§ Dr. WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) registers of members' interests; and whether this in each case is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [20504]
§ Mr. HagueThe Occupational Pensions Board is the only executive non-departmental public body sponsored by this Department. No such information is published.
§ Dr. WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which 451W are subject to (a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission, (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office, (d) statutory provisions for open government, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charter. [20664]
§ Mr. HagueThe only non-departmental public body that fits these criteria is the Occupational Pensions Board, which is
(a) not currently subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, although arrangements to bring the OPB within the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner, by means of an Order in Council, are well advanced;(b) not subject to scrutiny by the Audit Commission;(c) subject to scrutiny by the National Audit Office, under the National Audit Act 1983;(d) not currently subject to the statutory provisions for open government, which apply only to those bodies within the ambit of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration;
Benefit/allowance Current rate Rate if uprated by April 1995 uprating only £ Estimated rate if uprated by April 1995 and projected 1996 uprating £ Christmas bonus 10.00 10.20 10.50 Income support—amounts for meals where these cannot be obtained within the accommodation (daily rates): Breakfast 1.10 1.10 1.10 Midday/evening meal 1.55 1.60 1.65 Maternity allowance—higher rate (weekly) 52.50 53.65 55.25 Pneumoconiosis, byssinosis and miscellaneous diseases scheme—death benefit 300.00 306.60 315.80 Retirement pension—age 80 addition (weekly) 0.25 0.25 0.25 Widows payment 1,000 1,022 1,052.66 Notes:
1. Amounts are rounded to the nearest 5p.
2. Uprated amounts for 1995 are based upon the movement in retail prices Index in the year up to September 1994. The all items index has been applied for benefits other than income related benefits; to which the Rossi index—all items except housing—has been applied.
3. Estimated rates for 1996 are based upon the assumptions for planning public expenditure in the Treasury's annual financial and budget report 1995–96.