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9 Apr 2003 : Column 336W—continued
Local Authority Software
Sir Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which local authorities do not have electronic interfaces with (a) the Pension Service and (b) Jobcentre Plus. [106648]
Maria Eagle: Electronic access between local authorities and the Pension Service and Jobcentre Plus is available through remote access terminals. Remote access terminals provide a simple, inexpensive system that greatly speeds up the transfer of information between the Department and local authorities.
All authorities have access to remote access terminals, with the exception of the Council of the Isles of Scilly, where the housing benefit case load is so small (around 50 cases at August 2002) that it would not be financially viable to invest in the enhanced technology.
Winter Fuel Payment
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 24 Febuary 2003 to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones), Official Report, column 204W, how much he estimates the winter fuel payment will cost in total in 2001–02 prices in (a) 2011–12, (b) 2021–22 and (c) 2051–52, based on the modelling assumption used in the pensions Green Paper that the benefit remains at £200. [107518]
Maria Eagle: The information requested is provided in the table.
| Year | Projected expenditure on WFPs |
|---|---|
| 2011–12 | 1,516 |
| 2021–22 | 1,351 |
| 2051–52 | 759 |
Note:
1. Figures rounded to the nearest £1 million.
Source:
Long term projections used in the Long term Public Finance Report: an a analysis of fiscal sustainability, HM Treasury, November 2002 and the DWP Green Paper "Simplicity, security and choice" (Annex 3).
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Antisocial Behaviour Orders
Dr. Stoate: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures she is taking to speed up the anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) application process; what proportion of ASBO cases in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 required (i) one court hearing, (ii) two court hearings and (iii) three or more court hearings to reach a decision; and what steps she is taking to reduce the number of court hearings required in ASBO cases. [105371]
Yvette Cooper: Changes to ASBOs, which help speed up the application process, were made under the Police Reform Act 2002. These were accompanied by guidance to all practitioners and the courts. This advises specifically that adjournments should be avoided unless
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absolutely necessary; and that in order to minimise delays, courts should be forewarned of applications. Courts are being encouraged to consider rigorously requests for adjournments (whilst always acting in the interests of justice), and to use pre-trial reviews in appropriate cases. Figures were only collected for the first time in 2001 and the figures for 2001 are incomplete. In 2001, for 32 per cent. of ASBO cases it was not known how many hearings they took. 10.5 per cent of ASBO cases were recorded as requiring one court hearing; 15.0 per cent. two court hearings; and 42.5 per cent three or more court hearings in order to determine the application. Up to 30 September 2002, the corresponding figures are 2.25 per cent. not known, 16.25 per cent. for one hearing, 22.50 per cent. for two hearings; and 59.0 per cent. for three or more court hearings.
As set out in the recent White Paper on anti-social behaviour—"Respect and Responsibility" we are taking steps in the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill to improve further the operation of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders which remain a valuable tool in tackling anti-social behaviour. For instance. Housing Actions Trusts will be able to apply for ASBOs to protect persons who reside in or are in the vicinity of their premises, instead of having to rely on other authorities to seek ASBOs on their behalf. It will also be possible for relevant persons to be joined to proceedings in the County Court with a view to obtaining an ASBO against them where their anti-social behaviour is material to these proceedings. This would enable courts to make more effective use of time by removing the need for a separate hearing for an ASBO.
Legal Aid
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment her Department has made of legal aid provision in other EU states; and what lessons have been drawn from these assessments. [106872]
Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 8 April 2003]: While no formal assessment has been made of legal aid provision in the different legal systems of other European Union states, we work closely with our EU partners to ensure co-operation and information with regard to legal aid policy.
Legal Services
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps the Department is taking to ensure the future effective delivery of legal services to all sectors of society. [106873]
Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 8 April 2003]: My Department continues to support the Legal Services Commission in developing the Community Legal Service (CLS). The CLS ensures that publicly funded legal services are targeted more effectively at areas of priority need. Initiatives such as the Methods of Delivery Pilots and the Partnership Initiative Budget are also leading to the development of new and innovative approaches to service delivery.
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The Government are also committed to the removal of restrictive practices, and is currently considering responses to the consultation exercise on those issues that stemmed from the Office of Fair Trading's report on competition in. professions. The removal of restrictive practices, which cannot be justified in the public interest, could provide an incentive for lawyers to provide innovative, high quality and affordable services to the public.
Mr. Malins: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what percentage salary increase was awarded to the staff of the Legal Services Commission, broken down by grade, in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02. [98645]
Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 25 February 2003]: Salary increases awarded to the staff of the Legal Services Commission are determined by a pay remit which is approved by my Department and HM Treasury.
In 2000/01 and 2001/02 salary increases to the Commission's staff were based on performance and their existing position in the Commission's pay bands and not grade.
The Commission's pay bands are constructed around a market rate (median) that has been established following a comprehensive job evaluation exercise carried out by the Commission in conjunction with HayGroup. The Commission sub-divides the pay bands into three: training (the bottom third of the scale); fully effective (the middle third of the scale) and a bar beyond which only those who achieve sustained superior performance can progress (the upper third of the scale).
The following table sets out the percentage of staff within each performance rating and the average salary increase. To provide more detailed information can be done only at a disproportionate cost.
| Percentage | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Performancerating | Staff within performance rating | Average salary increase | |
| 2000–01 | Outstanding | 7.4 | 7.5 |
| Very good | 32.9 | 5.3 | |
| Effective | 53.9 | 3.7 | |
| Not fully effective | 2.3 | 2.5 | |
| Unsatisfactory | 3.5 | 0.7 | |
| 2001–02 | Outstanding | 8.3 | 6.9 |
| Very good | 35.8 | 5.0 | |
| Effective | 49.6 | 3.5 | |
| Not fully effective | 3.0 | 2.2 | |
| Unsatisfactory | 3.3 | 0.1 | |
EU Directives
Mr. John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the EU Directives and Regulations which have been implemented by the Lord Chancellor's Department since 17 April 2002. [106833]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Lord Chancellor's Department plays a leading role in the UK's EU policy on civil judicial co-operation, human rights and data
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protection. Nonetheless I am not aware of any Directives on which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has led on implementation since 17 April 2002.
EC Regulations are, in general, directly applicable in the member states, without the need for further incorporation into national law. However, some
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Regulations require UK measures to make them workable and enforceable. Some Regulations enact small or technical amendments. I am not aware of any Regulations on which the Lord Chancellor's Department has led on implementation since 17 April 2002.