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Performance Targets
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) cost and (b) coverage is of each PPP/PFI for information systems and technology services now operating in his Department; on what date each agreement was made; and what the performance indicators are for each such contract in each year of operation. [62026]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: The Department of Social Security and the Employment Service had both made their own contractual arrangements for Information Systems and Technology Services prior to merging to form the Department for Work and Pensions.
(a) Cost:
Information concerning the cost of each PPI/PFI for information systems and technology services is commercially confidential and is not provided in line with part 2 paragraph 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
(b) Coverage:
The Department has let four PPP/PFI business allocations for information systems and technology services to date under the ACCORD contract.
The Strategic Outsourcing Business Allocation (SOBA) conferred lead supplier status on EDS/Affinity and gave them responsibility for maintenance, development and operation of the Department's IT systems, together with a range of related IT services. This business allocation commenced in September 2000.
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The Child Support Reforms business allocation was awarded to EDS/Affinity, to provide new IT systems in support of the Child Support Agency. This business allocation commenced in September 2000. The Wide Area Network (WAN) services business allocation was awarded to BT Syntegra in November 2000, to deliver flexible and scaleable networking services to support the next generation of IT systems being delivered to support departmental business initiatives.
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The Pensions Forecasting Service (PFS) was awarded to EDS/Affinity on 6 June 2002 for the provision of modernised IT to support the Department's requirement to issue increased numbers and types of state pension forecasts.
The information concerning the departmental key performance indicators are listed in the table:
| Year of operation | PPP/PFI business allocation | Key performance indicator |
|---|---|---|
| From September 2000 to August 2010 | SOBA and WAN | National availability of full, end-to-end service for key services of no less than 98.5 per cent. including service extensions and overtime (End of SOBA Year 1—target met (and exceeded) by EDS/Affinity. Latest performance report for quarter ending 21 April 2002 also demonstrates target met and exceeded). 95 per cent. of incidents resolved within agreed time scales (End of SOBA Year 1—target met (and exceeded) by EDS/Affinity. Latest performance report for quarter ending 21 April 2002 also demonstrates target met and exceeded) |
| From September 2000 to August 2005 | SOBA | 25 per cent. productivity gains in development of Legacy Systems over five years with a 2 per cent. improvement by August 2001; a 9 per cent. improvement by August 2002; a 17 per cent. improvement by August 2003; a 22 per cent. improvement by August 2004 and the 25 per cent. improvement by August 2005. (Performance delivered against target profile so far) |
| From September 2000 to August 2010 | SOBA | Development productivity gains should not result in reduction in quality (Quality indicators demonstrate compliance) |
| From CSR Live. Implementation (not yet implemented) until August 2010 | CSR | Service availability, service response times, data transfer, payments issued, bulk outputs issues. These are monthly indicators with specific targets and service payments will be reduced for failure to meet these |
| From 6 June 2002 to 2006 | PFS | Service availability, service response times, accurate and timely combined pensions forecasts, accurate and timely individual pensions forecasts. Once the contract system is in operation these monthly indicators and specific targets will apply; service payments will be reduced for failure to meet these |
Employment Service
(a) Costs
Information concerning the cost of each PPI/PFI for information systems and technology services is commercially confidential and is not provided in line with part 2 paragraph 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
(b) Coverage
The Employment Service has let two PPP/PFI business allocations for information systems and technology services to date.
On 1 August 1998 the Employment Service (ES) entered into a partnership agreement with EDS (Electronic Data Systems) for provision of all IT and telephony services. In October 2000 the contract was re-negotiated as part of the Modernising Employment Services (MES) programme.
On 3 February 1997 ES entered into a contract with Siemens Nixdorf Systems Ltd. for provision of the Employment Service Guidance and Communications Project (Escom). The contract expires 3 February 2003.
The information concerning the Employment Service key performance indicators is listed in the table.
| Year of operation | PPP/PFI Contract | Key performance indicator |
|---|---|---|
| Life of contract | EDS (IT and telephony) | Service, availability, incident resolution. National availability of service on all major applications is 99.5 per cent. Some smaller applications have targets of 98 per cent. Performance reports over the previous 12 months have demonstrated that in the main, targets have been met or exceeded. There have been some small drops in the Labour Market Service (LMS) performance figures over the year as a result of major releases and changes to the system. Where this has been the case service credits have been applied accordingly. Incident resolution targets of 90 per cent. for priority 1–3 cases have been met and regularly exceeded |
| Life of contract | SNS (Escom) | Availability, access levels, volume of data storage. Targets are in line with the service from EDS (IT and telephony) ie 99.5 per cent. Performance over the last 12 months has been between 99.5 per cent. and 99.8 per cent. demonstrating targets met and exceeded |
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Incapacity Benefit
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many personal capability assessments were carried out by the Benefits Agency in (a) the last six months and (b) the last 12 months. [64331]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: The Personal Capability Assessment is used to determine ongoing entitlement to Incapacity Benefit. It is a functional test carried out by Medical Services' doctors that assesses a person's ability to perform a range of every-day activities. Personal Capability Assessments have been extended in areas covered by integrated Jobcentre plus offices and work- focused interview sites so that examining doctors can produce capability reports for Personal Advisers. These reports provide constructive information to help plan a person's return to work where appropriate.
The information is in the table.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| December 2001—May 2002 | 258,338 |
| June 2001—May 2002 | 504,420 |
Source:
IMPACT data.
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people attending work-focused interviews at Jobcentre Plus offices since 22 October 2001, have (a) moved from incapacity benefit into employment, (b) transferred to other social security benefits and (c) remained in receipt of incapacity benefit at (i) the same level, (i) a higher level and (iii) a lower level; [64332]
- (2) how many incapacity benefit claimants have been referred for a personal capability assessment as a result of a work-focused interview at a Jobcentre Plus office since 22 October 2001. [64333]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: The information is not available in the format requested.
Work-focused interviews provide people making new or repeat claims to Incapacity Benefit with a valuable opportunity to discuss their work options, as well as their benefit claim, and to find out from their personal adviser the practical and financial support that is available to help them move into work. These interviews are separate from the Personal Capability Assessment, which is a functional test that assesses a person's ability to perform a range of everyday activities, and which is used to determine ongoing entitlement to Incapacity Benefit after 28 weeks of sickness.
Statutory Instruments
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many statutory instruments have been (a) introduced, (b) removed and (c) amended by his Department since 1 January; and what the (i) cost and (ii) saving has been in each case. [64640]
Mr. McCartney: The Department for Work and Pensions has introduced 52 statutory instruments between 1 January and 30 June 2002. Thirty-six of these were amendment instruments; eight were commencement instruments; two were Regulatory Reform Orders; one
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was a revocation order. Many of the instruments concerned were of a routine nature, for example, updating benefit regulations.
Information relating to costs and savings associated with these instruments, and to repealed and amended regulations, is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
However, a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) is completed for each regulatory proposal which impacts on business, charities, or the voluntary sector, unless there are no or negligible costs. The Department for Work and Pensions has published four final RIAs in this period, three of which identified savings for business. These RIAs are available in the House Libraries and on the Department's website.
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