House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 20 Dec 2004 (pt 28)

20 Dec 2004 : Column 1425W—continued

Cluan Place Investigations

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many hours between 1 August 2003 and 31 July 2004 were spent actively investigating the attempted murders of five persons at Cluan Place on the weekend of 3 to 4 June 2002. [204126]

Mr. Pearson: This matter was not actively investigated between 1 August 2003 and 31 July 2004. It was actively investigated at the time but no clear lines of inquiry or forensic evidence emerged from the investigation which could have been actively pursued.

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been detained and questioned in connection with the attempted murder of five persons at Cluan Place in East Belfast on the weekend of 3 to 4 June 2002. [204127]

Mr. Pearson: No persons have been arrested and questioned in connection with these incidents.

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officers are investigating the attempted murder of five persons on the weekend of 3 to 4 June 2002 at Cluan Place. [204128]

Mr. Pearson: A Detective Inspector and one Detective Constable were appointed to review the investigation in November 2004. They have been tasked with reviewing the available evidence and determining any lines of inquiry to be followed.

Roads (Expenditure)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total expenditure on roads in Northern Ireland has been in each of the last three years. [204623]

Mr. Spellar: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Member in response to this question.

Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin to Lady Hermon, dated 15 December 2004:

You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about expenditure on roads in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years. I have been asked to reply as these issues fall within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.

Resources and Capital expenditure levels for the three years ended March 2004 are provided in the Table below.

£

2001–02 2002–03 2003–04

Resource⁽³⁰⁾ 130,789 149,369 180,252

Capital⁽³¹⁾ 66,382 68,934 73,060

Total expenditure on roads 197,171 218,303 253,312

⁽³⁰⁾ The resource figures include expenditure on operating and maintenance, and administration costs. It excludes: income; depreciation; cost of capital; expenditure on liability claims; notional costs; and exchange gain/(loss).
⁽³¹⁾ The capital figures include expenditure on roads and bridges, car park and ferry capital, and information technology. It excludes profit/(loss) on disposal of assets.

20 Dec 2004 : Column 1426W

	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Resource⁽³⁰⁾	130,789	149,369	180,252
Capital⁽³¹⁾	66,382	68,934	73,060
Total expenditure on roads	197,171	218,303	253,312

I hope this information is helpful.

Sickness Absence

Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many days sick leave were taken by civil servants in the Department in each year since 1997; and what the sickness absence rate was in each year. [204512]

Mr. Pearson: Northern Ireland Office (NIO) staff comprise both members of the NI Civil Service (NICS) and Home Civil Service (HCS). In the past, HCS calculations have been based on calendar years, while NICS on financial years. It is therefore not possible to provide a corporate NIO figure. However, because of improved systems, this will be possible from the 2004–05 financial year onwards.
Table 1: NIO (Home Civil Servants)

Number of working days lost to absence Average working days absence per staff year

1997 2,007 9.0

1998 1,539 6.9

1999 1,728 8.0

2000 1,870 9.3

2001 2,020 10.0

2002 1,661 8.1

2003 1,333 6.5

Table 2: NIO (Northern Ireland Civil Servants)

Number of working days lost to absence Average working days absence per staff year

1997–98 n/a n/a

1998–99 n/a n/a

1999–2000 n/a n/a

2000–01 12,148 12.8

2001–02 13,396 13.4

2002–03 14,895 13.7

2003–04 16,593 14.0

Note:
Figures not available prior to 2000–01

	Number of working days lost to absence	Average working days absence per staff year
1997	2,007	9.0
1998	1,539	6.9
1999	1,728	8.0
2000	1,870	9.3
2001	2,020	10.0
2002	1,661	8.1
2003	1,333	6.5

	Number of working days lost to absence	Average working days absence per staff year
1997–98	n/a	n/a
1998–99	n/a	n/a
1999–2000	n/a	n/a
2000–01	12,148	12.8
2001–02	13,396	13.4
2002–03	14,895	13.7
2003–04	16,593	14.0

WORK AND PENSIONS

Accidents at Work

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in how many accidents at work the influence of (a) alcohol, (b) illegal drugs and (c) legal pharmaceuticals were a contributory causal factor in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [204988]

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available.

The Government believe that drug and alcohol misuse in the workplace is unacceptable and should be taken seriously by employers. The Health and Safety Executive's current guidance on substance misuse

20 Dec 2004 : Column 1427W

recommends that employers should assess the risk from drugs and alcohol at work and take appropriate precautions.

Age Prejudice

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what requirements are placed upon Jobcentres to comply with the voluntary Code of Practice, Age Diversity at Work, A Practical Guide for Business, in helping those who may suffer from age prejudice to find employment; and if he will make a statement. [204173]

Jane Kennedy: Jobcentre Plus has a Diversity and Equality strategy that includes age. It is supported by a national network group and 11 regional Age Diversity groups that keep staff up to date on age issues, through the use of structured training and newsletters.

Jobcentre Plus does not accept vacancies from employers containing age restrictions unless they reflect a legal requirement for the job, or a mandatory retirement age.

Since October 2003 the Jobcentre Plus Employer Diversity Team has been working with employers to promote age diversity in the workforce. They are promoting our Age Positive Campaign's good practice guide with key national employers across Britain.

Age positive messages feature in the marketing of Jobcentre Plus Employer Services to the targeted top 1,000 small and medium-sized enterprises in each Jobcentre Plus district. Jobcentre Plus Employer Services have developed with private recruitment agencies a Service Level Agreement and ethical charter. These commit recruitment agencies to promote diversity with their employer clients if they wish to enter into partnership arrangements and use Jobcentre Plus to advertise their vacancies.

Benefit Fraud

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many suspected cases of benefit fraud were (a) referred to and (b) investigated by his Department in each year since 1997. [200118]

Mr. Pond: The information is in the tables.
Number of referrals received

DWP⁽³²⁾ Local authorities⁽³³⁾ Total

1996–97 1,340,000 n/a n/a

1997–98 1,360,000 460,000 1,820,000

1998–99 1,330,000 490,000 1,820,000

1999–2000 890,000 430,000 1,320,000

2000–01 870,000 460,000 1,330,000

2001–02 740,000 380,000 1,120,000

2002–03 630,000 290,000 920,000

2003–04 540,000 260,000 800,000

Number of cases accepted for investigation

DWP⁽³²⁾ Local authorities⁽³³⁾ Total

1996–97 940,000 n/a n/a

1997–98 930,000 400,000 1,330,000

1998–99 920,000 420,000 1,340,000

1999–2000 560,000 350,000 910,000

2000–01 450,000 370,000 820,000

2001–02 400,000 310,000 710,000

2002–03 340,000 200,000 540,000

2003–04 330,000 180,000 510,000

⁽³²⁾ Source: Fraud Information By Sector (FIBS), Resource Management and Fraud Business Report.
⁽³³⁾ Source: Housing Benefit Management Information System Quarterly Administration Returns April 1996 to March 2004.
Notes:
1. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 thousand.
2. DWP figures include both Counter Fraud Investigation Service (CFIS) and National Investigation Service (NIS) referrals.
3. Figures for local authorities are not available prior to 1997–98.
4. Figures for non responding local authorities have been estimated.
n/a—not available

20 Dec 2004 : Column 1428W

	DWP⁽³²⁾	Local authorities⁽³³⁾	Total
1996–97	1,340,000	n/a	n/a
1997–98	1,360,000	460,000	1,820,000
1998–99	1,330,000	490,000	1,820,000
1999–2000	890,000	430,000	1,320,000
2000–01	870,000	460,000	1,330,000
2001–02	740,000	380,000	1,120,000
2002–03	630,000	290,000	920,000
2003–04	540,000	260,000	800,000

	DWP⁽³²⁾	Local authorities⁽³³⁾	Total
1996–97	940,000	n/a	n/a
1997–98	930,000	400,000	1,330,000
1998–99	920,000	420,000	1,340,000
1999–2000	560,000	350,000	910,000
2000–01	450,000	370,000	820,000
2001–02	400,000	310,000	710,000
2002–03	340,000	200,000	540,000
2003–04	330,000	180,000	510,000

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of (a) fraud and (b) error in social security benefits excluding jobseeker's allowance, income support and housing benefit since 1997; and if he will place the results in the Library. [200160]

Mr. Pond: The measurement of fraud and error is complex and expensive and therefore it is concentrated on benefits with the highest expenditure and risk of loss, such as income support and jobseeker's allowance. The available information is as follows.
Estimates of fraud and error in social security benefits, excluding jobseeker's allowance, income support and housing benefit since 1997

Results of incapacity benefit review 2001

Category of
overpayment Monetary value
(£ million) Percentage of expenditure

Fraud⁽³⁴⁾ Up to 19 Up to 0.3

Customer error 16 0.3

Official error 22 0.4

⁽³⁴⁾ This is an upper limit, as insufficient cases of fraud were uncovered in the review to enable a robust central estimate to be made.
Note:
Results from a National Benefit Review of fraud and error in incapacity benefit were published in 2001. The following estimates were made and relate to the period April 2000 to March 2001.

Short-term benefits official error overpayments

Monetary value (£ million) Benefits covered

April 2001 to March 2002 43 ⁽³⁵⁾—

April 2002 to March 2003 43 ⁽³⁵⁾—

April 2003 to March 2004 53 ⁽³⁵⁾—

⁽³⁵⁾ Incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance.
Notes:
1. Annual estimates of official error only are made for short-term benefit overpayments (incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance).
2. Previous results were carried out using a different methodology and are not comparable.
3. These estimates are subject to wide margins of error.

20 Dec 2004 : Column 1429W

Long-term benefits official error overpayments

Monetary value (£ million)

April 2001 to March 2002 43

April 2002 to March 2003 14

April 2003 to March 2004 26

Notes:
1. Annual estimates of official error only are made for long-term benefit overpayments (retirement pension, widow's benefit and bereavement benefit).
2. Previous results were carried out using a different methodology and are not comparable.
3. These estimates are subject to wide margins of error.

	Results of incapacity benefit review 2001
Category of overpayment	Monetary value (£ million)	Percentage of expenditure
Fraud⁽³⁴⁾	Up to 19	Up to 0.3
Customer error	16	0.3
Official error	22	0.4

	Monetary value (£ million)	Benefits covered
April 2001 to March 2002	43	⁽³⁵⁾—
April 2002 to March 2003	43	⁽³⁵⁾—
April 2003 to March 2004	53	⁽³⁵⁾—

	Monetary value (£ million)
April 2001 to March 2002	43
April 2002 to March 2003	14
April 2003 to March 2004	26

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many interventions on benefit claims identified as high risk his Department carried out in each year since 1997. [200161]

Mr. Pond: Extra checks known as interventions are carried out on benefit claims which are identified as carrying a higher risk of fraud and error at specified points of the claim. Gateway interventions take place at the outset of the claim, ensuring that benefit entitlement is properly paid. Further checks known as Caseload interventions occur periodically throughout the duration of claims allowing us to take any necessary early corrective action

The information requested is not available for the period April 1997 to April 1999. The available information is in the following tables.
Case interventions

Total interventions Number of changed cases Percentage of cases changed

1999–2000 1,066,010 89,529 8.4

2000–01 806,825 121,585 15.07

2001–02⁽³⁶⁾ 1,128,812 177,735 15.74

2002–03⁽³⁶⁾ 452,290 84,189 18.61

2003–04⁽³⁶⁾ 493,625 184,082 37.29
Current year to date
247,249 93,129 37.67

⁽³⁶⁾ These figures do not include active case management interventions or interventions for Northern Ireland.

Gateway interventions

Total interventions Number of changed cases Percentage of cases changed

1999–2000 1,026,899 56,803 5.53

2000–01 625,132 64,207 10.27

2001–02⁽³⁷⁾ 438,402 60,191 13.73

2002–03⁽³⁷⁾ 299,740 46,216 15.42

2003–04⁽³⁷⁾ 180,243 36,552 20.26
Current year to date
75,970 16,855 22.19

⁽³⁷⁾ These figures do not include active case management interventions or interventions for Northern Ireland.

	Total interventions	Number of changed cases	Percentage of cases changed
1999–2000	1,066,010	89,529	8.4
2000–01	806,825	121,585	15.07
2001–02⁽³⁶⁾	1,128,812	177,735	15.74
2002–03⁽³⁶⁾	452,290	84,189	18.61
2003–04⁽³⁶⁾	493,625	184,082	37.29
Current year to date 247,249	93,129	37.67

	Total interventions	Number of changed cases	Percentage of cases changed
1999–2000	1,026,899	56,803	5.53
2000–01	625,132	64,207	10.27
2001–02⁽³⁷⁾	438,402	60,191	13.73
2002–03⁽³⁷⁾	299,740	46,216	15.42
2003–04⁽³⁷⁾	180,243	36,552	20.26
Current year to date 75,970	16,855	22.19

Next Section

Index

Home Page