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20 May 2003 : Column 746W—continued
Brain Injury Rehabilitation (North-East)
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many places he commissioned at the Rehab UK brain injury rehabilitation centre in the North-East in each of the last three full financial years; how many places were allocated this year; and how many are planned for 2003–04. [104722]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: Jobcentre Plus has a contract with Rehab UK to provide Work Preparation programmes for people with brain injuries. This provision is not commissioned in terms of a set number of places, but is purchased as and when required up to the financial limit of the contract.
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The available information is in the table.
| Financial year | Number of places accessed |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 6 |
| 2000–01 | 21 |
| 2001–02 | 29 |
| 2002–03 | 23 |
| 2003–04(16) | 23 |
(16) Estimated
Note:
Spending on this provision increased by 23 per cent. in 2002–03 when compared with the previous year. However, because of a sharp rise (84.5 per cent.) in the unit cost of places at the Tyne and Wear centre, the number of customers accessing this provision fell.
Source:
Jobcentre Plus management information
Incapacity Benefit
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he is taking to encourage persons on incapacity benefit to maximise their overall benefits (a) after 28 weeks, when incapacity benefit is increased to the short-term higher rate and (b) after 52 weeks, when a claimant becomes entitled to a disability premium on income support. [111670]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: The Department administers benefits in accordance with the law.
Procedures are in place to help ensure that people in receipt of Incapacity Benefit (IB) do not miss out on the support they are entitled to. People with special care needs, or because other special rules apply, may qualify for both the long-term rate of IB and the Income Support Disability Premium after 28 weeks instead of 52. People are contacted in advance of their 28th week of incapacity to check whether they have any such entitlement.
Where Income Support is disallowed at the start of an IB claim, but a person would potentially be entitled after 52 weeks because they satisfy the conditions of the Disability Premium, a letter is issued advising them to make a claim shortly before the end of the qualifying period.
Mr. Curry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what percentage of those claiming long-term incapacity benefit (a) also claim home support and (b) are estimated also to be entitled to income support; [113105]
- (2) what percentage of those claiming short-term lower rate and incapacity benefit (a) also claim income support and (b) are estimated also to be entitled to income support. [113107]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: The available information is in the table. Numbers claiming both Incapacity Benefit (IB) and Income Support (IS) at November 2002, broken down by rate.
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| People claiming IB | People claiming IB who are also in receiptof IS | Proportion of people claiming IB who are also in receipt of IS (Percentage) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IB Short Term Lower rate | 91,300 | 28,200 | 30.9 |
| IB Short Term Higher rate | 89,300 | 14,400 | 16.1 |
| IB Long Term rate | 1,334,900 | 272,700 | 20.4 |
| IB credits only | 868,700 | 741,800 | 85.4 |
| Total | 2,384,200 | 1,057,100 | 44.3 |
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and are subject to a degree of sampling variation
2. No estimate is available of the number of people claiming Incapacity Benefit who would also be eligible for Income Support
Source:
Figures are based on 5 per cent samples of the Incapacity Benefit and Income Support computer systems and exclude a small number of cases held clerically.
Mr. Curry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what percentage of those claiming short-term higher rate incapacity benefit are receiving free prescriptions because they have completed an HC1 form; and what steps the Government are taking to inform people about the availability of free prescriptions in those circumstances; [113104]
- (2) how many people are not entitled to free prescriptions because they are receiving long-term incapacity benefit plus the age addition for 35 to 44 year olds. [113106]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: The information is not available.
Information about the arrangements for providing help with NHS prescription charges and other health costs is provided in leaflet HC11 "Are you entitled to help with health costs?", which is available from main post offices, Jobcentres, social security offices, NHS hospitals and elsewhere. This leaflet and further information about help with health costs is also available through the Department of Health's website at: www.doh.gov.uk/nhscharges/index.htm.
Jobcentre Plus
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will make a statement on the future of Jobcentre Plus; and what plans he has that will affect (a) the staff and (b) the level of service they offer the public; [112061]
- (2) what plans he has to alter the number of people who work in Jobcentre Plus in Portsmouth in the next 12 months; [112062]
(3) what assessment he has made of the level of service available to the people of Portsmouth from Jobcentre Plus; and what changes he expects to see in the level of service in the next 12 months. [112063]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Acting Chief Executive, Clare Dodgson. I have asked her to reply to the hon. Member.
20 May 2003 : Column 749W
Letter from Clare Dodgson to Mr. Hancock, dated 20 May 2003:
- As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, I have been asked to reply to your questions concerning Jobcentre Plus service delivery. This falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of the Agency.
- Jobcentre Plus has been established to deliver a radical change in the way that benefits and employment services are provided to people of working age. By 2006, we plan to introduce a network of around 1,000 fully integrated Jobcentre Plus offices.
- Through the development of these new modern offices, Jobcentre Plus will provide an integrated, work-focused service to all people of working age. The introduction of work-focused interviews is extending the opportunity to more people to take advantage of the help, guidance and support we can provide to assist them to move into sustainable employment. We are also introducing new services for employers, which will help them fill vacancies more quickly with well-prepared and motivated employees.
- In all our plans we have focused on the needs of our customers. The new offices will offer customers a seamless service, where they will be able to make enquiries about their benefit entitlement, and the training and employment opportunities available to them, under one roof. Alternatively, customers can choose to telephone one of our contact centres to make inquiries without having to come into one of our offices. The introduction of new technology is also enabling people to find the information they need about jobs and training via the internet and our touch screen Jobpoints. These facilities are making it easier for our customers to access the services we provide.
- Our staff are also benefiting from the introduction of Jobcentre Plus. The refurbished offices are providing a professional, modern environment in which to work and work-focused interviews afford the opportunity for greater job satisfaction through delivering advice and guidance on work, training and benefits to a broader range of people.
- As at 2 May 2003, we had opened 258 new Jobcentre Plus offices and have set out our plans to introduce the Jobcentre Plus model across Great Britain by 2006. I would like to assure you however that we will not open an office unless we are confident that it provides an environment in which the new Jobcentre Plus services will work and one that is safe for our customers and staff. Throughout this transitional period our social security offices and Jobcentres are working together to ensure that customers still benefit from a high standard of service.
- Jobcentre Plus will be introduced in Portsmouth during mid 2004. Partners and stakeholders were consulted about these plans in June and September 2002. Their comments are currently being taken into consideration in reaching final decisions, which have yet to be announced.
- Currently, services are being offered at Portsmouth Central Jobcentre, Portsmouth North Jobcentre, Guildhall Walk Social Security Office. These offices are not large enough to accommodate the integrated services of Jobcentre Plus, nor do they have the capacity for expansion. Suitable premises are being identified, which will have the capability to deliver the enhanced services to Portsmouth customers. I can give you my assurance that customers will continue to receive a high level of service during implementation and beyond. I can also confirm that we are not planning any reduction in the numbers of Jobcentre Plus staff in Portsmouth.
- The introduction of Jobcentre Plus is being well received by our customers. In national surveys we have found that eight out of 10 customers are satisfied with all elements of the new service. Jobcentre Plus performance has improved as a result of the roll-out, with integrated offices exceeding their share of national performance and exceeding their specific job entry targets by over 10%.
- I hope this is helpful.
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