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26 Oct 2004 : Column 1182W—continued

Departmental Redundancies

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the (a) organisations and (b) agencies with whom his Department consulted before deciding upon the locations for (i) office closures and (ii) job reductions. [190676]

Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 26 October 2004:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the organisations and agencies with whom his Department consulted before deciding upon the locations for office closures and job reductions. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

 
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Jobcentre Plus has consulted at a national level with a number of key stakeholders concerning service delivery planning in Jobcentre Plus. These stakeholders included:

Confederation of British Industry

MIND (National Association for Mental Health)

Royal National Institute for the Blind

Child Poverty Action Group

National Council for One Parent Families

National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux

Royal National Institute for the Deaf

Third Age Employment Network

Homeless Network

Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion

Trades Union Congress

Local Government Association

Carers UK

The other parts of the Department for Work and Pensions have been kept informed of the plans for change in Jobcentre Plus, and there has been liaison with the Countryside Agency and DEFRA on the rural impact of our plans.

At a local level District Managers consult with local stakeholders on early plans for changes to service delivery arrangements. Local managers are required to consult widely as an integral part of the planning process, and the guidance to managers includes a suggested list of stakeholders:

Local MPs/MEPs/MSPs/Members of the National Assembly of Wales

Local Authorities—both councillors and officials of various departments (for example, Benefits, Social Services)

Programme Providers/service delivery partners

Employers

A sample of key employment providers and their representative bodies, such as the local chambers of commerce

Citizens Advice Bureaux

Welfare rights organisations and organisations representing specific client groups (RNIB, RNID, DIAL, Gingerbread, representatives of local ethnic minority groups and other local organisations )

Other Government Agencies (the Probation Service, Connexions, Careers Wales/Scotland, Inland Revenue, and especially the Countryside Agency)

Health Authorities/primary care trusts/local GPs

Learning and Skills Councils

Local Colleges

Government Regional Offices

Housing Associations

Police

Landlords/Joint Tenants

Groups of customers directly if wished

This list is not exhaustive and local managers should identify any other local stakeholders. The views and concerns received are addressed before approval is granted to progress to more detailed planning.

I hope this is helpful.

Designated Accommodation

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many rooms are set aside for (a) the use of smokers, (b) worship, broken down by religion, and (c) nursing mothers and pregnant women in each building and set of offices for which his Department is responsible. [187311]

 
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Maria Eagle: Information on the number of rooms set aside by the Department for the use of smokers or nursing mothers and pregnant women is not available. Information on facilities for pregnant women and nursing mothers is contained in the DWP Health and Safety Guidance which is available to our staff via the departmental intranet site.

We prefer to use the term quiet rooms rather than prayer rooms, to ensure inclusion for all staff. The Department holds information on 12 dedicated prayer rooms or quiet rooms. However first aid rooms, which can be used as quiet rooms, are available in all locations.

Departmental guidance on The Employment and Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 includes a section regarding religious observance in the workplace and is available to our staff via the departmental intranet site.

Funding Allocation Formula

Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which funding streams have been allocated by his Department using a funding formula which includes rankings or scores on the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000; and if he will list the amount of funding allocated in such a way (a) nationally by the Department and (b) to all Government sponsored bodies reporting to the Department. [191530]

Jane Kennedy: The Department does not allocate any funding using the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000. However, the index is considered, alongside a range of factors, when determining where to place initiatives such as Working Neighbourhoods Pilot and Action Teams for Jobs. These factors can include measures such as the proportion of the population in receipt of benefits, potential conflict with other programmes and geographical spread.

Health Projects

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what feedback his Department has received on the progress of the Engaging Physicians, Benefiting Patients pilot; and if he will make a statement. [193259]

Maria Eagle: Data capture for the Engaging Physicians, Benefiting Patients pilot and qualitative research with general practitioners is still continuing. An interim report is due by the end of this year, and the full evaluation report is scheduled for spring 2005.

Incapacity Benefit

Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of incapacity benefit claimants have undergone a medical examination in each year since 1990. [193596]

Maria Eagle [holding answer 25 October 2004]: Information on the percentage of incapacity benefit (IB) recipients who have undergone a medical examination is not available. This is because IB case-load data are based on a snapshot while the examination data are cumulative. The available information is in the table.
 
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Incapacity benefit recipients who have undergone medical examinations

Period	Examinations performed
September 1999 to August 2000	397,284
September 2000 to August 2001	402,302
September 2001 to August 2002	509,831
September 2002 to August 2003	524,894
September 2003 to August 2004	467,256

Note:
Information on the number of examinations performed is available only from September 1999.
Source:
Medical Services Management Information Reports

Jobcentre Plus

Mr. Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Jobcentre Plus flexible service delivery sites are based in higher education institutions. [191978]

Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Michael Foster, dated 26 October 2004:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question regarding how many Jobcentre Plus Flexible Service Delivery sites are based in higher education institutions. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

There is currently one Flexible Service Delivery site based in a higher education institution:

University College Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester, WR2 6AJ

I hope this is helpful.

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