| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
28 Nov 2002 : Column 464W—continued
Child Benefit
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if the Department has drafted a letter for Child Benefit claimants regarding the legal obligation to ensure their children attend school; and if he will make a statement. [83950]
Malcolm Wicks: The letter to parents notifying them of their rate of Child Benefit from April 2003 will be accompanied in England by a leaflet from the Department for Education and Skills on education matters. The leaflet includes a message on parents' responsibilities in ensuring that their children attend school. The letters will be issued from early December. A copy of the leaflet will be placed in the Library.
Disability Living Allowance
Mr. Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of claims for Disability Living Allowance have been (a) refused and (b) granted after a review or appeal since April 2001. [80131]
28 Nov 2002 : Column 465W
Maria Eagle: The exact information requested is unavailable. However we do hold some relevant information and this is shown in the tables.
Notes:
1. Information is available only at a national level.
2. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
Source:
ASD Information Centre, data taken from 100 per cent. extract of monthly management information system.
28 Nov 2002 : Column 466W
| Quarter ending | All claims where DLA was granted | Claims granted on first application | Claims granted on appeal | Claims granted on review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2001 | 66,300 | 53,700 | 9,100 | 3,500 |
| August 2001 | 63,800 | 53,100 | 7,400 | 3,300 |
| November 2001 | 62,900 | 51,500 | 7,700 | 3,600 |
| February 2002 | 59,700 | 49,400 | 6,300 | 4,000 |
| May 2002 | 66,400 | 56,100 | 7,200 | 3,100 |
Note:
Figures are in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
Source:
5 per cent. data taken from the AA/DLA computer system from quarter ending 31 May 2001 to quarter ending 31 May 2002.
| Quarter ending | Cleared | Found in favour | Percentage found in favour | Decided against | Percentage decided against | Decision upheld | Percentage decision upheld |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2001 | 22,800 | 11,940 | 52.4 | 15 | 0.1 | 10,655 | 46.7 |
| August 2001 | 20,055 | 10,610 | 52.9 | 25 | 0.1 | 9,205 | 45.9 |
| November 2001 | 19,950 | 10,565 | 53.0 | 50 | 0.3 | 9,135 | 45.8 |
| February 2002 | 17,300 | 9,425 | 54.5 | 10 | 0.1 | 7,695 | 44.5 |
| May 2002 | 19,865 | 10,710 | 53.9 | 15 | 0.1 | 8,940 | 45.0 |
Notes:
1. All figures are subject to change as more up to date data become available.
2. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
3. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
4. Discrepancies between cleared and breakdown due to outcomes such as withdrawn or misconceived appeals.
Source:
100 per cent. download of the Generic Appeals Processing System.
Disability Premium
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families on Income Support have more than one child which satisfies the criteria for entitlement to the disability premium. [83949]
Malcolm Wicks: In Great Britain, as at August 2002, there were 7,600 Income Support claimants with more than one child receiving either the Disabled Child Premium or both the Disabled Child Premium and Enhanced Disabled Child Premium.
- Source:
- Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, August 2002.
Minimum Income Guarantee
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received regarding changes that may be necessary to the minimum income guarantee claim form. [83953]
Mr. McCartney: Extensive research and consultation were undertaken when developing the new, shorter, minimum income guarantee form (MIG1) however it is, as are all of the Department's forms and leaflets, kept under review.
We have received a request from Carers UK that the claim form be further amended to reflect that, since 28 October 2002, older carers have been able to claim invalid care allowance. The April 2003 re-print of the MIG1 will reflect this point, in the meantime staff handling MIG claims have been alerted to this change.
Post Office Card Account
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will announce the alternative arrangements for those people who will not be able to use the PIN number associated with a post office card account. [83208]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 25 November 2002]: Customers who cannot or do not want to use a card and PIN may want to consider an account with a cheque
28 Nov 2002 : Column 467W
book or pass book. Customers will be supplied with information which clearly sets out their account options (including the key features of each type of account) and enables them to decide which account best meets their needs and circumstances.
The alternative arrangements are not needed until order books and giros cease in 2005 and we expect them to be in place in autumn 2004. Work is currently under way to achieve this. We will ensure that the method introduced will be secure, efficient and available from outlets including post offices.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria are used to decide where the pilot scheme for the Post Office Card Account was to be held. [83650]
Mr. Timms: I have been asked to reply.
Implementation of the Card Account, including any piloting arrangements, is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. within the terms of their contract with the spending departments.
I have therefore asked the Chief Executive of Post Office Ltd. to write direct to the hon. Member.
28 Nov 2002 : Column 468W
Voluntary Sector
Sue Doughty : To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if the Government plans to reform the rules on availability for work to make it easier for people out of paid employment to take voluntary work; and if he will make a statement. [80407]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: We have laid before Parliament draft regulations which will amend the rules on availability for work for jobseeker's allowance recipients. Subject to parliamentary approval, these regulations will extend from 48 hours to one week the period of notice before jobseekers who engage in voluntary work must be available to start employment. In order to ensure that they do not miss out on job opportunities, jobseekers who undertake voluntary work will still be required to be available for an interview at 48 hours' notice.
This relaxation in the rules should make it easier for people out of paid employment to make a greater commitment to volunteering by allowing them to give a week's notice before having to start a job. It should also make it more worthwhile for voluntary organisations to take on unemployed volunteers and offer them development and training opportunities.
We propose to introduce the changes nationally for a trial period of a year so that an evaluation can take place.