23 Jan 2002 : Column 851W
Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 23 January 2002
WORK AND PENSIONS
SchlumbergerSema
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the objectives in key areas which SchlumbergerSema must meet by May 2002 in order for the company to be granted a contract extension to 2005. [24401]
Mr. Nick Brown: [holding answer 8 January 2002]: The agreement with SchlumbergerSema contains performance and delivery conditions for a contract extension to August 2005. It emphasises the need for the company to meet and improve service standards and commits them to a programme of doctor recruitment. The amendment further requires the contractor to co-operate in the introduction of more fundamental changes in the gathering and presentation of evidence and reports together with the introduction of new processes to reduce the numbers of people who fail to turn up for examinations. It also requires them to agree and document actions to support processes around the intervention regime to be operated in Job Centre Plus as part of the Government's "Welfare to Work" agenda. The agreement to extend the contract must be confirmed or revoked before 31 May 2002.
Pension Credit
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he will allow the taking of annuities at any age up to 75 years for the purposes of assessing the proposed pension credit entitlement. [26018]
Mr. McCartney: A personal pension may be taken from age 50, but an annuity must be purchased by age 75.
The income from an annuity purchased from a pension fund is treated in the same way as other second pensions within the minimum income guarantee.
Currently, if a person over 60 has not taken an annuity he is treated as having the income he could obtain if he used his pension fund to buy an annuity.
We intend to adopt a similar approach in pension credit.
Stolen Equipment
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what equipment has been stolen from his Department since 1 May 1997; and what the approximate value of each item was; [26822]
- (2) if he will list those items valued at more than £50 which have been stolen or lost from his Department in each of the last four years. [27994]
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Mr. McCartney [holding answer 22 January 2002]: Of a total of approximately 109,224 personal computers and laptops owned by the Department 179 have been stolen in the period in question—this represents 0.16 per cent. The total value of these items is estimated to be £217,300.
Information on items of a lesser value are recorded in the table .
| Category | Quantity | Estimated total cost |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 64 | 44,400 |
| Monitor | 27 | 5,290 |
| Keyboard | 23 | 260 |
| Memory Chip | 6 | 3,600 |
| Tape Drive | 3 | 525 |
| Cordless Telephone | 1 | 70 |
| Modem | 9 | 900 |
| Video Camera | 2 | 2,250 |
| Mobile Telephone | 9 | 1,800 |
| Print Sharer | 1 | 100 |
| Digital Camera | 1 | 1,000 |
| Disk Drive | 1 | 200 |
| Multi-media projector | 1 | 3,000 |
| DVD Player | 1 | 281 |
| Server | 3 | 7,500 |
| Card Reader | 2 | 100 |
| Pager | 1 | 50 |
| Mouse | 22 | 511 |
| Printer | 72 | 44,650 |
| Hard Drive | 10 | 1,500 |
| Motherboard | 1 | 150 |
| Fax | 3 | 1,950 |
| Miscellaneous(1) | 1,445 |
(1) Includes such items as server cable, cassette recorders and telephones.
Benefit Fraud
Mr. Miller: 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 East Riding of Yorkshire council. [30521]
Malcolm Wicks: The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) report was published today in respect of East Riding of Yorkshire council and copies of the report have been placed in the Library.
BFI found the council was striving to provide an efficient, secure benefits service and to maintain effective counter fraud performance against a background of staffing difficulties and re-organisation.
Overall, inspectors identified many good features in the council's performance and examples of effective work. There was a clear commitment to customer service and efforts had been made to raise levels of fraud awareness throughout the council. Additionally, the council has introduced inspectors powers and the "Do Not Redirect" scheme.
Despite this, the report notes there were a number of areas where performance fell short of requirements. Inspectors consider a key constraint to the council's performance was the high rate of staff turnover and difficulty in maintaining a fully trained complement of staff.
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Inspectors found that the work backlogs resulting from the staffing difficulties were having an adverse effect on standards of service with some delays in processing claims, changes of circumstances and applications for reviews of determinations. Inspectors found the council was addressing shortfalls in performance through a fundamental review of its organisation which included the benefits service.
The report notes that internal and external audit reports had been responded to promptly which inspectors considered was an indication of the council's commitment to maintaining secure systems.
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.
Mr. Miller: 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 Plymouth city council. [30522]
Malcolm Wicks: The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate report was published today in respect of Plymouth city council and copies of the report have been placed in the Library.
BFI inspectors report that the benefit service had been through a period of considerable change prior to the inspection, including a restructure, the introduction of a document image processing (DIP) system and a change in political control. In addition, during the BFI inspection, the council was implementing the Verification Framework and managing a backlog. Overall, inspectors consider the benefit service was having difficulty in an environment of major corporate change.
Before the inspection the council had taken steps to secure the gateway to benefit with the introduction of the Verification Framework, a new claim form and a system of management checks. Although the council has service level agreements with the local BA and ES, inspectors found the management of these SLAs was limited.
The report notes that the council works hard to keep payments right with a proactive approach to the follow up of renewal claims and reminders to claimants and landlords of their duty to report changes in circumstances. However BFI considers more could be done to target visiting and tailor benefit periods using risk assessment.
In common with some authorities, the council's overall performance in the management and control of overpayments is poor. Inspectors report that prompt action to identify overpayments is negated by ineffective recovery processes.
Although inspectors found fraud investigation work was poor, the report notes that the council had already recognised this and had introduced various policies, guidance and an extensive training programme aimed at improving the quality of the fraud investigations.
The report concludes that the council has recently made major policy and procedural changes. These changes need to be further developed and implemented before tangible improvements will be realised.
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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.
Asbestos Judgment
Mr. Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the Appeal Court decision in the Fairchild case; and if he will introduce legislation to reinstate the principle of apportionment in mesothelioma cases. [25114]
Dr. Whitehead: I have been asked to reply.
The Government are looking closely at the implications of the Appeal Court decision on the Fairchild case. It is too early to determine what action may be necessary.
PRIME MINISTER
North Ayrshire
Q17. Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Prime Minister when he next expects to visit North Ayrshire. [27103]
The Prime Minister: I have no plans at present to do so.
Arms Sales
Tony Baldry: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what discussions he had with the Indian Government on his recent visit concerning the BAE Systems bid to supply Hawk jets; and if he will make a statement. [28301]
- (2) what discussions he held with the Pakistani Government on his recent visit concerning United Kingdom arms sales; and if he will make a statement. [28294]
The Prime Minister: During my recent visits to India and Pakistan, I discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest with the Governments of both countries. These covered a number of defence and security matters including defence export opportunities. The Government continue to support the proposals that BAE systems has made for the supply of Hawk jets to India.
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