House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 1 Nov 2001 (pt 22)

Benefit Fraud

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people who are working and claiming benefits fraudulently. [7474]

Malcolm Wicks: Estimates have not been made for the total number of people who are working and claiming benefits fraudulently.

Pension Schemes

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on investigation into the Warwick Group Pension Scheme, the Debenholt Pension and Life Assurance Scheme and the Warwick Sport and Leisure Ltd. Retirement Benefits Scheme, including actions by (a) the Pensions Ombudsman and (b) the independent trustees (i) in respect of these schemes and (ii) in respect of the former trustees Norman and Simon Gidney. [9652]

Mr. McCartney: The Pensions Ombudsman has received complaints in relation to the Warwick Group Pension Scheme and the Debenholt Pension and Life Assurance Scheme. He has issued his determination in respect of a number of the complaints made, others remain to be considered. The Pensions Ombudsman is an independent statutory commissioner and we cannot comment on his determinations or on actions taken during his investigation of complaints. Copies of his determinations are available on the Pensions Ombudsman's website.

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The Independent Trustee is still taking action to wind up the Warwick Group Pension Scheme and the Debenholt Pension and Life Assurance scheme which are associated schemes. The Warwick Sport and Leisure Ltd. Retirement Benefits Scheme has been wound up.

The Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority has investigated breaches of the Pensions Act 1995 in relation to all three schemes. As a result of its investigation Mr. N. Gidney and Mr. S. Gidney were both disqualified from acting as a trustee of any occupational pension scheme and fined in respect of 13 breaches of the Pensions Act 1995.

Pensions (Employees)

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many full-time employees (a) were in occupational pension schemes and (b) subscribed to personal pensions in each of the last five years. [11314]

Mr. McCartney [holding answer 30 October 2001]: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.

The table shows estimates of the numbers of full-time employees contributing to occupational and personal pensions in each of the years 1996–97 through to 1999–2000. Because of a change in methodology on the Family Resources Survey—1999–2000 data are not comparable to earlier years.

Million

Year Total full-time employees with an occupational pension Total full-time employees with a personal pension

1996–97 9.4 3.3

1997–98 9.3 3.2

1998–99 9.6 3.4

1999–2000 9.3 2.6

Year	Total full-time employees with an occupational pension	Total full-time employees with a personal pension
1996–97	9.4	3.3
1997–98	9.3	3.2
1998–99	9.6	3.4
1999–2000	9.3	2.6

Note:

Totals rounded to nearest 100,000

Source:

Family Resources Survey percentages applied to Labour Force Survey totals

HOME DEPARTMENT

Hawalla Banking System

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the potential misuse by terrorists of the Hawalla banking system; and if he will make a statement. [8003]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 15 October 2001]: The informal nature of this banking system makes it difficult for law enforcement agencies to monitor financial transactions that may or may not be connected to criminal activities. However, the police will continue to give a high priority to the investigation of financial transactions instigated by criminals using banking systems, whatever their nature, around the world. In particular, the economic crime unit of the National Criminal Intelligence Service

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is conducting a strategic assessment of Alternative Remittance Systems, such as Hawalla banking, including the possible use of these systems by terrorists and other criminals, which will inform us of what measures need to be taken.

Terrorist Threat

Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of measures taken to counter the terrorist threat to Government buildings in Westminster and Parliament. [10244]

Mr. Blunkett: Protective security arrangements are the responsibility of the Secretary of State in each respective Department. Security measures in all Government Departments are kept under regular review to ensure that they provide adequate protection against the range of threats faced by Government Departments and buildings, including that from terrorism.

In the Palace of Westminster, Black Rod and the Sergeant at Arms have recently met and on behalf of both Houses are actively considering a number of issues with a view to improving security at the Palace and its ancillary buildings.

More generally, under the Civil Contingencies Committee which I chair, a sub-committee chaired by the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, is reviewing the contingency arrangements for the key infrastructure of the United Kingdom. This includes the key structures associated with the parliamentary process.

In light of the current situation these measures will remain under close scrutiny.

Security Industry

Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further measures he plans to take to regulate the security industry. [10753]

Mr. Denham: The Private Security Industry Act 2001 sets out the Government's current plans for the regulation of the private security industry in England and Wales.

The Act establishes the Security Industry Authority, which will have responsibility for licensing security operatives and approving companies in designated sectors of the industry.

The Government wish to see the authority up and running as soon as possible. It will be open to the authority to make recommendations to amend the regulatory framework if it considers this desirable.

Overseas PhD Students

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overseas PhD students in science disciplines are in the UK on work permits. [10914]

Angela Eagle: The number of PhD students in science disciplines in the United Kingdom on work permits is not available through our information technology systems and would be available only at disproportionate cost.

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Child Curfew Orders

Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many child curfew orders have been issued in the Greater London area in the last 12 months under the provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. [10944]

Mr. Denham: No applications have been received to impose child curfew schemes under section 14 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Sections 48 and 49 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, which took effect on 1 August 2001, have recently extended the upper age limit to 15 and allowed the police, as well as local authorities, to initiate schemes.

Metropolitan Police

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve the pay and conditions of Metropolitan police civilian security staff at the Houses of Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [10782]

Mr. Denham: The pay and conditions of service of civilian security staff at the Houses of Parliament are matters for the Metropolitan Police Authority.

The Metropolitan Police Service is undertaking a review of pay and grading for all its civil staff, including the security staff at the Palace of Westminster.

The recommendations are due to be considered by the Metropolitan Police Authority's Human Resources Committee on 1 November.

Rehabilitation

Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 23 October 2001, Official Report, column 213W, whether targets for rehabilitation are published for each prison; if he will list those for Nottingham prison; and if he will make a statement on progress made (a) at Nottingham prison and (b) in the UK. [10970]

Beverley Hughes: Targets for individual establishments are not routinely published. The targets for Nottingham prison for measures that relate to rehabilitation for the financial year 2001–02 are listed in the table. The targets for Her Majesty's Prison Service England and Wales were listed in my answer of 23 October 2001, Official Report, column 213W.

Nottingham Prison Target 2001–02

Purposeful activity hours 19.5

Offending behaviour programmes 24

Sex offender treatment programmes —

Random mandatory drug testing 16.9

Drug rehabilitation/therapeutic communities 60

Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare Services (CARATS) 384

Detoxification 350

Basic skills awards—literacy 15

Basic skills awards—numeracy 15

Key work skills 5

Nottingham Prison	Target 2001–02
Purposeful activity hours	19.5
Offending behaviour programmes	24
Sex offender treatment programmes	—
Random mandatory drug testing	16.9
Drug rehabilitation/therapeutic communities	60
Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare Services (CARATS)	384
Detoxification	350
Basic skills awards—literacy	15
Basic skills awards—numeracy	15
Key work skills	5

Sex offender treatment programmes are not run at Nottingham prison. Performance for the last three financial years for Nottingham prison and HM Prison

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Service England and Wales is detailed in the tables. The Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Office should

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be approached for information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively.

Nottingham Prison 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01

Purposeful activity hours 15.3 20.6 18.3

Offending behaviour programmes 19 21 25

Sex offender treatment programmes 0 0 0

Random mandatory drug testing 25.6% 21.6% 20.5%

Drug rehabilitation/therapeutic communities ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾—

Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare Services (CARATS) ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾—

Detoxification ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾—

Basic skills awards—literacy ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— 27

Basic skills awards—numeracy ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— 28

Key work skills ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾—

Nottingham Prison	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01
Purposeful activity hours	15.3	20.6	18.3
Offending behaviour programmes	19	21	25
Sex offender treatment programmes	0	0	0
Random mandatory drug testing	25.6%	21.6%	20.5%
Drug rehabilitation/therapeutic communities	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—
Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare Services (CARATS)	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—
Detoxification	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—
Basic skills awards—literacy	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	27
Basic skills awards—numeracy	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	28
Key work skills	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—

⁽²⁸⁾ indicates that data for these indicators were not collected.

HM Prison Service England and Wales 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01

Purposeful activity hours 22.8 23.2 23.8

Offending behaviour programmes 3,129 4,664 5,986

Sex offender treatment programmes 589 585 786

Random mandatory drug testing 18.3% 14.2% 12.4%

Drug rehabilitation/therapeutic communities ⁽²⁹⁾— ⁽²⁹⁾— ⁽²⁹⁾—

Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare Services (CARATS) ⁽²⁹⁾— ⁽²⁹⁾— ⁽²⁹⁾—

Detoxification ⁽²⁹⁾— ⁽²⁹⁾— ⁽²⁹⁾—

Basic skills awards—literacy ⁽²⁹⁾— ⁽²⁹⁾— 7,269

Basic skills awards—numeracy ⁽²⁹⁾— ⁽²⁹⁾— 5,495

Key work skills ⁽²⁹⁾— ⁽²⁹⁾— ⁽²⁹⁾—

HM Prison Service England and Wales	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01
Purposeful activity hours	22.8	23.2	23.8
Offending behaviour programmes	3,129	4,664	5,986
Sex offender treatment programmes	589	585	786
Random mandatory drug testing	18.3%	14.2%	12.4%
Drug rehabilitation/therapeutic communities	⁽²⁹⁾—	⁽²⁹⁾—	⁽²⁹⁾—
Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare Services (CARATS)	⁽²⁹⁾—	⁽²⁹⁾—	⁽²⁹⁾—
Detoxification	⁽²⁹⁾—	⁽²⁹⁾—	⁽²⁹⁾—
Basic skills awards—literacy	⁽²⁹⁾—	⁽²⁹⁾—	7,269
Basic skills awards—numeracy	⁽²⁹⁾—	⁽²⁹⁾—	5,495
Key work skills	⁽²⁹⁾—	⁽²⁹⁾—	⁽²⁹⁾—

⁽²⁹⁾ Indicates that data were not collected centrally.

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