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21 Feb 2005 : Column 404W—continued
Departmental Catering
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many departmental (a) canteens and (b) bars there are; and how much has been spent on the (i) running, (ii) staffing and (iii) supply costs of each in each year since 1997. [213616]
Maria Eagle: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 from the former Department of Social Security (DSS), and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment including the Employment Service. Health and Safety Executive joined DWP in July 2002. Canteen facilities are currently provided in around 165 of our 1,800 offices. The only costs incurred by DWP in providing these facilities is in the form of subsidies. The first year for which figures are available is 1998–99. The available information is in the following table.
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 2.7 |
| 1999–2000 | 3.1 |
| 2000–01 | 3.3 |
| 2001–02 | 3.5 |
| 2002–03 | 3.6 |
| 2003–04 | 3.8 |
Note:
Figures for periods prior to June 2001 are for the former DSS only.
There is one bar on DWP premises, this is run, managed and financed by a sports and social club and therefore no running, staffing or supply costs have been incurred by DWP.
21 Feb 2005 : Column 405W
Departmental Offices, Chelmsford
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects his Department's offices in Beeches road, Chelmsford to close; and if he will make a statement. [216247]
Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Simon Burns, dated 21 February 2005:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply direct to your question concerning plans to close the Jobcentre Plus premises at Beeches Road, Chelmsford. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
I wrote to you in March 2004 regarding our plans for this site. Since then, the future of our Beeches Road site has been still under review as part of a DWP wide exercise to review Estate holdings throughout Essex. I am aware that a somewhat misleading article was recently featured in the press relating to the closure of our site in Beeches Road.
With the Executive Board of Jobcentre Plus I have carefully considered how we can make benefit processing more efficient in the interests of all our customers. We have now concluded that we should consolidate this important area of our business into a smaller number of locations. Currently we carry out this work in several hundred sites and reducing this to around 77 Benefit Processing Centres by 2008 will enable us to deliver a faster, more efficient service using the improved information technology systems which are now starting to become available to us.
As you are already aware, the benefit processing work we currently carry out at Beeches Road, Chelmsford will be moving to one of our new processing centres. The announcement of our planned changes was obviously a sensitive issue for the staff who currently undertake this work in Chelmsford and a number of similar sites nationally. We considered it vitally important that our people should hear about the plans as soon as possible and that they should hear the news from Jobcentre Plus Managers.
We therefore planned and undertook an extensive programme of communications throughout our organisation, to MPs and to other people and organisations we work closely with. Even at this early stage, an essential part of our communications strategy was to set out the arrangements we are making to re-deploy employees who will be affected by the changes, including our commitment to avoid redundancies as far as possible. The timescale for the transfer of benefit processing work from sites such as Beeches Road has still to be determined, although our intention is that this will take place by 2008.
Jobcentre Plus provides a telephone contact centre network where our customers are able to make enquiries without having to come into one of our offices. Our Beeches Road site currently houses a small part of this network. Our current plans involve this work being undertaken from another part of the network by our staff based in Derby, from 2 September 2005.
Jobcentre Plus keeps under constant review our Estates and operational delivery to customers. I hope it will reassure you to know that, at the present time, there are still no plans to close the Beeches Road premises.
Departmental Policies
Mr. Gordon Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to the
21 Feb 2005 : Column 406W
constituency, the effect of his Department's actions and policies on Blackpool, South constituency since (a) 1997 and (b) 2001. [215619]
Jane Kennedy: We have undertaken a fundamental overhaul of the welfare system, transforming it to an active system that fights poverty, creates opportunity and helps people become self-sufficient and independent.
Since 2001, the Government have significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in Blackpool, South will have benefited from these improvements in disability rights. Similarly, families with severely disabled three and four-year-old children who are unable, or virtually unable to walk will have benefited from the Government's decision to lower the minimum age entitlement to the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance from April 2001, while older and less well off carers have gained extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy.
In 2002–03 we estimate there were around 10 million adults (22 per cent.) and 0.7 million children (5 per cent.) in Great Britain likely to be covered by the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
The figures can be broken down to regional level which shows that 24 per cent. of adults and 5 per cent. of children in the north-west are likely to be covered by the provisions of the DDA.
Information on the numbers of customers in Blackpool, South who are in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA) and attendance allowance (AA) is in the table.
| Operational year | Blackpool, South DLA/AA recipients |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 10,600 |
| 2002 | 10,400 |
| 2003 | 11,100 |
| 2004 | 11,600 |
Note:
Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 and are from a 5 per cent. sample at 31 August each year.
Source:
DWP Information Centre.
Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. The number of people in work is at historically high levels of over 28.5 million; though in Blackpool, South, the proportion in employment has reduced by 4.7 points since 1997 to 69.7 per cent.
Our new deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Nationally over 1.2 million people have been helped into work by the new deals, with 2,260 in Blackpool, South alone.
Significant progress has been made in eradicating child poverty and the latest figures (for 2002–03) show that, in the UK, there were over half a million fewer children in relative low income than there were in 1996–97. Since 2001–02 incomes for lone parents in
21 Feb 2005 : Column 407W
receipt of benefit have risen by more than prices or the cost of living. In April 2005 the child allowance rate in income support for a child up to 18-years-old will have been increased by 40 per cent. since 2001–02. Child rates in income support and jobseeker's allowance are also being increased above inflation in April 2005 in line with child tax credit upratings. All of this has benefited 2,600 families in Blackpool, South.
We want all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement and to share fairly in the rising prosperity of the country and our first priority has been to help the poorest pensioners. The Government will be spending nearly £10 billion more in 2004–05 (in 2004–05 prices) on pensioners as a result of measures introduced since 1997, with around half going to the poorest third.
Our reforms include the State Second Pension, which helps more future pensioners build up better pensions, especially carers. Pension credit, introduced from October 2003, provides a contribution to a guaranteed minimum income for those aged 60 and over and, for the first time, those over aged 65 and over may be rewarded for savings and income. As of December 2004, around 6,710 pensioners in Blackpool, South are receiving pension credit, with an average award of £43.14 per week.
We know that older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. This winter (2004–05) we have again made available a winter fuel payment of £200 for each eligible household with someone aged 60 or over and £300 to those with someone aged 80 or over to help with their fuel bills. Additionally, for this year, eligible households with someone aged 70 or over will receive the one-off 70+ payment of £100 to help with living expenses including council tax bills. It is paid with the winter fuel payment.
The constituency data on winter fuel payments and the additional 80+ annual payment is available in the Library.
Since 1997 single pensioners and pensioner couples have seen a real terms increase in their Basic State Pension of 7 per cent. and 8 per cent., respectively. Some 20,700 pensioners in Blackpool, South have benefited from this increase.
Mr. Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Folkestone and Hythe constituency, the effects on Folkestone and Hythe of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [215985]
Jane Kennedy: We have undertaken a fundamental overhaul of the welfare system, transforming it to an active system that fights poverty, creates opportunity and helps people become self-sufficient and independent.
Since 2001, the Government have significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in Folkestone and Hythe will have benefited from these improvements in disability rights. Similarly, families with severely disabled three and four-year-old children who are unable, or virtually unable to walk will have
21 Feb 2005 : Column 408W
benefited from the Government's decision to lower the minimum age entitlement to the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance from April 2001, while older and less well off carers have gained extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy.
In 2002–03 we estimate there were around 10 million adults (22 per cent.) and 0.7 million children (5 per cent.) in Great Britain likely to be covered by the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
The figures can be broken down to regional level which shows that 18 per cent. of adults and 5 per cent. of children in the South East are likely to be covered by the provisions of the DDA.
Information on the numbers of customers in Folkestone and Hythe who are in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA) and attendance allowance (AA) is in the table.
| Operational year | Folkestone and Hythe DLA/AA recipients |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 6,000 |
| 2002 | 6,400 |
| 2003 | 6,300 |
| 2004 | 6,800 |
Note:
Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 and are from a 5 per cent. sample at 31 August each year.
Source:
DWP Information Centre.
Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. The number of people in work is at historically high levels of over 28.5 million; though in Folkestone and Hythe, the proportion in employment has reduced by 8 points since 1997 to 71.4 per cent.
Our new deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Nationally over 1.2 million people have been helped into work by the new deals, with 1,880 in Folkestone and Hythe alone.
Significant progress has been made in eradicating child poverty and the latest figures (for 2002–03) show that, in the UK, there were over half a million fewer children in relative low income than there were in 1996–97. Since 2001–02 incomes for lone parents in receipt of benefit have risen by more than prices or the cost of living. In April 2005 the child allowance rate in income support for a child up to 18-years-old will have been increased by 40 per cent. since 2001–02. Child rates in income support and jobseeker's allowance are also being increased above inflation in April 2005 in line with child tax credit upratings. All of this has benefited 2,000 families in Folkestone and Hythe.
We want all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement and to share fairly in the rising prosperity of the country and our first priority has been to help the poorest pensioners. The Government will be spending nearly £10 billion more in 2004–05 (in 2004–05 prices) on pensioners as a result of measures introduced since 1997, with around half going to the poorest third.
21 Feb 2005 : Column 409W
Our reforms include the State Second Pension, which helps more future pensioners build up better pensions, especially carers. pension credit, introduced from October 2003, provides a contribution to a guaranteed minimum income for those aged 60 and over and, for the first time, those over aged 65 and over may be rewarded for savings and income. As of December 2004, around 5,005 pensioners in Folkestone and Hythe are receiving pension credit, with an average award of £39.47 per week.
We know that older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. This winter (2004–05) we have again made available a winter fuel payment of £200 for each eligible household with someone aged 60 or over and £300 to those with someone aged 80 or over to help with their fuel bills. Additionally, for this year, eligible households with someone aged 70 or over will receive the one-off 70+ payment of £100 to help with living expenses including council tax bills. It is paid with the winter fuel payment.
The constituency data on winter fuel payments and the additional 80+ annual payment is available in the Library.
Since 1997 single pensioners and pensioner couples have seen a real terms increase in their Basic State Pension of 7 per cent. and 8 per cent., respectively.Some 21,800 pensioners in Folkestone and Hythe have benefited from this increase.
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Huddersfield constituency, the effects on Huddersfield of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [216872]
Jane Kennedy: We have undertaken a fundamental overhaul of the welfare system, transforming it to an active system that fights poverty, creates opportunity and helps people become self-sufficient and independent.
Since 2001, the Government has significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in Huddersfield will have benefited from these improvements in disability rights. Similarly, families with severely disabled 3 and 4-year-old children who are unable, or virtually unable to walk will have benefited from the Government's decision to lower the minimum age entitlement to the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance from April 2001, while older and less well off carers have gained extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy.
In 2002–03 we estimate there were around 10 million adults (22 per cent.) and 0.7 million children (5 per cent.) in Great Britain likely to be covered by the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
The figures can be broken down to regional level which shows that 25 per cent. of adults and 4 per cent. of children in the Yorkshire and Humber region are likely to be covered by the provisions of the DDA.
21 Feb 2005 : Column 410W
Information on the numbers of customers in Huddersfield who are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance (AA) is in the following table.
| Operational year | DLA/AA recipients |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 6,900 |
| 2002 | 7,000 |
| 2003 | 6,900 |
| 2004 | 7,400 |
Source:
DWP Information Centre. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 and are from a 5 per cent. sample at 31 August each year.
Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. The number of people in work is at historically high levels of over 28.5 million; in Huddersfield, the proportion in employment has risen to 70.3 per cent.
Our new deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Nationally over 1.2 million people have been helped into work by the new deals, with 2,970 in Huddersfield alone.
Significant progress has been made in eradicating child poverty and the latest figures (for 2002–03) show that, in the UK, there were over half a million fewer children in relative low income than there were in 1996–97. Since 2001–02 incomes for lone parents in receipt of benefit have risen by more than prices or the cost of living. In April 2005 the child allowance rate in income support for a child up to 18-years-old will have been increased by 40 per cent. since 2001–02. Child rates in income support and jobseeker's allowance are also being increased above inflation in April 2005 in line with child tax credit upratings. All of this has benefited 2,400 families in Huddersfield.
We want all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement and to share fairly in the rising prosperity of the country and our first priority has been to help the poorest pensioners. The Government will be spending nearly £10 billion more in 2004–05 (in 2004–05 prices) on pensioners as a result of measures introduced since 1997, with around half going to the poorest third.
Our reforms include the state second pension, which helps more future pensioners build up better pensions, especially carers. pension credit, introduced from October 2003, provides a contribution to a guaranteed minimum income for those aged 60 and over and, for the first time, those aged 65 and over may be rewarded for savings and income. As of December 2004, around 4,750 pensioners in Huddersfield are receiving pension credit, with an average award of 40.58 per week.
We know that older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. This winter (2004–05) we have again made available a winter fuel payment of £200 for each eligible household with someone aged 60 or over and £300 to those with someone aged 80 or over to help with their fuel bills. Additionally, for this year, eligible households with someone aged 70 or over will receive
21 Feb 2005 : Column 411W
the one-off 70 plus payment of £100 to help with living expenses including council tax bills. It is paid with the winter fuel payment.
The constituency data on winter fuel payments and the additional 80 plus annual payment is available in the Library.
Since 1997 single pensioners and pensioner couples have seen a real terms increase in their basic state pension of 7 per cent. and 8 per cent., respectively. Some 15,000 pensioners in Huddersfield have benefited from this increase.
Mrs. Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to Rochdale constituency, the effects of his Department's actions and policies since 1997 on Rochdale. [217379]
Jane Kennedy: We have undertaken a fundamental overhaul of the welfare system, transforming it to an active system that fights poverty, creates opportunity and helps people become self-sufficient and independent.
Since 2001, the Government have significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in Rochdale will have benefited from these improvements in disability rights. Similarly, families with severely disabled 3 and 4-year-old children who are unable, or virtually unable to walk will have benefited from the Government's decision to lower the minimum age entitlement to the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance from April 2001, while older and less well off carers have gained extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy.
In 2002–03 we estimate there were around 10 million adults (22 per cent.) and 0.7 million children (5 per cent.) in Great Britain likely to be covered by the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
The figures can be broken down to national level which shows that 24 per cent. of adults and 5 per cent. of children in the North West are likely to be covered by the provisions of the DDA.
Information on the numbers of customers in Rochdale who are in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA) and attendance allowance (AA) is in the table.
| Operational year | DLA/AA recipients |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 6,900 |
| 2002 | 7,400 |
| 2003 | 7,700 |
| 2004 | 7,900 |
Source:
DWP Information Centre. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 and are from a 5 per cent. sample at 31 August each year.
Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. The number of people in work is at historically high levels of over 28.5 million; there are 40,000 people in work in Rochdale.
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Our new deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Nationally over 1.2 million people have been helped into work by the new deals, with over 2,900 in Rochdale alone.
Significant progress has been made in eradicating child poverty and the latest figures (for 2002–03) show that, in the UK, there were over half a million fewer children in relative low income than there were in 1996–97. Since 2001–02 incomes for lone parents in receipt of benefit have risen by more than prices or the cost of living. In April 2005 the child allowance rate in income support for a child up to 18-years-old will have been increased by 40 per cent. since 2001–02. Child rates in income support and jobseeker's allowance are also being increased above inflation in April 2005 in line with child tax credit upratings. All of this has benefited 3,600 families in Rochdale.
We want all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement and to share fairly in the rising prosperity of the country and our first priority has been to help the poorest pensioners. The Government will be spending nearly £10 billion more in 2004–05 (in 2004–05 prices) on pensioners as a result of measures introduced since 1997, with around half going to the poorest third.
Our reforms include the state second pension, which helps more future pensioners build up better pensions, especially carers. Pension credit, introduced from October 2003, provides a contribution to a guaranteed minimum income for those aged 60 and over and, for the first time, those over aged 65 and over may be rewarded for savings and income. As of December 2004, around 5,485 pensioners in Rochdale are receiving pension credit, with an average award of £44.24 per week.
We know that older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. This winter (2004–05) we have again made available a winter fuel payment of £200 for each eligible household with someone aged 60 or over and £300 to those with someone aged 80 or over to help with their fuel bills. Additionally, for this year, eligible households with someone aged 70 or over will receive the one-off 70+ payment of £100 to help with living expenses including council tax bills. It is paid with the winter fuel payment.
The constituency data on winter fuel payments and the additional 80+ annual payment is available in the Library.
Since 1997 single pensioners and pensioner couples have seen a real terms increase in their basic state pension of 7 per cent. and 8 per cent., respectively. Some 14,500 pensioners in Rochdale have benefited from this increase.
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