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3 Mar 2004 : Column 1016W—continued
New Deal
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of the New Deal for Employment was in each year from 2001–02 to 2005–06 (planned); and if he will make a statement. [156702]
Mr. Browne: The information is in the table.
| 2001–02 | 2002–03(51) | 2003–04 | 2004–05 | 2005–06 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outturn | Forecast outturn | Plans | Plans | Plans | |
| New Deal for Young People | 308 | 339 | 340 | 320 | 320 |
| New Deal 25 plus | 213 | 254 | 255 | 259 | 261 |
| New Deal 50 plus | 87 | 106 | 56 | 16 | 10 |
| New Deal for Lone Parents | 46 | 80 | 82 | 109 | 116 |
| New Deal for Disabled People | 10 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
| New Deal for partners | 8 | 6 | 11 | 26 | 39 |
(50) Includes programme and administrative spend.
(51) Figures are rounded to the nearest million.
Source:
Department for Work and Pensions Departmental Report 2003
Sir Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when elements of the Regulated Social Fund have been increased and by how much in (a) cash and (b) real terms; what research he has conducted on the cost of a simple, respectful and low cost funeral in each of the last six years; how many people have received funeral payments since 1997; and what the average award was in each year. [157821]
Mr. Pond: Funeral payments from the Social Fund cover, in full, the cost of certain necessary charges; these include fees levied by burial authorities and crematoria. An additional sum is allowed for other funeral expenses, which give the person arranging the funeral the freedom to select items or services they consider appropriate. This additional sum was increased to a maximum of £700 from 7 April 2003.
The total average funeral payment in 2002–03 was £929. The amount awarded in many cases can be much higher but this is often offset by money available from the deceased's assets, which may be taken into account.
The available information is in the table.
| Number of funeral payments | Average amount paid | |
|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 48,000 | 792 |
| 1998–99 | 46,000 | 839 |
| 1999–2000 | 44,000 | 866 |
| 2000–01 | 40,000 | 892 |
| 2001–02 | 42,000 | 909 |
| 2002–03 | 45,000 | 929 |
Note:
Number of funeral payments is rounded to the nearest thousand
Source:
DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System
The Department does not collect information on the cost of funeral services, however the amount of a funeral payment is kept under review and we continue to consult with representatives from funeral directors' associations, church groups and other interested organisations.
The available information regarding increases in elements of the regulated Social Fund is in the table.
Note:
Real terms prices have been calculated using the GDP deflator issued by HMT on 23 Dec 2003
Source:
DWP Figures
3 Mar 2004 : Column 1017W
Student Loans
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) whether student loans can be taken into account in calculating other benefits for (a) the student and (b) the student's spouse or partner; [152468]
- (2) whether Jobseeker's Allowance eligibility is affected by the claimant's partner's student loan. [152471]
Mr. Pond [holding answer 3 February 2004]: Income related benefits are intended to help people whose resources are insufficient to meet their day to day living expenses; any income available to meet those expenses is normally taken into account when working out how much benefit can be paid.
A person in receipt of an income related benefit, including JSA (income based), Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit will therefore have their or their partner's student loan taken into account when calculating the amount of benefit payable. Up to £605 of a student loan may be disregarded to take into account costs of travel, books and equipment.
Benefits that are not income related, including contribution based benefits, will not be affected by a student loan.
Migrant Workers
Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobcentre plus vacancies were filled during 2002–03 by (a) skilled and (b) unskilled migrants. [157585]
Mr. Browne: The information requested is not available.
3 Mar 2004 : Column 1018W
CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
Data Protection
Mr. Chope: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) if he will require the Information Commissioner to bring legal proceedings against individuals or organisations identified as purporting to be acting as a collector in relation to data protection but acting without the authority of the Information Commissioner; [157599]
- (2) what action the Information Commissioner is taking to prevent organisations passing themselves off as the Data Protection Registrar; and if he will make a statement. [157589]
Mr. Lammy: The Commissioner carries out his statutory duties independently of government. He has no powers under the Data Protection Act to take legal action against "collectors", but he has been working closely with the Office of Fair Trading, local trading standards services across the country and various police forces to tackle the problem. The coordinated efforts of these bodies have resulted in a number of successful legal actions and continuing investigations.
The Commissioner has been able to take action in the case of one firm, which has been using his registered trademarks. The matter is currently in the hands of his lawyers.
In addition to these measures, the Commissioner has strengthened his notification administrative procedures and his staff continue to work very hard to offer appropriate advice to the public and to help raise awareness of the activities of these "collectors".
Mr. Chope: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) what estimate he has made of the number of (a) individuals and (b) organisations which have fallen victim to bogus collectors in relation to data protection in each of the last three years; [157600]
- (2) what estimate he has made of the income received by the Information Commissioner from data protection registration fees under the Data Protection Act 1998 which emanated from bogus agencies in each of the last two years; [157591]
(3) on how many occasions fees forwarded to the Information Commissioner by bogus collectors on behalf of data protection were from organisations which do not need to be registered; and what happens to such fees; [157588]
(4) if he will estimate the cost to the Information Commissioner of telephone calls, correspondence and administration arising from the activities of bogus organisations posing as collectors in relation to data protection. [157587]
Mr. Lammy: I understand from the Information Commissioner that in total approximately 27,000 notifications have been received via these bogus agencies. There were some 2,500 in 2001–02; 12,000 in 2002–03; and 12,500 in 2003–04. The figures available do not distinguish between individuals and organisations.
The income received amounted to £420,000 in 2002–03 and £437,500 in 2003–04.
3 Mar 2004 : Column 1019W
The Data Protection Act allows organisations whose processing is exempt from the notification requirement to notify voluntarily. From the documentation submitted through the bogus agencies, it is not possible for the Commissioner to assess whether a notification is mandatory or voluntary. Refunds are given where the registration is a duplicate or where organisations contact the Commissioner and qualify for an exemption. Figures for the total number of refunds made prior to August 2003 are not available. Since that date, there have been approximately 400.
The Commissioner estimates that the costs to his office of the bogus agencies in the year 2003–04 have been in the region of £100,000.
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