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15 Jul 2003 : Column 245W—continued
E-government
Dr. Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what organisations he has consulted to meet his Department's commitment to develop an online web based retirement planner; and when that planner will be available to the public. [122267]
Malcolm Wicks: The consultation programme for the Green Paper "Simplicity, security and choice: working and saving for retirement," Cm 5677, was the largest we have undertaken on pensions. More than 800 consultation responses were received. We also met around 2,000 people including individuals and those representing a wide range of organisations taking part in 35 consultation events of various forms. Nearly 150 people contributed to this discussion on our departmental website.
There were a limited number of specific references to the online retirement planner within the consultation responses. Those that did respond were in favour of the proposal.
The Department has also carried out specific consultation with representatives from consumer bodies, industry trade bodies and pension product providers. In particular, with:
- Consumers Association;
Financial Services Authority (FSA);
Association of British Insurers (ABI);
Pension Product Providers, including AXA Sun Life, Legal and General, Norwich Union, Prudential, Scottish Equitable and Standard Life; and
EMAP, an employer
Employment Assistance
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to assist those for whom a move to new employment would impose severe problems of cash flow. [125375]
Mr. Browne : Making the move from benefit into employment can be worrying. In recognition of this a package of measures has been developed, designed to provide real support for people making this transition and give them confidence that they can take up work. These measures include Job Grant, Lone Parents' Run-On, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Extended Payments, Mortgage Interest Run-On, the Adviser
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Discretion Fund, Social Fund Crisis Loans and the New Tax Credits. In addition we have announced further plans to financially assist people during the transition from benefit to work.
From April 2004 we will be extending the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Extended Payments to people claiming Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance, making it easier for people on these benefits to manage the first few weeks in work. At the same time we will be extending the £11.90 Housing Benefit earnings disregard to people working 16 hours a week and who are receiving or are entitled to Working Tax Credit. This disregard is currently only available to those working 30 hours or more a week and who receiving, or are entitled to, Working Tax Credit.
From October 2004 we will be introducing a unified, more streamlined and easier to understand Job Grant that will also replace the Lone Parents' Benefit Run-On. The new Job Grant will have two rates; one for people with, and another for those without, children. It will, for the first time, be available to partners of benefit claimants who are taking up work and taking the household off benefit. Finally we will also be piloting a new in-work credit for lone parents, also from October 2004.
These measures will help people financially during the difficult period between the last payment of benefit and the first payment of wages.
Energy-efficient Electrical Appliances
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to encourage the use of social fund grants to provide energy efficient electrical appliances. [120750]
Mr. Pond: We believe that people should, as far as possible, be responsible for managing their own money. People who are awarded a social fund payment are, like other consumers, free to choose the goods they purchase. This includes deciding whether to purchase energy efficient electrical appliances.
Exceptions Service
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the statement made by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the hon. Member for Gravesham (Mr. Pond) of 9 July 2003, Official Report, column 310WH, if he will make a statement on the timetable for the establishment of the exceptions service. [125962]
Mr. Pond: Our aim is to have an exceptions service ready from October 2004.
Gangmasters
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the enforcement of the obligations of gangmasters to ensure that the staff they provide to British farmers and growers (a) are aware of the health and safety requirements of their work and (b) hold appropriate qualifications for any specialised tasks they may need to perform. [124888]
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Mr. Browne [holding answer 10 July 2003]: Employers, including gangmasters have responsibility for the health and safety of their employees. Enforcement of health and safety law in the agriculture sector rests with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and a summary of HSE's enforcement and other activities can be found in the Health and Safety Commission's annual report available from the House library. HSE is involved with other Government agencies and departments in the Gangmaster Working Group's activities to co-ordinate enforcement activity against gangmasters acting illegally.
Government Initiatives
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the research that has been conducted into (a) employment zones, (b) new deal for communities and (c) action teams; if he will publish these documents; and if he will make a statement. [122465]
Mr. Browne: The following research has been conducted into Employment Zones and Action Teams:
- 'Employment Zones: A study of local delivery agents and case studies', Working Age Evaluation Series 124, July 2002
'Personal Advisers in New Deal 25 plus and Employment Zones', Working Age Evaluation Series 139, August 2002
'Evaluation of Action Teams for Jobs' Working Age Evaluation 114, April 2002
The evaluation of the New Deal for Communities partnerships is just moving into its second year. A first report on this evaluation will be published later this year by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit. This report will be placed in the Library.
Jobcentre Plus
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what (a) client-based targets and (b) weighted points target system Jobcentre Plus has for placing people who are on (i) jobseekers allowance, (ii) income support for lone parents, (iii) incapacity benefit and (iv) each of the new deal programmes; what the level of performance has been against each of these targets and the weighted points targets in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [124538]
Mr. Browne: Jobcentre Plus was created in April 2002, bringing together the Employment Service and those parts of the Benefits Agency that delivered services to working age people. That was the first time that an explicit weighted target was used for job entries.
The targets for Jobcentre Plus are set out in the Jobcentre Plus Business Plan and the Performance and Resources Agreement (PRA) which are available in the Library. Performance against the 2002/03 targets will be included in the Jobcentre Plus Annual Report and Accounts, which will be published in the near future.
Job entry performance against targets prior to 2002 can be found in the Employment Service Annual Reports and Accounts, copies of which are in the Library.
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Jobseeker's Allowance (North Yorkshire)
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when persons whose jobseekers allowance claims are refused are informed of the reasons for the refusal of their claim; and if he will make a statement on the appeal procedures applicable in such cases. [124024]
Mr. Pond: Once a claim for jobseekers allowance is assessed, a letter is sent to inform the person making the claim of the entitlement decision and the reasons for that decision. This letter also sets out the action the customer can take if they either do not understand or are unhappy with the decision. They can ask for further explanation of the decision, ask for the decision to be reconsidered or appeal against the decision to an independent tribunal.
Full details on these procedures can be found in leaflet GL24: If you think our decision is wrong. A copy has been placed in the Library.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were claiming jobseeker's allowance in North Yorkshire on (a) 1 April 2000 and (b) 1 April 2003. [124427]
Mr. Pond: The information is in the table.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| April 2000 | 6,635 |
| April 2003 | 4,932 |
Note:
Figures are from a count of people claiming benefit at 13 April 2000 and 10 April2003 respectively.
Source:
Jobcentre Plus computer systems (including clerically held cases)
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