House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 1 Nov 2001 (pt 19)

WORK AND PENSIONS

Interview (Travelling Expenses)

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his Department's policy towards recompensing interviewees for their travelling expenses. [11792]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: We recognise that it can be difficult for unemployed people to meet the cost of getting to interviews and for this reason we have been running the travel to interview scheme since June 1986. The travel to interview scheme is available to jobseekers from their first day of unemployment.

The scheme encourages people to widen their job search by helping with travelling costs to attend interviews outside their usual travel to work area. To qualify for the scheme the job applied for must be permanent and full time. People can make applications for

1 Nov 2001 : Column: 836W

assistance in advance and will either receive a travel warrant or be reimbursed after the interview has taken place.

Social Security Expenditure (Scotland)

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much money was paid in benefits, pensions and other associated services in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK during the (i) 2001–02 financial year to date and (ii) the previous five financial years; and what the breakdown is by benefits for each of those years. [9006]

Mr. McCartney [holding answer 19 October 2001]: The Northern Ireland Assembly is responsible for social security within Northern Ireland. Information on benefit expenditure by country is not available for 2000–01. Expenditure for Great Britain is published on the DWP website at http://www.dss.gov.uk/asd/online.html. The relevant information is contained in Other Statistics, Benefit Expenditure Tables 2001, Table1. Estimated expenditure amounts for Scotland are given in the table.

Benefit Expenditure—Scotland

£ million

Terms 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000

Retirement Pension—basic 2,408 2,557 2,663 2,798 2,966

Retirement Pension—earnings-related 193 241 277 321 391

Christmas Bonus—contribution-based 11 11 11 11 11

Widows'/Bereavement benefits 118 114 113 112 112

Unemployment Benefit 125 72 — — —

Jobseeker's Allowance—contribution-based — 43 62 59 56

Jobseeker's Allowance—income-based — 158 321 303 281

Sickness Benefit 2 — — — —

Statutory Sick Pay 5 13 3 4 4

Invalidity Benefit—basic 29 — — — —

Invalidity Benefit—earnings-related 7 — — — —

Incapacity Benefit—short-term 71 81 84 77 69

Incapacity Benefit—long-term 759 767 755 750 691

Incapacity Benefit—earnings-related 183 167 140 120 95

Industrial disablement benefits 62 64 65 67 66

Industrial Death Benefit 5 5 5 5 5

Other industrial injuries benefits ⁽¹⁸⁾— ⁽¹⁸⁾— ⁽¹⁸⁾— ⁽¹⁸⁾— ⁽¹⁸⁾—

Maternity Allowance 3 3 3 3 3

Statutory Maternity Pay 45 29 42 46 48

Guardian's and Child's Special Allowance ⁽¹⁸⁾— ⁽¹⁸⁾— ⁽¹⁸⁾— ⁽¹⁸⁾— ⁽¹⁸⁾—

Non-contributory Retirement Pension 3 2 2 2 3

Non-contributory Christmas Bonus 1 1 1 1 1

War pensions 111 120 114 112 111

Attendance Allowance 212 235 256 274 290

Invalid Care Allowance 66 80 82 86 91

Severe Disablement Allowance 99 108 119 117 116

Disability Living Allowance 440 521 570 610 644

Disability Working Allowance 2 3 4 4 4

Income Support (under 60 years of age) 1,195 1,012 798 802 817

IS for the elderly—Minimum Income Guarantee 348 344 345 335 353

Child Benefit 572 589 601 611 695

Family Credit 184 210 225 237 185

Earnings Top-Up — ⁽¹⁸⁾— 2 3 3

Independent Living Funds 12 13 12 13 14

Mobility Equipment Fund ⁽¹⁸⁾— ⁽¹⁸⁾— ⁽¹⁸⁾— ⁽¹⁸⁾— 1

Social Fund 24 22 18 19 18

Winter Fuel Payments — — 19 19 90

Other small benefits ⁽¹⁸⁾— ⁽¹⁸⁾— ⁽¹⁸⁾— ⁽¹⁸⁾— ⁽¹⁸⁾—

Consolidated Fund Extra Receipts -1 ⁽¹⁸⁾— ⁽¹⁸⁾— ⁽¹⁸⁾— —

Housing Benefit Rent Allowance 276 302 322 335 352

Housing Benefit Rent Rebate 630 665 692 701 700

Council Tax Benefit 213 246 287 303 306

Total benefit expenditure 8,413 8,798 9,014 9,262 9,588

					£ million
Terms	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000
Retirement Pension—basic	2,408	2,557	2,663	2,798	2,966
Retirement Pension—earnings-related	193	241	277	321	391
Christmas Bonus—contribution-based	11	11	11	11	11
Widows'/Bereavement benefits	118	114	113	112	112
Unemployment Benefit	125	72	—	—	—
Jobseeker's Allowance—contribution-based	—	43	62	59	56
Jobseeker's Allowance—income-based	—	158	321	303	281
Sickness Benefit	2	—	—	—	—
Statutory Sick Pay	5	13	3	4	4
Invalidity Benefit—basic	29	—	—	—	—
Invalidity Benefit—earnings-related	7	—	—	—	—
Incapacity Benefit—short-term	71	81	84	77	69
Incapacity Benefit—long-term	759	767	755	750	691
Incapacity Benefit—earnings-related	183	167	140	120	95
Industrial disablement benefits	62	64	65	67	66
Industrial Death Benefit	5	5	5	5	5
Other industrial injuries benefits	⁽¹⁸⁾—	⁽¹⁸⁾—	⁽¹⁸⁾—	⁽¹⁸⁾—	⁽¹⁸⁾—
Maternity Allowance	3	3	3	3	3
Statutory Maternity Pay	45	29	42	46	48
Guardian's and Child's Special Allowance	⁽¹⁸⁾—	⁽¹⁸⁾—	⁽¹⁸⁾—	⁽¹⁸⁾—	⁽¹⁸⁾—
Non-contributory Retirement Pension	3	2	2	2	3
Non-contributory Christmas Bonus	1	1	1	1	1
War pensions	111	120	114	112	111
Attendance Allowance	212	235	256	274	290
Invalid Care Allowance	66	80	82	86	91
Severe Disablement Allowance	99	108	119	117	116
Disability Living Allowance	440	521	570	610	644
Disability Working Allowance	2	3	4	4	4
Income Support (under 60 years of age)	1,195	1,012	798	802	817
IS for the elderly—Minimum Income Guarantee	348	344	345	335	353
Child Benefit	572	589	601	611	695
Family Credit	184	210	225	237	185
Earnings Top-Up	—	⁽¹⁸⁾—	2	3	3
Independent Living Funds	12	13	12	13	14
Mobility Equipment Fund	⁽¹⁸⁾—	⁽¹⁸⁾—	⁽¹⁸⁾—	⁽¹⁸⁾—	1
Social Fund	24	22	18	19	18
Winter Fuel Payments	—	—	19	19	90
Other small benefits	⁽¹⁸⁾—	⁽¹⁸⁾—	⁽¹⁸⁾—	⁽¹⁸⁾—	⁽¹⁸⁾—
Consolidated Fund Extra Receipts	-1	⁽¹⁸⁾—	⁽¹⁸⁾—	⁽¹⁸⁾—	—
Housing Benefit Rent Allowance	276	302	322	335	352
Housing Benefit Rent Rebate	630	665	692	701	700
Council Tax Benefit	213	246	287	303	306
Total benefit expenditure	8,413	8,798	9,014	9,262	9,588

⁽¹⁸⁾ Less than one million

Notes

1. Figures are consistent with the Departmental Report 2001.

2. Figures are rounded to the nearest million.

3. Totals may not sum due to rounding.

4. These figures include all LA spending on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit in addition to the money funded directly by Central Government.

5. The Scotland expenditure figures have been calculated from the average weekly amounts and caseload figures that have been derived from sample administrative data.

6. Figures for 1999–2000 are on a Resource Accounting and Budgeting basis.

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Departmental Properties

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the total running costs for buildings used, owned or rented by his Department for each nation and region of the UK, and estimate the average cost per square metre for properties used by his Department as a whole, and by region and nation of the UK. [6849]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: The vast majority of buildings on the former DSS part of the estate are rented to the Department by our private sector partner, Land Securities Trillium. Under the PRIME PFI agreement, the Department pays Land Securities Trillium a unitary charge (the "Facilities Price") for each building and receives serviced office accommodation in return. The Facilities Price covers not only the space we occupy but also a large number of building related services. These are:

building management and maintenance (including Customer Service Centre)

1 Nov 2001 : Column: 838W

internal and external cleaning security (including facilities and equipment)

catering (including facilities and equipment)

provision and maintenance of furniture and equipment

energy and utilities management

landscape maintenance

porterage

waste management.

The first table shows the information requested in respect of the Facilities Price, utility charges and business rates for all PRIME buildings where the former DSS are the major occupier. The information is broken down geographically according to nation and former DSS regional boundaries. Details of the corresponding charges paid for the former DSS minor occupancies and non-PRIME buildings are not currently held centrally. These charges are paid for and monitored locally.

1 Nov 2001 : Column: 839W

The second table gives details of the running costs of buildings on the former Employment Service part of the estate. This includes both major and minor occupancies but excludes sub-lets. Information is again provided geographically both on a national and regional basis but is dictated this time by former ES regional boundaries. Running costs on the former ES part of the Estate include all maintenance work (i.e. scheduled, reactive and planned) and minor new works, rents, rates and service charges, cleaning and utilities. These costs are lower than the charges paid by the former DSS as the ES part of the

1 Nov 2001 : Column: 840W

estate was not subject to a PFI agreement and does not therefore benefit from the full range of services provided as under the PRIME agreement. Nor has the risk inherent in the buildings and its associated cost been transferred to a PFI provider.

Details of services, such as post opening and despatch, reprographics and switchboard etc., which are traditionally regarded as business rather than building- related services, (and the cost of furniture and security for the former ES) have been excluded from both tables as we are unable to present the information in the same format.

Former DSS part of the estate

Region Total (£) Total business square metre (BSM) Average charge £ per BSM

AD1 East London and Anglia 15,330,376.48 68,774.93 222.91

AD2 Chilterns 20,280,484.46 82,990.12 244.37

AD3 London South 40,736,959.46 157,615.80 258.46

AD4 West Country 15,998,514.95 97,521.38 164.05

AD5 Mercia 13,298,357.23 67,939.49 195.74

AD6 West Midlands 20,321,903.99 96,948.44 209.62

AD8 North West Coast 40,967,353.38 227,128.26 180.37

AD9 Greater Manchester 16,979,155.53 102,333.26 165.92

AD10 Yorkshire 22,340,174.39 106,328.42 210.11

AD11 Tyne Tees 10,942,784.64 57,915.70 188.94

England total 217,196,064.51 1,065,495.79 203.85

AD7 Wales 12,999,568.66 71,045.14 182.98

Wales total 12,999,568.66 71,045.14 182.98

AD12 West of Scotland 17,507,560.03 70,120.37 249.68

AD13 East of Scotland 18,785,521.46 82,764.49 226.98

Scotland total 36,293,081.49 152,884.87 237.39

Grand total 266,488,714.66 1,289,425.79 206.67

Region	Total (£)	Total business square metre (BSM)	Average charge £ per BSM
AD1 East London and Anglia	15,330,376.48	68,774.93	222.91
AD2 Chilterns	20,280,484.46	82,990.12	244.37
AD3 London South	40,736,959.46	157,615.80	258.46
AD4 West Country	15,998,514.95	97,521.38	164.05
AD5 Mercia	13,298,357.23	67,939.49	195.74
AD6 West Midlands	20,321,903.99	96,948.44	209.62
AD8 North West Coast	40,967,353.38	227,128.26	180.37
AD9 Greater Manchester	16,979,155.53	102,333.26	165.92
AD10 Yorkshire	22,340,174.39	106,328.42	210.11
AD11 Tyne Tees	10,942,784.64	57,915.70	188.94

England total	217,196,064.51	1,065,495.79	203.85

AD7 Wales	12,999,568.66	71,045.14	182.98

Wales total	12,999,568.66	71,045.14	182.98

AD12 West of Scotland	17,507,560.03	70,120.37	249.68
AD13 East of Scotland	18,785,521.46	82,764.49	226.98

Scotland total	36,293,081.49	152,884.87	237.39

Grand total	266,488,714.66	1,289,425.79	206.67

All charges are exact for the last financial year. The total business square metres is based on the properties that were occupied as at March 2001.

Former ES part of the estate

Region Total running costs (£) Total business square metre (BSM) Average charge £ per BSM

Head Office (Sheffield) 6,334,095 2,9055.10 218.00

Northern 7,772,273 56,815.62 136.80

North West 15,194,904 114,036.09 133.25

Yorkshire and Humber 9,944,152 74,326.63 133.79

East Midlands 9,582,156 70,122.84 136.65

West Midlands 14,027,018 90,138.49 155.62

London and South East 55,911,412 263,813.39 211.94

South West 12,431,947 78,718.82 157.93

England total 131,197,957 777,026.98 168.85

Wales 7,046,413 60,990.66 115.53

Wales total 7,046,413 60,990.66 115.53

Scotland 16,694,086 98,797.07 168.97

Scotland total 16,694,086 98,797.07 168.97

Grand total 154,938,456 936,815 165.39

Region	Total running costs (£)	Total business square metre (BSM)	Average charge £ per BSM
Head Office (Sheffield)	6,334,095	2,9055.10	218.00
Northern	7,772,273	56,815.62	136.80
North West	15,194,904	114,036.09	133.25
Yorkshire and Humber	9,944,152	74,326.63	133.79
East Midlands	9,582,156	70,122.84	136.65
West Midlands	14,027,018	90,138.49	155.62
London and South East	55,911,412	263,813.39	211.94
South West	12,431,947	78,718.82	157.93
England total	131,197,957	777,026.98	168.85

Wales	7,046,413	60,990.66	115.53
Wales total	7,046,413	60,990.66	115.53

Scotland	16,694,086	98,797.07	168.97
Scotland total	16,694,086	98,797.07	168.97
Grand total	154,938,456	936,815	165.39

All charges are exact for the last financial year. The total business square metres is based on the properties that were occupied as at March 2001.

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