House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 21 Jan 2003 (pt 15)

21 Jan 2003 : Column 259W—continued

Annual Report

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much producing his Department's latest Annual Report cost; how many copies were printed; how many copies of it were sold at its cover price; to whom copies of the report have been provided free of charge; and how many copies were provided free of charge. [90892]

Mr. McCartney: The Department for Work and Pensions published its first Departmental Report in May 2002. The cost of production incurred by the Department was £94,940. The costs of printing and publishing are met by the publisher, The Stationery Office Limited, and do not fall to government.

2,450 copies of the report were produced of which 2,010 were for the Department's use. Distribution details are set out in the following table..

21 Jan 2003 : Column 260W

The production and sale of remaining copies of the report are matters for the publisher.

Distribution of the Department for Work and Pensions Departmental Report

Recipients Number of copies distributed free of charge

Social Security Advisory Committee 15

Work and Pensions Select Committee 16

Chair of the Treasury Select Committee 1

Opposition spokesmen 6

Departmental managers 1 ,745

Laying in the House and House Libraries 27

House of Lords 50

Vote Office 150

Total 2,010

Recipients	Number of copies distributed free of charge
Social Security Advisory Committee	15
Work and Pensions Select Committee	16
Chair of the Treasury Select Committee	1
Opposition spokesmen	6
Departmental managers	1 ,745
Laying in the House and House Libraries	27
House of Lords	50
Vote Office	150
Total	2,010

Benefit Payments

Mr. Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many respondents have opted for payment (a) by credit transfer into an existing bank or building society account, (b) by credit transfer into a new basic bank account and (c) by means of a Post Office Card Account, broken down by social security benefit for which letters have been sent to recipients asking them to specify how they wish to receive payments following the switch to ACT; and if he will make a statement. [92185]

Malcolm Wicks: As at 10 January 103,023 customers have responded and opted for payment into a bank or building society account.

This is made up of 72,458 Child Benefit customers and 30,565 Veterans Agency customers.

We do not distinguish between existing or basic bank accounts.

The total number of customers requesting Post Office card accounts is 26,297. This is made up of 8,854 Child Benefit customers and 17,443 Veterans Agency customers.

Child Support Agency

Mr. Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many CSA cases from the Wansbeck constituency are being dealt with by the Child Support Agency and how many new cases were received in each of the last five years. [88153]

Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Doug Smith. He will write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Mike Isaac to Mr. Dennis Murphy, dated January 2003:

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. He is unavailable at this time so I am replying on his behalf.

You ask how many cases from your constituency are being dealt with by the Child Support Agency; and how many new cases were received in each of the last five years.

I'm afraid I do not have precise numbers.

21 Jan 2003 : Column 261W

We have however estimated that around 4,800 cases are currently being dealt with where the applicant resides in the Wansbeck Constituency. In each of the years 31st March 1998 to 1999 we received around 500 cases, each of the years 31st March 2000 to 2001 we received around 200 cases and in the year to 31st March 2002 we received less than 100 cases.

External Consultants

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost to his Department was of the use of external consultants in 2002. [90514]

Mr. McCartney: The total cost to DWP of the use of external consultants in the 2001–02 financial year was £169.494 million.

Job Sharing

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the extent of job sharing in his Department. [90858]

Mr. McCartney: Nine people are currently employed in this department on a 'formal' job share basis as at 30 November 2002. However, over 30,000 people work part-time, including some who are employed on an Informal' job share basis.

Our Equal Opportunities statement actively promotes and supports the use of flexible working patterns to enable those working for us to balance home and work responsibilities. Jobsharing is just one of the alternative and flexible working patterns that employees are welcome to take up. The flexibility of the jobshare is decided in conjunction with local management to suit an individuals need and the needs of their work. The Department operates Flexible Working Hours (FWH) Schemes wherever practicable. The framework gives managers discretion and freedom to develop FWH schemes to suit their individual business and staff needs.

All vacancies are open to people with different working patterns, unless real operational needs preclude it.

21 Jan 2003 : Column 262W

Pension Credit

Sir Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of the pension credit on the mean benefit income of single pensioners and couples in (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06, by quintile. [90372]

Mr. McCartney: The table provides our current assessment of the impact of pension credit in 2004–05 on the mean weekly benefit income of single adults of state pension age or over, and couples where the man is aged 65 or over. This chart includes pension credit direct effects only, and excludes any related increases in housing benefit or council tax benefit. Cases have been placed in overall population quintiles. Due to the uncertainties inherent in the predictions the results have been rounded to the nearest 50p.

£

Quintile Bottom Second Third Fourth Top Average

Average weekly pension credit gain 6.50 7.00 3.50 1.50 0.50 4.50

Quintile	Bottom	Second	Third	Fourth	Top	Average
Average weekly pension credit gain	6.50	7.00	3.50	1.50	0.50	4.50

The distributional impact of our policies is assessed by the Department, when it is appropriate and robust to do so, by using simulation modelling based on the family resources survey. At present the simulations are based on the 2000–01 survey sample and the departmental analysts do not regard projected distributional results for 2005–06 to be robust, nor results for 2004–05 analysed by family type. All projections of distributional consequences for 2004–05 are subject to a variety of assumptions and should be treated with caution.

Pensioners' Incomes Series

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will recalculate table 14 of the Pensioners' Incomes Series excluding all those with earnings. [90824]

Mr. McCartney: The information requested is in the table.

Components of mean gross income of pensioner units, excluding those with earnings, by quintile of the net income distribution, 1994–05 and 2000–01Results based upon data from the FRS Incomes in £ per week, 2000–01 prices

Quintiles of the income distribution

Bottom fifth Next fifth Middle fifth Next fifth Top fifth Overall mean

1994–95 Means

Pensioner couples

Gross income 143 183 227 307 552 264

Of which:

Benefit income 125 145 155 154 139 143

Occupational pension 11 27 56 122 283 87

Investment income 7 11 15 31 126 33

Earnings * * * * * *

Other income * 1 * * 5 1

Single pensioners

Gross income 80 104 123 151 275 144

Of which:

Benefit income 72 87 105 111 115 97

Occupational pension 3 11 13 30 105 31

Investment income 5 6 5 10 52 15

Earnings * * * * * *

Other income * * * 1 4 1

2001–02 Means

Pensioner couples

Gross income 157 211 267 360 634 302

Of which:

Benefit income 134 161 173 168 156 158

Occupational pension 15 36 73 154 334 106

Investment income 8 14 19 37 141 37

Earnings * * * * * *

Other income * * 1 1 3 1

Single pensioners

Gross income 88 124 148 188 318 169

Of which:

Benefit income 80 103 118 128 141 113

Occupational pension 4 15 22 45 119 39

Investment income 4 5 6 13 55 16

Earnings * * * * * *

Other income * 1 1 2 3 1

	Quintiles of the income distribution
	Bottom fifth	Next fifth	Middle fifth	Next fifth	Top fifth	Overall mean
1994–95 Means
Pensioner couples
Gross income	143	183	227	307	552	264
Of which:
Benefit income	125	145	155	154	139	143
Occupational pension	11	27	56	122	283	87
Investment income	7	11	15	31	126	33
Earnings	*	*	*	*	*	*
Other income	*	1	*	*	5	1

Single pensioners
Gross income	80	104	123	151	275	144
Of which:
Benefit income	72	87	105	111	115	97
Occupational pension	3	11	13	30	105	31
Investment income	5	6	5	10	52	15
Earnings	*	*	*	*	*	*
Other income	*	*	*	1	4	1
2001–02 Means
Pensioner couples
Gross income	157	211	267	360	634	302
Of which:
Benefit income	134	161	173	168	156	158
Occupational pension	15	36	73	154	334	106
Investment income	8	14	19	37	141	37
Earnings	*	*	*	*	*	*
Other income	*	*	1	1	3	1

Single pensioners
Gross income	88	124	148	188	318	169
Of which:
Benefit income	80	103	118	128	141	113
Occupational pension	4	15	22	45	119	39
Investment income	4	5	6	13	55	16
Earnings	*	*	*	*	*	*
Other income	*	1	1	2	3	1

Notes:

1. These figures show very little difference in the first four quintiles to those

published in the Pensioners' Incomes Series, which include pensioner units with earnings. Gross and investment income for pensioners without earnings in quintile five and the overall mean are slightly lower than for those with earnings, and these pensioners also contribute a higher proportion of their gross income to benefits.

2. The estimates are from the Family Resources Survey 1994–05 and 2000–01, which is the latest year for which results are available. The survey covers Great Britain and does not include people living in residential care or nursing homes.

3. As with data from any survey, these estimates should not be treated as exact as they are subject to sampling error. In particular, great care should be taken when comparing groups with similar incomes, or looking at changes in income over a short time period, since random sampling fluctuations mean that estimates should be regarded as a broad indication of trends only.

4. Incomes are in £ per week and are at 2000–01 prices.

5. Estimates have been rounded to the nearest £1. Estimates of less than £0.50 are labelled '*'.

6. The distribution of income is based on net unequivalised income (unequivalised income refers to the actual cash amount directly received by pensioner units), and has been calculated separately for singles and couples, i.e. estimates for pensioner couples show income for each quintile of the pensioner couples' income distribution.

7. Single pensioners are defined as single (non-cohabiting) people over state pension age (65 and over for men, 60 and over for women). Pensioner couples are defined as couples (married or cohabiting) where the man is over state pension age.

21 Jan 2003 : Column 263W

Next Section

Index

Home Page