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Digital Equipment
Mr. Yeo: To ask the President of the Council how many digital radios are owned by his Department for use in departmental buildings from which Ministers work; and what the (a) cost and (b) date of purchase of each radio was. [52856]
WORK AND PENSIONS
Incapacity Benefit
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many claimants have been in receipt of incapacity benefit payment for (a) six months or less, (b) between six months and one year, (c) between one and two years and (d) between two and five years; [27873]
- (2) what the average period of payment is for current claimants of incapacity benefit; and what the comparable averages were in each year since 1997; [27874]
(3) how many people received payment of incapacity benefit in each year since 1997; and how many of these represented new claims; [27875]
(4) how many new claimants of incapacity benefit in the last six months represented (a) transfers from other social security benefits, (b) people moving from employment onto benefit and (c) people moving onto benefit from unknown origins; [27876]
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(5) how many people leaving incapacity benefit in the last six months represented (a) transfers to other social security benefits, (b) people moving from benefit into employment and (c) people moving off benefit to unknown destinations; [27877]
(6) what percentage of the working age population is in receipt of incapacity benefit; and what the comparable averages were in each year since 1997; [27878]
(7) how many new claimants of incapacity benefit in the last six months had been in receipt of either (a) jobseeker's allowance or (b) income support at any time during the previous 12 months. [27879]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: We are committed to helping Incapacity Benefit (IB) recipients into work where they wish to do so and to provide security for those who cannot. Since 22 October 2001, people making new or repeat claims to IB in the Jobcentre Plus pathfinder offices are required to participate in a Jobcentre Plus interview and a review at least every three years.
The reviews enable IB customers to discuss with their Personal Advisor the help, benefits and opportunities available to them. The interviews also provide an ideal opportunity for people to participate in the New Deal schemes.
For many people the key aim of the review is to ensure that they are receiving the right level of benefit. For others we can show them the help and support that is available to enable them to move back into full or part-time work.
The available information is in the tables:
The number of people in Great Britain receiving Incapacity Benefit (IB) at 30 November 2001, by the duration of their claim.
| Duration of IB | Number (Thousands) | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 1,503.8 | |
| (a) | Under six months | 132.5 |
| (b) | Six months to one year | 108.7 |
| (c) | One to two years | 154.9 |
| (d) | Two to five years | 348.6 |
Notes:
1. Figures are expressed as thousands and are rounded to the nearest hundred.
2. The table includes a small number of people who are resident overseas.
Source:
Figures are taken from a 5 per cent sample of the Incapacity Benefit computer system and exclude a small number of cases held clerically.
| Average IB claim duration at: | Average Duration (weeks) |
|---|---|
| 31 March 2001 | 328 |
| 31 March 2000 | 326 |
| 31 March 1999 | 315 |
| 31 March 1998 | 302 |
| 31 March 1997 | 292 |
Note:
Average duration has been rounded to the nearest week.
Source:
Figures are taken from 1 per cent sample of claimants.
The number of people who were receiving IB in Great Britain and the number that were new awards.
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| Thousands | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IB recipients current at some time in the previous year | Of whom were current IB recipients at the dates shown | Total who started a non-linking 1 spell in the previous year (new awards) | |
| 31 March 2001 | 1,979 | 1,573 | 388 |
| 31 March 2000 | 1,995 | 1,514 | 364 |
| 31 March 1999 | 2,125 | 1,615 | 379 |
| 31 March 1998 | 2,287 | 1,729 | 456 |
| 31 March 1997 | 2,362 | 1,798 | 488 |
Notes:
1. These figures do not include IB claims, which link to a previous IB claim, although they may link with Statutory Sick Pay.
2. The table includes a small number of people who are resident overseas.
Source:
Figures are taken from 1 per cent samples of the Incapacity Benefit Computer System.
Information on Incapacity Benefit claimants immediately prior to a new claim or immediately after ceasing claiming IB.
Information on the status of IB claimants immediately prior to starting a claim and immediately after ceasing to claim is not available.
Percentage of the working age population in Great Britain receiving Incapacity Benefit (IB)
| IB recipients at: | IB as a percentage of the working age population |
|---|---|
| 31 August 2001 | 4.2 |
| 31 August 2000 | 4.2 |
| 31 August 1999 | 4.3 |
| 31 August 1998 | 4.3 |
| 31 August 1997 | 4.5 |
Sources:
Figures are taken from 5 per cent samples of the benefit computer system, which excludes a small number of cases held clerically.
Population data are from the Office for National Statistics, mid-year population estimates.
Note:
The table includes a small number of people who are resident overseas.
Number of Incapacity Benefit (IB) spells commencing in the period 1 December 2000 to 31 May 2001 in Great Britain, and whether they had been in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) or Income Support (IS) at some time in the previous year.
26 Apr 2002 : Column 473W
| Thousands | |
|---|---|
| All IB commencements | 330.5 |
| Both Income Support and JSA shown | 29.7 |
| IS only shown | 40.5 |
| JSA only shown | 90.7 |
| No IS / JSA shown | 169.5 |
Notes:
1. Figures are expressed as thousands and are rounded to the nearest hundred.
2. Not all of these shown in the table below will have moved directly from JSA or IS to IB, some will have worked in between claims.
3. The table includes a small number of cases where the customer is resident overseas and excludes a small number of short duration Income Support claims.
Source:
Figures are taken from merges between 5 per cent samples of the IS, JSA and IB benefit computer system extracts.
Data Protection Act
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the Department's procedure is for responding to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998; if he will place a copy in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [33483]
Mr. McCartney: The Department's Procedures for responding to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 is documented within the DWP Data Protection Manual. A copy of the manual has been placed in the Library.
Official Visits
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will list the official visits to (a) Paris and (b) Brussels made by each Minister in his Department in 2001 and the mode of travel used; and what guidance is provided to Ministers in his Department on the choice of mode of travel for such visits; [38152]
- (2) if he will list the official visits within the UK outside London made by each Minister in his Department in 2001, giving for each (a) the origin and destination and (b) the mode of travel used; and what guidance is provided to Ministers in his Department on choice of mode of travel for official visits. [38188]
26 Apr 2002 : Column 474W
Mr. McCartney: I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided by my hon. Friend for Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 6 March 2002, Official Report, column 421W.
External Contracts
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) which non-accounting and non-information technology external organisations have won new contracts with (a) his Department and (b) executive agencies in each of the past five years; [38723] (2) which non-accounting and non-information technology external organisations which previously held contracts with his Department (a) won new contracts at the culmination of the existing contracts and (b) won new contracts after a period of inactivity with his Department in each of the past five years. [38724]
Mr. Nicholas Brown [holding reply 28 February 2002]: The questions cover a period prior to the establishment of the Department for Work and Pensions in June 2001. The information requested on contracts let by the ex Employment Service and ex-Department of Social Security is not held centrally in the new Department and the question could only be answered at disproportionate cost.
The Department for Work and Pensions lets a large number of contracts in a year, most of which are for low value purchases. The information required to answer the question is not collected centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
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