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SOCIAL SECURITY
Stakeholder Pensions
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the compatibility of his plan to limit charges for stakeholder pensions with the need for those purchasing such pensions to be given proper advice. [81114]
Mr. Timms: We recognise that proper information and advice for those who need it will be an important part of the decision-making process for individuals considering a stakeholder pension scheme.
Details of the minimum standards for stakeholder pensions are subject to further consultation. The standards will include a limit on the level of charges, and in setting that limit we shall consider carefully what allowance should be made for the costs of information and advice.
Mr. Webb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the implications of the growing use of tracker pension funds for the economy; and what account he has taken of such an assessment in designing his stakeholder pension scheme. [81113]
Mr. Timms:
No such assessment has been made. We expect that stakeholder pension schemes will, like other pension schemes, have the option of investing in tracker funds.
Mr. Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the result of his Department's investigation into the nature and extent of identity fraud. [81092]
Mr. Timms:
The best available measure of the scale of Identity Fraud is provided by the Department's measurement regime (Benefit Reviews). The second
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Income Support review recorded the level of ID fraud at between 1 per cent. and 9 per cent. of the stock of fraud. This translates to between £17.5 million and £154 million.
Initial characteristics of an Identity Fraudster were identified and further research was proposed to refine these characteristics further. This is a valuable line of inquiry since if the characteristics of an Identity Fraudster can be established, then we can enhance our ability to prevent, detect and target resources at identity fraud.
The Identity Fraud Management Unit has now been incorporated within the Benefits Agency Security and Investigation Service (BASIS), the organised and serious fraud investigation service, who have extensive intelligence and experience in dealing with Identity related benefit crime.
Mr. Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps have been taken towards establishing a criminal intelligence database for fraud investigation in the Benefits Agency and local authorities. [81090]
Mr. Timms:
The Benefits Agency Security and Investigation Service (BASIS) uses an intelligence database to record all operational intelligence relating to investigations. BASIS liaises with the Benefit Fraud Investigation Service (BFIS) and local authorities and is developing further its interchange and use of intelligence for investigative purposes with BFIS and local authorities.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of people who will benefit as a result of the new guaranteed minimum income for pensioners on income support. [80948]
Mr. Timms:
The number of pensioner benefit units that will benefit from the Minimum Income Guarantee for pensioners in 1999-2000 is estimated to be 1.47 million. A pensioner benefit unit represents a single person aged 60 or over, or a couple where one or both members is aged 60 or over.
Mr. Efford:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department of the Macpherson Inquiry recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [80522]
Angela Eagle:
I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 14 April 1999, Official Report, column 23.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the increase in take-up of (a) income support and (b) other benefits among people of pensionable age since 1 May 1997. [80947]
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Mr. Timms:
The information requested is currently unavailable. Estimates of take-up are published annually for Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Family Credit. The statistics for the year 1997-98 are in the process of being compiled and will be published later this year.
Ms Jenny Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were receiving incapacity benefit in (a) the UK and (b) the West Midlands on 31 March. [81162]
Mr. Bayley:
The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table. Figures for 31 March 1999 are not yet available.
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000 and exclude pensioners in residential care and nursing homes.
2. The estimates are based on forecasts published in the March 1999 Departmental Report.
| 31 August 1998 | |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 1,716,488 |
| (Northern Ireland) | 98,588 |
| (Great Britain) | 1,617,900 |
| West Midlands | 141,680 |
Note:
Both systems exclude a small number of cases held clerically
Source:
Norther Ireland: 100 per cent. sample of the Benefit computer system
Great Britain and West Midlands: 5 per cent. sample of the Benefit computer system
EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
Lifelong Learning
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures the Government are undertaking to promote lifelong learning and develop the skills base of older workers as a means of improving the levels of employment among the over 50s. [80946]
Mr. Mudie: The Government believe that lifelong learning contributes to national competitiveness, personal prosperity and to the development of a fair and harmonious society. The aim is to develop a "learning society" in which everyone regularly updates their skills and knowledge throughout life. Action to improve learning opportunities for the over 50s is an important part of our approach to "Better Government For Older People".
Measures to promote lifelong learning and develop the skills base of older workers include: extending student loans to those aged 54, opportunities through the £15 million Adult and Community Learning Fund; access to Learning Direct and Career Development Loans; and opportunities through work based learning for adults, the New Deals and Employment Zones. In addition, the New Deal for the over 50s who are out of work for six months or more and are on income replacement benefits, and their dependent partners, announced in the budget, includes plans for a learning support of up to £750 for each person.
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Mr. Soley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many organisations for disabled people have received New Deal funding. [80890]
Ms Hodge:
The information requested is not available in the form requested. However, under the New Deal for Disabled People, 22 of 24 Innovative Schemes involve organisations of or for disabled people. In addition, all the consortium contracted to deliver the second group of six Personal Adviser Service pilot areas also involve such organisations.
Mr. Soley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many consortiums led by disabled people received New Deal funding during the second tranche. [80891]
Ms Hodge:
Under the New Deal for Disabled People, all six contracts awarded in the second tranche of the Personal Adviser Service and 13 of the 14 contracts awarded under the second tranche Innovative Schemes are two consortiums that include organisations of or for disabled people. Two Personal Adviser consortiums and seven Innovative Schemes are led by voluntary sector organisations.
Mr. Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the average length of time spent on the Gateway of the New Deal for 18 to 25-year-olds by those (a) with no educational qualifications, (b) with Foundation Level qualifications, (c) with NVQ Level 1, (d) with NVQ Level 2, (e) with NVQ Level 3, (f) with NVQ Level 4, (g) with other qualifications and (h) who did not list any educational qualifications. [81108]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
The information set out in the following table shows the average length of time spent on the New Deal Gateway by qualification level, for those young people who had left the Gateway by the end of January 1999.
| Highest qualification held | Average length of time spent on Gateway (in days) |
|---|---|
| NVQ/SVQ Level 4+ or equivalent | 87 |
| NVQ/SVQ Level 3 or equivalent | 92 |
| NVQ/SVQ Level 2 or equivalent | 91 |
| NVQ/SVQ Level 1 or equivalent | 95 |
| NVQ/SVQ Foundation Level or equivalent | 98 |
| Other | 92 |
| None | 100 |
| Those who did not list qualifications | 68 |
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