-697
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Written Answers
British Nationals (Overseas)
Mr Woodrow
2 JULY 1992
Mr. Corbett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the present holder of a British Hong Kong passport, who is issued with a replacement British national (overseas) passport, will need to apply, as appropriate, for a visitor visa or work permit to enter the United Kingdom; and whether the holder of a BN(O) passport will need a permanent identity card for entry to and exit from Hong Kong (a) currently and (b) after 1997.
Mr. Goodlad: As far as admission to the United Kingdom is concerned the holder of a BN(O) passport is treated in an identical manner to the holder of a British dependent territory citizen's passport. He does not require a visa to visit the United Kingdom, but, with limited exceptions, would require a work permit if he intended to come to this country for employment.
At present, BN(O) passport holders may use either their passports or their permanent identity cards to leave or enter Hong Kong. We expect that this arrangement will continue after 30 June 1997.
International Treaties
Mr. Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the cases involving the United Kingdom in which there have been adjudications of enforceability of declarations agreements appended to international treaties, including EC treaties.
or
Mr. Garel-Jones: In the case of the EC treaties and the treaties amending them there has been a practice of annexing protocols to the treaties and of adopting declarations in connection with conclusion of the treaties. By article 239 of the treaty of Rome, protocols annexed to the treaty form an integral part of it. They are, therefore, enforceable in exactly the same way as treaty provisions. A case involving the United Kingdom where this was done is Lord Bruce of Donington v. Aspden, case 208/80, applying the protocol on privileges and immunities of the European Communities. Conference declarations do not form an integral part of the treaty to which they relate, but, in accordance with the law of treaties, they are part of the context of the treaty for the purpose of its interpretation. I am aware of no decision of the European Court of Justice in which conference declarations of this kind have been pronounced upon.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Disability Living Allowance
Mrs. Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will extend the disability living allowance so that people can claim whatever their age.
Mr. Scott: We have no plans to do so.
Mrs. Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the cost of extending the disability living allowance scheme to cover people over the age of 65 years.
HAKCD 340/1
Mr. Scott: The annual cost of extending disability living allowance to all people who become disabled after the age of 65 is estimated at 1992-93 prices, to be in excess of £2 billion.
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87/7
N/F
Written Answers
698
Mrs. Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what compensation can be claimed by applicants for disability living allowance, where the processing of (a) their claim or (b) successful appeal against a decision by the Benefits Agency on their claim has taken an excessive period of time;
(2) what is the average length of time taken by the Benefits Agency to process a claim for disability living allowance;
(3) what is the target maximum time within which a claim for disability living allowance should be processed.
Mr. Scott: The administration of disability living allowance is matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.
Mr. Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average length of time taken to consider applications for (a) attendance allowance and (b) disability living allowance; and what are the target times laid down by his Department.
Mr. Scott: The administration of disability living allowance and attendance allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.
Cold Weather Payments
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what dates cold weather payments were triggered during the winter of 1991-92; and how many households received payment on each occasion.
Mr. Scott: The information requested is available in the Library.
Ms. Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many households in Lewisham, Deptford qualify for payments under the cold weather payments scheme; on what dates and in what parts of Lewisham, Deptford the cold weather payments system was triggered during the winter of 1991-92; how many households received payments on each occasion; on what dates cold weather payments were made in Lewisham, Deptford in response to a forecast of a qualifying period; and if he will indicate the period taken for payments to be made once the system had been triggered.
Mr. Scott: Such information as is available concerning the areas that have triggered and consequently the payments made are in the Library. Information concerning the number of customers who may qualify for a payment will be provided in writing from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency.
Mr. Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) on what dates, and in which parts of Barnsley, the cold weather payments scheme was triggered during the winter of 1991-92; and how many households received payments on each occasion;
(2) on what dates cold weather payments were made in Barnsley in response to a forecast of a qualifying period; and if he will indicate the period taken for payments to be made once the system had been triggered.
Mr. Mike O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) on what dates, and in what parts of
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