House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 12 Nov 2001 (pt 23)

Benefits Agency

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many security staff are employed in Benefits Agency offices; and what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of such staff in (a) deterring criminal acts and (b) helping to protect office staff when a criminal act is committed; [14233]

(a)

(b)

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Mr. Nicholas Brown: There are currently 387 CCTV systems installed and Land Securities Trillium has 1,179 permanent security staff members deployed in Benefits Agency offices. The number of security staff is supplemented by temporary staff where local needs demand.

The installation of CCTV cameras and the deployment of security staff are based on the recommendations of independent risk assessors in order to reduce risks for staff in those offices. The security teams regularly defuse situations at an early stage and where necessary take action to notify the police. No statistics are available on the number of occasions when security staff intervene or CCTV is used as evidence in a prosecution.

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's policy is for dealing with claimants who act in a threatening or violent manner towards Benefits Agency staff. [14235]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: Ministers and senior management have made clear that we will take determined action against customers who in any way threaten, attack or abuse our staff.

Child Poverty

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proposals he has to end child poverty; and how many children living in poverty there were in (a) June 1997 and (b) June 2001. [13757]

Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 9 November 2001]: Child poverty and social exclusion are complex multi-dimensional concepts, affecting many aspects of children's lives—including their living standards, health, housing, the quality of the environment, and opportunities to learn. The third "Opportunity for all" report (Cm 5260) sets out the Government's strategy for tackling child poverty and social exclusion and presents the latest information on the indicators used to monitor progress against this strategy.

Asylum Seekers

Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he plans to extend the use of the application registration cards for asylum seekers to all benefit claimants. [11741]

Malcolm Wicks: The new application registration card will replace the Home Office standard acknowledgement letter issued to all asylum seekers. The card will only be issued to acknowledge an application for asylum and for no other purpose.

As the application registration card is designed solely for use by asylum seekers, who are not eligible to receive social security benefits, it would be inappropriate to extend its use to non-asylum seekers who claim benefits.

Attendance Allowance (Care Homes)

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the entitlement of self-funded residents of nursing and care homes to receive attendance allowance; and if he will

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estimate how many self-funded residents of nursing and care homes are receiving attendance allowance in each nation of the United Kingdom. [10915]

Maria Eagle: People who meet the whole cost of their place in a residential care home or nursing home entirely from their own resources and without help from public funds are termed self-funders and may be entitled to continued payment of attendance allowance which is based on care needs. Those self-funders who are entitled to attendance allowance can continue to be paid the benefit subject to their receiving no help from public funds.

We estimate the number of self-funders over the age of 65 in the UK to be:

Number of self-funders

England 57,000

Scotland 7,000

Wales 6,000

Northern Ireland 2,000

Total 72,000

	Number of self-funders
England	57,000
Scotland	7,000
Wales	6,000
Northern Ireland	2,000

Total	72,000

Notes:

1. Estimates are rounded to the nearest thousand.

2. Data for England, Wales and Northern Ireland to estimate the number of self-funders in receipt of attendance allowance in nursing and care homes were not available. We did have reliable information from the Scottish Executive for Scotland. This was used to then estimate the numbers in the remaining nations.

3. It is assumed that all those self-funders in residential and nursing homes are entitled to attendance allowance or the care component of disability living allowance.

4. It is assumed that the percentage of over 65s in care who are self-funders is the same in England, Wales and Northern Ireland as in Scotland.

5. May 2001 and February 2001 5 per cent. scan of AA and DLA computer systems and Scottish Community Care Statistics 2000 .

Combined Pension Statement

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he intends to introduce the combined pension statement. [7575]

Mr. McCartney: The Department for Work and Pensions will offer a new service to enable people of working age to more effectively plan their retirement incomes through the provision of combined pension forecast statements.

This voluntary service, which is a joint initiative between the Department's pension providers and employers, is being implemented in the three main phases.

Phase 1 saw the development of the service through a series of pilot exercises conducted with the pensions industry. The pilots, which began in January 2000, are now coming to a conclusion.

Phase 2, which commenced on 18 October 2001, sees the formal recruitment and registration of pension providers to the service.

Phase 3 represents the physical production of the new statement by the industry. This phase will take the form of a rolling programme building to a service which will aim to provide 15 million combined statements by 2005–06.

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Devolved Administrations

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is with regard to (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department giving evidence to (i) Scottish Parliament, (ii) Welsh Assembly and (iii) Northern Ireland Assembly committees; and to what categories of document he gives (A) full access, (B) restricted access and (C) no access to (w) Scottish Parliament, (x) Welsh Assembly, (y) Northern Ireland Assembly and (z) House of Commons Select Committees. [7021]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche) on 15 October 2001, Official Report, column 1003W.

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Departmental Spending (Staff)

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate total staff costs for his Department and its agencies by nation and region of the UK; and if he will make a statement. [6847]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: The information requested is in the tables.

The Department for Work and Pensions administers social security and employment services across Great Britain on an integrated basis. Not all staff costs incurred by the Department and its agencies within a nation or region relate to customers within the same nation or region.

Department for Work and Pensions: total and percentage staff costs by grade level and region/nationTable 1—total staff costs£

Government office region All grades SCS level Level 6/7 SEO/HEO level EO level AO/AA level Ind/other grade

London 331,901,833 7,739,330 18,922,633 41,029,012 120,116,892 143,646,332 447,634

South East 196,724,201 ⁽²¹⁾— 1,819,616 14,061,550 79,226,664 99,956,176 1,660,195

South West 144,022,302 ⁽²¹⁾— 1,485,204 12,006,716 53,378,878 76,262,133 735,984

West Midlands 196,304,739 363,181 2,239,319 15,891,457 73,805,047 103,993,203 ⁽²¹⁾—

North West 332,157,197 1,226,834 11,705,330 39,142,345 111,808,485 163,571,051 4,703,152

North East 245,071,976 1,378,687 6,319,869 28,017,167 73,061,108 135,318,111 977,034

Merseyside 100,380,994 ⁽²¹⁾— 1,306,222 6,952,041 36,263,502 55,821,874 ⁽²¹⁾—

Yorkshire and Humberside 255,268,964 3,017,964 13,627,902 48,812,860 94,385,696 95,372,417 52,125

East Midlands 105,249,208 ⁽²¹⁾— 1,299,506 7,657,134 41,157,270 54,982,172 70,123

Eastern 96,206,315 ⁽²¹⁾— 789,106 5,496,386 34,666,590 55,179,192 ⁽²¹⁾—

England Total 2,003,287,729 14,037,429 59,514,707 219,066,668 717,870,132 984,102,661 8,696,138

Wales 116,956,484 ⁽²¹⁾— 1,253,113 8,879,369 44,870,553 60,569,941 1,242,775

Scotland 247,708,964 ⁽²¹⁾— 3,163,423 19,229,663 93,275,734 129,009,599 2,693,558

GB Total 2,367,953,177 14,515,151 63,931,243 247,175,700 856,016,419 1,173,682,201 12,632,471

Northern Ireland 156,169 ⁽²²⁾— ⁽²²⁾— ⁽²²⁾— ⁽²²⁾— ⁽²²⁾— 156,169

Grand Total 2,368,109,346 14,515,151 63,931,243 247,175,700 856,016,419 1,173,682,201 12,788,640

Table 2—Percentage of staff costs

Government Office region All grades SCS level Level 6/7 SEO/HEO level EO level AO/AA level Ind/other grade

London 14 53 30 17 14 12 4

South East 8 ⁽²¹⁾— 3 6 9 9 13

South West 6 ⁽²¹⁾— 2 5 6 6 6

West Midlands 8 3 4 6 9 9 ⁽²¹⁾—

North West 14 8 18 16 13 14 37

North East 10 9 10 11 9 12 8

Merseyside 4 ⁽²¹⁾— 2 3 4 5 ⁽²¹⁾—

Yorkshire and Humberside 11 21 21 20 11 8 0

East Midlands 4 ⁽²¹⁾— 2 3 5 5 1

Eastern 4 ⁽²¹⁾— 1 2 4 5 ⁽²¹⁾—

England Total 85 97 93 89 84 84 68

Wales 5 ⁽²¹⁾— 2 4 5 5 10

Scotland 10 ⁽²¹⁾— 5 8 11 11 21

GB total 100 100 100 100 100 100 99

Northern Ireland 0 ⁽²²⁾— ⁽²²⁾— ⁽²²⁾— ⁽²²⁾— ⁽²²⁾— 1

Grand total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

Government office region	All grades	SCS level	Level 6/7	SEO/HEO level	EO level	AO/AA level	Ind/other grade
London	331,901,833	7,739,330	18,922,633	41,029,012	120,116,892	143,646,332	447,634
South East	196,724,201	⁽²¹⁾—	1,819,616	14,061,550	79,226,664	99,956,176	1,660,195
South West	144,022,302	⁽²¹⁾—	1,485,204	12,006,716	53,378,878	76,262,133	735,984
West Midlands	196,304,739	363,181	2,239,319	15,891,457	73,805,047	103,993,203	⁽²¹⁾—
North West	332,157,197	1,226,834	11,705,330	39,142,345	111,808,485	163,571,051	4,703,152
North East	245,071,976	1,378,687	6,319,869	28,017,167	73,061,108	135,318,111	977,034
Merseyside	100,380,994	⁽²¹⁾—	1,306,222	6,952,041	36,263,502	55,821,874	⁽²¹⁾—
Yorkshire and Humberside	255,268,964	3,017,964	13,627,902	48,812,860	94,385,696	95,372,417	52,125
East Midlands	105,249,208	⁽²¹⁾—	1,299,506	7,657,134	41,157,270	54,982,172	70,123
Eastern	96,206,315	⁽²¹⁾—	789,106	5,496,386	34,666,590	55,179,192	⁽²¹⁾—
England Total	2,003,287,729	14,037,429	59,514,707	219,066,668	717,870,132	984,102,661	8,696,138
Wales	116,956,484	⁽²¹⁾—	1,253,113	8,879,369	44,870,553	60,569,941	1,242,775
Scotland	247,708,964	⁽²¹⁾—	3,163,423	19,229,663	93,275,734	129,009,599	2,693,558
GB Total	2,367,953,177	14,515,151	63,931,243	247,175,700	856,016,419	1,173,682,201	12,632,471
Northern Ireland	156,169	⁽²²⁾—	⁽²²⁾—	⁽²²⁾—	⁽²²⁾—	⁽²²⁾—	156,169
Grand Total	2,368,109,346	14,515,151	63,931,243	247,175,700	856,016,419	1,173,682,201	12,788,640

Government Office region	All grades	SCS level	Level 6/7	SEO/HEO level	EO level	AO/AA level	Ind/other grade
London	14	53	30	17	14	12	4
South East	8	⁽²¹⁾—	3	6	9	9	13
South West	6	⁽²¹⁾—	2	5	6	6	6
West Midlands	8	3	4	6	9	9	⁽²¹⁾—
North West	14	8	18	16	13	14	37
North East	10	9	10	11	9	12	8
Merseyside	4	⁽²¹⁾—	2	3	4	5	⁽²¹⁾—
Yorkshire and Humberside	11	21	21	20	11	8	0
East Midlands	4	⁽²¹⁾—	2	3	5	5	1
Eastern	4	⁽²¹⁾—	1	2	4	5	⁽²¹⁾—
England Total	85	97	93	89	84	84	68
Wales	5	⁽²¹⁾—	2	4	5	5	10
Scotland	10	⁽²¹⁾—	5	8	11	11	21
GB total	100	100	100	100	100	100	99
Northern Ireland	0	⁽²²⁾—	⁽²²⁾—	⁽²²⁾—	⁽²²⁾—	⁽²²⁾—	1
Grand total	100	100	100	100	100	100	100

⁽²¹⁾ Because there are three or fewer staff in this category the number and cost have not been separately identified.

⁽²²⁾ Staff costs for Northern Ireland have not been identified by grade because the small numbers in each category could potentially identify individuals and their salaries.

Notes:

1. Staff costs include basic salary and allowances plus employer's contribution to National Insurance and Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme.

2. Staff Costs do not include ancillary matters such as accommodation, office services, stationery etc.

3. The staff data from which these figures derive are as at 31 August 2001 as this represents the correct staffing position of DWP, which was formed in June 2001. Earlier DSS data is not comparable.

4. Employment Service staff are included.

5. War Pensions Agency Staff are included as they are still largely within the overall DWP administrative structure even though WPA is now technically part of the Ministry of Defence.

6. Casual and other staff on temporary contracts are included.

7. The grade groupings include specialist staff such as accountants, lawyers and auditors in their "generalist" grade equivalent.

8. Because the staffing make-up of DWP is different from the DSS, the figures above are not comparable with those provided for DSS in Civil Service Statistics 2000.

9. Overtime costs are not included as it would not be possible to collate the historical data required in sufficient detail in the time available.

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