House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 14 May 2003 (pt 16)

14 May 2003 : Column 299W—continued

Older People

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) which voluntary and commercial organisations have been consulted during the development of the Older People Strategy; [111736]

(3) whether he plans to repeat the Listening to Older People programme; and if he will make a statement. [111742]

Maria Eagle: We have established a system for consulting directly with older people, and a range of statutory and non-government organisations representing the diverse interests of older people through the setting up of the Partnership Group. The Group comprises members from the Better Government for Older People network, the Older People's Advisory Group, employment, education and research organisations, a media consultant, as well as national organisations representing the interests of older people. It is chaired by the Minister for Pensions and meets on a regular basis to provide views on presented ideas from Government on the development of policy or services, and to serve as an external think-tank for ideas on service delivery issues. A full list of the organisations represented on the Partnership Group is listed.

14 May 2003 : Column 300W

The Government set up Better Government for Older People (BGOP) as an independent organisation with a Management Board of key partners, and a UK wide networking partnership to ensure older people are engaged at all levels of decision-making. Membership of BGOP is open to any authority or organisation that is committed to engaging older people in decision making and working in partnership. The Older People's Advisory Group is one of BGOP's key partners and provides opportunities for older people themselves to participate in all areas of public life including the formation of policies.

The publication "Life Begins at 50" in May 2000 set out the Government's responses to needs expressed by older people themselves in the form of an interdepartmental action programme. This followed consultation with a range of bodies. We are currently considering options for reporting progress on that programme and its strategic objectives.

We will consider the need for further Listening to Older People events in that context, taking account of the development of other channels of engagement.

Organisations represented on the partnership group

Anchor Trust

National Pensioners Convention

Older People's Advisory Group

Chalmers Communications

Centre for Policy on Ageing

Better Government for Older People Network

Third Age Employment Network

Counsel and Care

The Abbeyfield Society

Help the Aged

Age Concern England

Employers Forum on Age

Policy Research Institute Ageing and Ethnicity

Older People's Services, Department of Health

Association of Retired Persons and Over 50

Local Government Association

Economic and Social Research Council Growing Older Programme

National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux

Pensions

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of working-age (a) adults, (b) men and (c) women in the UK are members of a stakeholder pension plan. [111158]

Maria Eagle: Specific data on the number of individuals contributing to a stakeholder pension will not be available until the middle of the year. However, latest figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) state that 1.25 million stakeholder pensions had been sold up to the end of December 2002, of which an estimated 97 per cent. had been bought for individuals of working age, (56 per cent. men and 44 per cent. women). ABI figures show the number of stakeholder pension policies sold, not the number of individuals who have taken out a stakeholder pension. People are allowed to hold more than one stakeholder pension.

14 May 2003 : Column 301W

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 11 February 2003, Official Report, columns 687–88W, on pension schemes, what checks he has carried out on the data given for the number of pension schemes that have completed winding-up and the number of members of those schemes, between 1997 and 2002. [112639]

Maria Eagle: The data used for the answer of 11 February 2003, Official Report, columns 687–88W, were supplied by the Pension Schemes Registry (PSR). The PSR ensured that the data provided in answer to this question were correct at that time and within the limitations that the PSR have when providing data, as explained in the answer.

The PSR analysed the data scripts produced to ensure that the relevant schemes had been counted. They also compared the revised figures against previous figures supplied in response to requests for pension scheme wind up statistics. This comparison allowed for the time difference since previous figures.

Data supplied by the PSR are not designed or intended to provide a statistical record of the number of schemes which wind up. The PSR registers schemes for tracing purposes and collects the levy from pension schemes, including those in the process of winding up. New scheme data are being reported to the PSR on a continuous basis, so the figures are subject to daily revision. Any figures provided are a snapshot of a particular time.

The figures provided in the answer of 11 February 2003, Official Report, columns 687–88W, replaced those issued in the answer of 18 December 2002, Official

14 May 2003 : Column 302W

Report, column 859. Additional procedures were introduced to prevent a recurrence of the problem with the reply of 18 December 2002, Official Report, column 859. These procedures ensure that confirmation is received from the IT contractor that the data supplied reflect the data requested, data request is attached to the data script, comparisons are made with previous data, an additional manual check is made of the information and a control record is completed.

A long-term objective is to introduce a new system to provide data which the new kind of regulator will use to discharge its new functions. The specification for this new system will emerge from work to develop the new kind of regulator.

SchlumbergerSema

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 3 April 2003, Official Report, column 844W, on SchlumbergerSema, for what reasons customers may be sent home unseen from their medical assessments; how many customers were sent home unseen between 1 May 2002 and 28 February, broken down by reason; and if he will make a statement. [108842]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: SchlumbergerSema are committed to providing a professional service to customers attending their examination centres. Of 517,806 customers who attended Medical Examination Centres for assessments between 1 May 2002 and 28 February 2003, 17,695 were sent home unseen. This corrects the previous information given in the answer of 3 April 2003, Official Report, column 844W.

The information is in the table.

Customers sent home unseen from Medical Services Examination Centres between 1 May 2002 and 28 February 2003, broken down by reason

Type May2002 June2002 July2002 August 2002 September 2002 October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003

Doctor productivity 77 66 40 40 47 81 90 38 56 52

Doctor cancelled 116 109 194 171 116 168 177 109 181 168

Doctor ill 91 20 20 214 231 80 101 113 86 111

More claimants attended than doctors could manage to see 760 597 651 872 1120 1,236 1,180 585 827 705

Case mix problem (some cases take longer than others) 14 11 14 20 18 15 28 8 19 27

No interpreter available 31 32 32 20 44 40 53 30 45 45

File not at Medical Services Examination Centre 73 55 108 80 113 110 76 79 79 51

Doctor mismatch (not specialised in required medical area) 35 46 41 35 37 40 33 32 27 29

Claimant called in error (didn't require examination) 44 29 45 41 46 53 40 31 34 56

Doctor booked but not informed 7 3 3 11 40 14 22 6 11 6

Claimant requested same-gender doctor 8 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 0

Claimant unfit to be seen 22 17 12 19 22 27 26 15 34 80

Claimant arrived too late for appointment (greater than 30 minutes) 63 61 49 58 67 94 89 68 54 116

Claimant would not wait (less than 30 minutes) 26 40 17 24 36 45 33 25 65 98

Claimant would not wait (greater than 30 minutes) 176 111 168 155 159 308 289 189 180 216

Inadequate information provided to Medical Services. 5 8 7 5 12 8 7 14 7 16

Accommodation problem (eg power failure at site) 2 10 11 24 2 5 188 9 12 13

Total not seen 1,550 1,218 1,412 1,789 2,110 2,324 2,432 1,352 1,719 1,789

Total seen 51,510 40,742 49,616 47,673 52,815 59,792 55,449 41,047 51,704 49,763

Total seen as proportion of those who attended (percentage) 97.08 97.10 97.23 96.38 96.16 96.26 95.80 96.81 96.78 96.53

Type	May2002	June2002	July2002	August 2002	September 2002	October 2002	November 2002	December 2002	January 2003	February 2003
Doctor productivity	77	66	40	40	47	81	90	38	56	52
Doctor cancelled	116	109	194	171	116	168	177	109	181	168
Doctor ill	91	20	20	214	231	80	101	113	86	111
More claimants attended than doctors could manage to see	760	597	651	872	1120	1,236	1,180	585	827	705
Case mix problem (some cases take longer than others)	14	11	14	20	18	15	28	8	19	27
No interpreter available	31	32	32	20	44	40	53	30	45	45
File not at Medical Services Examination Centre	73	55	108	80	113	110	76	79	79	51
Doctor mismatch (not specialised in required medical area)	35	46	41	35	37	40	33	32	27	29
Claimant called in error (didn't require examination)	44	29	45	41	46	53	40	31	34	56
Doctor booked but not informed	7	3	3	11	40	14	22	6	11	6
Claimant requested same-gender doctor	8	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	0
Claimant unfit to be seen	22	17	12	19	22	27	26	15	34	80
Claimant arrived too late for appointment (greater than 30 minutes)	63	61	49	58	67	94	89	68	54	116
Claimant would not wait (less than 30 minutes)	26	40	17	24	36	45	33	25	65	98
Claimant would not wait (greater than 30 minutes)	176	111	168	155	159	308	289	189	180	216
Inadequate information provided to Medical Services.	5	8	7	5	12	8	7	14	7	16
Accommodation problem (eg power failure at site)	2	10	11	24	2	5	188	9	12	13
Total not seen	1,550	1,218	1,412	1,789	2,110	2,324	2,432	1,352	1,719	1,789
Total seen	51,510	40,742	49,616	47,673	52,815	59,792	55,449	41,047	51,704	49,763
Total seen as proportion of those who attended (percentage)	97.08	97.10	97.23	96.38	96.16	96.26	95.80	96.81	96.78	96.53

Source:

Medical Provision and Contracting Team management information.

14 May 2003 : Column 303W

Next Section

Index

Home Page