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Disabled People
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many disabled people have benefited from (a) the New Deal for disabled people and (b) the disabled person's tax credit in (i) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (ii) Shropshire; and if he will make a statement. [111446]
Mr. Bayley: Three of the New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP) innovative Schemes provide national coverage, so are available to disabled people in Shropshire. By the end of January 2000 the NDDP had helped 2,180 people into work out of over 8,000 participants. Separate figures for Shropshire are not available.
The Inland Revenue has responsibility for Disabled Person's Tax Credit. By the end of January 2000 there have been 27 awards of the Disabled Person's Tax Credit in Shrewsbury and Atcham constituency and 88 awards in the county of Shropshire.
Benefit Claims
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list, for each month since January 1998, the number of counter applicants at the Benefits Agency offices at Finsbury Park and Highgate; and what is the Agency's estimate of the adequacy of staff numbers to deal with them. [110487]
Angela Eagle: The administration of benefits is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 21 February 2000:
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The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will list, for each month since January 1998, the number of counter applicants at the Benefits Agency (BA) offices at Finsbury Park and Highgate; and what is the Agency's estimate of the adequacy of staff numbers to deal with them.
The number of counter applicants at Finsbury Park and Highgate Branch Offices is shown in the attached tables.
I am aware of the staffing position in both of these Branch Offices as well as the other Branch Offices in the Chilterns South district. I am satisfied that the current staffing levels are sufficient to meet BA service standards for customers who attend these offices. In addition, arrangements are in place to deal with any disruptions to services in the local office network.
The estimate of staff required to deal with callers is termed as complement, and is based on workload. It is detailed in the attached table. The actual staffing levels in the period are also included as "staff in post" figure.
I hope this is helpful.
| Month | 1998 | 1998 | 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5,426 | 5,273 | 5,556 |
| February | 5,131 | 4,929 | |
| March | 5,376 | 6,038 | |
| April | 5,377 | 5,384 | |
| May | 4,463 | 4,775 | |
| June | 5,317 | 5,835 | |
| July | 5,947 | 5,692 | |
| August | 4,730 | 5,686 | |
| September | 5,514 | 6,363 | |
| October | 5,410 | 5,620 | |
| November | 5,045 | 6,264 | |
| December | 3,841 | 5,022 | |
| Total | 61,577 | 66,881 |
| Month | 1998 | 1998 | 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4,698 | 4,280 | 5,300 |
| February | 4,620 | 4,225 | |
| March | 4,668 | 5,363 | |
| April | 4,666 | 4,608 | |
| May | 4,402 | 4,126 | |
| June | 4,880 | 5,066 | |
| July | 5,090 | 5,029 | |
| August | 4,335 | 5,154 | |
| September | 4,955 | 5,655 | |
| October | 4,565 | 5,097 | |
| November | 4,635 | 5,231 | |
| December | 4,193 | 4,420 | |
| Total | 55,707 | 58,254 |
| Staff in post | Complement | |
|---|---|---|
| January 1998: | ||
| C3 | -- | -- |
| B3 | 6 | 4 |
| A4 | 16 | 15 |
| A1 | 2 | 1 |
| Total | 24 | 20 |
| January 1999: | ||
| C3 | 1 | 1 |
| B3 | 5 | 5 |
| A4 | 16.8 | 17 |
| A1 | 2 | 3 |
| Total | 24.8 | 26 |
| January 2000: | ||
| C3 | 1 | 1 |
| B3 | 8 | 6 |
| A4 | 16.5 | 17 |
| A1 | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 27.5 | 26 |
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| Staff in post | Complement | |
|---|---|---|
| January 1998: | ||
| C3 | -- | -- |
| B3 | 7 | 4 |
| A4 | 20 | 15 |
| A1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 28 | 20 |
| January 1999: | ||
| C3 | 1 | 1 |
| B3 | 7 | 5 |
| A4 | 16 | 15 |
| A1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 25 | 22 |
| January 2000: | ||
| C3 | 1 | 1 |
| B3 | 7 | 6 |
| A4 | 16.8 | 17 |
| A1 | 1.8 | 2 |
| Total | 26.6 | 26 |
Unclaimed Benefits
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the number of people over the age of 60 years who are not claiming the benefits to which they are entitled in (a) the UK and (b) Sefton. [110364]
Mr. Rooker: Latest estimates of take-up of income related benefits covering the year 1997-98 for Great Britain were placed in the Library on 24 September 1999.
It is not possible to produce reliable estimates of numbers not claiming their entitlement at local level.
Housing Benefit
Mr. Alasdair Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review his policy on inclusion of invalid care allowance in a person's income when assessing eligibility for housing benefit; and if he will make a statement. [110774]
Mr. Bayley: Most income is taken into consideration when assessing income related benefits. There is no disregard of payments of Invalid Care Allowance when assessing eligibility for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. To do so would duplicate payments from public funds for the same purpose. There are no plans to change this policy.
Winter Fuel Allowance
Mr. Ashdown: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the claim process for the winter fuel allowance for men between the ages of 60 and 65. [110808]
Angela Eagle:
We are currently considering the options for the secure and accurate delivery of Winter Fuel payments. An announcement on this and the claim process will be made soon.
22 Feb 2000 : Column: 899W
Health Services (Hull)
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for combating long-term illnesses in impoverished areas in (a) West Hull primary care group, (b) East Hull primary care group and (c) East Riding Primary care group. [110355]
Yvette Cooper: East Riding Health Authority has indicated that it plans to combat long-term illness in impoverished areas in the East Riding Health Authority Primary Care Groups through the following initiatives:
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Strategic review of continuing care services.
Mental health promotion and prevention.
Establishment of a Centre for Independent Living.
Development of an integrated care scheme to provide social and nursing care.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average level of public funding per ward for cancer services in (a) West Hull primary care group, (b) the East Hull primary care group, (c) the East Riding primary care group and (d) the United Kingdom. [110310]
Expansion of renal dialysis services.
Establishment of smoking prevention and smoking cessation programmes.
Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held at ward level.
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the funding is for the primary care groups of (a) West Hull, (b) East Hull and (c) the East Riding in the current financial year. [110358]
Mr. Denham: The information requested is given in the table.
(23) Registered population represents:
The resident population of East Riding Health Authority less those East Riding Health residents registered with a Primary Care Group outside the Health Authority boundary plus those residents of adjacent health authorities who are registered with a Primary Care Group within East Riding health authority boundary.
Source:
East Riding Health Authority
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22 Feb 2000 : Column: 899W
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the budget for the health authority encompassing the areas of (a) West Hull, (b) East Hull and (c) the East Riding. [110354]
Mr. Denham:
For 2000-01 the unified allocation for East Riding health authority is £387.7 million.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the Government initiatives to address inequalities in the National Health System in (a) West Hull primary care group, (b) East Hull primary care group and (c) East Riding primary care group. [110356]
Yvette Cooper:
East Riding health authority has indicated the following initiatives in:
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West Hull Primary Care Group
Sure Start Programme in Orchard Park.
Sexual Health Resource Centre.
Establishment of smoking prevention and smoking cessation programme.
Introduction of stroke prevention worker.
Support and prevention project for domestic violence.
Development of Prison Healthy Living Centre.
Establishment of primary care centre in central Hull focusing on the provision of medical care for socially excluded groups.
Development of a Dental Access Centre.
Development of a mental health strategy.
Intermediate Care Scheme.
Review of substance misuse services.
Established community based outpatient clinics.
Eastern Hull Primary Care Group
Sure Start Programme in Marfleet.
Sexual Health Resource Centre.
Establishment of smoking prevention and smoking cessation programme.
Introduction of stroke prevention worker.
Support and prevention project for domestic violence.
Development of Prison Healthy Living Centre.
Establishment of primary care centre in central Hull focusing on the provision of medical care for socially excluded groups.
Development of a Dental Access Centre.
Development of a mental health strategy.
Intermediate Care Scheme.
Review of substance misuse services.
Established community based outpatient clinics.
East Riding Primary Care Groups (East Yorkshire Primary Care Group and Yorkshire Wolds and Coast Primary Care Group
Introduction of a multi-agency programme to tackle rural stress.
Introduction of Personal Dental Services Pilot.
Sexual Health Resource Centre.
Establishment of smoking prevention and smoking cessation programme.
Introduction of stroke prevention worker.
Support and prevention project for domestic violence.
Development of Prison Healthy Living Centre.
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