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21 Feb 2005 : Column 401W—continued
Carers
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of carers who are over the age of 65 years and receive carers' allowance. [217038]
Maria Eagle: As at 31 August 2004, the latest date for which information is available, there were some 9,550 carers aged 65 or over who were receiving carer's allowance.
IAD information centre, 100 per cent. sample, as at 31 August 2004. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many carers received both the carers premium and the basic state pension in the latest year for which figures are available. [217325]
Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 31 January 2005, Official Report, column 602W to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Turner).
Chemical Labelling
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how the concept of normal handling and use contained in EU legislation on the classification and labelling of chemicals is applied in the United Kingdom; who is responsible for advising the Government on the application of this concept; what guidance has been issued by the Health and Safety Executive to the business community and others on how the concept of normal handling and use will be applied; and if he will make a statement; [211172]
21 Feb 2005 : Column 402W
(2) whether he plans to issue guidance to the business community on how the concept of normal handling and use in EU legislation on the classification and labelling of chemicals will be applied. [211174]
Jane Kennedy: The EU legislation which includes the expression normal handling and use" is applied in the United Kingdom through the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging Regulations 2002. These regulations formally refer to the Approved Classification and Labelling Guide, a practical document which contains the expression without specific advice on its application. This guide is based on the relevant EU directive and was prepared by the Health and Safety Executive.
We are aware that there is some concern that the present advice does not sufficiently explain the application of normal handling and use". The term is particularly important in EU negotiations when the dangerous properties of chemicals are discussed and agreed between member states. Clarification of the concept should be developed at European level and UK officials are actively pursuing this in the appropriate fora.
Child Support Agency
Mr. Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many self-employed people have been pursued (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully for money owed to the Child Support Agency in each of the past seven years. [211717]
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 Mr. Doug Smith to Mr. Mark Fisher, dated 21 February 2005:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
Your asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many self-employed people have been pursued (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully for money owed to the Child Support Agency in each of the past seven years.
I am unable to provide the information you seek. I can however say that on the new scheme at the current time there are around 7,000 cases where calculations have been made under the new child support arrangements and the main source of income is derived from self employment. Of these payments are being received on around 3,900 cases. The new computer system also contains around 3,500 cases where the calculation of maintenance is made under the 'old rules' and the non resident parent is categorised as self employed. Payments are being received on around 2,500 of these cases. Equivalent information for earlier years for 'old scheme' cases is as follows—the information relates to August in each year:
| August | Number of cases | Estimated number in payment |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 29,000 | 19,400 |
| 2002 | 29,000 | 18,900 |
| 2001 | 27,000 | 16,700 |
| 2000 | 25,000 | 14,500 |
| 1999 | 23,000 | 13,100 |
| 1998 | 18,500 | 10,400 |
21 Feb 2005 : Column 403W
Cleaning Costs
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the costs of cleaning the Department were in each year since 1997. [213782]
Jane Kennedy: 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) including the former Employment Service. The vast majority of the DWP Estate has been occupied under the terms of the PRIME PFI contract since April 1998. The PRIME contract was expanded in December 2003 to include former Employment Service properties. The Department pays a Facilities Unit Price for the accommodation which includes cleaning costs. The cost of cleaning is not separately identifiable.
The figures in the table represent costs of cleaning former Employment Service properties prior to December 2003. The figures also include the cost of cleaning the Health and Safety Executive offices since it became part of DWP in 2002.
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 6 |
| 1998–99 | 6.3 |
| 1999–2000 | 7.4 |
| 2000–01 | 7.5 |
| 2001–02 | 8.3 |
| 2002–03 | 10.4 |
| 2003–04(184) | 8.3 |
(184) April 2003 to December 2003
Consultants
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total expenditure by his Department on external consultants was in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2003–04, and what the estimated cost of employing consultants will be in (i) 2004–05, (ii) 2005–06, (iii) 2006–07 and (iv) 2007–08. [211562]
Jane Kennedy: The total expenditure by the Department for Work and Pensions on all external consultants in the years requested was:
| Financial year | Total (£ million) |
|---|---|
| 1996–97 | (185)100.3 |
| 2003–04 | (186)306.7 |
| 2005–08 | n/a |
(185) Figures for ex-Department of Social Security only.
(186) DWP was formed in 2001 (from former DSS, Employment Service ad parts of the DfEE)
A high level assessment of current consultancy commitments and contracts indicates that consultancy expenditure is reducing during 2004–05.
An estimate of future expenditure is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
21 Feb 2005 : Column 404W
Council Tax Benefit
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the Bridgwater constituency are (a) eligible for and (b) in receipt of council tax benefit. [217350]
Mr. Pond: Council tax benefit data is not available broken down by constituency.
Estimates of the total amount council tax benefit that went unclaimed in 2002–03, the latest year for which information is available, can be found in the Department's report entitled: Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2002/2003"; copies are available in the Library.
Data Sharing
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress the Department has made in sharing data on deceased claimants with (a) CIFAS and (b) other public agencies. [210053]
Mr. Pond: The Home Office led Identity Fraud Steering Committee, which comprises public and private sector organisations that are committed to reducing identity fraud, began a project in November 2004 to explore the benefits, feasibility and legal impediments of sharing public sector deceased person information with private sector organisations involved in fraud prevention.
The project is making good progress against the objectives set out in the agreed terms of reference.
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