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Crown Prosecution Service
35. Mr. Dobbin: To ask the Solicitor-General what assessment he has made of the effect of changes in funding recently announced for the CPS on the morale of the service. [146811]
The Solicitor-General: As some Members of this House will know, the CPS has secured additional funding for next year of £30.4 million from the new criminal justice reserve. This is in addition to the extra resources allocated to the CPS from the 2000 spending review announced last July. As a result, the CPS's budget next year will be 23 per cent. higher in real terms than now.
Through the CPS's consultation machinery and my own frequent visits to the areas, I know that news of the additional funds has been welcomed by staff. This is hardly surprising. A staff survey, published last May, showed that securing adequate funding and improving resource allocation were among the key development priorities staff identified to improve morale within the service. When the next survey is undertaken I have no doubt that it will show a significant improvement in morale.
With the new funding secured, the CPS has launched a national recruitment campaign for lawyers and intends to follow this with a similar campaign for caseworkers shortly. Additional staff are being recruited across the service, targeted at those areas with the greatest need.
36. Mr. Brake: To ask the Solicitor-General how many times in the last 12 months he has initiated a prosecution in a case which the CPS had previously decided not to pursue. [146812]
The Solicitor-General: The relationship between the Attorney-General and the Director of Public Prosecutions is one of superintendence and it is in the context of those arrangements that the accountability of the Crown Prosecution Service for individual case decisions is secured.
If the Crown Prosecution Service tells a suspect or defendant that there will not be a prosecution, the Code for Crown Prosecutors provides that that is normally the end of the matter. There are special reasons why a case might be re-started by the CPS, especially if it is serious: for example, where initially there was insufficient evidence to proceed but further significant evidence comes to light; or in rare cases where a decision not to prosecute was clearly wrong and ought not to stand. The CPS does not keep central records of re-instituted cases.
Crime Victims
37. Dr. Iddon: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement on the level of victim satisfaction as set out in the recent British crime survey. [146813]
The Solicitor-General: Public confidence in the criminal justice system is vital if the system is to operate effectively. The 2000 British Crime Survey sought to measure the existing level of public confidence so as to provide a base line against which to set targets for improvement. The survey produced disappointing results: although the majority of people are confident that the criminal justice system respects the rights of defendants, only a quarter are confident the system meets the needs of victims of crime.
The Government are committed to improving the level of service provided to victims and are confident that new legislation and new initiatives will do much to increase levels of victim satisfaction. These measures include provisions in the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 to assist vulnerable or intimidated witnesses, the introduction of the Witness Service at all criminal courts, the introduction of victim personal statements and the CPS initiative to inform victims of decisions relating to their case.
Child Abuse
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases of child abuse were referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions; how many of these proceeded to prosecution; and how many convictions were secured, in each of the last three years. [148150]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service holds no central records in relation to particular offences. The information is held on individual case files, and could be obtained only by examining every relevant file in each CPS office. The costs of such an exercise would be prohibitive.
However, records kept by the Home Office show that the number of defendants prosecuted and convicted for child abuse offences (which has a wide definition) was as follows:
| Prosecutions | Convictions | |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 4,255 | 3,458 |
| 1998 | 4,938 | 3,412 |
| 1999 | 5,184 | 3,519 |
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1 Feb 2001 : Column: 285W
SOCIAL SECURITY
Fraud
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what savings have been made in his Department over the last 20 years, based on current prices, in (a) cash and (b) percentage of spending terms from (i) detecting fraud and (ii) providing a more accurate and efficient service administration. [147314]
Mr. Rooker: The information requested on savings from detecting fraud and administration changes over the last 20 years is not available. We have however set in track a number of improvements to administration and tackling fraud that will produce savings in the years to come.
We are reforming the welfare state, to make it fit for the 21st century. After years of under-investment, we are putting in the investment needed to deliver more streamlined services focused on the individual needs of our customers, making better use of technology, and reducing the amount of fraud and error in the system.
We are modernising the way DSS services are delivered. From 2001, we will create a dedicated new service for pensioners and a new working age agency, bringing together the Employment Service and parts of the Benefits Agency dealing with people of working age. Over the next three years we will build new IT systems to deliver a modern, streamlined service to all our clients. From 2003 the normal method of benefit payment will be by Automated Credit Transfer directly into bank accounts, saving an estimated £500 million a year in reduced administration costs. We have also introduced new streamlined arrangements for handling disputes and appeals across the Department.
After years of neglect we are getting to grips with Social Security fraud. We are implementing a strategy to tighten up the system and make sure that from the very first claim, the right benefits are going to the right people at the right time. We have set firm targets for reducing the amount of fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance by 25 per cent. by March 2004, rising to 50 per cent. by March 2006. The latest results show that we have already made a reduction in fraud and error from 9 per cent. of the benefit paid to 8.4 per cent.
State Pensions Liability
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total liability at 2001 prices of the state to pay basic state pensions, assuming that all existing contributors retire and that all pensioners die at the national average age of death. [148009]
Mr. Rooker: Long-term estimates of future basic state pension liabilities are published in table 15.1 of the Government Actuary's Department quinquennial review, "National Insurance Fund: Long Term Financial Estimates". A copy is available in the Library.
Minimum Income Guarantee
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the additional cost of
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paying the Minimum Income Guarantee to (a) all eligible Scottish pensioners and (b) to all Scottish pensioners, at April 2001 rates. [147559]
Mr. Rooker: There are no additional costs associated with administering the Minimum Income Guarantee to Scottish pensioners.
Means-tested Benefits
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the total cost (a) of people receiving a means-tested benefit in Scotland, (b) of providing a means-tested benefit for people aged 15 to 25 in Scotland, (c) of providing a means-tested benefit for people aged 26 to 40 in Scotland and (d) of providing a means- tested benefit for people aged 41 to 65 in Scotland for each year since 1992 in cash terms and at 1999-2000 prices. [145649]
Angela Eagle: The information requested is in the tables.
| £ million | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total all ages | Aged 15 to 25 | Aged 26 to 40 | Aged 41 to 65 |
| 1992-93 | 2,434 | 388 | 817 | 664 |
| 1993-94 | 2,576 | 401 | 855 | 737 |
| 1994-95 | 2,713 | 393 | 933 | 765 |
| 1995-96 | 2,806 | 397 | 975 | 816 |
| 1996-97 | 2,758 | 382 | 967 | 808 |
| 1997-98 | 2,983 | 346 | 1,056 | 916 |
| 1998-99 | 2,944 | 337 | 1,027 | 917 |
| 1999-2000 | 2,941 | 325 | 999 | 943 |
| £ million | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total all ages | Aged 15 to 25 | Aged 26 to 40 | Aged 41 to 65 |
| 1992-93 | 2,913 | 464 | 977 | 795 |
| 1993-94 | 3,003 | 467 | 997 | 859 |
| 1994-95 | 3,119 | 451 | 1,073 | 879 |
| 1995-96 | 3,136 | 443 | 1,089 | 911 |
| 1996-97 | 2,986 | 414 | 1,046 | 875 |
| 1997-98 | 3,141 | 364 | 1,112 | 964 |
| 1998-99 | 3,013 | 345 | 1,051 | 939 |
| 1999-2000 | 2,941 | 325 | 999 | 943 |
Notes:
1. 'Means-tested benefits' are defined as Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based), Family Credit, Disability Working Allowance, Housing Benefit, Community Charge Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
2. Figures are rounded to the nearest million.
3. Totals for all ages include recipients over age 65 and do not sum.
4. Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based), Family Credit, Housing Benefit, Community Charge Benefit and Council Tax Benefit estimates are based on caseload samples taken in May in each of the years and are subject to a degree of sampling error. Disability Working Allowance figures are based on a 100 per cent. scan of all Disability Working Allowance claimants.
5. Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based) replaced Income Support for the unemployed from October 1996.
6. Community Charge Benefit was replaced by Council Tax Benefit from April 1993.
7. Family Credit was replaced by Working Families Tax Credit from October 1999.
8. Disability Working Allowance was replaced by Working Families Tax Credit from October 1999.
9. Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit figures include all local authority spending on benefit payments in addition to the money funded directly from Central Government.
10. The latest GDP deflator was used in the calculation of the amounts of benefits in real terms.
Sources:
Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, May 1992 to May 1999.
Jobseeker's Allowance Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, May 1997 to May 1999.
Family Credit 5 per cent. sample of awards.
Housing Benefit Management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample inquiries, May 1992 to May 1999.
Disability Working Allowance 100 per cent. count of claims.
Departmental Report 2000.
Pre-Budget Report 2000.
1 Feb 2001 : Column: 287W
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Scotland were in receipt of means-tested benefit in Scotland, (a) aged 15 to 25, (b) aged 26 to 40, (c) aged 41 to 65 and (d) in total for each year since 1992. [145650]
Angela Eagle: The information is in the table.
| Thousand | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aged | ||||
| Year | Total all ages | 15 to 25 | 26 to 40 | 41 to 65 |
| 1992 | 930 | 130 | 210 | 240 |
| 1993 | 900 | 130 | 220 | 240 |
| 1994 | 890 | 120 | 220 | 240 |
| 1995 | 890 | 120 | 230 | 240 |
| 1996 | 890 | 120 | 230 | 250 |
| 1997 | 860 | 100 | 230 | 250 |
| 1998 | 840 | 90 | 230 | 250 |
| 1999 | 830 | 90 | 220 | 250 |
Notes:
1. 'Means-tested benefits' are defined as Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based), Family Credit, Disability Working Allowance, Housing Benefit, Community Charge Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
2. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten thousand.
3. Recipients of more than one benefit have been counted only once.
4. Figures do not include dependent members of a claimant's family.
5. Totals for all ages include recipients over age 65 and do not sum.
6. Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based), Family Credit, Housing Benefit, Community Charge Benefit and Council Tax Benefit estimates are based on caseload samples taken in May in each of the years and are subject to a degree of sampling error. Disability Working Allowance figures are based on a 100 per cent. scan of all Disability Working Allowance claimants.
7. Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based) replaced Income Support for the unemployed from October 1996.
8. Community Charge Benefit was replaced by Council Tax Benefit from April 1993.
9. Family Credit was replaced by Working Families Tax Credit from October 1999.
10. Disability Working Allowance was replaced by Working Families Tax Credit from October 1999.
Sources:
Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, May 1992 to May 1999.
Jobseekers Allowance Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, May 1997 to May 1999.
Family Credit 5 per cent. sample of awards.
Housing Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample enquiries, May 1992 to May 1999.
Disability Working Allowance 100 per cent. count of claims.
1 Feb 2001 : Column: 288W
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