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WORK AND PENSIONS

Workless Households

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the number of workless households. [48855]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: We have introduced a range of initiatives, including the New Deals, to help people move from dependence on benefits to independence through work. Our new Jobcentre Plus service brings together benefits and employment to provide an integrated work-focused service to ensure that all people of working age claiming benefits are aware of the help and support available to enable them to move into work. There are also 63 Action Teams for Jobs in some of the most deprived areas of the UK. Action Teams provide tailored support to enable people on all working age benefits to move back to work.

In 1997 the number of workless households in Great Britain stood at 3,174,000. The most recent information for 2001 shows this figure has fallen to 2,952,500, a decrease of 221,500 (7.0 per cent). Source: Labour Force Survey, National Statistics.

Employment Action Teams (Newcastle)

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which wards of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne are covered by the services of Employment Action teams; what criteria were used to determine the coverage of the teams; who set those criteria; and whether they are under review. [51486]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: The wards being targeted by the Newcastle upon Tyne Action Team for Jobs are Monkchester, West City, Walker, Byker, Elswick, Benwell, Scotswood, Woolsington, Fawdon, and Kenton. They were selected because their working age employment rate was 58.5 per cent or below. The selection criteria were set by labour market economists in the former Department for Education and Employment and agreed by the Treasury. The wards targeted by the Action Team will be reviewed if there is significant depopulation in any of them.

New Deal

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much on average of the resources allocated to New Deal training is spent on (a) training and (b) administration. [53742]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: The full contract price is payable to New Deal providers. It is not possible to identify separately how much of their funding providers allocate to administration and how much to training. In some circumstances the provider may subcontract some of the training provision. Where this is the case, the provider may retain a management or administration fee. We do not specify the amount that should be retained for this purpose, but we would not expect it to exceed 10 per cent of the contract price. Where an administration fee is retained, it is normally around 6 per cent of the contract price. The appropriateness of the level of administration is assessed as part of the contract tendering process.

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Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will conduct an inquiry into the level of administration in the New Deal programme. [53743]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: We keep the level of New Deal administration under constant review. Significant reductions have already been made, for example, in the number of forms needing completion. We are looking at ways to reduce administrative burdens even further. For instance, we are considering how we can use information technology more effectively as a means of exchanging information between providers and Jobcentre Plus.

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will conduct an inquiry into the proportion of the budget spent on administration by individual training providers under the New Deal programmes. [53745]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: Providers are already subject to contractual and quality audits, which cover their administrative arrangements. Jobcentre Plus Regional Contracts Managers, District Quality Management Teams and the Adult Learning Inspectorate conduct individual provider assessments and reviews which cover the administration, delivery, quality and propriety of the provision being delivered. Providers' administrative arrangements are monitored to ensure appropriate records are being kept for audit purposes.

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that the resources allocated for training under the New Deal are spent on training. [53746]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: New Deal providers are subject to thorough contractual and quality audits. These specifically consider the delivery of training against the requirements set out in providers' contracts. Jobcentre Plus Regional Contracts Managers, District Quality Management Teams and the Adult Learning Inspectorate conduct individual provider assessments and reviews, which cover the administration, delivery, quality and propriety of the provision being delivered.

Committee Mandates

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the mandate of the Advisory Committee on Employment is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [55225]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: The legal base of the Employment Committee is Article 130 of the Treaty establishing the European Community.

The Committee's mandate is to promote co-ordination between Member Sates on employment and labour market policies. The Committee has the tasks of: monitoring the employment situation and employment policies in the Member States and in the Community; formulating opinion at the request of either the Council or the Commission; and, contributing to the preparation of the European Employment Strategy.

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The Committee has met seven times over the past 12 months.

The size of UK delegation (drawn from officials in the Department for Work and Pensions and the department for Education and Skills) varies between two and three depending on the agenda for the meeting. In addition, for the next 12 months, the Committee is chaired by a UK official.

The cost to public funds of UK attendance for Committee meetings in Brussels was approximately £11,550. The Commission reimburses the travel costs of two delegates per meeting. Over the period, this reimbursement amounted to some £5,600. The Chairman's costs are funded directly by the Commission.

The Committee's agenda over the next few months will focus on examining the National Employment Action Plans for 2002 which were submitted by the Member States on 1 May 2002 and considering proposals for the future of the European Employment Strategy.

My right hon. Friend, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has responsibility for UK employment policy and is accountable to Parliament for the work of the UK Government members on the Committee. The Department for Work and Pensions prepares explanatory memoranda on EU documents that are deposited in Parliament for scrutiny. These arrangements will continue.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the mandate of the Advisory Committee on social security for migrant workers is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [55232]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: The Advisory Committee on Social Security for Migrant Workers is set up under Articles 82 and 83 of Regulation (EEC) 1408/71, which contains the rules for co-ordination of Member States' social security schemes for workers who move within the European Economic Area. Its role is to examine questions arising from the implementation of Regulation 1408/71 and Regulation (EEC) 574/72 (the procedures for implementing Regulation 1408/71), to formulate opinions for the Administrative Commission and proposals for revision of the Regulations.

The Committee has met once during the last twelve months. It is chaired by the Presidency of the day and the UK representation consists of two officials from the Department for Work and Pensions (normally only one attends), three trade union representatives and three employers' representatives. Costs to UK public funds were limited to the official's expenses, approximately £500, less any reimbursements provided by the European Commission.

On the agenda at the last meeting were the Chairman's report on changes to Community legislation, a report of the work of the Administrative Commission from its Chairman, a report on the decisions of the European Court of Justice since the last Committee meeting, a report on

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developments in the Technical Commission programme and information on the state of play in the process of enlargement of the EU.

Any proposals for revision of the social security co-ordinating regulations made by the Committee and adopted by the European Commission would be subject to scrutiny by the UK Parliament.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the mandate of the Advisory Committee on the free movement of workers is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [55233]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: The Advisory Committee on the freedom of movement of workers is set up under Articles 24 and 25 of Regulation (EEC) No 1612/68, on the freedom of movement of workers within the European Community. Its role is to assist the European Commission in the examination of any questions arising from the application of the Treaty in matters concerning the freedom of movement of workers and their employment.

The Committee normally meets twice a year. The UK representatives are two officials from the Department of Work and Pensions, two employers' representatives and two trades union representatives. Costs to UK public funds are limited to the expenses of the one or two officials who attend each meeting, approximately £1,500 per annum less any reimbursements provided by the Commission.

On the agenda at the last meeting were reports from the European Commission on enlargement of the European Union, latest developments of the European Employment Services network, developments on a Communication from the Commission: "New European Labour Markets, open to all with access to All", implementation of Directive 96/71/EEC on posting of workers and on the Commission's legislative and policy initiatives concerning third country nationals; and a report on relevant judgements of the European Court of Justice since the previous Committee meeting.

The Committee assists the European Commission in matters concerning the free movement of workers. Any proposals it made for revising Regulation (EEC) 1612/68 that were adopted by the Commission would be subject to UK Parliamentary scrutiny.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the mandate of the Technical Committee for the implementation of regulations concerning the free movement and employment of workers is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [55234]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: The Technical Commission is set up under Article 117c of Regulation (EEC) 574/72, which lays down the procedures for implementing Regulation (EEC) 1408/71 (coordination of Member

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States' social security schemes for workers who move within the European Economic Area). The Commission's mandate is to improve and modernise the administration of Regulation 1408/71, with particular regard to the increased use of information technology.

The Commission meets four times a year. It is chaired by the Presidency of the day and the UK representation consists of two officials of the Department for Work and Pensions and a specialist from the Department's IT provider. Costs to UK public funds are about £2,000 per annum, after reimbursements provided by the European Commission.

Items of work currently under consideration include, replacing present paper based exchanges of data with electronic methods; improving clearance times for old age pension claims by documenting best practice in member states; linking of national web sites to improve information to people moving abroad to work and the proposed European Health Insurance Card.

The Technical Commission is accountable to the Administrative Commission for Social Security for Migrant Workers to whom it presents an annual work plan and progress report.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the mandate of the Administrative Commission on social security for migrant workers (and working parties) is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [55235]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: The Administrative Commission on social security for migrant workers is set up under Articles 80 and 81 of Regulation EC 1408/71, which lays down the rules for co-ordination of Member States' social security schemes for workers who move within the European Economic Area. The Administrative Commission's main function is to deal with administrative questions and questions of interpretation of the provisions of Regulation 1408/71. This enables consistency in implementation across the Member States. Among its other tasks are the fostering and development of

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co-operation between Member States in social security matters and it may submit proposals for revising the Regulation.

The Administrative Commission has met five times in the last year (and there have been three meetings of the working party). It is chaired by the Presidency of the day and the UK representation is normally two officials from the Department for Work and Pensions and one each from the Department of Health and the Inland Revenue (the latter has responsibility for National Insurance and tax credits, both of which come within the scope of the Regulation). Normally only one or two officials attend working party meetings. Annual cost to UK public funds is limited to expenses, amounting to about £12,000, less any reimbursements provided by the European Commission.

Items on the agenda of the last meeting of the Administrative Commission included technical adaptations to be made to Regulation 1408/71 with a view to the next enlargement of the EU; a report on the implementation of the Regulation's provisions for posted workers; questions relating to the social security insurance liability of certain categories of worker; the proposed European Health Insurance card; questions relating to the benefit entitlement of pensioners staying in a Member State other than the one where they live, changes to a form Member States use to facilitate benefit claims when more than one State is involved and matters relating to electronic issue of documents. Working party meetings discuss in more depth questions arising from the Regulation and from the procedures for implementing it.

Any proposals for new or revised Regulations made by the Administrative Commission and adopted by the European Commission would be subject to UK Parliamentary scrutiny.

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