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22 Jul 2004 : Column 454W—continued
Students (Means-tested Benefits)
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many full-time undergraduate students were in receipt of means-tested benefits when they applied for their course in each year since 2000; and how many continued to receive means-tested benefits while on their course. [184879]
Mr. Pond: The information is not available.
Social Fund Crisis Loan Alignment Payments
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Social Fund crisis loan alignment payments were awarded in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; what the expenditure on alignment payments was in each of those years; and if he will make a statement. [185055]
Mr. Pond: Crisis loan alignment payments are made to people awaiting their first payment of benefit, which is paid in arrears. Crisis loan payments made in these circumstances are intended to cover day-to-day living expenses until the first benefit pay day, following which full payments of benefit can be made. Where a claim has not been decided by the time that the first payment is due, interim payments are available.
Alignment payments can also be made to people moving from benefit into work who need financial help until they receive their first wage.
22 Jul 2004 : Column 455W
The information is in the table.
| Number of awards | Expenditure (£ million) | |
|---|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 510,000 | 29.8 |
| 2003–04 | 513,000 | 31.0 |
Notes:
1. The number of awards listed includes all crisis loans made in whole or in part for alignment purposes.
2. Number of awards is rounded to the nearest thousand.
Source:
DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.
Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payment
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the level of the Social Fund funeral expenses payment was in each of the last seven years. [185059]
Mr. Pond: The funeral payment scheme provides people receiving qualifying benefits or tax credits with payments for simple, respectful funerals. Awards cover the reasonable cost of specified items, including necessary burial or cremation charges, plus up to £700 for other non-specified funeral expenses. This was increased from £600 in April 2003.
The information is in the table.
| Average funeral payment | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 796 |
| 1998–99 | 836 |
| 1999–2000 | 862 |
| 2000–01 | 885 |
| 2001–02 | 909 |
| 2002–03 | 929 |
| 2003–04 | 1,019 |
Source:
DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System
Travel Costs
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the travel costs were of civil servants in (a) his Department, (b) its predecessor Department and (c) its related agencies in each year since 1997. [183899]
Maria Eagle: The available information is in the tables. DWP was formed in June 2001 from the former Department of Social Security (DSS) and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment (DfEE). Travel expenditure information is not available for the former DfEE prior to March 2000, therefore expenditure figures up to and including 31/03/2000 are for the former DSS only. All travel complied with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code.
Notes:
1. Travel costs include vehicle rental, UK travel, foreign travel and official vehicle costs.
2. BA costs included benefit offices, pensions, disability and carers directorate and DSS corporate centre.
3. Contributions Agency transferred to Inland Revenue in 1999.
22 Jul 2004 : Column 456W
| 2001–02 | 2002–03 | 2003–04 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benefits Agency | 14,311,031 | — | — |
| Employment Services | 2,730,854 | — | — |
| JobCentre Plus | — | 6,657,293 | 6,348,361 |
| Pensions Service | — | 5,669,528 | 10,001,472 |
| Child Support Agency | 3,026,276 | 9,307,901 | 5,769,218 |
| Disability and Carers Directorate | — | 1,563,153 | 1,305,638 |
| War Pensions Agency | 385,999 | — | — |
| Independent Statutory Bodies | 542,783 | — | — |
| Appeals Service | — | 670,736 | 797,560 |
| Corporate and Shared Services | 13,434,816 | 11,213,697 | 12,308,030 |
| Total | 34,431759 | 35,082,308 | 36,530,279 |
Notes:
1. Travel costs include vehicle rental, UK travel, foreign travel and official vehicle costs.
2. BA costs included benefit offices, pensions, disability and carers directorate and DSS corporate centre.
Tribunal Appeal Centres
Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the tribunal appeal centres which are being considered for closure. [185626]
Maria Eagle: This is a matter for Christina Townsend, Chief Executive of the Appeals Service. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Christina Townsend to Mr. Harry Barnes, dated 22 July 2004:
The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your question regarding appeal tribunal centres being considered for closure.
The Appeals Service is considering a number of proposals about its current organisation. No final decisions on the number of tribunal venues or their location have yet been taken.
I hope this reply is helpful.
Work-related Ill Health
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the incidence rate was of cases of work-related ill health in each of the last seven years. [184677]
Jane Kennedy:
No single source of information gives a complete and reliable measure of work-related ill health in Great Britain. The most inclusive and broadly based estimates come from self-reporting surveys in which individuals are asked to report any work-related ill health they have suffered in the last 12 months. In the period requested only one such measure is available, for 2001–02. For this year the estimated incidence rate was 2,200 per 100,000. A more up-to-date estimate, covering 2003–04, will be published later this year.
22 Jul 2004 : Column 457W
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many members of the public have suffered ill health as a result of work activity in each of the last seven years. [184678]
Jane Kennedy: Comprehensive figures do not exist for the number of cases of ill health suffered as a result of work activity by members of the public, that is, by people other than workers. There are a number of issues that can contribute to ill health in the public caused by work activity. These include Healthcare Acquired Infection (HAI), pesticide-related ill health and Legionellosis. Partial information through the incidence statistics collected by various bodies, including HSE, local authorities and health agencies.
Working Temperature
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans the Health and Safety Executive has to set a maximum working temperature. [186151]
Jane Kennedy: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will not be setting a maximum working temperature, as, due to the diversity of workplaces and work activities, it would be impractical to do so. Temperature is but one of a range of environmental and personal factors that thermal comfort in the workplace is dependant upon. Other factors include ventilation, humidity, radiant temperature, clothes worn, and the type of work involved. However, HSE do have plans to explore ways in which more guidance can be provided on the assessment and control of thermal comfort, and officials are currently considering possible approaches to a proposed dialogue on the matter with social partners.
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