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29 Apr 2004 : Column 1237W—continued
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the change in the incidence of sexually transmitted infections was in each year since 2000 in each of the health and social services board areas in Northern Ireland, broken down by (a) age and (b) sex. [168622]
Angela Smith: Information is not available on incidence of sexually transmitted infections in Northern Ireland, as not all persons with such infections are in contact with the health service. Information is, however, available on the number of initial contacts with Genito-Urinary Medicine clinics each year, in respect of persons with various sexually transmitted infections. This information which is shown for the financial years ending March 2000, March 2001, March 2002 and March 2003, together with the percentage change between each year, has been placed in the Library.
WORK AND PENSIONS
BT Business Rates
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library correspondence between his Department and the European Commission regarding the European Commission's preliminary investigations into the alleged undeserved subsidisation of BT's business rates by the Valuation Office Agency, including his Department's response. [167269]
Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
This correspondence contains commercially confidential material which it would be inappropriate for the Government to make public. This is covered by exemption 13 Third Party Commercial Confidences of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Child Support Agency
Mr. John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects a resolution to Child Support Agency computer problems deriving from running two concurrent systems. [167134]
Mr. Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. John Taylor, dated 29 April 2004:
In replying to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects a resolution to Child Support Agency computer problems deriving from running two concurrent systems.
I have been working closely with EDS to resolve the issues on the new computer system. We are currently working on a remediation plan, which has yet to be validated and agreed. The old scheme cases will be converted to the new scheme when Ministers are confident that it is working well. I will continue to monitor this carefully and make regular reports to the Secretary of State on
- progress. As you are aware, reports have been made available in the House of Commons library on 16 July, 18 November 2003, 12 February and 21 April 2004.
Council Tax
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate, based on his Department's policy simulation model for 2004–05, for (a) all households, (b) all pensioner households, (c) all households headed by a pensioner over 70 and (d) all households headed by a pensioner aged 70 or above, the average level of (i) gross council tax and (ii) council tax net of rebates expressed as a percentage of household income. [169644]
Malcolm Wicks: The information is in the table. Estimates are modelled using the DWP Policy Simulation Model for 2004–05. This model is based on 2001–02 Family Resources Survey data, uprated to 2004–05 prices, benefit rates and earnings levels. It is then grossed up to forecast population totals for that year. The following table shows the information requested.
| Average gross council tax as a percentage of household income | Average council tax net of rebates as a percentage of household income | |
|---|---|---|
| All households | 4 | 3 |
| All pensioner households | 5 | 3 |
| All households headed by a pensioner aged over 70 | 6 | 3 |
| All households headed by a pensioner aged 70 or over | 6 | 3 |
Notes:
1. Gross council tax figures are net of any discounts.
2. Household income is net of income tax and national insurance contributions, and is unequivalised.
3. Estimates assume 100 per cent. take up of council tax benefit.
Disabled Workers
Mr. Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the measures introduced to improve the working conditions of disabled workers in Wigan over the last seven years. [169311]
Maria Eagle: We have a number of measures in place nationally to help improve conditions for disabled people at work, as well as measures to improve their access to services generally. None of these are specific to Wigan, but all are available to disabled people who live and work there.
From 1996, the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act required most employers of 20 or more staff not to discriminate against, and to make reasonable adjustments for, disabled job applicants or employees; in December 1998, we reduced this threshold to 15 employees. From October this year, the small employer exemption will be removed and most currently excluded occupations, such as police officers, firefighters, and partners in business partnerships will be brought within the scope of the Disability Discrimination Act employment provisions.
29 Apr 2004 : Column 1239W
Jobcentre Plus runs a number of specialist programmes providing help for disabled people, including New Deal for Disabled People, Workstep, Access to Work, the Job Introduction Scheme, and Work Preparation. All these programmes provide practical advice and support to disabled people and their employers to help overcome work related obstacles resulting from disability. Since 1997–98 there have been year on year increases in both numbers helped and programme spend.
To help people access appropriate help, Jobcentre Plus has established a network of Disability Service Teams. The teams are made up of Disability Employment Advisors, Access to Work Advisers and Occupational Psychologists; their services are accessed through local Jobcentres.
Since April 2003, disabled people in work have been receiving financial support through the working tax credit. This is available if a person is working an average of at least 16 hours per week (self-employed or for an employer); and have a disability which puts them at a disadvantage in getting a job. 70,000 families (including over 32,000 adults without children) are benefiting from the disability element within the working tax credit, compared to 38,000 who benefited from the old disabled person's tax credit.
Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the measures introduced to improve the working conditions of disabled workers in Preston over the last seven years. [169662]
Maria Eagle: We have a number of measures in place nationally to help improve conditions for disabled people at work, as well as measures to improve their access to services generally. None of these are specific to Preston, but all are available to disabled people who live and work there.
From 1996, the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act required most employers of 20 or more staff not to discriminate against, and to make reasonable adjustments for, disabled job applicants or employees; in December 1998, we reduced this threshold to 15 employees. From October this year, the small employer exemption will be removed and most currently excluded occupations, such as police officers, firefighters, and partners in business partnerships will be brought within the scope of the Disability Discrimination Act employment provisions.Jobcentre Plus runs a number of specialist programmes providing help for disabled people, including New Deal for Disabled People, Workstep, Access to Work, the Job Introduction Scheme, and Work Preparation. All these programmes provide practical advice and support to disabled people and their employers to help overcome work related obstacles resulting from disability. Since 1997–98 there have been year on year increases in both numbers helped and programme spend.
To help people access appropriate help, Jobcentre Plus has established a network of Disability Service Teams. The teams are made up of Disability Employment Advisors, Access to Work Advisers and Occupational Psychologists; their services are accessed through local Jobcentres.
29 Apr 2004 : Column 1240W
Since April 2003, disabled people in work have been receiving financial support through the working tax credit. This is available if a person is working an average of at least 16 hours per week (self-employed or for an employer); and have a disability which puts them at a disadvantage in getting a job. 70,000 families (including over 32,000 adults without children) are benefiting from the disability element within the working tax credit, compared to 38,000 who benefited from the old disabled person's tax credit.
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