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16 Mar 2004 : Column 213W—continued
WORK AND PENSIONS
Sure Start Maternity Grant
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many mothers in Crosby have taken up the Sure Start maternity grant. [160523]
Mr. Pond: Sure Start Maternity Grants (SSMGs) replaced Social Fund Maternity Payments from March 2000 at the rate of £200 per child, this was increased to £300 in September 2000 and to £500 for children born on or after 16 June 2002. Sure Start Maternity Grants are single payments that are paid to either the mother of a child or their partner.
The information is not available in the format requested; the available information is in the table.
| SSMG applications | SSMG awards | |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 2,076 | 1,867 |
| 2001–02 | 2,270 | 2,002 |
| 2002–03 | 2,714 | 2,254 |
| 2003–04(4) | 2,634 | 2,129 |
(4) Data for 2003–04 is for April 2003 to February 2004 only. Note:
Crosby Parliamentary Constituency is part of the Knowsley and Sefton Jobcentre Plus District which was formed by merging Knowsley Social Fund District and Sefton Social Fund District in October 2003. For comparison purposes, data before the merger is given for Knowsley Social Fund District and Sefton Social Fund District
combined.
Source:
DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.
Child Support Agency
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the handling of the case of Mr. Graeme Lester of West Ewell by the Child Support Agency. [160240]
Mr. Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. As individual cases are confidential he will write to the hon. Member privately about Mr. Lester's case.
Council Tax Benefit
Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the take-up rate of council tax benefit was in the borough of Redcar and Cleveland in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003; [161692]
- (2) what the average rate is of council tax benefit take-up. [161693]
Mr. Pond: The information requested is not available. National estimates of take-up of council tax benefit are presented in the DWP report series 'Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up'. Latest estimates relate to financial year 2001–02 and copies of the published report are held in the Library.
Estimates of council tax benefit take-up cover private households in Great Britain; sub-national estimates cannot be reliably produced.
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Employers' Liability Insurance
Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps are being taken to deal with employers who operate without compulsory employers' liability insurance. [160870]
Mr. Browne: Enforcement is undertaken on a day to day basis by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors. Recent HSE research indicates a high level of compliance, over 99 per cent.
Nevertheless, the Government's recent report of the review of Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI) sets out a range of actions to improve enforcement. These include commitments to monitor the take-up and ensure ELCI compliance from bodies that contract with the public sector, following publication of new guidance.
A copy of the report is available in the Library.
Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure enforcement of compulsory employers' liability insurance at local level; and if he will make a statement. [160871]
Mr. Browne: Enforcement of employers' liability compulsory insurance at local level is undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive. Recent research indicates a high level of compliance, over 99 per cent.
Employment, Social Policy, Health andConsumer Affairs Council
Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the outcome of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council held on 4 March was; what the Government's stance on the issues discussed was, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement. [160101]
Mr. Pond: I represented the UK at this Council, accompanied by my hon. friend, the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Employment Relations, Competition and Consumers (Mr. Sutcliffe).
The main business was agreement of a package of ESPHCA Council contributions to the forthcoming Spring European Council meeting. There was a public debate on the 'key issues' paper summarising priorities in employment policy, social protection and inclusion.
The UK welcomed the key issues paper, particularly the single set of key messages that covered both the employment and social aspects of the Lisbon agenda. We highlighted the need to focus on creating more and better jobs in line with the employment targets set out at Lisbon in 2000 and refined at Stockholm in 2001 and Barcelona in 2002.
All member states welcomed the forthcoming tripartite social summit as a useful vehicle for social partners' contribution to achieving the Lisbon goals.
The Council also noted without comment: the work programmes for the Social Protection Committee and the Employment Committee; a series of reports on Presidency events; and a report by the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation.
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The Council discussed the Commission's review of the working time directive informally over lunch.
There were no votes taken at this council.
Ethnic Minorities Policies
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what (a) advice and (b) support he receives in ensuring that policies he implements in regard to ethnic minorities reach their target. [156125]
Mr. Browne: The policy initiatives we implement are generally subject to performance monitoring processes. The data that we gather allows month by month monitoring of performance against targets if these have been set. We also monitor our own services to ensure that ethnic minority customers receive equal treatment and benefit equally from our provision.
The Department for Work and Pensions leads on the work of the Ethnic Minority Employment Task Force, created in response to the recommendations made by the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit. The Task Force comprises Ministers from Departments responsible for implementing the recommendations—DWP, DTI, DfES, Home Office and ODPM—as well as representatives from external stakeholders such as the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress. The Task Force is an important body, offering advice and helping to steer our policies.
We realise that partnership—at national, regional and local levels—is fundamental to the success of our diversity policies. As such, we are in a constant state of engagement with our partners, stakeholders and relevant pressure groups, seeking advice on current and future initiatives. As part of this we are in the process of setting up a stakeholder group, the chair of which will become a member of the Task Force itself.
New Deal
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne) on 10 February 2004, Official Report, column 1342W, on the New Deal for Young People, what the projected cost is for the unit costing system to be operational in April; and if he will make a statement; [156657]
- (2) pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne) on 10 February 2004, Official Report, column 1342W, on the New Deal for Young People, what the original projected date of completion was for the Resource Management System; what the current projected completion date is for the system; what the original projected cost of the system was; what the current projected cost of the system is; what the reasons are for the delays in introducing the system on time; and if he will make a statement. [156658]
Mr. Browne: Our initial aim was for the Department's Resource Management System (RMS) to become operational from April 2003, with costs estimated at £144 million 1 . However, initial negotiations with suppliers resulted in proposals that did not meet the Department's requirements, both in terms of value for money and management of the system.
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Competition for the contract for Resource Management Systems operations work is in progress under EU rules. We have advertised for the provision of operational services through the Official Journal of the European Union and a small number of potential bidders have qualified. A statement of requirements is being drawn up with the aim of issuing an Invitation to Tender in April 2004, and awarding a contract in August 2004.
Costs and completion dates will be determined during the tendering process but planning assumptions are that roll out of the new system will commence from September 2005 for 12 months, with likely costs estimated at £151 million 1 .
Information on the projected cost of the unit costing system, scheduled to be operational in April, is not separately available.
- 1 Figures are rounded to nearest million.
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