House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 7 Feb 2005 (pt 38)

7 Feb 2005 : Column 1341W—continued

Secure Units

Mr. Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the medium secure units for peoplewith dangerous and severe personality disorders operating in England; and how many inmates have escaped or absconded from each in each of the last fiveyears. [210784]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The Arnold Lodge in Leicester is the only medium secure unit that currently takes patients with a dangerous and severe personality disorder (DSPD). The unit has a personality disorder unit (PDU) that has 12 beds. Of these, five are available for patients with a diagnosis of DSPD.

From the DSPD beds, no patients have absconded. From the personality disorder beds, two patients have failed to return from leave.

When a decision is taken to send a patient on leave, a detailed risk assessment is carried out beforehand. This details the potential risks involved should a patient abscond and a plan is in place to deal with these risks should it happen.

Once a patient is known to have absconded, the local police are informed and any people who from the risk assessment have been identified as being vulnerable. On call arrangements are put in place and local, regional and national briefing if required takes place.

7 Feb 2005 : Column 1342W

In both the cases of absconcion from the PD unit at Arnold Lodge, both patients were returned to the unit within five to six hours. In the first case, the patient returned to the unit himself, in the second case, the patient missed a train back and presented to a police station and asked to be returned to Arnold Lodge.

Specialist Nurses

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what budget is allocated for training and development for a specialist nurse post. [208855]

Mr. Hutton: The training and development of nurses to fit them to hold specialist posts is a matter for employers locally. The cost of training may vary according to specialism and the type of training or development involved and will be identified by employers in conjunction with educational commissioners and higher education institutions. There is no separate central budget.

Stem Cells

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment has been made of the safety of the medium used to preserve embryonic stem cells. [213450]

Ms Rosie Winterton: To date, most human embryonic stem cell lines have been cultured for laboratory research using nutritional support from animal cells. It is therefore not surprising that a recent United States study has demonstrated that many of the human embryonic stem cell lines, which can be used in federally-funded research in the US, are contaminated with a molecule from animal cells. As with any contaminated therapeutic product, these cells could never be used for clinical applications.

Unlike the situation in the US, United Kingdom legislation permits the generation of new embryonic stem cell lines. UK researchers are well aware of the problem of animal contamination and are actively working on developing new embryonic stem cell lines, which have been grown without using animal products.

Welsh Language Scheme

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department's Welsh language scheme was approved by the Welsh Language Board; and on what date the scheme was implemented. [211338]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The Department does not have a Welsh language scheme.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Adviser Discretion Fund

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of Jobcentre Plus clients have received grants from the Adviser Discretion Fund, broken down by benefit received. [214631]

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available as Adviser Discretion Fund data are collected on an award, not customer, basis.

7 Feb 2005 : Column 1343W

It is not possible to equate the number of awards made with the number of customers who have received one as a Jobcentre Plus customer may access the Adviser Discretion Fund on more than one occasion.

Benefit Payments

Mr. Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Workand Pensions what his Department's policy is regarding the payment of benefits to claimants of working age who fail to supply account details to his Department. [207791]

Mr. Pond: Direct Payment into an account is the normal method of payment for benefits and pensions and will be the best option for the overwhelming majority of our customers, giving them a more modern and reliable method of payment, with greater choice about where and when they collect their money. Using a bank account also helps jobseekers show employers that they are job ready.

The Department has always recognised that some customers will be unable to be paid in this way and the cheque payment was developed for the small minority of customers who cannot manage Direct Payment.

We are continuing to contact existing customers to invite them to provide account details. However at the end of this process customers, including those of working age, who have not provided account details, will be paid by cheque if possible after we have verified their address and confirmed there is no doubt about ongoing entitlement.

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claimed unemployment benefit in each constituency in Wales for the latest period in which figures are available. [213538]

Mr. Pond: The information is in the table.
JSA caseloads in each parliamentary constituency in Wales: August 2004

Parliamentary constituency All Contribution-based only Income-based Credits only

Aberavon 1,000 ⁽³⁰⁾200 700 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Alyn and Deeside 1,000 ⁽³⁰⁾100 700 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Blaenau Gwent 1,400 ⁽³⁰⁾300 1,000 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Brecon and Radnorshire 600 ⁽³⁰⁾100 ⁽³⁰⁾400 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Bridgend 800 ⁽³⁰⁾200 600 ⁽³¹⁾—

Caernarfon 700 ⁽³⁰⁾100 500 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Caerphilly 1,700 ⁽³⁰⁾300 1,400 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Cardiff Central 1,200 ⁽³⁰⁾200 900 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Cardiff North 600 ⁽³⁰⁾200 ⁽³⁰⁾300 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Cardiff South and Penarth 1,600 ⁽³⁰⁾200 1,300 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Cardiff West 1,400 ⁽³⁰⁾100 1,100 ⁽³⁰⁾200

Carmarthen East and Dinefwr 600 ⁽³⁰⁾100 ⁽³⁰⁾400 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Carmarthen West and South
Pembrokeshire 800 ⁽³⁰⁾100 600 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Ceredigion 1,000 ⁽³⁰⁾100 800 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Clwyd South 800 ⁽³⁰⁾100 600 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Clwyd West ⁽³⁰⁾400 ⁽³⁰⁾100 ⁽³⁰⁾300 ⁽³¹⁾—

Conwy 900 ⁽³⁰⁾100 600 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Cynon Valley 1,000 ⁽³⁰⁾200 800 ⁽³¹⁾—

Delyn 900 ⁽³⁰⁾200 600 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Gower 700 ⁽³⁰⁾200 500 ⁽³¹⁾—

Islwyn 900 ⁽³⁰⁾200 700 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Llanelli 800 ⁽³⁰⁾100 600 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Meirionnydd Nant Conwy ⁽³⁰⁾300 ⁽³⁰⁾100 ⁽³⁰⁾100 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney 1,300 ⁽³⁰⁾100 1,100 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Monmouth 700 ⁽³⁰⁾100 500 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Montgomeryshire ⁽³⁰⁾400 ⁽³⁰⁾100 ⁽³⁰⁾200 ⁽³¹⁾—

Neath 1,200 ⁽³⁰⁾200 900 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Newport East 1,100 ⁽³⁰⁾200 800 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Newport West 1,400 ⁽³⁰⁾200 1,100 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Ogmore 800 ⁽³⁰⁾200 600 ⁽³¹⁾—

Pontypridd 1,200 ⁽³⁰⁾300 800 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Preseli Pembrokeshire 1,200 ⁽³⁰⁾100 800 ⁽³⁰⁾200

Rhondda 1,100 ⁽³⁰⁾100 800 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Swansea East 1,600 ⁽³⁰⁾200 1,200 ⁽³⁰⁾200

Swansea West 1,400 ⁽³⁰⁾100 1,200 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Torfaen 800 ⁽³⁰⁾100 700 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Vale of Clwyd 900 ⁽³⁰⁾100 700 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Vale of Glamorgan 1,400 ⁽³⁰⁾200 900 ⁽³⁰⁾200

Wrexham 800 ⁽³⁰⁾100 600 ⁽³⁰⁾100

Ynys Mon 1,300 ⁽³⁰⁾200 1,000 ⁽³⁰⁾100

⁽³⁰⁾Numbers are based on very few sample cases and are subject to a high degree of sampling variation. These figures should be used as a guide to the current situation only.
⁽³¹⁾Nil or negligible.
Notes:
1.Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
2.Totals may not sum due to rounding.
3.The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.
4.Income-based JSA figures include claimants who would also be entitled to the contributory element.
Source:
Information Directorate, 5 per cent. samples

7 Feb 2005 : Column 1344W

Parliamentary constituency	All	Contribution-based only	Income-based	Credits only
Aberavon	1,000	⁽³⁰⁾200	700	⁽³⁰⁾100
Alyn and Deeside	1,000	⁽³⁰⁾100	700	⁽³⁰⁾100
Blaenau Gwent	1,400	⁽³⁰⁾300	1,000	⁽³⁰⁾100
Brecon and Radnorshire	600	⁽³⁰⁾100	⁽³⁰⁾400	⁽³⁰⁾100
Bridgend	800	⁽³⁰⁾200	600	⁽³¹⁾—
Caernarfon	700	⁽³⁰⁾100	500	⁽³⁰⁾100
Caerphilly	1,700	⁽³⁰⁾300	1,400	⁽³⁰⁾100
Cardiff Central	1,200	⁽³⁰⁾200	900	⁽³⁰⁾100
Cardiff North	600	⁽³⁰⁾200	⁽³⁰⁾300	⁽³⁰⁾100
Cardiff South and Penarth	1,600	⁽³⁰⁾200	1,300	⁽³⁰⁾100
Cardiff West	1,400	⁽³⁰⁾100	1,100	⁽³⁰⁾200
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr	600	⁽³⁰⁾100	⁽³⁰⁾400	⁽³⁰⁾100
Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire	800	⁽³⁰⁾100	600	⁽³⁰⁾100
Ceredigion	1,000	⁽³⁰⁾100	800	⁽³⁰⁾100
Clwyd South	800	⁽³⁰⁾100	600	⁽³⁰⁾100
Clwyd West	⁽³⁰⁾400	⁽³⁰⁾100	⁽³⁰⁾300	⁽³¹⁾—
Conwy	900	⁽³⁰⁾100	600	⁽³⁰⁾100
Cynon Valley	1,000	⁽³⁰⁾200	800	⁽³¹⁾—
Delyn	900	⁽³⁰⁾200	600	⁽³⁰⁾100
Gower	700	⁽³⁰⁾200	500	⁽³¹⁾—
Islwyn	900	⁽³⁰⁾200	700	⁽³⁰⁾100
Llanelli	800	⁽³⁰⁾100	600	⁽³⁰⁾100
Meirionnydd Nant Conwy	⁽³⁰⁾300	⁽³⁰⁾100	⁽³⁰⁾100	⁽³⁰⁾100
Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney	1,300	⁽³⁰⁾100	1,100	⁽³⁰⁾100
Monmouth	700	⁽³⁰⁾100	500	⁽³⁰⁾100
Montgomeryshire	⁽³⁰⁾400	⁽³⁰⁾100	⁽³⁰⁾200	⁽³¹⁾—
Neath	1,200	⁽³⁰⁾200	900	⁽³⁰⁾100
Newport East	1,100	⁽³⁰⁾200	800	⁽³⁰⁾100
Newport West	1,400	⁽³⁰⁾200	1,100	⁽³⁰⁾100
Ogmore	800	⁽³⁰⁾200	600	⁽³¹⁾—
Pontypridd	1,200	⁽³⁰⁾300	800	⁽³⁰⁾100
Preseli Pembrokeshire	1,200	⁽³⁰⁾100	800	⁽³⁰⁾200
Rhondda	1,100	⁽³⁰⁾100	800	⁽³⁰⁾100
Swansea East	1,600	⁽³⁰⁾200	1,200	⁽³⁰⁾200
Swansea West	1,400	⁽³⁰⁾100	1,200	⁽³⁰⁾100
Torfaen	800	⁽³⁰⁾100	700	⁽³⁰⁾100
Vale of Clwyd	900	⁽³⁰⁾100	700	⁽³⁰⁾100
Vale of Glamorgan	1,400	⁽³⁰⁾200	900	⁽³⁰⁾200
Wrexham	800	⁽³⁰⁾100	600	⁽³⁰⁾100
Ynys Mon	1,300	⁽³⁰⁾200	1,000	⁽³⁰⁾100

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State forWork and Pensions what evidence his Department has relied upon to conclude that over 90 per cent. of pension and benefit claimants in the UK are satisfied with direct payment; and what customer feedback was sought in Scotland to determine preferences on payment methods. [211995]

Mr. Pond: DWP published independent research on customers' experience of Direct Payment on 24 September 2004 . Among the findings was that 93 per cent. of those surveyed were happy with the process of having payments made into an account. A copy of the research report is in the Library.

The research covered the views and experiences of a representative group of customers across the whole of Great Britain, including Scotland.

Note:

DWP published independent research on customers' experience of Direct Payment on 24 September 2004 refers to: In-house Report 150—Customer experience of Direct Payment".

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimated saving will result from the switch of payments of pensions from payment books to direct payments; and what estimated reduction in the level of fraud will result from the phasing out of payment books. [207307]

Mr. Pond: Paying people by order book costs the taxpayer a significant amount of money. The move to Direct Payment provides a modern, secure and efficient system and will reduce administrative costs. Cutting unnecessary expenditure on administrative costs releases money for other priorities.

Overall, significant savings to DWP are expected to accrue from both a reduction in administration costs of around £440 million per annum and a reduction in fraud of around £50 million per annum—against this there will be some additional costs for the Post Office card

7 Feb 2005 : Column 1345W

account; the precise costs will depend on customer choice and how many Post Office card accounts are opened.

With regard to the level of fraud, about 100 pensioners a week had their order books stolen. This risk has been steadily reducing as pensioners and other customers move to Direct Payment.

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