House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 18 Sept 2003 (pt 12)

18 Sept 2003 : Column 908W—continued

Low Incomes

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will introduce a system of short-term loans for those on low incomes when they change jobs; [129856]

(3) pursuant to his answer of 15 July 2003, Official Report, column 245W, on employment assistance, whether similar incentives are available for those in low paying jobs seeking a move to a similar position. [131175]

Mr. Browne: This Department has not conducted research into disincentives caused to low income households when people change jobs. We are, however, committed to making work pay for all those who are able to work, and to supporting households, including low-income households, in sustaining employment.

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Most people moving from one job to another will be able to manage until they receive payment from their new job, as wages are paid in arrears. For those in receipt of Working Tax Credit, continuity of payment will be maintained when people move from one job to another, as long as the gap between jobs is no more than seven days. The new Working Tax Credit has been extended to people aged 25 and over without children. If people receive the Child Tax Credit, this continues to be paid direct to the main carer throughout any changes in employment. People in low paid employment may also be entitled to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

People who are unable to manage whilst waiting for payment of wages, leading to a serious risk to their or their family's health or safety, may be able to get an interest free Crisis Loan. Repayment of a Crisis Loan does not start until the period of crisis is over and the

18 Sept 2003 : Column 910W

rate of repayment takes account of a person's income and other commitments to avoid hardship.

New Deal

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the New Deal for Young People has cost in each year, broken down into expenditure on (a) subsidies to employers, (b) payments to external providers, (c) payments to participants (d) employment service costs and (e) other economic categories. [114555]

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of New Deal expenditure was spent on (a) subsidies to employers, (b) payments to external providers, (c) payments to participants, (d) Jobcentre Plus costs and (e) other costs, broken down by programme, in each year since the programme began; and if he will make a statement. [122468]

Mr. Browne: The information is in the tables.

New Deal for Young PeopleSpend (£ million)

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03

Subsidies to employers — 19 27 16 14 14

Payments to external providers ⁽⁶⁾12 98 174 214 159 166

Payments to participants — 45 81 63 46 69

Departmental administrative costs 31 98 88 119 89 90

New Deal 25 PlusSpend (£ million)

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03

Subsidies to employers 0 5 42 14 12 13

Payments to external providers 0 12 28 24 99 123

Payments to participants 0 0 2 5 28 45

Departmental administrative costs 0 17 26 18 73 73

New Deal 50 PlusSpend (£ million)

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03

Subsidies to employers 0 0 0 0 0 0

Payments to external providers 0 0 0 2 2 2

Payments to participants 0 0 1 43 80 99

Departmental administrative costs 0 0 2 11 5 5

New Deal for Lone ParentsSpend (£ million)

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03

Subsidies to employers 0 0 0 0 0 0

Payments to external providers 0 0 2 3 1 4

Payments to participants 0 1 9 12 8 15

Departmental administrative costs 0 17 27 29 37 61

New Deal for Disabled PeopleSpend (£ million)

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03

Subsidies to employers 0 0 0 0 0 0

Payments to external providers 0 0 15 6 1 14

Payments to participants 0 0 0 0 3 0

Departmental administrative costs 0 1 7 7 6 12

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03
Subsidies to employers	—	19	27	16	14	14
Payments to external providers	⁽⁶⁾12	98	174	214	159	166
Payments to participants	—	45	81	63	46	69
Departmental administrative costs	31	98	88	119	89	90

	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03
Subsidies to employers	5	42	14	12	13
Payments to external providers	12	28	24	99	123
Payments to participants	0	2	5	28	45
Departmental administrative costs	17	26	18	73	73

	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03
Subsidies to employers	0	0	0	0
Payments to external providers	0	2	2	2
Payments to participants	1	43	80	99
Departmental administrative costs	2	11	5	5

	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03
Subsidies to employers	0	0	0	0	0
Payments to external providers	0	2	3	1	4
Payments to participants	1	9	12	8	15
Departmental administrative costs	17	27	29	37	61

	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03
Subsidies to employers	0	0	0	0	0
Payments to external providers	0	15	6	1	14
Payments to participants	0	0	0	3	0
Departmental administrative costs	1	7	7	6	12

18 Sept 2003 : Column 911W

New Deal for PartnersSpend (£ million)

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03

Subsidies to employers 0 0 0 0 0 0

Payments to external providers 0 0 0 1 1 0

Payments to participants 0 0 0 0 0 0

Departmental administrative costs 0 1 5 10 6 6

	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03
Subsidies to employers	0	0	0	0	0
Payments to external providers	0	0	1	1	0
Payments to participants	0	0	0	0	0
Departmental administrative costs	1	5	10	6	6

⁽⁶⁾ Information is not available on the breakdown of spend across these categories.

Notes:

1. Due to rounding differences, and changes in allocation, figures provided may not sum to previous figures given.

2. No money was allocated to other economic categories.

Source:

Jobcentre Plus.

Operation Gangmaster

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what costs have been incurred since the inception of (a) Operation Gangmaster and (b) the Gangmaster Working Group; what funds remain unallocated in each case; and if he will make a statement. [128785]

Mr. Pond: It is not possible to identify separately how much is spent on Operation Gangmaster activity.

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment has been undertaken of Operation Gangmaster; and what plans there are to make an assessment. [128787]

Mr. Pond: A hearing on gangmasters by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee took place before the summer recess. The report was published on 18 September 2003. Operation Gangmaster will be reviewed in the light of the Committee's recommendations.

Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 17 July 2003, Official Report, column 554W, on Operation Gangmaster, if he will list the members of the west Midlands forum under the Operation Gangmaster initiative. [129783]

Mr. Pond: When Operation Gangmaster began in 1998, forums were set up at Walsall and Cambridge to cover the west and east Midlands respectively. In

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September 2002 these forums were amalgamated into one forum, which sits at Peterborough.

The organisations represented at the forum are listed.

Department for Work and Pensions (Chair and Secretariat)

Inland Revenue

United Kingdom Immigration Service

National Asylum Support Service

H.M Customs and Excise

Uniform and plain clothes police officers

Department for Environment, Rural Affairs and Agriculture

Department for Trade and Industry

Health and Safety Executive

Pension Forecasts

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many retirement pension forecasts have been distributed to the self-employed, and at what cost; and what is the average entitlement that is forecast. [128748]

Malcolm Wicks: The total number of state pension forecasts issued to the self-employed to date (5 September 2003) is 397, 409.

The cost of the exercise to date is £2.72 million; this includes both staff and non-staff costs.

The figures for the average cash amount for each component that makes up the forecast for the self-employed are as follows:

£ Information

Average amount of Basic Pension 73.61 Forecasted Basic Pension at State Pension Age

Average amount of payable Additional Pension 6.49 This figure is based on contributions paid and is the actual amount to be paid, this is unlikely to change unless the self-employed recipient reverts to employed status.

Average amount of Graduated Retirement Benefit 1.20 —

Average amount per forecast letter 81.29 ⁽⁷⁾—

	£	Information
Average amount of Basic Pension	73.61	Forecasted Basic Pension at State Pension Age
Average amount of payable Additional Pension	6.49	This figure is based on contributions paid and is the actual amount to be paid, this is unlikely to change unless the self-employed recipient reverts to employed status.
Average amount of Graduated Retirement Benefit	1.20	—
Average amount per forecast letter	81.29	⁽⁷⁾—

⁽⁷⁾ The discrepancy of 1p is due to rounding.

Parliamentary Questions

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many questions directed to him remain unanswered. [130765]

Maria Eagle: As at the rising of the House for the conference recess, 24 questions for answer today or earlier have not yet been answered.

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