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26 Feb 2003 : Column 598W—continued
Demography
Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the latest estimates are of the proportion of the population aged (a) 50 or over, (b) 55 or over, (c) 60 or over and (d) 65 or over actively engaged in the labour market. [96730]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: The information is in the table.
| Economic activity rate (percentage) | |
|---|---|
| Aged 50(16) | 37.7 |
| Aged 55(16) | 27.0 |
| Aged 60(16) | 14.0 |
| Aged 65(16) | 5.5 |
(16) or over
Notes:
1. Estimates are not seasonally adjusted and are not subject to an adjustment for census 2001 results
2. Economic Activity is based on International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
3. Figures exclude those living in communal establishments.
Source:
Labour Force Survey, Autumn 2002
Disability Benefits
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his assessment is of the reasons underlying the growth in spending on disability benefits between 1997–98 and 2003–04 (planned); and if he will make a statement. [97353]
Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave to him on 12 February 2003, Official Report, column 801W in the case of disability living allowance. Similar reasons apply also in the case of attendance allowance, which provides a contribution towards the extra costs faced by people who become severely disabled after the age of 65. Spending on both these benefits has increased steadily year on year because more people than ever are receiving them and because their value has been maintained by increasing the rates at which they are paid each year in line with the movement in prices as measured by the retail prices index.
26 Feb 2003 : Column 599W
Employers' Liability Insurance
Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of businesses operating in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland without employers' liability cover; and if he will make a statement. [82828]
Mr. Nicholas Brown [holding answer 25 November 2002]: In England, Scotland and Wales the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforces the legal requirement for companies to maintain Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI) and to display a valid certificate. The HSE undertakes this enforcement activity during general inspections by HSE Inspectors and through the work of its Workplace Contact Officers who focus on small and medium-size enterprises.
Workplace Contact Officers and Inspectors may ask to see a valid ELCI certificate during a visit. Where the certificate cannot be produced at the visit, HSE will write to the employer, and if no satisfactory response is received within a reasonable time that is 21 days under current instructions, will make a statutory request ('Notice to Produce') for its production. However, there may be circumstances where HSE considers it appropriate to issue a Notice to Produce straightaway where an employer fails to produce a valid certificate. Failure to produce a certificate will result in on-site inquires and prosecution, subject to evidence.
A total of 4,366 contacts were made by Workplace Contact Officers between April and September 2002. Of these, just 14 (or 0.3 per cent.) merited the serving of a statutory notice to produce. In addition, HSE Inspectors carry a large number of issues during regulatory contacts, but because of the varying nature and range of visits undertaken, it is not possible to give exact figures as to how many of these regulatory contacts covered the issue of ELCI. However, during the same period of April to September 2002, HSE inspectors issued an additional 30 Notices to Produce. So the total number of Notices to Produce issued by HSE in this 6-month period was 44.
Of those served notices, 31 employers (70 per cent.) have subsequently produced valid ELCI certificates. Inquiries relating to the 13 employers who have failed to produce ELCI certificates are continuing and may result in prosecution, subject to evidence.
There were four prosecutions in 2002 resulting in penalties being imposed in three cases. Between 1997 and 2001, HSE successfully pursued 25 prosecutions for non-compliance.
The above figures cover England, Scotland and Ireland. There is not available a breakdown for each area.
In Northern Ireland a total of 1,924 visits to work places were made by HSE (Northern Ireland) Inspectors between April and September 2002. Inspectors routinely check on ELCI cover during visits although, as with HSE in England, Scotland and Wales, it is not possible to give exact figures as to how many of these visits covered the issue of ELCI. However, during the time period referred to above, no employers were detected by HSE (Northern Ireland) to be operating without ELCI.
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HSE (Northern Ireland) records show one prosecution in recent years relating to ELCI in Northern Ireland. In December 2000, an employer was convicted for non-compliance.
These figures suggest that levels of compliance remain very high. However, the Government are aware of the recent problems being faced by employers in getting ELCI, and we announced in the Pre-Budget Report our intention to undertake a formal review of the operation of ELCI.
European Year of the Disabled
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what projects have been planned for the European Year of the Disabled, broken down by constituency. [97829]
Maria Eagle: The information has been placed in the Library.
IFI/Richardsons Plant
Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of the closure of the IFI/Richardsons plant in Belfast on home workers based outside Northern Ireland. [97206]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: As a result of the closure of the IFI/Richardsons plant in Belfast, three sales personnel based outside of Northern Ireland were made redundant. We understand the problems faced by those affected by redundancy, and we have introduced a range of policies to help people who lose their jobs to find another one quickly.
New Deal
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have participated in New Deal 25 plus; and how many people have left the scheme for work. [93318]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: The information requested is in the table.
| Total number of participants | Total number of people moving into jobs | Number of leavers moving into unsubsidised, sustained employment(17) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Deal 25 plus (from July1998 to September 2002) | 534,400 | 126,300 | 93,600 |
(17) To have left the programme, New Deal clients must not re-claim Jobseeker's Allowance within 13 weeks. Sustained employment is defined as employment lasting 13 weeks or more. Therefore, all jobs gained by New Deal leavers are sustained jobs.
In April 2001, New Deal 25 plus was re-engineered to provide a flexible, more individually-tailored service to help more people get jobs and remain in them.
Information on the New Deal 25 plus is published quarterly in the Statistical First Release, which is available in the Library.
Source:
New Deal Evaluation Database.
26 Feb 2003 : Column 601W
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the changes in the proportion of New Deal for Young People leavers entering unsubsidised, sustained employment since the scheme began. [97103]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: The New Deal for Young People is continuing to help significant numbers of disadvantaged young people into work. Many of these have moved into jobs more quickly and have stayed there longer than they would have done without the New Deal. Up to September 2002, 313,700 New Deal clients had moved into jobs lasting 13 weeks or more.
Since 1999, the proportion of leavers to known destinations entering unsubsidised, sustained jobs has remained largely constant at around 54 per cent. Research has also shown that people leaving to unknown destinations are just as likely to leave the New Deal for work as those going to known destinations. Further evaluation is planned this year to confirm this position. Jobcentre Plus is working closely with New Deal providers to improve the collection and recording of the destinations of programme participants.
The change in the proportion of leavers from the New Deal for Young People entering unsubsidised, sustained employment is largely due to an increase in leavers going to unknown destinations (from 25 per cent. in 1998 to just under 33 per cent. so far in 2002).
As long-term youth unemployment has been virtually eradicated, we are now also getting feedback from those delivering the New Deal that an increasing proportion of people on the programme are facing greater barriers to moving into sustained employment. That is why we have introduced initiatives such as StepUP and progress2work which build on the New Deal and help the most disadvantaged people overcome the barriers they face and move into work.
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) young people, (b) single mothers, (c) disabled people, (d) people over 50 and (e) other categories for which information is collected have benefited from the New Deal in Nottingham North since its inception. [98321]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: The available information is in the table.
| New Deal | Total number of programme participants in Nottingham north(18) |
|---|---|
| New Deal for Young People (from January 1998) | 2,720 |
| New Deal 25 plus (from July 1998) | 1,940 |
| New Deal for Lone Parents (from July 1998) | (19)940 |
| New Deal 50 plus (Employment Credit claim) (from April 2000) | (20)180 |
(18) Up to the end of September 2002, unless stated
(19) Of these, 880 participants were female
(20) Figure up to the end of November 2002
Source:
New Deal Evaluation Database
The information is not available at constituency level for the New Deal for Disabled People and new Deal for Partners.
26 Feb 2003 : Column 602W
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many New Deal 50-plus participants were first time claimants of (a) the employment credit and (b) the training grant, in each month since the scheme went nationwide. [99055]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: The information is in the table.
| Month | Number of new training grants | Number of employment credit starts |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | ||
| April | 10 | 1,730 |
| May | 20 | 2,430 |
| June | 30 | 3,000 |
| July | 50 | 2,560 |
| August | 60 | 2,490 |
| September | 100 | 3,270 |
| October | 110 | 3,290 |
| November | 120 | 3,400 |
| December | 120 | 2,660 |
| 2001 | ||
| January | 130 | 2,190 |
| February | 140 | 2,720 |
| March | 190 | 3,280 |
| April | 150 | 2,610 |
| May | 180 | 3,290 |
| June | 170 | 3,200 |
| July | 160 | 2,920 |
| August | 180 | 3,160 |
| September | 160 | 3,010 |
| October | 230 | 3,300 |
| November | 250 | 3,670 |
| December | 130 | 1,730 |
| 2002 | ||
| January | 160 | 1,800 |
| February | 160 | 2,340 |
| March | 240 | 2,920 |
| April | 130 | 2,460 |
| May | 220 | 3,330 |
| June | 130 | 2,540 |
| July | 130 | 2,620 |
| August | 190 | 3,060 |
| September | 160 | 2,480 |
| October | 280 | 2,860 |
| November | 270 | 3,490 |
| December | 180 | 1,940 |
| Total | 4,910 | 91,740 |
Note:
Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and may not sum due to rounding
Source:
New Deal evaluation database
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what statistics are routinely collected on the New Deal for Disabled People; [95235]
- (2) how many people in each region have (a) found work and (b) found sustained work, through the New Deal for Disabled People; [96603]
(3) how many people (a) have found work and (b) have found sustained work through the New Deal for Disabled People, broken down according to the nature of the participants' disabilities. [96606]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP) is the first national programme designed specifically to help people with health conditions and disabilities move into and keep jobs. Statistics on customer registration with Job Brokers, job entries and
26 Feb 2003 : Column 603W
sustainability of employment are collected and published on a quarterly basis on the New Deal and NDDP websites.
A comprehensive evaluation programme is in place which will enable us to assess the effectiveness of NDDP and ensure that we build on the best of what has been achieved so far. Information about the characteristics of participants, their experiences, views and outcomes of participation in NDDP will be gathered through quantitative research. In addition, qualitative research will examine in greater depth what works for whom, how and why. We will be publishing reports on different elements of the evaluation, as they become available.
The available information is in the table.
| National | Number registering with an NDDP Job Broker(21) | Number helped into work by an NDDP Job Broker(21) | Numbers achieving sustained employment following NDDP asistance(22) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 35,316 | 8,676 | 2,330 |
(21) Job Brokers are paid on work/outcomes actually achieved. They are paid for customers registering with them and for customers that are helped into work. The figures quoted represent registrations and outcomes for which the Job Brokers have been paid.
(22) Sustained work is defined as the customer remaining in paid employment for at least 26 out of 39 weeks.
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of those on each option of the New Deal for Young People went into a sustained job in the East Riding of Yorkshire in the most recent quarter for which figures are available. [97732]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: Between July and September 2002 (the latest quarter for which figures are available), 45 young people left the New Deal Options for unsubsidised, sustained jobs in the East Riding local authority area. This is 49 per cent. of all leavers from the Options in that period.
Due to the small volumes involved, figures for individual New Deal Options cannot be published because of the risk of identifying individuals.
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