House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 8 Jul 2003 (pt 23)

8 Jul 2003 : Column 754W—continued

WORK AND PENSIONS

Asbestosis

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the number of people who are affected by asbestosis. [117108]

Mr. Browne: Disablement benefit awards under the Industrial Injuries Scheme for new cases of asbestosis each year in Great Britain from 1999 to 2001 (the last three years for which data are available) numbered 407, 447 and 461. Deaths in Great Britain with asbestosis specified as the underlying cause of death currently number around 70 per year. Figures for the total number of people suffering from asbestosis at any one time are unavailable.

Asbestos

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 17 June, Official Report, column 155W, on asbestos, if he will list the buildings which have been identified as containing asbestos. [122956]

Mr. Browne: A list of the buildings, which have been identified as containing asbestos, has been placed in the Library. Over the last fifteen years, the Department and its predecessors have been proactive in identifying these buildings and have either sealed or removed the asbestos as necessary.

Attendance Allowance

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will estimate the average clearance times for attendance allowance new claims in areas (a) piloting the new claim form and (b) using the standard claim form; [122686]

(3) how many applications for reconsideration and appeal against attendance allowance decisions based on new form applications were made in the pilot areas; [122688]

(4) what evaluation he has made of claimants' views on the new attendance allowance claim form being used in pilot areas; and if he will place a copy of the results in the Library. [122689]

Maria Eagle: The new attendance allowance claim form was piloted in one section of Bristol Disability Benefits Centre from March 2002 and extended in September 2002 to all those requesting a claim form from the Disability and Carers Service in the area covered by Bristol DBC. The pilot was further extended to Glasgow DBC in March 2003. The average clearance time ¹ for attendance allowance claims processed by

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Bristol DBC in the period October to December 2002 was 22.6 days. For the same period, the national average clearance time for attendance allowance claims was 24.1 days. The evaluation results of the Glasgow test are not yet available.

For the period October to December 2002, the breakdown of new claims awards at Bristol was: higher rate—3,160 (35.9 per cent.); lower rate: 3,917 (44.5 per cent.); and disallowed—1,722 (19.6 per cent.). For the corresponding period in 2001, the award rate was: higher rate—3,142 (33.7 per cent.); lower rate—4,500 (48.2 per cent.); and disallowed—1,691 (18.1 per cent.).

For the period October to December 2002, there were 323 applications for a reconsideration and 124 appeals at Bristol Disability Benefit Centre ² . For the corresponding period in 2001, the figures were: 352 applications for a reconsideration and 178 appeals.

A representative sample of customers (374) was contacted to obtain their views about the new claim form. Results show that 75 per cent. found the form easy to complete and that 25 per cent. did not. Of those that found the form easy to complete (282), 57 had no help to complete the form; 123 had help from family and friends; and 123 received help from various external agencies. Of the 25 per cent. (92) who experienced difficulty, 15 completed the form unaided; 46 were assisted by family and friends; and 31 received help from various external agencies. There is no comparable data for customer perception of the previous claim form. We will ensure that a copy of the final analysis of the pilot is placed in the Library when the evaluation is complete.

¹ We are unable to provide separate data for claims decided using the new claim form, as they are not treated separately from the rest of the new claims upon receipt. From September 2002, approximately 96 per cent. of new claims were made using the new claim form. The figures reflect all new claims in areas using the new claim pack as well as the old one, which remains available externally.

² Reconsiderations reduced by 8.2 per cent. in the test and appeals by 33.3 per cent. National comparisons for the same period showed a marginal increase in reconsiderations by 1.8 per cent. and a decrease in appeals of 3.8 per cent.

Benefits

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assumed rate of income from savings is used to establish eligibility for (a) minimum income guarantee and (b) pension credit; and if he will make a statement. [123297]

Malcolm Wicks: Under pension credit the assumed rate of income from savings will be set at £1 in £500 for savings above £6,000. This is half the rate currently assumed in the minimum income guarantee (MIG) of £1 in £250. In addition, this assumed income will be rewarded. Overall this means that savings will be treated five times more generously than under MIG.

Disability Living Allowance

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what evaluation he has made of the new disability living allowance claim form being used in the Glasgow pilot area; and if he will place a copy of the result in the Library. [122690]

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Maria Eagle: The trial at Glasgow has a broader scope than simply a test of a new disability living allowance claim form. It aims to test a shortened claim form that is personalised to the needs of the customer and a revised process for determining claims which is supported by a new prototype IT system. This enables customers to receive fuller information about the basis of the decisions made. The full test started in January of this year and the evaluation work is scheduled to be complete by September 2003. Once this work has been finalised, we will ensure that a copy of the findings are placed in the Library.

Health and Safety

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many reported workplace incidents have taken place in the construction industry in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [122975]

Mr. Browne [holding answer 1 July 2003]: The following table shows the number of reported injury incidents (divided between fatal and non-fatal) that have arisen in the construction industry since 1997.

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02

Fatal injuries 86 68 87 113 85

Non-fatal injuries 14,930 14,610 15,656 14,820 14,671

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
Fatal injuries	86	68	87	113	85
Non-fatal injuries	14,930	14,610	15,656	14,820	14,671

The following table shows the number of reported dangerous occurrences in the construction industry since 1997.

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02

Dangerous occurrences 966 1,153 1,245 1,228 1,075

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
Dangerous occurrences	966	1,153	1,245	1,228	1,075

Through the Construction Priority programme the Health and Safety Executive is seeking to secure improvements in the industry's health and safety record.

Hepatitis C (Scotland)

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received from (a) the First Minister of Scotland and (b) the Secretary of State for Scotland since 13 June 2003 concerning the compensation of hepatitis C victims in Scotland. [124129]

Mr. Browne [holding answer 7 July 2003]: My right hon. Friend has regular contact with both the First Minister of the Scottish Executive and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland on a number of issues.

Incapacity Benefit

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many claimants of (a) incapacity benefit and (b) severe disablement allowance who moved into work in 2001–02 registered for the 52 week linking rule; and how many of them reclaimed benefit under the terms of the rule in the following 52 weeks; [119913]

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Mr. Browne: We are ensuring that the benefit system encourages and promotes work where possible. In 1998 we extended linking rules to cover 52 weeks (2 years for people receiving disabled persons tax credit/working tax credit). During the consultation on the Green Paper 'Pathways to Work' (CM 5690) we received a number of comments on the operation of these rules. Some respondents felt that this provision was difficult to access and in light of these comments, we will ease the notification process to allow people to notify the department over the phone when they start work. The information is in the table.

People with incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance (SDA) claims ending in the period shown with the reason given as a return to work, and those who subsequently reclaimed benefit within 52 weeks

People with IB/SDA claims ending between 1 March 2001 and 28 February 2002, with the reason given as a return to work People subsequently reclaiming IB/SDA within 52 weeks

Incapacity benefit 25,300 2,400

Severe disablement allowance 800 ⁽¹⁶⁾100

	People with IB/SDA claims ending between 1 March 2001 and 28 February 2002, with the reason given as a return to work	People subsequently reclaiming IB/SDA within 52 weeks
Incapacity benefit	25,300	2,400
Severe disablement allowance	800	⁽¹⁶⁾100

⁽¹⁶⁾ Numbers are based on a very few sample cases; they are therefore subject to a high degree of sampling error and should be used as a guide to the current situation only.

Note:

Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

Source:

5 per cent. samples of the incapacity benefit computer system, which exclude a small number of cases held clerically.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the 100 wards in the UK with the highest number of people on Incapacity Benefit. [122839]

Maria Eagle: The information has been placed in the Library.

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