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Ministerial Duties
David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list for each week from Monday 23 July to Monday 8 October which Departmental Ministers will be on duty (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in London. [4897]
Mr. Morley: Throughout the summer break, a Minister will be on duty for the Department, in line with para. 68 of the current Ministerial Code.
Foot and Mouth
Mr. Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements will be put in place to allow autumn movements of livestock without spreading foot and mouth disease. [5611]
Margaret Beckett: My Department has had intensive discussions with a wide range of industry interests and the European Commission about this, with a view to putting a strategy in place by the end of July, to apply from 1 September onwards. In the meantime, all possible action is being taken to eradicate the disease as soon as possible.
All concerned are clear that in considering autumn livestock movements, control of foot and mouth disease and safeguarding animal welfare must continue to be our primary concerns. We are proceeding on the basis of veterinary and scientific advice. Full details will be published as soon as possible, but the arrangements for the autumn will cover the following aspects:
- the possibility of holding livestock markets in counties which have been free of foot and mouth disease for three months or more and where testing has been completed;
- the possibility of some relaxation in the criteria covering livestock movements outside infected areas; and
- the possibility of promoting the domestic consumption of lamb in particular, and of negotiating with the European Commission an early resumption of pigmeat and sheepmeat exports, while not disrupting the domestic food supply chain.
WORK AND PENSIONS
Stakeholder Pensions
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of employer awareness of stakeholder pensions; and if he will make a statement. [5612]
Mr. Darling: I have today placed in both Houses copies of research into employer awareness of stakeholder pensions.
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The research illustrates that awareness of stakeholder pensions is very high with 94 per cent. of respondents saying that they are aware of these pensions.
Benefit Fraud (Brent)
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will publish the inspection report of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate in respect of the London borough of Brent. [5613]
Malcolm Wicks: The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) report was published today in respect of the London borough of Brent and copies of the report have been placed in the Library.
The report makes recommendations to help the council address weaknesses and to improve the administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, as well as its counter fraud activities.
The report notes that the authority was experiencing serious problems in delivering its benefit service at the time of the inspection. Inspectors found long delays and large backlogs of work in most areas. This had led to poor customer service and some significant security weaknesses, such as in verification. Although the report acknowledges that the inspection took place just after implementing new benefit processing software, inspectors consider that considerable improvements must be made to deliver adequate levels of service and security.
The report notes the positive work done by the council to counter fraud effectively, such as its detailed investigation of prosecution cases. However, BFI inspectors were disappointed that it is not supported by more rigorous recovery of overpayments.
BFI inspectors consider that achieving lasting improvements will not be an easy task for the council. The report notes the council has tried to use its contractual arrangements to bring about improvements in the service. The report also notes the council told BFI that it believes it is complying with 76 of a total 102 recommendations and has plans to address most of the others. Inspectors consider this demonstrates a good commitment to improve.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is now considering the report and will be asking the council for its proposals in response to the findings and recommendations of the BFI.
Incapacity Benefit
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will estimate the numbers of Incapacity Benefit claimants (a) under the age of 40, (b) between 40 and 50, (c) between 50 and 60 and (d) over 60 years in each region and nation of the UK; [3092]
- (2) if he will estimate the numbers of (a) men and (b) women (i) entering and (ii) leaving a period of Incapacity Benefit claim in each region and nation of the UK; [3094]
(3) if he will estimate the present numbers of (a) men and (b) women on Incapacity Benefit in each region and nation of the UK; [3096]
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(4) if he will estimate the numbers of new (a) male and (b) female Incapacity Benefit claimants in the last 12 months (i) in total and (ii) in each region and nation of the UK. [3098]
Malcolm Wicks: The information for Great Britain is in the tables. The Northern Ireland Assembly is responsible for social security matters within Northern Ireland.
| Thousand | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All ages | Under 40 | 40–49 | 50–59 | 60+ | |
| All cases | 2,324.4 | 621.9 | 517.3 | 844.9 | 340.3 |
| North East | 160.9 | 39.8 | 35.7 | 59.7 | 25.7 |
| North West | 393.4 | 105.6 | 87.9 | 142.8 | 57.1 |
| Yorks and Humber | 207.1 | 51.5 | 44.3 | 77.5 | 33.8 |
| East Midlands | 148.4 | 36.6 | 32.3 | 55.8 | 23.7 |
| West Midlands | 208.5 | 54.5 | 45.9 | 76.2 | 31.9 |
| South West | 146.3 | 40.0 | 31.0 | 54.1 | 21.2 |
| Eastern | 135.3 | 35.6 | 29.7 | 50.3 | 19.7 |
| London | 257.0 | 80.8 | 62.4 | 83.9 | 29.8 |
| South East | 178.1 | 47.9 | 41.6 | 63.9 | 24.7 |
| England | 1,835.0 | 492.3 | 410.8 | 664.2 | 267.7 |
| Scotland | 288.2 | 79.6 | 66.3 | 103.1 | 39.2 |
| Wales | 192.6 | 49.3 | 38.8 | 73.4 | 31.2 |
| Overseas | 8.6 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 4.2 | 2.2 |
Notes:
1. These figures are for all rates of IB and include Credits Only cases (a small number of which are over pension age and are incorrectly held on the INCAP computer system).
2. These figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample of the benefit computer system and will exclude a small number of clerically held cases.
3. They are expressed in thousands, rounded to the nearest hundred.
| Thousand | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Award of Incapacity Benefit | Termination of Incapacity Benefit | |||
| Males | Females | Males | Females | |
| All cases | 435.5 | 254.7 | 306.3 | 176.0 |
| North East | 31.7 | 17.7 | 23.4 | 11.2 |
| North West | 72.6 | 42.7 | 51.2 | 30.5 |
| Yorks and Humber | 45.5 | 24.9 | 33.9 | 18.0 |
| East Midlands | 27.0 | 17.1 | 18.8 | 11.7 |
| West Midlands | 40.8 | 22.9 | 27.1 | 15.9 |
| South West | 32.0 | 17.9 | 22.5 | 13.1 |
| Eastern | 26.3 | 15.8 | 19.1 | 10.9 |
| London | 39.5 | 24.8 | 24.9 | 14.9 |
| South East | 34.6 | 20.3 | 23.6 | 13.5 |
| England | 349.9 | 204.0 | 244.4 | 139.8 |
| Scotland | 52.1 | 31.9 | 38.1 | 23.6 |
| Wales | 33.3 | 18.7 | 23.6 | 12.5 |
| Overseas | (35)0.2 | (35)0.1 | (35)0.2 | (35)0.1 |
(35) Figures based on a very few sample cases and are therefore subject to a high degree of sampling error and should be used as a guide to the current situation only
Notes:
1. These figures are based on 5 per cent. samples of the benefit computer system and will exclude a small number of clerically held cases.
2. They are expressed in thousands, rounded to the nearest hundred.
3. These figures include some clerical cases which have been re-entered onto the computer system and may not be new awards of Incapacity Benefit.
4. The termination figures are for all terminations excluding awards of retirement pension.
5. This table does not include Credits Only cases.
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| Thousand | ||
|---|---|---|
| Males | Females | |
| All cases | 1,458.5 | 865.9 |
| North East | 102.8 | 58.1 |
| North West | 246.6 | 146.8 |
| Yorks and Humber | 134.2 | 72.9 |
| East Midlands | 94.0 | 54.5 |
| West Midlands | 131.7 | 76.8 |
| South West | 94.1 | 52.1 |
| Eastern | 83.6 | 51.8 |
| London | 160.6 | 96.4 |
| South East | 112.5 | 65.6 |
| England | 1,160.1 | 675.0 |
| Scotland | 173.1 | 115.1 |
| Wales | 119.7 | 72.9 |
| Overseas | 5.6 | 3.0 |
Notes:
1. These figures are for all rates of Incapacity Benefit and will include Credits Only cases (a small number of which are over pension age and are incorrectly held on the INCAP computer system).
2. These figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample of the benefit computer system and will exclude a small number of clerically held cases.
3. They are expressed in thousands, rounded to the nearest hundred.
Mr. Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many women in the last 12 months for which figures are available were receiving Incapacity Benefit by the time they reached 60 years of age; [3537]
- (2) how many men in the last 12 months for which figures are available were receiving Incapacity Benefit by the time they reached 65 years of age. [3538]
Malcolm Wicks: The available information is in the table.
| Thousand | |
|---|---|
| Number of people leaving | |
| Women aged 60 plus | 46.8 |
| Men aged 65 plus | 118.3 |
Notes:
1. Long-term rate Incapacity Benefit is not payable after state pension age.
2. Former Invalidity Benefit recipients who were over state pension age on 13 April 1995 may receive Incapacity Benefit for up to five years past state pension age. People awarded short-term rate Incapacity Benefit before they reached state pension age may also continue to receive it for up to 52 weeks. Therefore, the figures in the table will include some people who had left benefit after they had reached state pension age.
3. Figures will include some cases where the person received National Insurance credits only.
4. Figures are based on a 1 per cent. sample of claims to benefit.
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