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4 Jul 2003 : Column 519W—continued
Carers Allowance
Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the status is of carer's allowance during a period when the cared-for person is in respite care; [121714]
- (2) what the effect is on a person on carer's allowance of a period of illness. [121715]
Maria Eagle: Carers can continue to receive carer's allowance during breaks from caring which amount to no more than 12 weeks in any 26 week period, provided that they had been caring for at least 14 weeks out of the previous 26 weeks. The breaks from caring which count for these rules include breaks which arise because the cared-for person is in respite care or because the carer is in hospital.
Child Support
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the scheme to remove driving licences from people who fail to pay child support has cost, including initial start-up costs. [121220]
Mr. Pond: The operation of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. David Willetts, dated 4 July 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.
- You ask how much the scheme to remove driving licences from people who fail to pay child support has cost so far including initial start-up costs.
- I am unable to disaggregate the costs for removing driving licences from people who fail to pay child support from the Agency's overall administration costs, as this information is not available.
- However, I can tell you that the Agency's initial start-up cost was £25,000 and was in respect of a transfer of funds to the DVLA for changes required to their computer system.
Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff are employed within the Child Support Agency on transition between the old and new systems of assessment. [118311]
Mr. Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Peter Duncan, dated 4 July 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.
- You ask how many staff are employed within the Child Support Agency on the transition between the old and new systems of assessment.
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- Work on the transition permeates almost all areas of the Agency, and it's not possible, with accuracy, to identify the number of staff with some involvement. I can however say that under the new arrangements this is around 1500. These staff are working not only on new cases but on the many linked cases among the existing client base.
Children with Disabilities
Dr. Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on devising strategies which ensure that children with disabilities are encouraged to have the widest possible career paths, from the earliest opportunity. [117651]
Maria Eagle: As part of its role in supporting all 13 to 19-year-olds, the Connexions Service has a particular role to play in supporting young people with disabilities making the transition from compulsory education. Personal advisers will work with young people to help them identify their aspirations, including on careers, and how to work towards them. Government guidance to the Learning and Skills Council makes it clear that, in making its decisions on funding post-16 education and training provision, it should take account of any assessment made by the Connexions Service. We have made legal provision for Connexions support to continue up to the age of 25 for those young people with disabilities who are not in a position to receive appropriate support from adult guidance services. Given its importance, we are monitoring closely the impact Connexions is having in this area.
Crisis Loans
Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the cost of crisis loans has been in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear and (d) the UK in each year since 1997; [119119]
- (2) what the average value of a crisis loan has been in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear and (d) the UK in each year since 1997; [119121]
(3) how many crisis loans the Department has awarded in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear and (d) the UK in each year since 1997. [119124]
Mr. Pond: The information is not available by constituency, local authority or metropolitan authority areas. The available information, for the Gateshead and South Tyneside Jobcentre Plus (previously Social Security) district and Great Britain is in the tables.
| Year | No. of initial Awards | Expenditure on Initial Awards (£) | Average Value of Initial Awards (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 8,200 | 420,000 | 51 |
| 1998–99 | 10,100 | 490,000 | 49 |
| 1999–2000 | 12,500 | 660,000 | 53 |
| 2000–01 | 13,200 | 780,000 | 59 |
| 2001–02 | 12,800 | 990,000 | 77 |
| 2002–03 | 14,700 | 1,200,000 | 82 |
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| Year | No. of Initial Awards | Expenditure on Initial Awards (£) | Average Value of Initial Awards (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 802,900 | 51,560,000 | 64 |
| 1998–99 | 866,000 | 55,850,000 | 64 |
| 1999–2000 | 938,700 | 58,250,000 | 62 |
| 2000–01 | 930,200 | 61,040,000 | 66 |
| 2001–02 | 991,200 | 70,610,000 | 71 |
| 2002–03 | 1,064,200 | 80,080,000 | 75 |
Source:
DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.
This source is slightly unreliable for the number of Crisis Loan awards for 1999–2000, so the figure for Great Britain has been taken from a scan of the Social Fund Computer System while that for Gateshead and South Tyneside has been estimated.
Notes:
1. Figures are for initial awards only and do not include awards following review.
2. Numbers of awards are rounded to the nearest £100.
3. Expenditure is rounded to the nearest £10,000.
4. Average award size is rounded to the nearest £1.
5. Social security in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Departmental Procurement
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department's procurement policy includes timber used on and in the construction of departmental building projects; and if he will make a statement. [119129]
Maria Eagle: It is the Department's Policy to specify that all timber used throughout the Department is supplied from legal and sustainable sources. It is also our policy to seek documentary evidence of this. Our major Estates Partner has supplied us with comprehensive details of timber used across DWP and this is being independently verified. The Department will use the lessons learned from this report to work closely with our Estates Partners to ensure that any areas of concern that are identified are rectified quickly to ensure that they comply with Government Policy.
Disability Living Allowance
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on the payment of disability living allowance to UK citizens who emigrate (a) within the EU and (b) outside the EU. [121619]
Maria Eagle: It has always been Government policy that social security benefits like disability living allowance, which are funded by the taxpayer and do not depend on contributions, should be available only to people who are resident in the United Kingdom. The situation differs depending upon whether Community law applies.
Disability living allowance was listed in the EEC Regulation 1408/71 as a non-exportable, 'special non-contributory' benefit from 1 June 1992, so that new awards could not be payable to someone living
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permanently in another Member State. The regulation also applies to non-EU states which are within the European Economic Area (EEA) and to Switzerland.
However, those in receipt of benefit before 1 June 1992 can continue to receive their benefit if they are living permanently in another Member State, providing they were covered by EEC Regulation 1408/71 prior to 1 June 1992. This applies not only to those who had worker status, but also to those who are members of the family of a worker who is an EEA national and thereby come within the personal scope of the regulation.
For people who emigrate to countries outside the application of EEC Regulation 1408/71, there are no circumstances in which disability living allowance can continue in payment.
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