§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons have been(a) charged with and (b) convicted of offences of (i) sodomy, (ii) gross indecency and (iii) shameless indecency by one male person with another in each year for the last 10 years. [73544]
§ Mr. McLeishThe available information on prosecutions for homosexual offences, including statutory offences, is given in the tables. From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
of benefits paid to widows and widowers (1) if the benefit rules were to remain unchanged and (2) if the reforms in "Support in Bereavement" were implemented, in (a) 2002, (b)2007, (c) 2012 and (d) 2017. [71100]
§ Angela EagleThe information is in the table.
705W
Indicative estimates of the expenditure on widows benefit without reform and the net savings which may accrue following reform £ million in 1998–99 benefit rates Expenditure on existing widow benefit scheme without reform Costs(+)/Savings(-) from proposals (net of means-tested benefit offsets) 2002–03 950 +100 2007–08 800 -100 2012–13 800 -200 2017–08 950 -450 Notes:
1. Estimates for the effects of reform are presented net of means-tested benefit offsets, in line with those in "A new contract for welfare: support in bereavement". Means-tested benefit offsets were estimated using the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey and the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries. They assume a constant offset ratio in order to provide illustrative estimates for later years.
2. The forecast of expenditure under the existing Widows Benefit scheme together with the underlying contributory benefit effects of reform have been provided by the Government Actuary's Department.
3. Estimates provide broad orders of magnitude and are rounded to the nearest £50 million.
4. A start date of 2001–02 has been assumed.