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19 Nov 2003 : Column 1072W—continued

Performance Monitoring

Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost was of (a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for his Department in 2002–03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. [137944]

Maria Eagle: Performance targets for the department were agreed as part of Spending Review 2002. The monitoring and measurement of PSA targets forms part of departmental performance management. Performance management is an integral part of the day to day running of the department, and as such it is not possible to separate the specific costs out. The monitoring of progress towards, and performance against, the department's PSA targets is undertaken by a wide variety of staff at all levels of the organisation.

Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the performance targets that (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are required to meet; and if he will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it. [137960]

Maria Eagle: Key performance targets for the Department for Work and Pensions are agreed as part of the Spending Review and the latest set were published in Spending Review 2002: Public Service Agreements 2003–2006 (Cm 5571). The department monitors progress towards the targets along with HM Treasury and progress is reported regularly.

The department has four agencies:





















Agency performance targets are set by the Secretary of State and are set out in the Business Plans of our Agencies and, where appropriate, in the Business Plans and Annual Performance Agreements of the Non Departmental Public Bodies. They are available in the Library.

Achievement against the targets is monitored as part of the department's performance management, which is an integral part of the day to day running of the department. Monitoring of progress towards, and performance against, the targets is undertaken by a wide variety of staff at all levels of the organisation, and includes meetings between Ministers and Chief Executives or equivalent.

Post Office Card Accounts

Mr. Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners receive their state pension by means of (a) direct payment into a bank or building society account, (b) direct payment into a Post Office card account and (c) a pension book. [114677]

Mr. Pond: The information has been complied form data available on 6 September 2003.

The number of live accounts in payment of State Pension (RP) at 6 September 2003 paid by:

(a) Direct Payment into a Bank or Building Society Account: 4,860,832
(b) Direct Payment into a Post Office card account:10,476
(c) a pension Book:4,327,440
(d) Other (Payable Order, GIRO):49,630

The above table does not include Retirement Pension paid with another benefit, for which an analysis of the method of payment is not available.

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The numbers being paid by direct payment are expected to grow rapidly in the coming months as 20 week order books begin to expire and customers begin to receive payment into their chosen bank, building society and post office card accounts.

Public Employees (Essex)

Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many full-time workers were employed by the Pensions Agency in Essex on 1 September. [139516]

Maria Eagle: At 1 September, 224 full time staff (permanent and temporary staff) were employed by The Pension Service in Essex.

Social Exclusion

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research his Department has conducted into the effect of benefit sanctions on claimants with reference to social exclusion; and if he will make a statement. [138754]

Mr. Pond: No research has been conducted by the Department into the effect of benefit sanctions on claimants with specific reference to social exclusion. Research on the effect of sanctions, though not specifically related to social exclusion, was carried out and published in 2001 under the title "The Impact of the 26 Sanctioning Regime" (Report number ESR100). A copy of this is available in the Library. Basic quarterly statistical reports on sanctions are available in the Library.

Work-related Stress

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department in each of the last three years; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work-related stress, and at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress, and at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [136846]

Maria Eagle: Information is available only for 2002–03. In addition, where individuals indicate on their medical certificate that 'stress' is the reason for sickness absence, generally this will not differentiate between workplace stress and stress that might have been caused by other factors, for example domestic issues.

For 2002–03, there were 7,576 reported cases of stress. (This will include individuals who might have had several periods of stress-related sickness absence.) That led to 162,814 working days being lost at a cost of around £8.5 million. We do not collect information on the amount of compensation (if appropriate) that might have been paid to individuals. This could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

The DWP takes seriously its obligation to provide a supportive working environment for its staff. One way in which this is discharged is through our Employee

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Assistance provider, a confidential service which staff can call on 24 hours a day where the need arises. In addition, we will do all we reasonably can to address any workplace issues that might contribute to a person's stress levels. The Department is a key stakeholder in the Government's 'Revitalising Health and Safety' initiative and has signed up to the principle of the 'Government Setting an Example' agenda. The DWP is also participating in the HSE Management Standards pilot in five areas. The pilot is designed to combat workplace stress. If successful, we will look to introduce the Management Standards across the organisation.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Permitted Development Rights

7. Mrs. Calton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress with the review of permitted development rights. [139313]

Keith Hill: As part of the planning reform agenda the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister undertook to review the permitted development rights granted by the Town and Country Planning (Permitted Development Rights) Order 1995. As a first step, a research report commissioned from Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners Ltd was published on 10 September.

No decisions have been made about any changes to permitted development rights. Full public consultation will take place before any changes are made.

Allotments

8. Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps his Department is taking to promote the wider (a) use and (b) provision of allotments. [139314]

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister supports the development of green spaces, including allotments, parks, city farms and playgrounds. We have introduced higher restrictions on the disposal of allotments and distributed guidance on allotment management.

Coalfield Regeneration Trust

9. Jeff Ennis : To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact of the Coalfield Regeneration Trust on the former coalfield areas. [139315]

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, has been pleased with the positive response of the coalfield communities to the work carried out by Coalfields Regeneration Trust since its launch in 1999. I am aware that the Trust is currently undertaking an independent evaluation of its work and I look forward to seeing the results of this shortly.

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