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Mr. Aspinwall : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will review the adequacy of funding for police forces to apply section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The basis on which police forces are funded is set out in the Police Act 1964. There are no special provisions for funding police action under section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986.
Welsh Language
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he received representations from the Welsh Language Board on the difficulties
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experienced by the family of the late Mrs. Mair Irene Davies in having the inquest proceedings conducted in Welsh ; on what date he sent a substantive reply ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Peter Lloyd : Representations from the Welsh Language Board about the inquest into the death of Mrs. Mair Irene Davies were first received on 31 October 1990. Following consultations with the coroner concerned, a substantive reply was sent on 28 January 1991. Further correspondence from the board was received on 6 February, which was again passed on to the coroner concerned for comments. We hope to reply shortly.
Animal Experiments
Dame Janet Fookes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what review he has undertaken of the provisions affecting the number of non-human primates used as laboratory animals which are kept in single cages in isolation from their fellows ; and whether there are any proposals to phase out such housing ; (2) how many project licences have been granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 which would necessitate the keeping of primates in isolation ;
(3) what information is collected on the number of designated places under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 involving the use of larger primates in the United Kingdom which provide any kind of environmental enrichment ; and what proportion of the total this number represents.
Mrs. Rumbold [holding answer 6 June 1991] : Statistics on the housing of non-human primates are not routinely collected centrally, although the Home Office inspectorate carried out a special survey of large non-human holding facilities in 1988. A further review of establishments using larger primates is planned for next year and one of its aims will be to examine progress made in improving facilities since the 1988 review.
The special needs of non-human primates are recognised in the Home Office "Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals used in Scientific Procedures", HC107, published in 1989, which was based closely upon guidelines drawn up by the Royal Society and the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. Paragraphs 3.43 to 3.59 of the code set out the general considerations which should be taken into account for housing non-human primates. Chapter 5 of the code gives details of the recommended cage dimensions for non-human primates.
As the code makes clear, non-human primates should be housed so that they have the opportunity for social interaction. Single housing, which may allow animals such interaction through seeing and hearing one another but without physical contact, is not the preferred option but may be necessary in some cases for animal welfare or scientific reasons. We are aware of no current project licences which require the housing of non-human primates in isolation away from the sight and sound of other animals of the same species.
Since the code was published there has been a marked improvement in the standard of facilities for non-human primates in designated establishments. There has also been an encouraging increase in awareness within establishments of the desirability of providing environmental enrichment. Home Office inspectors continue to pay
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particular attention to the way in which non -human primates are housed and cared for. They will continue to monitor the progress being made by establishments in upgrading their non-human primate facilities to the standards set out in the code and encourage the provision of environmental enrichment.SOCIAL SECURITY
Benefit Booklets
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review his Department's benefit booklets to ensure that if receipt of a benefit is dependent on entitlement to another benefit this is made explicit.
Miss Widdecombe : It is the Department's policy to make this interdependance clear whenever possible in our leaflets. However, leaflets cannot cover every possible combination of circumstances without loss of clarity.
We will of course continue to check new or revised editions of leaflets to ensure that they explain the connection between benefits. If the hon. Member has a particular booklet in mind, I would be happy to look at it.
Pensions
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the reasons for rounding the retirement pension to the nearest 5p and the war disablement pension to the nearest 10p.
Miss Widdecombe : Rounding is done for administrative simplicity. In any one year an individual beneficiary may gain or lose very marginally, but even this effect will tend to balance out in the longer term. Disablement awards are expressed in mutliples of 10 per cent. Rounding the 100 per cent. pension to 10p ensures that individual awards are whole numbers of pence.
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the amount by which the retirement pension has been rounded up or down in each year from November 1979 to April 1991.
Miss Widdecombe : The information requested is provided in the table. Figures relate to the single rate of basic retirement pension. Roundings are in pence rounded to one place of decimals.
Uprating Date |Amount of
|Rounding
------------------------------------------
November 1979 |down 0.3p
November 1980 |up 0.6p
November 1981 |up 0.7p
November 1982 |down 0.6p
November 1983 |down 1.5p
November 1984 |up 1.3p
November 1985 |down 0.6p
July 1986 |down 2.1p
April 1987 |down 1.3p
April 1988 |down 0.9p
April 1989 |up 2.2p
April 1990 |down 1.3p
April 1991 |down 1.2p
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average weekly income for (a) single pensioners, (b) pensioner couples and (c) all
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pensioners, for 1988 and for 1990 ; and what was the cash and percentage change in income (i) 1979-1988 and (ii) since 1988.Miss Widdecombe : The information requested is not currently available. The most recent data available from the "Family Expenditure Survey" show that in 1987 the average net weekly income for single pensioners was £75.10 and for pensioner couples was £140.70. Single pensioners' net weekly income increased by 30 per cent. in real terms between 1979 and 1987 and for pensioner couples the increase was 31 per cent.
Water Metering
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has as to the effect of the water metering trials on people on benefit and on low-income households.
Miss Widdecombe : The water metering trials are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. I understand that the final report upon them will not be available until their completion at the end of 1993. Nevertheless, some information will become available in 1992, as a result of the survey into the impact of water metering announced by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Environment and Countryside on 30 April.
Cold Weather Payments
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he has any plans to make an additional winter payment to all pensioners throughout the winter months from October to March ; (2) what steps he is taking to ensure that elderly people can meet the costs for heating their homes ;
(3) whether he has sought the views of pensioner forums and other pensioner organisations in making his review of the cold weather payments ;
(4) what plans he has to raise the current £6 per week cold weather payment ;
(5) whether he will extend entitlement to cold weather payments to all pensioners, including those with incomes above the income support level ; and whether he will change the cold weather payment system to make automatic payments without any need to claim ;
(6) if he will express the value of the cold weather payment as a percentage of its real terms value when the payments were first introduced ;
(7) what representations he has received on the current level of cold weather payments ;
(8) if he will extend entitlement to cold weather payments to all pensioners, including those with incomes above the income support level ;
(9) if he will change the cold weather payment system to make automatic payments without any need to claim.
Mr. Scott : I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him earlier today. I have received representations from a number of organisations, including Age Concern. There was no standard amount payable for extreme cold weather when payments were first introduced.
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Social Security what progress he is making in his review of the cold weather payments system.
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Mr. Scott : Following my review of the cold weather payments scheme, I now propose some significant enhancements to the scheme. The cold weather payments scheme provides additional payments to help vulnerable people with their extra costs of heating in periods of very cold weather and we have already introduced significant improvements to the scheme including a standard payment on a regulated basis ; raising the trigger temperature from 1.5 C to 0 C for all regions, and for any consecutive seven days ; extending entitlement to households on income support with a child under five or a person over 60 or a disabled person ; doubling of the capital limit for the elderly from £500 to £1,000 ; and increasing the weekly payment from £5 to £6.These major improvements have increased the numbers eligible to 2.2 million and have also increased the cash amount and the frequency with which it becomes payable.
The substantial improvements I am now proposing are as follows : First, we will abolish the present special capital rule governing eligibility for these payments. The £1,000 limit for those over 60 (£500 for others) will be abolished. All will be covered by the £3, 000 rule which applies generally for income support. We estimate that the numbers eligible will, as a result of this measure, rise from about 2.2 million to about 2.6 million.
Secondly, in future, payments will be made automatically to all those who are eligible. The abolition of the special capital rule will enable us to do that. Subject to consultation with the Social Security Advisory Committee, I shall lay regulations abolishing the need for people to make a separate claim. The information already available about people on income support will identify those eligible, and they will then be paid automatically.
Thirdly, I propose to assure eligible people that if very cold weather arrives, they can turn up their heating. The Meteorological Office can now supply daily a forecast for each of the weather stations which we use which will indicate, with sufficient accuracy, the likely average temperature over the next seven days. Accordingly I propose to introduce a new regulation to provide for payments to be made for a seven-day period if the forecast for the local weather station shows that the temperature is likely to average 0 C or below.
This will be an enhancement, not a replacement, of the existing scheme. If there is no such forecast, but nevertheless 0 C or below is subsequently recorded for a seven-day period, payments will still be made.
Finally, I propose to make regulations further refining the ways in which the weather stations are linked to individual areas, details of which will be announced before the recess.
Corresponding changes will also be proposed for cold weather payments in Northern Ireland.
Community Care Grants
Ms. Mowlam : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total community care grants paid for (a) the north Tees area and (b) the south Tees area in (i) 1990-91 and (ii) 1991-92 ; what is the percentage change in each case ; and what undertakings he has given on the minimum levels of increase in these grants.
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Mr. Scott : Expenditure on community care grants in 1990-91 was £435,998 in north Tees and £760,975 in south Tees. Expenditure in 1991-92 will not be known until the year is over.
Notes explaining the basis on which social fund allocations were made for each year from 1988-89 to 1991-92 have been placed in the Library.
Income Support
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research he has commissioned into the adequacy of income support to meet the basic living costs when deductions are being made.
Miss Widdecombe : We have commissioned no such research, but there are limits on deductions for arrears and some deductions are to cover current expenditure.
Community Charge Benefit
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will show the effects of reducing the community charge benefit taper to (a) 12.5 per cent., (b) 10 per cent., (c) 8 per cent., (d) 6 per cent., and (e) 5 per cent., by showing for each of these tapers the cost at 1990-91 prices of paying community charge benefit to each of the following categories of income units, showing for each category how many income units he estimates would receive community charge benefit (i) all income units, (ii) single people over pensionable age, (iii) pensioner couples, (iv) single people with dependent children, (v) single people without dependent children, (vi) a married or cohabiting couple without dependent children, (vii) a married or cohabiting couple with dependent children, and (viii) any income units not included in the categories above.
Miss Widdecombe [holding answer 13 June 1991] : The information requested is in the tables.
Estimated community charge benefit caseload and expenditure
with various levels of the community charge benefit taper
(1991-92 benefit levels with expenditure estimates
revalued to 1990-91 prices)
|Total cost|Caseload
|£ million |number
--------------------------------------------------------------
15 per cent. benefit taper
Single pensioners |360 |2,160,000
Pensioner couples |220 |870,000
Lone parents |140 |740,000
Single, no children |290 |1,700,000
Couple, no children |70 |270,000
Couple with children |180 |540,000
|------- |-------
Total |1,260 |6,270,000
12.5 per cent. benefit taper
Single pensioners |380 |2,180,000
Pensioner couples |240 |900,000
Lone parents |140 |740,000
Single, no children |300 |1,710,000
Couple, no children |80 |270,000
Couple with children |190 |560,000
|------- |-------
Total |1,330 |6,360,000
10 per cent benefit taper
Single pensioners |390 |2,220,000
Pensioner couples |270 |950,000
Lone parents |140 |750,000
Single no children |310 |1,740,000
Couple no children |80 |290,000
Couple with children |200 |600,000
Total |1,410 |6,550,000
8 per cent benefit taper
Single pensioners |410 |2,270,000
Pensioner couples |300 |1,010,000
Lone parents |150 |770,000
Single no children |320 |1,800,000
Couple no children |90 |310,000
Couple with children |230 |670,000
Total |1,490 |6,830,000
6 per cent. benefit taper
Single pensioners |430 |2,340,000
Pensioner couples |330 |1,090,000
Lone parents |150 |800,000
Single no children |340 |1,920,000
Couple no children |100 |360,000
Couple with children |270 |840,000
|------ |------
Total |1,630 |7,350,000
5 per cent. benefit taper
Single pensioners |440 |2,380,000
Pensioner couples |360 |1,150,000
Lone parents |160 |810,000
Single no children |360 |2,050,000
Couple no children |120 |410,000
Couple with children |310 |1,000,000
|------ |------
Total |1,750 |7,800,000
Notes:
(1) Information is derived from benefit levels on a 1991-92
basis but expenditure estimates have been revalued to 1990-91
prices.
Estimates also take account of the Community Charge
Reductions scheme for 1991-92 and the general reduction of
£140 in Community Charge levels.
Source:
Modelled using data drawn from the 1986/7/8 Family
Expenditure Surveys.
The definition of "pensioner" is in line with that used by
the income related benefits.
Caseload figures include benefit units, and count benefit
cases for couples as one.
Retired People
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest year-on-year estimate for the number of people who are retired before the state retirement age as a result of invalidity.
Mr. Scott [holding answer 6 June 1991] : Information is not available on the number of people who retire early on grounds of invalidity.
However, the table shows the number of people receiving invalidity benefit on 31 March 1990 who at the time were within five years of state retirement age.
Age |Men |Age |Women
|thousands |thousands
--------------------------------------------------
60 |43.2 |55 |12.1
61 |49.2 |56 |13.5
62 |50.7 |57 |13.8
63 |56.9 |58 |13.8
64 |66.2 |59 |14.2
NATIONAL FINANCE
Public Appointments
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the full-time and part-time public appointments for which his Department was responsible for each of the past five years together with the salary and the date when each appointment is due for renewal.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : Details of the public appointments for which my Department is responsible together with salary details and when these appointments are due for renewal are contained in the publications "Public Bodies" and "Public Appointments : a Handbook for Women's Organisations" which are published annually. Copies of both publications are in the Library of the House of Commons.
Government Employees (Sickness)
Mr. Ralph Howell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many days were lost through sickness among central Government employees in the last year for which figures are available ; and what is the number of statutory sick days allowed in each sector.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : The most recent figures available are for 1989 when about 4.7 million days were lost due to sickness absence in the non-industrial civil service, (accounting for about 4 per cent. of days available in the year). The statutory sick pay (SSP) scheme extends to Government employees. SSP is payable for up to 28 weeks for a period of incapacity for work.
VAT
Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that zero rating of children's clothes and footwear remains as a permanent feature of VAT harmonisation in the European Community.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : The Goverment are pledged to retain zero- rating for children's clothing and footwear. In discussions with the European Commission and other member states the Government have made it clear that they could not accept any proposal which would restrict our ability to retain current zero-rated items. The United Kingdom's position is ultimately safeguarded, in that changes to EC tax law require the unanimous agreement of member states.
Duty-Free Allowances
Dr. Marek : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is his estimate of the impact on revenue from taxes and duties on the sale of (a) alcoholic drinks, (b) tobacco products, (c) perfumery and (d) other taxable or dutiable items from the ending of duty-free allowances for travellers between member states of the European Community ;
(2) what is his estimate of the revenue forgone by the Treasury as a result of the sale of duty-free (a) alcoholic drinks, (b) tobacco products, (c) perfumery and (d) other taxable or dutiable items for travellers between the United Kingdom and (i) other member states of the European Community and (ii) elsewhere.
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Mrs. Gillian Shephard [holding answer 13 June 1991] : Reliable estimates cannot be provided because there is no detailed information on the amount of duty free goods brought into the United Kingdom.Bank of Credit and Commerce International
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he has had with the Governor of the Bank of England concerning the provision of information to the United States federal prosecution authorities regarding documents covering the Bank of Credit and Commerce International.
Mr. Maples [holding answer 13 June 1991] : My right hon. Friend meets the governor regularly and they discuss a wide range of subjects.
WALES
Hostel Deficit Grant
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what was the total number of units of accommodation provided for from hostel deficit grant in each of the past five years ;
(2) what was the amount of hostel deficit grant paid to housing associations in each of the last five years.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : The number of special needs units and the amount of hostel deficit grant provided towards operating costs in each of the last five years is given in the following table :
|Bedspaces|£
----------------------------------------
1986-87 |133 |32,227
1987-88 |163 |54,324
1988-89 |203 |94,996
1989-90 |485 |338,497
1990-91 |569 |754,080
Special needs management allowance replaced hostel deficit grant for 234 bedspaces special needs schemes beginning operation in 1990-91 at a cost of £945,180.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Anderson : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many court summonses were issued by Welsh local authorities in relation to poll tax payments in 1990-91.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : The number of court summonses for non-payment of community charge in Wales to 31 March 1991 was 297, 019.
Mr. Anderson : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average percentage of the total of the poll tax bills collected by Welsh local authorities for the last financial year.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : Local authorities in Wales currently estimate that, in respect of community charges for 1990-91, they will collect 94 per cent. of the full amount due.
School Premises
Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in Wales do not meet the requirements laid down in the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981.
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Sir Wyn Roberts : The information requested is not held centrally. It is the duty of LEAs and others directly responsible for schools to ensure that school premises conform to the standards prescribed in the regulations.
Housing Consultancy Contracts
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his parliamentary replies of 23 May, Official Report, column 571, and 6 June, Official Report, column 311, whether the earlier contracts awarded to Miss C. Lesley Andrews and Aldbourne Associates were won subsequent to competitive tender after open advertisement.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many housing consultancy contracts have been awarded to Aldbourne Associates Ltd. by (a) competitive tendering and (b) fixed fee ; and if he will list the appropriate financial years and financial commitments for such contracts.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : None : I take it that the hon. Gentleman uses the term "fixed fee" to denote a contract under which the payments made will in all circumstances conform to the total established for the contract at the outset.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to his parliamentary answer of 6 June, Official Report, column 311, (1) if the housing consultancy contract with Miss C. Lesley Andrews was renegotiated when Aldbourne Associates Ltd. took over responsibility for it ;
(2) when Aldbourne Associates Ltd. took over responsibility for the housing consultancy contract given initially to Miss C. Lesley Andrews.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : The contracts were not taken over in the sense the questions imply. The initial contract was made with Miss Andrews trading under her own name. The 1985 contract was made with Aldbourne Associates, under which name she then traded and on whose behalf she signed. The 1988 and 1989 contracts were made with Miss Andrews trading as Aldbourne Associates, and the 1990 and 1991 contracts with Miss Andrews trading as Aldbourne Associates Ltd. Negotiations have preceded the making of each contract.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his parliamentary replies of 23 May, Official Report, column 571, and 6 June, Official Report, column 311, if he will list the full business name and address of Aldbourne Associates.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : The full business name and address of Aldbourne Associates is as follows :
Aldbourne Associates Ltd.
Ulmus
Ogbourne St. George Road
Aldbourne
Wiltshire SN8 2LD
Nebulisers
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will issue guidelines to Welsh health authorities on the supply of nebulisers on prescription or on loan from hospital dispensaries to patients discharged from hospital after treatment for chest diseases.
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Mr. Nicholas Bennett : My right hon. Friend has no plans to issue such guidelines. Although nebulising equipment is not available on the NHS on the prescription of a general practitioner, it may be prescribed under the NHS by a hospital consultant if he or she considers it to be clinically necessary for the patient. Nebulisers are normally provided on loan free of charge for as long as is considered necessary.Further Education
Mr. Grist : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which six colleges of further education failed to respond to the questionnaire sent by Her Majesty's inspectors in connection with their survey of communication skills, numeracy and information technology in further education.
Sir Wyn Roberts : There are a number of reasons why certain colleges did not respond and I shall write to my hon. Friend.
EMPLOYMENT
Video Recordings
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the titles of the video recordings purchased by his Department during the financial years 1990-91 and 1991-92 to date.
Mr. Jackson : No central record of videos purchased by the Department is held. This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Hospitality
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the expenditure covered by his Department's hospitality fund for the financial years (a) 1989-90, (b) 1990-91 and (c) 1991-92 to date.
Mr. Jackson : The total expenditure by the Department of Employment on official hospitality was £97,000 in 1989-90 and £100,000 in 1990-91. The amount spent in 1991-92 will be reported to Parliament in the usual way.
Sick Building Syndrome
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, further to his answer of 22 May, Official Report, column 502, when he expects the Health and Safety Executive to make a decision regarding a possible epidemiological study on sick building syndrome ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Forth : In accordance with its annual planning cycle, the Health and Safety Executive will reach a decision in the autumn on whether to fund an epidemiological study on sick building syndrome.
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