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WORK AND PENSIONS
Child Support
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what limit there will be on the pension contribution of a non-resident parent in calculating the assessment under the new Child Support Agency formula. [35373]
Malcolm Wicks: The new calculation will allow for 100 per cent. of any contributions to an Inland Revenue approved occupational, or personal pension scheme. The Inland Revenue sets limits on the percentage of income that can be contributed to a pension scheme; these depend on the contributor's earnings and the date they joined the scheme.
Pensions
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 20 May ref 57511 on
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pensions, what the latest years for which estimates are available on a basis consistent with that used in the 1998 Pensions Green Paper to provide estimates for 1998 are for (a) GAD and DWP data on state spending on pensions and (b) ONS estimates of the size of private pensions in payment; and what the estimates are in both cases. [58805]
Mr. McCartney [holding answer 23 May 2002]: Table A shows the proportion of pension income coming from the state and private sources in each year from 1997–98 to 1999–2000. State pension income corresponds to benefit income as defined in the PI Series. Private pension income corresponds to the sum of occupational pension income and investment income in the PI Series. The percentage figures in Table 1 are derived directly from the average gross income totals in Table 1 of the PI Series (1999–2000).
| 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| State pension income | 58 | 56 | 57 |
| Private pension income | 42 | 44 | 43 |
Note:
All figures rounded to nearest 1 per cent.
State pension income corresponds to PI definition of 'Benefit Income', which includes national insurance benefits received by the elderly, income-related benefits and disability benefits.
Private pension income corresponds to the sum of occupational pension income and investment income. The latter includes income from annuities, personal pensions, property, stocks and shares, as well as income from savings.
For further information on PI methodology and definitions see Section 5, page 10 of Pensioners' Incomes Series (1999–2000).
As the PI Series shows, pensioners also receive income from earnings and 'other' sources. For reference, therefore, it is also possible to estimate the proportion of retirement income comes from state and private sources. This is done in Table B. As with Table A, the proportions here are derived directly from the average gross income totals in Table 1 of the PI Series (1999–2000).
| 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| State retirement income | 53 | 51 | 52 |
| Private retirement income | 47 | 49 | 48 |
Note:
All figures rounded to nearest 1 per cent.
State retirement income corresponds to PI definition of 'Benefit Income', which includes national insurance benefits received by the elderly, income-related benefits and disability benefits.
Private retirement income corresponds to the sum of occupational pension income, earnings, 'other' income and investment income. Investment income includes income from annuities, personal pensions, property,
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stocks and shares, as well as income from savings. 'Other' income includes private benefits such as those from Friendly Societies, and the income of any dependent children, as well as other miscellaneous sources of income.For further information on PI methodology and definitions see Section 5, page 10 of Pensioners' Incomes Series (1999–2000).
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if the National Pensioners Convention is among the organisations he is proposing to consult regarding the draft National Strategy report on pensions; and when the consultation is to take place. [64673]
Mr. McCartney: The National Pensioners Convention is one of a range of organisations which the Department for Work and Pensions has regular contact with. These organisations have been invited to a meeting in July concerning the National Strategy Report.
Computers
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures are (a) in place and (b) under discussion in his Department in order to ensure compliance with the WE Directive. [60745]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Trade and Industry (Mr. Wilson) on 12 June 2002, Official Report, 1266W.
Benefit Sanctions
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath), of 20 May 2002, Official Report, column 29W, what research has been undertaken by his Department into the effects of benefit sanctions; and if he will place a copy of each title in the Library. [63675]
Malcolm Wicks: The research carried out by the Department into the effects of sanctions is listed. Copies of the research reports are available in the Library.
- Unemployment and Jobseeking. DSS Research Report 62, TSO 1997;
Unemployment and Jobseeking after the Introduction of Jobseeker's Allowance. DSS Research Report 99, TSO 1999;
Understanding the Impact of Jobseeker's Allowance. DSS Research Report 11, TSO 2000;
Evaluating Jobseeker's Allowance: A summary of the research findings. DSS Research Report 116, TSO 2000;
Evaluation of Decision Making and Appeals. Employment Service Research Report 83, published July 2001;
The impact of the 26 week sanctioning regime. Employment Service Research Report 100, by British Market Research Bureau, published November 2001;
More Frequent Attendance (MFA) Post implementation Review. Employment Service Research Report 105, published January 2002.
Staff Training
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the Department has spent on staff training and development in each of the last five years. [61069]
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Mr. McCartney: Data on expenditure on staff training and development are available only for the last three years. The Department was created in June 2001. The figures for the two earlier years have been collated from data sources in the former Employment Service and Department of Social Security.
| Expenditure (£ million) | Percentage of running costs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 81.145 | 3.19 |
| 2000–01 | 90.034 | 3.68 |
| 2001–02 | 97.319 | 3.76 |
The figures include trainee and trainer costs, management and administration overheads, and spend on external training provided through Departmental contracts. Costs for accommodation where Departmental estate has been used are not included. (In addition to formal training, staff are developed by a variety of other means.)
The Department is committed to the principles of Investors in People. It considers that effective investment in training and development is essential in equipping staff with the skills and knowledge necessary to meet Government goals and deliver modern services.
Housing Benefit
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to change the practice of allowing local authorities to make direct payment of housing benefit to registered social landlords; and if he will make a statement. [63464]
Malcolm Wicks: We recognise that direct payments of housing benefit to registered social landlords can be both efficient and convenient. However, it has often been argued that routinely paying benefit to the landlord rather than to the tenant whose entitlement it is, can inhibit tenants' choice and discourage personal responsibility. Therefore, although there are no immediate plans to change the current system, it is an issue that we will continue to keep under close review.
New Deal
Mr. Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans there are to increase the financial incentives to employers who employ and retain young people under the New Deal programme. [63757]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: There are no current plans to do so. However we have taken steps to increase both financial and training flexibilities for employers within the New Deal for Young People. Employers, especially small businesses, taking part in the programme have welcomed this increased flexibility.
Employers have a direct input into the programme through the National Employment Panel. This group (formerly known as the New Deal Task Force) was formed in 1997 to ensure that employers, and other key customers, have a strong and permanent voice within the Department.
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This co-operative approach has contributed to the success of the New Deal. Nearly 95,000 employers have signed up, half of whom have never participated in an employment programme before. Many more have taken on New Dealers without formally signing up for the programme, and still more have helped to support New Deal in other ways by providing training or advice on the design of the programme.
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