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11 Sept 2003 : Column 444W—continued

Community Care Grants

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) highest, (b) lowest, (c) mean and (d) median and (e) modal amount was for community care grants given as a result of domestic violence in each year since 1998. [125741]

Mr. Pond: The available information is in the table, data for other years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Community care grants awarded to victims of domestic violence: 2000–01

	£
Highest amount	3,275
Lowest amount	4
Mean amount	672
Median amount	604
Modal amount	300

Notes:

1. The scan contains the total amount awarded for each application just after the latest decision on it during 2000–01. The quantities asked for (except the modal amount) given by the scan will therefore be greater than or equal to those for initial awards and less than or equal to those for final awards.

2. The lowest amount was requested and awarded in full under Direction 4(b), ie for travelling expenses.

3. The modal amount corresponds to just 1.1 per cent of awards to victims of domestic violence.

4. Data are for Great Britain.

5. The information relates only to those people who have been awarded community care grants specifically as a result of domestic violence. Community care grants may also have been awarded for other reasons to other people who have been the victims of domestic violence.

6. Figures are rounded to the nearest £.

Source:

Scan of the Social Fund Computer Systems.

Disability Bill

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to introduce a Disability Bill; and if he will make a statement. [129183]

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Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 22 January 2003, Official Report, columns 12–13WS.

Housing Benefit

Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) who he recommended as preferred suppliers for the software package required by local authorities for housing benefit; [129186]

(2) whether he considered a single software package provider for local authorities with respect to housing benefit. [129187]

Mr. Pond: Local authorities have statutory responsibility for the administration of housing benefit, and have complete autonomy to select and contract with the software provider of their choice. It would, therefore, be inappropriate for the Department to consider a single software provider or recommend a preferred supplier.

We do, however, provide local authorities with good practice advice in the management of contracts with software providers.

Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will allow an open tender for the delivery of housing benefit in Swale; [129189]

(2) if he will send an emergency team to Swale borough council to resolve delays in housing benefit. [129188]

Mr. Pond: Local authorities are statutory independent bodies responsible for the administration of housing benefit. A decision to offer the delivery of housing benefit for tender is ordinarily a matter for the individual authority.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has powers to direct an authority to put its benefits administration out to tender in prescribed circumstances, namely when: the authority has failed to meet the standards of administration set out in a previously issued direction; or the authority is failing to meet the requirements of the legislation relating to Best Value, particularly where it is failing to put in place the necessary steps to improve its benefits administration.

However, these powers would only be used as a matter of last resort. The Government's policy is to work with, and to lend appropriate support to, struggling authorities in order to achieve sustained improvement. In line with this policy, our Departmental Help Team, a multi disciplinary team of management consultants and benefits practitioners who, by invitation, work with authorities experiencing difficulties, is due to visit Swale borough council on 29 September.

Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many local authorities who distribute housing benefit have contracts with Capita. [129190]

Mr. Pond: Seven local authorities contract out their benefit administration to Capita. In addition, Capita also offers a range of other services to local authorities; however, a record of those contracts is not held centrally.

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CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Family Courts

Dr. Cable: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether he has consulted solicitors on the proposed re-organisation of family courts in London. [128960]

Mr. Lammy: The Greater London Magistrates' Courts Authority (GLMCA), which has responsibility for magistrates courts in the Greater London area, has recently closed a consultation period on the future organisation of its family proceedings courts. The GLMCA is currently considering the responses to its consultation paper and I am sure that it will wish to take into account the views of all involved before settling its plans. Unless a matter is referred to the Lord Chancellor according to statute this Department is not able to intervene.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

School Budgets

11. Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools will start the school year with a budget deficit. [128979]

Mr. Miliband: Figures for balances are collected at the end of each financial year. The latest complete figures are for 31 March 2002, when balances stood at £1.1 billion. Figures for 31 March 2003 are due in October.

Teach First

13. Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the number of teachers recruited by schools since September 2002 as a result of Teach First. [128981]

Mr. Stephen Twigg: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, Southall (Mr. Khabra).

Adult Education

16. Mr. Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the operation of the Adult Learning Grant pilots. [128984]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Adult Learning Grant pilots started this month in 10 local Learning and Skills Council areas. The grant offers up to £30 a week to help adults in further education with the costs of learning. Some 80 colleges and other further education providers are involved, together with other national and local partners. The pilots will help us establish the best operational design for future adult learning grants.

Arson

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in each of the last five years have been subject to arson attacks; and if he will make a statement. [128776]

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Mr. Miliband: The Department does not collect these figures, but takes the problem of arson in schools very seriously.

If a fire should happen in a school, the Department's primary concern is for the safety of pupils, teachers and other users. Regulation 17 of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 requires that every part of a school building, and of the land provided for a school, shall be such that the safe escape of the occupants in case of fire is reasonably assured. Schools are also covered by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and by subsequent related regulations. These include aspects of fire safety.

Further to this, the Department has produced the guide "Fire Safety", which includes advice on how to reduce the risks of arson attacks. This complements our guidance on reducing crime in schools, such as the booklet "Improving Security in Schools" and the video "Can You See What They See?" We also have a school security website—www.dfes.gov.uk/schoolsecuritv.

Officials from my Department sit on the Arson in Schools Working Group, a group of experts representing the insurance industry, the fire and police services, local authorities and Government Departments. One of its outputs has been the publication of the guide "How to Combat Arson in Schools", which is available free and has been well received by schools.

Children's Centres

17. Mrs. Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the progress made in establishing children's centres. [128986]

Margaret Hodge: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friends the Members for Brent, North (Mr. Gardiner) and for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths).

Children's Social Services

Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will ring-fence additional funds for children's social services. [127926]

Margaret Hodge: When my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, announced additional resources for children's social services on 17 July 2003, Official Report, column 455–58, he said that the details would be given in the autumn.

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