many pensioners have formally claimed income support since the start of the current take-up campaign; how many of those claims have been decided; and how many have succeeded. [HL4683]
Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The effect of the Minimum Income Guarantee take-up campaign will not be known until it comes to a conclusion. We will provide further details of the campaign in due course.
Baroness Castle of Blackburn asked Her Majesty's Government:
- By how much the Minimum Income Guarantee will be increased in April 2001 for pensioners aged (a) under 75, (b) 75-79 and (c) 80 or over. [HL4684]
Baroness Hollis of Heigham: Minimum Income Guarantee rates for pensioners of all ages are being aligned into a single rate from April 2001 of £92.15 for a single pensioner and £140.55 for couples.
Pension Credit
Baroness Castle of Blackburn asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What proportion of pensioners will be entitled to the proposed pension credit in 2003-04, 2020-21 and 2050-51 if the credit is introduced in the form proposed in the consultation paper (CM4900). [HL4685]
Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The information is not available.
Baroness Castle of Blackburn asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many pensioners entitled to the proposed pension credit will be liable for income tax in 2003-04. [HL4687]
Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The proposed pension credit will not be taxable.
Baroness Castle of Blackburn asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the proposed pension credit will be subject to a means test. [HL4688]
Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The Government's proposals for the pension credit are set out in Command Paper 4900.
UK Citizens Abroad: Retirement Pension Uplift Proposal
Lord Shore of Stepney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will reconsider their policy on the uprating of national insurance retirement pensions earned by United Kingdom citizens now resident in Commonwealth countries in the light of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's recently announced size of the surplus on Government Accounts for the year 1999-2000 and the likelihood of continuing surpluses. [HL4681]
Baroness Hollis of Heigham: No.
UK/National Assembly for Wales Primary Legislation Procedure
Lord Roberts of Conwy asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the draft protocol on primary legislation procedure, discussed at the National Assembly for Wales on 2 February, has yet been formally agreed between the Assembly and the Government. [HL4608]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: The protocol which the National Assembly for Wales has debated has not been formally agreed. It addresses an important issue with a proper regard for the roles of the UK Government and the National Assembly. The Government wish their reponse to be fully informed by the experience of the current session.
Meat Processing: Local Authority Enforcement Responsibility
Lord Hogg of Cumbernauld asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will clarify the comments made by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on local authority enforcement [H.L. Deb., 23 November 2000; col 944]. [HL4818]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): I regret that my Answer on 23 November 2000, col. 944 was not factually accurate. Local authorities undertake enforcement action on the 30-month rules in meat processing plants and retailers, not "licensed slaughter houses and cutting plants" as I stated in my Answer to the Question.
Lord Mayor Treloar Hospital, Alton
The Earl of Selborne asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the Lord Mayor Treloar Hospital, Alton, will be considered as a potential site for the provision of specialist orthopaedic facilities in the forthcoming study of future orthopaedic provision in Hampshire. [HL4699]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Expert advice indicates that specialist orthopaedic facilities should be based on the sites of district general hospitals. The scoping study will consider how to make better use of existing orthopaedic capacity and, if required, how to increase this capacity on the sites of existing district general hospitals in line with this advice. The Lord Mayor Treloar Hospital site is not therefore being considered as part of this study.
Autism and MMR Vaccination
Lord Clement-Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will seek the release by the study's authors of the data on which the epidemiological study of a possible association between the measles, mumps and rubella vaccination and autism, commissioned by the Medicines Control Agency and published in the Lancet in June 1999, is based. [HL4539]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The epidemiological study published in the Lancet in June 1999 was an independent study commissioned by the Medicines Control Agency to investigate a possible association between measles, mumps and rubella vaccination and autism. A copy has been placed in the Library. The study was accepted for publication in the Lancet following a process of rigorous independent peer review in the normal manner. It is not usual for peer-reviewed data to be subject to re-analysis by third parties. The data are not owned by the Medicines Control Agency or the Department of Health. It is the decision of the authors as to whether they choose to make their data available.
Parkinson's Disease
Lord Walton of Detchant asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress has been made with their views of the commissioning of specialised services in the National Health Service and of the neurosurgery for Parkinson's Disease; and whether they are now in a
- position to implement their proposals relating to long-term service agreements and regional consortia. [HL4652]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The eight recently published Regional Specialised Commissioning Groups' Annual Reports for 1999-2000 show that good progress has been made, with longer term commissioning plans being put in place, service agreements being drawn up and regional consortia being established for many specialised services.
With regard to neurosurgical treatment for people with severe Parkinson's Disease, the National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group (NSCAG) is to oversee an evaluation assessing the effectiveness of Deep Brain Stimulation compared to current best medical therapy. NSCAG will designate approved providers. A recognised research-funding body will support the evaluation, while the service itself will be commissioned via regional specialised commissioning arrangements.
The Third Way: Policy Announcements
Lord Patten asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Since the last general election, what policy announcements have been made by (a) the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; (b) the Department for Culture Media and Sport; and (c) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office which specifically mentioned the Third Way; and, on what dates.[HL4318]
The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): I refer the noble Lord to my Answer of 25 October, Official Report, col. WA 34.
Strategic Communications Unit: Website
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the Strategic Communications Unit has its own website; and, if not, why not.[HL4665]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: No. One of the responsibilities of the Strategic Communications Unit is maintaining the 10 Downing Street website, which can be found at www.pm.gov.uk.
Mrs Rosemary Nelson: Murder Investigation
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was asked by the Secretary of State, for Northern Ireland to investigate the circumstances of the murder of Rosemary Nelson; and, if so, what was its response.[HL4419]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: No. It would be inappropriate for my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to ask the Human Rights Commission to investigate Mrs Nelson's murder, as this is the statutory responsibility of the Chief Constable.
There is currently a major criminal investigation being undertaken into Mrs Nelson's murder. This is being led by Deputy Chief Constable Colin Port, and both he and his team continue tirelessly to track down and bring before the courts those responsible for this cowardly murder.
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