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25 Feb 2004 : Column 480W—continued
Retail Stores (Extensions)
Matthew Green: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when his Department will complete its research into the extent to which retailers are using internal extensions to expand their stores without planning permission; and if he will place a copy of the results in the Library. [154998]
Keith Hill: A survey of a sample of local planning authorities has been commissioned through the Government Offices to assess the extent of the issue and the possible consequences. While advanced, this work is not yet complete in a format which would enable it to be published, but the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister hopes to be in a position to make the findings public in due course.
WORK AND PENSIONS
Incapacity Benefit
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of the population of England and Wales was claiming Incapacity Benefit on the latest date for which figures are available; (a) how many people in and (b) what percentage of the population of each ward in each principal seaside town in England and Wales receive Incapacity Benefit, listed in descending order, with figures for Welsh seaside town clusters disaggregated; and if he will make a statement. [154958]
Maria Eagle: There were 2,378,900 people claiming Incapacity Benefit (including Severe Disablement
25 Feb 2004 : Column 481W
Allowance) in England and Wales as of 31 August 2003. This accounts for 5.7 per cent. of the population over 16-years-old.
The available information has been placed in the Library.
- Source:
- DWP Information Centre, 5 per cent. sample.
Jobcentre Plus
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost is of running two systems side by side during the Jobcentre Plus rollout in (a) Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and (b) the South East region. [151536]
Mr. Pond: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Hancock, dated 25 February 2004:
- As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply direct to your question concerning the cost implications of running two systems side by side during the rollout of Jobcentre Plus, in the South East. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
- The development of Jobcentre Plus is building on the high quality service already provided by social security offices and Jobcentres by delivering a single, integrated service to all people of working age, with a clear focus on work. It is a huge undertaking involving some 1,500 offices across the country. We have to make sure that our customers can continue to receive advice on work and benefits. Therefore we need to stagger the roll-out of the new service over a number of years. Throughout the period of national roll-out social security offices and Jobcentres will be working together to ensure that customers will still benefit from the excellent service we offer.
- Our plans for the roll out aim to ensure that the old services are replaced by the new services and that therefore there is no need to operate them side by side in any location. In fact as the roll out progresses we are looking to rationalise our estate and realise savings through a "merger dividend".
- This is one of the largest change programmes ever and given its size, we are bringing in changes across the four-year period 2002–06. This means, of course, within the South East region and the other regions/countries, we will have to run new services alongside old style services for this transitional period.
- Full details of the financial allocation for the roll out of Jobcentre Plus are available in the Departmental report (CM5921) a copy of which is in the library.
- I hope this is helpful.
Medical Assessments
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many doctors have had approval to carry out assessments on behalf of the Department revoked in each of the last five years, broken down by location. [156058]
Maria Eagle: The information requested has been recorded only since 2002, following enhancements to Medical Services' Medical Skills Database and the introduction of a new database in the Chief Medical Adviser's office. The available information is in the table.
25 Feb 2004 : Column 482W
| Medical Services Unit | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 0 | 1 |
| Bootle | 10 | 0 |
| Bristol | 1 | 0 |
| Cardiff | 5 | 1 |
| Edinburgh | 0 | 0 |
| Glasgow | 2 | 19 |
| Leeds | 7 | 4 |
| Manchester | 0 | 0 |
| Newcastle | 0 | 1 |
| Nottingham | 0 | 0 |
| Sutton | 0 | 0 |
| Wembley | 0 | 14 |
| Total | 25 | 40 |
Source:
DWP data.
Pensioner Benefits
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the proportion of the value of means-tested benefits unclaimed by pensioners. [155468]
Malcolm Wicks: Precise information requested is not available. The DWP report, "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up", contains estimates of the additional amount of income support/minimum income guarantee, housing benefit and council tax benefit payable, if every pensioner took up their entitlement. For financial year 2000–01, the latest year for which information is available, it is estimated between £1.03 billion and £1.8 billion of these benefits were left unclaimed by the eligible GB pensioner population in private households. This compares with £7.70 billion claimed by this population; and represents between 81 per cent. and 88 per cent. of the total of amounts claimed and amounts unclaimed.
The next edition of the report, covering 2001–02 will be published on 26 February; copies will be held in the Library.
- Note:
- Estimates of the amount of income-related benefits unclaimed are presented as ranges in which the true value is judged to lie. The ranges take account of various imperfections in the underlying data sources.
Statutory Sick Pay
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost to his Department of payments to employers in respect of statutory sick pay was in each of the last five years. [154882]
Maria Eagle: The Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) scheme is administered by employers as part of the National Insurance scheme. While employers meet most of the costs of SSP, they can, in certain circumstances, reclaim some of their costs from the Department.
The available information is in the table.
25 Feb 2004 : Column 483W
| Financial year | Expenditure on SSP for DWP (£ million) |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 30 |
| 1999–2000 | 32 |
| 2000–01 | 31 |
| 2001–02 | 33 |
| 2002–03 | 32 |
Notes:
1. Information is in real terms, 2003–04 prices and rounded to the nearest £1 million.
2. Data for recoveries on SSP are currently under review and all published figures are therefore subject to revision.
Source:
DWP reports and accounts.
HEALTH
Allergies
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking with respect to those suffering from allergies; and if he will make a statement. [155848]
Dr. Ladyman: It is the role of primary care trusts in partnership with local stakeholders to decide what services to provide for their populations, including those with allergies. They are best placed to understand local health care needs and commission services to meet them.
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) published their report, "Allergy—the unmet need: a blueprint for better patient care", on 25 June 2003. We welcome the RCP report and believes it is a useful contribution to the debate on how to improve national health service allergy services.
The Food Standards Agency funds research on food allergy and intolerance, with particular emphasis on severe allergies, how they occur and what causes them. A large programme of research on food intolerance and allergy, costing around £1 million a year is on-going. King's College London is leading a £2.1 million European Community funded prospective study of the incidence and prognosis of allergy, allergic disease and low lung function in adults living in Europe. Also, the University of Manchester is leading a £1.2 million EC-funded investigation of the prevalence, pathogenesis, treatment and prevention of sun allergy across Europe. Sun-provoked skin reactions are one of the commonest forms of allergy.
Brachytherapy Treatment
Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer, 16 December 2003, Official Report, column 877W, to the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope), on brachytherapy treatment, by what date the Department will have decided whether the treatment referred to is a suitable topic for referral to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence as a technology appraisal. [154938]
Miss Melanie Johnson: It is not yet possible to say when the Department will be in a position to consider brachytherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer as a potential topic for referral to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) as a technology appraisal.
25 Feb 2004 : Column 484W
More evidence on the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of brachytherapy in the treatment of prostate cancer will be needed for the Department to be able to consider its referral to NICE. It is not yet known when current studies are likely to produce such evidence.
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