HC Deb 18 June 1985 vol 81 cc101-3W
15. Ms. Harman

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will publish the Green Paper, "Review of Social Services".

Mr. John Patten

We hope to publish the consultation paper later this year.

23. Mr. Leigh

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the social security review.

24. Mr. Andrew MacKay

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has received about the Green Paper "Reform of Social Security".

36. Mr. Wareing

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has so far received relating to his reform of social security Green Paper from voluntary organisations; and if he will state the number broadly favourable to his proposals.

43. Mr. Tim Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about his proposals for widows with children in his plans for reforming the social security system.

45. Mr. Loyden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the proposed provision for those people on social security to meet special needs in Cmnd. 9518 "Reform of Social Security".

49. Mr. Nelson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received in support of his proposal to ensure that the new system of income support reduces any incentive to remain unemployed.

53. Mr. Hayes

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has received since the publication of his Green Paper, "Reform of Social Security"; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Thurnham

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the effect of his plans for the reform of the social security system on the unemployment trap.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what reaction he has received following the publication of his Green Paper, "Reform of Social Security".

Mrs. Roe

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the effect on those retiring in the last 25 years of this century of his proposals for the abolition of the state earnings related pension scheme.

Mr. Newton

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to my right hon. Friend's reply earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Mr. Thompson).

25. Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimates have been made by his Department of the costs of implementing the Green Paper proposals for the reform of the social security system.

Mr. Newton

Detailed estimates cannot be made until decisions on the future structure of social security have been taken in the light of comments on the Green Paper.

27. Mr. Ashdown

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about his Department's progress on the computerisation of social security recorded in the Green Paper, "Reform of Social Security", Cmnd. 9518.

Mr. Newton

The Green Paper plans for the computerisation of social security build on our 1982 consultative document "Social Security Operational Strategy—A Framework for the Future". A considerable number of representations were received from staff, trade unions, members of the public, other interested bodies and hon. Members. Since then we have received further representations from time to time from hon. Members and various other sources. We have held detailed discussions with the departmental trade unions on the implementation of the local office microcomputer project and agreement on its introduction has now been reached.

28. Mr. Nellist

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the cost to his Department of the social security reviews.

Mr. Newton

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Dunferrnline, East (Mr. Brown) yesterday at column41.

34. Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the public sector manpower implications of the social security proposals he announced on 3 June.

Mr. Newton

A firm assessment of the manpower implications must await decisions on the new structure of social security to be taken in the light of comments on the Green Paper. It is, however, expected that the proposed simplifications, together with the Department's plans for computerisation, will both make the system less staff-intensive and at the same time give staff better, more varied and more satisfying jobs.

35. Mr. Barron

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whom he will consult about the proposals in the forthcoming Green Paper on social services.

Mr. Newton

The Green Paper makes it clear that anyone is welcome to send in comments on the proposals. We have specifically invited views from a number of bodies, such as pensions organisations and local authority associations.

51. Ms. Clare Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will undertake not to publish the Green Paper on social services during the summer recess.

56. Mr. Clay

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will announce the publication of the Green Paper on social services at the joint social services conference in October.

Mr. John Patten

We are not yet in a position to give a precise date for the publication of this paper.

52. Mr. Pike

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has reduced the spending plans for his Department for 1987–88 in the light of the Green Paper "Reform of Social Security."

Mr. Newton

Detailed spending plans for 1987–88 can be settled only when decisions on the new structure of social security have been taken in the light of comments on the Green Paper proposals.

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all the payments made to individual members of the social security review teams, either in the form of expenses or fees.

Mr. Newton

[pursuant to his reply, 22 May 1985, c. 470]: Payments for fees and for reimbursement of expenses totalling just over £18,000 were made to members of the review teams, under the normal Civil Service rules applicable to individuals who are assisting Ministers in the work of their Departments. Details of payments made to particular individuals for this purpose are not normally made public.

Mr. John

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he has made any estimate of the likely rate of take-up of help from the social fund with funeral costs;

(2) if he has made any estimate of the proportion of (a) births and (b) deaths which will qualify for help from the social fund with maternity and funeral costs, respectively.

Mr. Newton

[pursuant to his reply, 12 June 1985, c. 487]: The social security Green Paper gives a broad outline of the groups we plan to help with maternity and funeral expenses. We shall be considering the precise definitions of these groups in the light of comments received on the Green Paper. Until then it would be premature to estimate the number of payments which are likely to be made in each category. More people will benefit from these payments than do so under the present single payments regulations. Provisional figures for 1983 suggest that 171,000 single payments were made for maternity and 11,000 for funeral expenses in that year.

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those individuals or organisations who received expenses for giving oral evidence to the social security reviews, and the cost involved.

Mr. Newton

[pursuant to his reply, 22 May 1985, c. 470]: A small number of individuals who gave oral evidence to the review teams were reimbursed for their travelling and other necessary expenses in accordance with the normal Civil Service rules for meeting such expenses. Details of the sums paid to individuals are not normally disclosed.