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Services (Jobseekers)

16. Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the introduction of touch-screen services for jobseekers. [36341]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: We have just completed the installation of over 9,000 Jobpoints across our entire network of Jobcentres. Early evaluation has shown that Jobpoints are encouraging jobseekers to look at a larger range of jobs across wider geographical areas and apply for more jobs.

Jobpoints are increasing jobseekers' prospects of moving into work and helping them to do so more quickly.

Hospital Downrating

17. Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on deductions from pensions of pensioners admitted as in-patients to hospitals. [36342]

Mr. McCartney: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 25 February 2002, Official Report, column 778W, in which I said that as previously promised we have considered carefully the impact of the current rules which reduce certain benefits paid to pensioners and people of working age after six weeks of hospitalisation. The downrating of benefits preserves the principle that the state should not make double provision. It also recognises that a substantial number of people leave hospital before six weeks.

However, we also recognise that people have on-going financial commitments while in hospital, and although we consider the six week rule strikes a fair balance between what the state should provide financially and the provision individuals should make for themselves, we have nonetheless decided to extend the period before benefits are downrated by a further seven weeks to the 13th week stage. This will mean that people previously affected by the six week rule will be able to keep their benefits untouched if their period of stay in hospital is under 13 weeks.

We will introduce this change to coincide with the introduction of Pension Credit.

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is towards the incomes of pensioners while they are in long-term hospital care. [36350]

Mr. McCartney: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 25 February 2002, Official Report, column 778W, in which I said that as previously promised we have considered carefully the impact of the current rules which reduce certain benefits paid to pensioners and people of working age after six weeks of hospitalisation. The downrating of benefits preserves the principle that the state should not make double provision. It also recognises that a substantial number of people leave hospital before six weeks.

However, we also recognise that people have ongoing financial commitments while in hospital, and although we consider the six week rule strikes a fair balance between what the state should provide financially and the provision

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individuals should make for themselves, we have nonetheless decided to extend the period before benefits are downrated by a further seven weeks to the 13th week stage. This will mean that people previously affected by the six week rule will be able to keep their benefits untouched if their period of stay in hospital is under 13 weeks. We will introduce this change to coincide with the introduction of Pension Credit.

We have also taken steps to substantially increase the income of all pensioners. For example, we have increased the basic pension above inflation, we have increased the winter fuel payments, we introduced free TV licences and we have increased the amount of the minimum income guarantee and brought more pensioners within its scope by raising the capital limits. When Pension Credit is introduced in 2003, 5.5 million pensioners will be better off and for the first time pensioners will be rewarded, not penalised, for saving. At the same time further increases are proposed—above inflation—to the pensioners' tax allowance. When the State Second Pension is introduced in April 2002 18 million people, including carers, long-term disabled and low to moderate earners, will benefit. This is a substantial package of measures. These are real increases which make all pensioners better off.

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much will be raised in each full year from 2003 by the revised hospital downrating rules announced on 25 February; what proportion will be attributed severally to (a) retirement pensions and (b) other benefits; and how many (i) pensioners and (ii) recipients of other benefits he estimates will still be affected. [39440]

Mr. McCartney: There will be no money raised by the revised hospital downrating rules, to be brought in from October 2003. It will be delivered at a cost to Government of approximately £40 million.

We estimate that up to 5,000 claimants of retirement pension are affected by the 13 to 52 week hospital downrating rule at any point in time. 4,000 claimants of other benefits are also affected.

Notes:

1. All figures are 2001–02 price terms.

2. Some pensioners will have both retirement pension and pension credit. Therefore there is a small amount of overlap in the number of claimants of retirement pension that will still be downrated, and the number of people claiming other benefits that are down-rated. This overlap will not be more than 2,000 people at any point in time.

3. The figures are for all income related benefits and retirement pension.

Pensions and Benefits

18. Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he next expects to meet his Belgian counterpart to discuss pensions and benefits due to UK citizens. [36343]

Malcolm Wicks: Neither I nor my right hon. Friend have any immediate plans for a meeting.

Benefit Fraud

19. Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what targets his Department has set local authorities for benefit fraud prosecutions for 2001–02. [36345]

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Malcolm Wicks: We have not set a target for the number of local authority prosecutions for 2001–02. Our policy is to ensure local authorities improve their performance in combating fraud across the board, from the outset of a claim and throughout its life.

Our new incentive scheme is designed to give clear rewards to local authorities who punish fraudsters with the full range of available penalties, including prosecutions.

Employment Assistance (Disabled People)

21. Mr. Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what support his Department is giving to help those with disabilities to get back into work. [36347]

29. Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to help disabled people back into work. [36355]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: We have introduced a range of measures to help people with disabilities secure work where they are ready and able to do so.

Our new deal for disabled people pilots helped over 8,200 disabled people into work. Building on that success we have now introduced a national network of job brokers.

We are making work possible for people with disabilities by removing benefit barriers. From April we are introducing new, fairer and more flexible work rules for people receiving incapacity benefit. We are making work pay through the disabled person's tax credit and the national minimum wage.

Jobcentre Plus offers disabled people making new or repeat claims to benefit work-focused meetings with a personal adviser so as to ensure they are aware of the help and opportunities available to them.

Employment Assistance

22. Ms Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to help people affected by large-scale redundancies to find work. [36348]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: Through the Rapid Response Service, we are strengthening and expanding the help we can offer people affected by large scale redundancy. We have been developing the service in pilot areas since September 2000, and across all regions since April 2001. All the elements of the service will be in place next month, supported by a further investment of £6 million over two years.

The aim of the service is to support individuals, employers and communities affected by significant redundancies and help people make the transition into sustainable new jobs. The service will work closely with key partners in the local area, such as the Regional Development Agencies, the Learning and Skills Council and trade unions, to co-ordinate an immediate response to a significant redundancy.

Private Pensions

25. Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what targets his Department has to increase private pension provision. [36351]

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Mr. McCartney: As I said last November and again in January, we are committed to encouraging private saving to meet the long-term challenges of an aging population. And we remain committed. That is why we are introducing Pension Credit—making sure it pays to save; we have introduced stakeholder pensions—a secure and value for money vehicle to make private provision; we have launched a simplification review—to reduce the layers of regulation that increase costs; we will replace the Minimum Funding Requirement; and we are implementing the recommendations of the Myners Review; and that is why our pensions education campaign is driving home the message that saving now is the best way to guarantee security tomorrow.

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