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Social Security Fraud Act
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what assessment the Government have made of the impact of the Social Security Fraud Act 2001 on (a) the public and (b) the private rented sector; and if he will make a statement; [69490]
- (2) what assessment has been made of the impact of the Social Security Fraud Act 2001 on public housing waiting lists; and if he will make a statement; [69489]
(3) what discussions the Government have had with the Scottish Executive regarding the impact of the Social Security Fraud Act 2001 on (a) the public and (b) the private housing sectors in Scotland; what action is planned to address resulting issues; and if he will make a statement. [69488]
Malcolm Wicks: The Social Security Fraud Act 2001 provides powers for a range of measures to strengthen our fight against benefit fraud, including information gathering, the exchange of information overseas and disqualifying from benefit people convicted of two or more benefit fraud offences within a three-year period. We have not received any report that these provisions are having any impact on the public housing waiting list or the public and private rented housing sector.
Green Minister
Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions who his Department's Green Minister is; when they (a) have attended and (b) plan to attend meetings of the Green Ministers' Committee; what the outcomes of meetings were for his Department's activities; and if he will make a statement. [65980]
Maria Eagle: Our Green Minister is my noble Friend the Baroness Hollis of Heigham and she was appointed to the ENV (G) Committee in July 2001.
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Following the general election in June 2001, the previously informal Green Ministers Committee was upgraded to a Cabinet Sub-Committee of ENV and it is established practice under exemption two of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees.
In October 2001 DWP published its first annual, free standing Sustainable Development report which details progress across all DWP activities. This is available in the Library and on the internet at www.dwp.gov.uk. The second report will be published in the coming autumn.
Disability Advice Officers
Mr. Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disability advice officers are employed by (a) the Benefits Agency and (b) the Employment Service; and how many of them are able to use sign language. [65524]
Maria Eagle: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive, Leigh Lewis. I have asked him to reply to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Alan Campbell, dated June 2002:
As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the number of disability advice officers and their ability to use sign language. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
Since 1 April 2002 the functions formally performed by the Employment Service and those parts of the Benefits Agency relating to people of working age have been brought together in a new agency, Jobcentre Plus. There are currently within the agency approximately 650 Disability Employment Advisers. No figures are held on how many of those advisers are able to use sign language, but all Jobcentre Plus offices have access to sign language interpreters when required.
I hope this is helpful.
Jobcentres (New Forest)
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement about proposals to close jobcentres in the New Forest district. [61921]
Mr. Nicholas Brown [holding answer 17 June 2002]: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive, Leigh Lewis. He will reply to the hon. Member.
Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Desmond Swayne, dated June 2002:
As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the implementation of Jobcentre Plus in the New Forest area. This falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
Plans are currently being drawn up to implement the new integrated Jobcentre Plus service in Hampshire. As part of this exercise feasibility studies are underway to examine the options for the future delivery of services within the New Forest area. One such option is to acquire new premises in one location in place of the existing Jobcentres in Ringwood, Lymington and Hythe. However, no final decisions have yet been taken.
I hope this is helpful.
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Lone Parents
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents were on Income Support in the Portsmouth, South constituency in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [65375]
Malcolm Wicks: The information is in the table. While these estimates suggest a slight increase in the number of lone parents in Portsmouth, South receiving Income Support, they have been drawn from a 5 per cent. sample of Income Support recipients and are subject to a degree of sampling variation.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 1,600 |
| 2000–01 | 1,700 |
| 2001–02 | 1,800 |
Notes:
1. Figures are based on an average of 5 per cent. samples taken four times in each year. They are subject to a degree of sampling variation.,
2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
3. Lone parents are defined as single people with dependants and who do not receive a pensioner or a disability premium.
Source:
Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries May 1999 to February 2002.
Departmental Offices (Gosport)
Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether replacement offices for the present Gosport jobcentre and the Gosport Social Security office will be located within Gosport. [61883]
Mr. Nicholas Brown [holding answer 17 June 2002]: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive, Leigh Lewis. He will reply to the hon. Member.
Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Peter Viggers, dated June 2002:
As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the implementation of Jobcentre Plus in Gosport. This falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
Plans are currently being drawn up to implement the new integrated Jobcentre Plus service in Hampshire. As part of this exercise feasibility studies are underway to examine the options for the future delivery of services within Gosport. One such option is the acquisition of new premises within the town from which the full Jobcentre Plus service can be delivered. However, no final decisions have yet been taken.
I hope this is helpful.
Care Home Claimants
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the number of children leaving local authority care homes that go on to claim social security benefits in the last year for which figures are available; and what recent research his Department has published into the number of children leaving local authority care homes that go on to claim social security benefits. [68986]
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Maria Eagle: Under the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000, local authorities have a duty to assess and meet the needs of young people aged 16 and 17 who they continue to look after or who have left care. Income-related benefits are therefore not available to these young people. However, other benefits intended to meet a person's special needs, such as non-contributory Incapacity Benefit, may be available. Once they reach 18, care leavers are eligible to claim benefits in the normal way, and in general, the local authority no longer has the major responsibility for their welfare.
The Department holds no data, nor have we published any recent research, on the number of children leaving local authority care homes who go on to claim social security benefits.
Following the introduction of the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000, the Department of Health has commissioned the University of York to conduct an evaluation of the costs and outcomes of young people leaving care. The evaluation report is due early in 2004.
Consultation Documents
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has a designated consultation co-ordinator in accordance with the Cabinet Office code of practice on written consultations. [69831]
Disability Living Allowance
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many recipients of Disability Living Allowance there are aged under 16 years broken down by local authority in Scotland; [69540]
- (2) how many recipients of awards of Disability Living Allowance are also in receipt of Child Benefit, broken down by local authority in Scotland. [69541]
Maria Eagle: The available information, which refers to 30 November 2001, is in the table. Figures for the numbers of people in Scotland who receive both Disability Living Allowance and Child Benefit exclude cases where different members of a family receive the Disability Living Allowance and Child Benefit.
Note:
Figures under 500 are subject to a high degree of sampling variation, and '—' denotes nil or negligible.
Source:
ASD Information Centre, figures taken from a 5 per cent. sample and rounded to the nearest 100.
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