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New Deal

Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people living in the Greater London area have obtained a new deal placement; and if he will make a statement. [3217]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: The new deals are giving people the skills, confidence and motivation to move into work. By the end of April this year 68,564 people had obtained jobs through the new deals in the region covered by the London government office.

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Green Ministers

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) on what date a Green Minister was first appointed in his Department; when subsequent appointments were made; and if he will make a statement; [3969]

(2) what the terms of reference are for the Green Minister in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [3977]

Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 13 July 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 13 July 2001, Official Report, columns 689–90W.

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what dates his Department's Green Minister attended meetings of the Green Ministers' Committee during the current Session of Parliament; on what dates subsequent meetings are planned to take place; and if he will make a statement. [4816]

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer from my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 17 July 2001, Official Report, column 165W.

Pensioners

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioner couples receive (a) two category A retirement pensions at the full rate, (b) two category A retirement pensions with one or both at less than the full rate, (c) a category A retirement pension and a category B retirement pension at the full rate and (d) a category A retirement pension and a category B retirement pension at less than the full rate. [4054]

Mr. McCartney: The information is not available in the format requested.

Invalid Care Allowance

Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice his Department gives regarding the age limit on women receiving retirement state pension who are eligible for the Invalid Care Allowance. [4111]

Mr. McCartney: Information on the age limit and other eligibility conditions for claiming Invalid Care Allowance is available from various departmental sources including the Benefit Inquiry line, departmental internet website, and a range of leaflets for carers and pensioners. The information that is given to a woman receiving State Retirement Pension is that Invalid Care Allowance can be claimed up until the age of 65 but that receipt of the benefit can be affected by the receipt of other benefits.

Disability Benefits

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of appeals against a decision to withdraw a disability or carer's benefit following a departmental medical examination have been successful in each of the last five years. [4355]

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Maria Eagle: Information is not available in the form requested. Available statistics on the outcomes of appeals do not show where the decision appealed against was made following a medical examination, or distinguish between appeals against withdrawal of an existing award of benefit and appeals against disallowance of a new claim.

Child Support Agency

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the progress made in (a) the purchase and (b) the implementation of the information technology system needed to support the new Child Support Agency maintenance calculation formula. [4164]

Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Mr. Mike Isaac to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 18 July 2001:

I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions about the Child Support Agency.

Mr. Smith is unavailable and therefore I am writing to you on his behalf.

You have asked for a statement on the progress made in the purchase and implementation of the Information Technology system needed to support the new Child Support Agency maintenance calculation formula.

The contract for the design, development and subsequent operation of the new computer system to support Child Support Reforms was signed on the 8th August 2000.

The progress is still on course for the new Information Technology system to be ready in April 2002.

Ministerial Duties

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he 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. [4895]

Mr. McCartney: It is not normal practice of Government to publish the daily ministerial duty roster. The Department will ensure that it has sufficient cover through the summer recess in line with the requirements of the ministerial code.

Minimum Income Guarantee (Leigh)

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of pensioners in the Leigh constituency eligible for the Minimum Income Guarantee have so far claimed it. [4185]

Mr. McCartney: Estimates of the numbers of people who may be eligible for, but who have not claimed Minimum Income Guarantee, are not available below national level.

As at February 2001 there were 3,100 Minimum Income Guarantee claimants in the Leigh constituency.

Income Support

Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the

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level of Income Support (a) available to persons aged 16 and under 18 years and (b) awarded to asylum seeking young people aged 16 and under 18 years; [3875]

Malcolm Wicks: From 3 April 2000 the Home Office is responsible for supporting and accommodating asylum seekers awaiting a determination of their case. Those asylum seekers in receipt of benefits prior to 3 April 2000 continue to be eligible to claim Income Support. Payment for any dependent children is at normal rates. Asylum seekers whose applications are accepted and who are awarded either refugee status or exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom are eligible for social security benefits in the usual way.

The levels of Income Support personal allowances for younger people take account of the fact that the majority of this group live in someone else's household and can reasonably be assumed to have fewer financial responsibilities than people who are older and who are more likely to live independently. However, those 16 and 17-year-olds who are forced to claim independently can receive Income Support at higher rates.

There is no provision for payment of Income Support to children aged under 16 in their own right. A dependant's allowance may be payable to people claiming benefit who have a dependent child or children living with them as part of their family.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Local Government

Mr. Gummer: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if his plans for further powers for regional Government in England will entail other changes to the local government structure. [4122]

Mr. Raynsford: I have been asked to reply.

As my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 2 July 2001, Official Report, column 80W, the Government intend to publish a White Paper on Regional Governance in England. This will set out the Government's thinking on these issues.

No decisions have yet been taken on what—if any—changes in local government structure might be involved in taking forward the Government's proposals in relation to elected regional assemblies.

Mr. Gummer: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has for reforming local government. [4120]

Mr. Raynsford: I have been asked to reply.

The White Paper "Modern Local Government: In Touch with the People", published in 1998, set out a ten year programme for the reform and modernisation of local government in England so that councils everywhere can be effective leaders of their communities and can deliver the highest quality local services. We have already made considerable progress through the introduction of Best Value, Local Public Service Agreements (LPSAs), new political management structures and a new ethical framework for local government.

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We are now building on these achievements, easing the burden of regulation on councils, reforming the local government finance regime and developing our commitment to give freedoms and flexibilities to high performing councils. We intend during the Autumn to publish a new White Paper setting out an up-to-date picture of our plans.

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