HC Deb 25 January 1996 vol 270 cc357-8W
Ms Lynne

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of parents with care for whom good cause has not been accepted by the Child Support Agency have had a reduced benefit directive imposed,

Departmental telecommunications running costs
£000
Agencies
DSS HQ Benefit Agency Contributions Agency Child Support Agency Information Technology Service Agency Resettlement Agency War Pensions Agency Non-departmental public bodies DSS totals
1989–90:
Current — — — — — 113 — — 29,738
Capital — — — — — — — — 9,070
1991–92:
Current 370 16,865 227 — 24,099 107 — — 41,668
Capital 0 0 0 — 7,281 0 — — 7,281
1993–94:
Current 384 20,794 2,658 1,325 36,413 65 57 — 61,696
Capital 0 1,531 0 0 29,212 0 0 — 30,743
1994–95:
Current 352 21,009 4,516 2,523 37,154 36 104 — 65,694
Capital 167 2,393 86 346 12,890 0 184 — 16,066
1995–96 (to date):
Current 421 15,840 2,415 1,733 24,536 13 78 233 45,036
Capital 95 1,154 70 63 14,288 0 75 3 15,745
1995–96:
Current 561 21,120 3,221 2,311 32,715 18 111 310 60,057
Capital 84 1,539 94 85 15,225 0 101 4 17,128

1. Figures for 1979–80 are not available. 2. Detailed spending plans for 1996–97 are yet to be finalised.

3. Only Departmental figures and RA figures are available for 1989–90.

4. 1991–92 figures for BA and ITSA include elements of what were to become CSA and WPA.

5. 1995–96 figures have been extrapolated from the year to date figure.

6. Current expenditure figures include running and rental costs for both voice and data transmission, capital expenditure figures include costs of equipment including office machines to handle output—e.g. to print order books.

7. All figures are vote based and include VAT.

Mr. Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the expenditure of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on all external consultants including management consultants for each of the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for broken down by centre, since April 1995; and how he explains variations between centres. [10181]

Mr. Andrew Mitchell

The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.