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EDS Ltd.
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many contracts his Department, agencies and associated bodies have had with EDS for each year since 1985; what was the value of each contract; if he will indicate for each contract (a) if it was completed, (b) what modifications were made at the request of (i) the company and (ii) his Department and (c) if work under contract is being undertaken in-house; and if he will make a statement on the number of job reductions in his Department arising from the contracting out of work by EDS. [3805]
Mr. Bowis: The information requested is set out in the table. The value of each contract has not been revealed on the grounds that this information is commercially confidential.
15 Nov 1996 : Column: 365
| Year | Number of contracts | Contract completed | Modifications made at the behest of EDS | Modifications made at the behest of the Department | Work under contract being undertaken in-house | Number of job reductions arising from contracting out work |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1 | Yes | None | None | No | None |
| 1993 | 1 | No | None | None | No | None |
| 1993 | 1 | No | None | None(1) | Yes(2) | None(3) |
| 1993 | 1 | No | None | None | No | None |
| 1993 | 1 | No | None | None | Yes(4) | None |
| 1994 | 1 | Yes | None | None | No | None |
| 1996 | 1 | No | None | None | No | None |
Information on contracts awarded before 1991 is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Notes:
(1) EDS has been asked to provide prices for the development of new systems to meet legislative requirements.
(2) Three EDS members of staff form part of a joint account management unit at DVLA.
(3) No job reductions, but 320 DOT staff working for DVOIT transferred to EDS on the sale of the organisation to that company.
(4) Ten EDS members of staff are engaged on a project for the provision of a new booking system at DSA.
15 Nov 1996 : Column: 365
Publicity
Ms Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was his Department's expenditure on consultants to assist with information, publicity, press and media in (a) 1995-96, (b) 1994-95 and (c) 1993-94. [3580]
Mr. Bowis: The information is as follows:
Press and Media
1993-94: £707,000
1994-95: £330,000
1995-96: £930,000.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
National Lottery (Feasibility Studies)
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many feasibility studies have been funded from the proceeds of the national lottery; at what cost; and how many have produced completed projects.[3988]
Mr. Sproat [holding answer 14 November 1996]: To date, the national lottery distributing bodies have made 168 awards for feasibility studies for a total of £15,313,311. Many of these are still being carried out, and some will have resulted in full applications which will need to be considered by the distributing bodies. My officials have asked the distributing bodies to confirm how many of these studies have produced completed projects and will write to the hon. Member with this information.
Sex and Violence
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what discussions she has had with television, satellite and cable companies regarding the introduction of a non-statutory system for publicly rating their television output for sex and violence; [3541]
- (2) if she will make it her policy to encourage television, satellite and cable companies to introduce a system for publishing a rating for sex and violence with their television schedules. [3542]
15 Nov 1996 : Column: 366
Mr. Sproat: As part of its research into the V-chip, the Department has consulted broadcasters and other organisations, including those representing viewers, on the feasibility and desirability of a ratings system for television programmes. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State also expects to explore this and other ideas with the chairmen of the BBC, the Independent Television Commission and the Broadcasting Standards Council when she meets them next month to discuss public concern about violence on television.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Local Councillors (Benefits)
Mr. William O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what proposals he has to extend the UB40 exclusion of basic allowances to apply to income support for people who serve on local authorities; and if he will make a statement; [3181]
- (2) what plans he has to update the benefits payable to people who are elected to local councils and are unemployed; [3182]
Mr. Roger Evans: We have no plans to change the rules that currently apply to local authority councillors who are receiving income support or jobseeker's allowance.
Housing Benefit
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently receiving housing benefit in the United Kingdom; and what is the breakdown of these figures by region or local authority.[3803]
Mr. Roger Evans: The information relating to Great Britain has been placed in the Library.
I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for the Northern Ireland figures.
Mr. Pike:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated cost to the Government of funding housing benefit in the current year; and if he will make a statement. [3804]
15 Nov 1996 : Column: 367
| Expenditure type | Amount £ million |
|---|---|
| Rent allowances | 5,135 |
| Discretionary rent allowances | 18 |
| Non-HRA rent rebates | 87 |
| Rent rebates (England) | 3,114 |
| Rent rebates (Wales) | 192 |
| Rent rebates (Scotland) | 531 |
| Administration | 186 |
| Anti-fraud incentives | 22 |
| Challenge funding | 8 |
| Total | 9,293 |
Sources:
1. Table 1 of the Social Security departmental report: the government's expenditure plans 1996-97 to 1998-99.
2. Local government finance report 1996-97 (Department of the Environment).
3. Spending working group paper: SSASG (96)97 (Department of the Environment).
4. Finance circular 8/1996 (Scottish Office).
Fishermen
Mr. Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what entitlement fishermen from other member states have for (a) social security or (b) unemployment benefit while in the United Kingdom; and how many such claims have been dealt with in the last 12 months. [3657]
Mr. Roger Evans: Only fishermen from other member states who have paid United Kingdom national insurance contributions would have entitlement to United Kingdom contributory benefits, including contribution-based jobseeker's allowance.
Fishermen from other member states would qualify for income-related benefits available to unemployed people, including income-based jobseeker's allowance only if they were habitually resident in the United Kingdom.
We have no information on the number of claims made by fishermen from member states.
Mr. Madden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reasons the Benefits Agency out-of-office hours emergency telephone service in Bradford was closed before a national review of the service had been completed; what consultations took place before the Bradford emergency service closed; if he will restore the emergency service in Bradford; and if he will make a statement. [4133]
Mr. Roger Evans:
The administration of income support is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Max Madden, dated 14 November 1996:
15 Nov 1996 : Column: 368
Mr. Ian McCartney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what have been the costs incurred by his Department in publicising the introduction of the jobseeker's allowance, by region. [3919]
Mr. Roger Evans:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on 14 November, Official Report, column 338.
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for what reasons the Benefits Agency out-of-hours emergency telephone service in Bradford closed down before a national review of the service had been completed; what consultations took place before the Bradford emergency closed; if he will restore the emergency service in Bradford; and if he will make a statement.
There has been no closure of the Out-of-Hours Service in the Bradford area. The service continues to operate from Monday to Sunday and for the four week period ended 3.11.96 there were 63 referrals.
I hope you find this reply helpful.
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