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20 Nov 2003 : Column 1342W—continued
Departmental Filestores
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when (a) he, (b) a minister in his Department and (c) the Permanent Secretary at the Department last visited a departmental filestore (i) in the North West and (ii) elsewhere; and if he will make a statement. [131207]
Maria Eagle: The Department operates from over 1,800 offices and a significant number of these have some file storage facility, many of these will have been visited by a Minister or the Permanent Secretary of this Department. However, we have no record of any Minister or Permanent Secretary visiting our sites used solely for the purpose of file storage.
Disabled Access
Joyce Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information he has collated on variations in the provision of ramps for the disabled between local authorities. [139894]
Keith Hill: I have been asked to reply.
The disabled facilities grant programme helps to fund a wide range of housing adaptations, including facilitating access to and from the property. This is a mandatory grant available to eligible applicants in order to help them to continue to live independently in their own homes, funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and administered through local authorities.
Some councils also provide ramps under Community Care legislation.
The Government does not collect information on numbers, or the nature of ramps provided by local authorities under these programmes.
Disabled People (Discrimination)
Ms Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to give disabled people the same legislative protection from discrimination as those facing sex and race discrimination. [138376]
Maria Eagle: We have been working to ensure that the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) provides comprehensive civil rights for disabled people. Most recently, the Disability Discrimination Act (Amendment) Regulations 2003 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Pensions) Regulations 2003, which come into force in October 2004, have improved protection for disabled people in the field of employment and vocational training. Later this year, we will publish a draft Disability Bill which will include further measures to extend disabled people's civil rights. However, it is inappropriate to attempt exact
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comparisons between the DDA and the Race Relations and Sex Discrimination Acts, not least because the DDA includes the unique concept of reasonable adjustments.
Exceptions Service
Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how the Exceptions Service will operate in respect of people in debt whose benefits are being used to pay off debts to their bank under the right of set-off. [139151]
Mr. Pond: There are a wide range of accounts available which are free to operate and do not offer overdraft facilities. Account providers make their customers aware of the features of individual accounts and leaflets provided to benefits customers and pensioners also set out which types of accounts offer overdraft facilities.
Detailed arrangements for the exceptions method of payment are not finalised yet, but it is anticipated that it will be a cheque-based solution. The small number of customers who cannot operate an account will be able to pay their benefit or pension into an account of their choice, or access their cash at Post Office branches.
Health and Safety
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of Health and Safety inspectors who will be employed in each of the next three financial years. [135786]
Mr. Browne: Estimates of the number of Health and Safety inspectors who will be employed in each of the next three financial years have not yet been made.
The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) is now consulting on a new strategy for the years 2004—2010. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is carrying out pilot studies in new ways of working to free up resource which can be used to deliver its mission to protect peoples1 health and safety by ensuring risks to health and safety from the changing workplace are properly controlled. Responses to the draft strategy and the results of the pilot studies will be taken into account when deciding on the appropriate mix and number of staff (including inspectors) within HSE.
While regulation and enforcing compliance with the law remain vital elements of HSE's work, they are not the only means of achieving health and safety improvements. HSE plans to put more effort into educating, influencing and working in partnership with others (at all levels) who can help achieve further improvement in health and safety performance.
Housing Benefit
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on housing benefit for residents of (a) houses in multiple occupation, (b) the rest of the private rented sector, (c) council housing and (d) other social housing in the last year for which figures are available; and what the average cost per person was in each case. [140362]
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Mr. Pond: The available information is in the tables.
| Housing Benefit expenditureby tenure type | Expenditure in 2001–02 |
|---|---|
| Tenure | |
| Private (excluding Registered Social Landlord) | 2,859 |
| Local Authority (Rent Rebate) | 5,283 |
| Registered Social Landlord | 3,450 |
Notes:
1. 2001–02 is the latest year where final audited outturn expenditure information
is available
2. Expenditure is rounded to the nearest m
3. The expenditure figures are for GB.
Source:
Audited expenditure information from Local Authorities
| Average weekly amount ofHousing Benefit by Tenure | Average weekly amount of Tenure Housing Benefit |
|---|---|
| Private (excluding Registered Social Landlord) | 71.60 |
| Local Authority | 48.12 |
| Registered Social Landlord | 58.01 |
Notes:1. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.2. The average amounts have been rounded to the nearest penny. 3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated.4. Housing Benefit figures exclude any Extended Payment cases.Source:
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken in May 2003
Identity Cards
Sir Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the use of ID cards to reduce benefit fraud. [134932]
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimates he has made of the savings that his Department will gain through the introduction of a compulsory identity card. [138969]
Mr. Pond: I refer the hon. Members to the oral answer given to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 17 November 2003, Official Report, column 469.
Jobcentre Plus
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement concerning JobCentre Plus' Vision for London plan, with reference to (a) the number of (i) permanent and (ii) temporary posts, that will be moved out of London, (b) the timescale for the moves, (c) the expected impact on services for JobCentre Plus clients (i) in general and (ii) those from minority ethnic communities without English as a first language, (d) the extent to which those staff providing services for London JobCentre Plus clients from out of London will be expected to have a related knowledge of the jobs market (A) in the different parts of London geographically and (B) in the different
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parts of London's economy and (e) the impact of the move on the likely numbers of JobCentre Plus staff from minority ethnic backgrounds. [136831]
Mr. Browne: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Andrew Dismore, dated 20 November 2003:
- As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the Jobcentre Plus Vision for London and it's impact on our customers and staff. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
- It may be helpful if I explain that like the rest of my Agency, London region has embarked on a process of incremental change to deliver modern, effective and responsive services to our customers. Our priority is to provide the best possible service to our customers. The Jobcentre Plus London Vision is a generic title that encompasses a range of Department of Work and Pensions, National Jobcentre Plus and Regional change initiatives to achieve this aim. In general terms and by 2006, I aim to have in place a network of new modernised offices and support services which:
- enhance access and provide improved service to a much larger customer base;
- ensure better value for money through delivery of more efficient processes, and
- provide more satisfying and rewarding jobs for staff in more pleasant and professional working environments.
- Part of the change programme which is included in the London Vision, includes initiatives that, over time, will offer wider choice to our customers about how they access support and services. I envisage, for example, that by 2006 many more of those who can will be able to access appropriate services remotely, via Jobseeker Direct, Employer Direct and our network of First Contact Centres for new claims to benefit. To provide the best possible service to our customers within our finite resource a number of our non customer facing roles will be delivered outside of London. The extent and numbers of jobs that will be relocated will be clearer in the new year, once some key decisions are taken about our backroom benefit processing roles. I would however stress that we plan to retain local capacity to provide face-to-face service for customers who cannot take advantage of other means of accessing the help and support they need.
- You may be aware of the Department of Work and Pensions Departmental Plans. These plans show that the Department will see a reduction in the number of staff it employs from 130,000 in 2002 to 112,000 in 2006 as part of the Spending Review undertaken in 2002. Jobcentre Plus in London (including existing London region staff based in Scotland and North West England) will see a reduction in the level of full time staff providing services to London Customers from 12,318 in April 2002 to 10,769 in March 2006 according to our latest planning assumptions. Underlying these headline numbers is the ongoing impact of London's dynamic labour market. The region is currently looking to recruit up to 700 new staff into London this year and has a proven track record of recruiting ethnic minorities. I am confident further recruitment will be needed next year.
- The introduction of the new Jobcentre Plus services will change the sorts of jobs available to staff in London. By 2006, more of my staff in London and other regions, will be providing face-to-face services to those customers who most need this form of help. It is true that over time the type and location of work will change, but I am confident that there will be jobs for everyone currently working in London.
- I know that the London Field Director, Sheelagh Keyse, is keen to assess all aspects of her change programme. Consultation on individual initiatives takes place in the normal progress of business. In addition, and in order to assess the overall strategy, Sheelagh has commissioned a review of the entire London Change Programme led by DWP consultants. This review is due to report
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- in December and further information will be available in January 2004, and I would like to offer you the opportunity to meet with Alan Brown who will be taking over as the Field Director for London to discuss the impact of changes on our London workforce.
- I hope this is helpful.
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