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30 Jan 2004 : Column 600W—continued
Departmental Office (Hebburn)
Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are employed in the Department's offices in Hebburn; and how many of those are residents of south Tyneside. [146949]
Maria Eagle: The Department has 51 staff working in Hebburn of these eight have postcodes indicating a south Tyneside home address.
Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the age profile is of the people employed in the Department's offices in Hebburn. [146950]
Maria Eagle: The age profile of the staff working in the Department's offices in Hebburn is shown in the table.
| Age group | Number of staff in age group |
|---|---|
| Under 20 | 0 |
| 21–30 | 6 |
| 31–40 | 14 |
| 41–50 | 22 |
| 51+ | 9 |
| Total | 51 |
Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the annual running costs are of the Department's offices in Hebburn; and when the offices are due for closure. [146996]
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Maria Eagle : Inland Revenue is the major occupier of the Reyrolle Building in Hebburn. The amount to be paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) towards annual running costs for the building is estimated to be £395,701 for the year from April 2003 to March 2004.
The lease is due to expire in June 2006. It is anticipated that DWP staff will be relocated before then.
Industrial Injury Disablement Benefit
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the procedures are for claiming industrial injury disablement benefit; and if he will list the claim forms required. [147944]
Mr. Browne: A person wishing to claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) in respect of an industrial accident or a prescribed disease should, in respect of an industrial accident, fill in Bl 100A and, in respect of prescribed diseases, Bl 100B for all diseases apart from Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema (Bl 100C); Allergic Rhinitis (Bl 100E); Occupational Asthma (Bl 1000A); Occupational Deafness (Bl 1000D); and Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis or asbestos related diseases (Bl 100PN).
An appropriate advice leaflet from the series SD6/7/8 will also be sent; a person wishing to claim IIDB should complete the appropriate form and forward it without delay to their local Social Security office.
Copies of all forms referred to are in the Library.
Information Technology
Mr. Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what cost savings have been made in his Department since the introduction of the Information Technology procurement Centre of Excellence; and how these were calculated. [151043]
Maria Eagle: Centres of Excellence were established in the Department for Work and Pensions in June 2003 to integrate the essential functions which underpin the successful delivery of all types of acquisition based programmes and projects. As cost benefits will not accrue until improvements start to take effect it is too early to measure cost savings. All Centres of Excellence are currently developing future plans and as part of this process measurement of savings will be defined.
Publicity Campaigns
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much (a) his Department and (b) each agency and non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department spent on (i) advertising and (ii) information campaigns in each year since 1995–96; what his estimate is for 2003–04; and if he will make a statement. [149722]
Maria Eagle [holding answer 21 January 2004]: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001. Between that date and March 2003, the Department spent a total of £35,031,354 alerting people to their rights, responsibilities and entitlements through information campaigns. Of this sum, £18,788,328 was
30 Jan 2004 : Column 602W
spent on advertising using television, radio, cinema and press media. Expenditure by the Department, broken down by year is in the table.
The Department's agencies and non-departmental bodies use advertising for various reasons, ranging from public information and recruitment to advertising opening hours of local offices. On each occasion, national and/or regional media may be used as well as various local newspapers. A breakdown of expenditure by agency and non-departmental public body could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
| Total publicity costs | Advertising costs | |
|---|---|---|
| June 2001 to March 2002 | 22,727,979 | 13,787,594 |
| April 2002 to March 2003 | 12,303,375 | 5,000,734 |
| Total | 35,031,354 | 18,788,328 |
Notes:
1. Machinery of Government changes during the period 1997 to 2001 mean that like-for-like figures are not obtainable without disproportionate cost. During this time communications activity was accounted for under different systems in the agencies, Headquarters and the Department for Education and Employment, part of which transferred to the Department for Work and Pensions.
2. All costs exclude VAT.
3. Advertising costs are total publicity costs excluding all production costs.
4. Information campaigns costing under £250,000 have not been included as a disproportionate cost would be incurred in compiling these figures.
Unclaimed Assets Register
Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much money there is in the Unclaimed Assets Register. [148380]
Maria Eagle: As Government Accounting does not explicitly require the Department to maintain a register of unclaimed assets and neither is it in the nature of DWP's business to come into contact with such items, the Department does not keep an unclaimed assets register.
US Warships (Disposal)
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has received from Able UK Ltd. reports on the condition of the visible asbestos on board the ships from the US Naval Reserve docked at Hartlepool; and if he will make a statement. [148615]
Mr. Browne [holding answer 19 January 2004]: DWP has not received any reports. However, in accordance with the conditions laid down by the Health and Safety Executive, Able UK arranged for an inspection to be undertaken of the visible asbestos aboard the four US Naval Reserve ships prior to the ship leaving the US. In accordance with said conditions Able UK advised HSE on 6 October for the first two ships and 17 October for the second two that the visual condition of the asbestos aboard was good. The ships docked in Hartlepool on 12, 13, 27 November and 3 December, soon after they arrived Able UK confirmed to HSE that the asbestos remained in a satisfactory condition. On 10 December
30 Jan 2004 : Column 603W
inspectors from HSE made a tour of one of the ships and confirmed Able UK's report that the visual condition of the asbestos in accessible locations was good.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Criminal Justice Boards
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to his answer of 10 December 2003, Official Report, column 497W, on the Nottinghamshire Criminal Justice Board, whether the action plans of local criminal justice boards are being sent to local hon. Members for comment. [145048]
Paul Goggins: It is a matter for Local Criminal Justice Boards how they consult locally on their plans.
Nottinghamshire Criminal Justice Board has not sent its plan to local hon. Members for comment. However, I understand that in the spring the Board plans to hold a consultation event on the criminal justice system for local hon. Members.
Knives
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had regarding a UK-wide amnesty on knives. [150953]
Ms Blears [holding answer 27 January 2004]: There are presently no plans to introduce a national knives amnesty. However, we are discussing a range of issues relating to the sale and possession of knives with the Association of Chief Police Officers.
30 Jan 2004 : Column 604W
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the merits of raising the age limit for the purchase of non-kitchen knives to 18 years of age. [150955]
Ms Blears [holding answer 27 January 2004]: We are currently seeking the views of the Association of Chief Police Officers on the sale of knives.
Prison/Probation Services
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people, broken down by grade, were employed (a) at the National Probation Directorate and (b) at the headquarters of the Prison Service on the latest date available; and how many of these are (i) consultants and (ii) contractual staff. [147633]
Paul Goggins: The information requested is listed.
Table A indicates the total establishment in the National Probation Directorate, broken down by grade and the relevant numbers of consultants and contractual staff from that establishment figure.
Table B indicates the total establishment in the Prison Service Headquarters, broken down by grade and relevant consultant/contractual establishment from that total.
These figures are the latest available as at 31 December 2003 and 31 October 2003 respectively.
Projects are currently under way to substantially reduce staff within the National Probation Directorate.
- Note:The figures shown in the Contractual/Consultant columns are included in the total figure. Agency staff only included in the total column.
| Grade | Staff in post 31 December 2003 | Consultants within establishment | Contractual staffwithin establishment |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCS | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Grade 6 | 37 | 1 | 2 |
| Grade 7 | 96 | 10 | 10 |
| Senior Executive Officer | 56 | 5 | 8 |
| Higher Executive Officer (D) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Higher Executive Officer | 49 | 4 | 1 |
| Executive Officer | 65 | 1 | 0 |
| Administrative Officer | 37 | 0 | 0 |
| Administrative Assistant | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Senior Personal Secretary | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Personal Secretary | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Assistant Chief Officer | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Senior Probation Officer | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Detective Chief Inspector | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| PO5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Psychological Assistant | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Interventions Consultants | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| Electronic Monitoring Consultants | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| IT Project Manager | 1 | — | 1 |
| IT Consultants | 9 | 9 | — |
| Total | 444 | 51 | 22 |
30 Jan 2004 : Column 605W
| Grade | Staff in post 31 October 2003 | Consultants/contractual staff30 September 2003 |
|---|---|---|
| AA | 59 | 16 |
| AO | 368 | 45 |
| Assistant Information Officer | 1 | 0 |
| EO | 418 | 16 |
| Farm and Gardens Grades | 1 | 0 |
| Governor 5 | 1 | 0 |
| HEO(D) | 2 | 0 |
| Industrial | 63 | 4 |
| Manager E | 304 | 9 |
| Manager F | 314 | 12 |
| Manager G | 161 | 4 |
| Nursing Grades | 2 | 0 |
| OSG | 11 | 0 |
| Personal Secretary | 79 | 6 |
| Principal Officer | 87 | 1 |
| Principal Officer IDS | 3 | 0 |
| Prison Officer | 52 | 0 |
| Prof and Tech Officer | 10 | 0 |
| Psychological Assistant | 26 | 1 |
| Psychologist | 15 | 0 |
| Scientific Officer | 1 | 0 |
| Senior Civil Servant | 42 | 1 |
| Senior Manager A | 17 | 0 |
| Senior Manager B | 55 | 0 |
| Senior Manager C | 27 | 0 |
| Senior Manager D | 236 | 3 |
| Senior Officer | 68 | 0 |
| Senior Officer IDS | 1 | 0 |
| Senior Personal Secretary | 12 | 1 |
| Storeperson/Officer | 6 | 0 |
| Support Band 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Support Band 2 | 12 | 0 |
| Technical Officer | 1 | 0 |
| Typist | 16 | 3 |
| Total | 2,472 | 122 |
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