House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 22 Jun 2005 (pt 13)

22 Jun 2005 : Column 1075W—continued

Olympic Bid

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent by his Department in promoting London's 2012 Olympic bid in Northern Ireland. [5513]

Mr. Hanson: Expenditure of £55,113.87, excluding VAT, has been incurred in promoting London's Olympic bid in Northern Ireland.

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding has been earmarked by his Department for Northern Ireland's participation in hosting the Olympic Games in 2012 should London's bid be successful. [5514]

22 Jun 2005 : Column 1076W

Mr. Hanson: The Government and the Mayor of London have estimated that a public funding package of £2.375 billion would be required to host the Games should London's bid be successful. It is too early to earmark funding for Northern Ireland's participation in hosting the Games.

Postal Votes

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many postal votes were issued in each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland at the last general election; and of those issued, how many people went on to vote by post. [3503]

Mr. Hanson: This issue is an operational matter and is the responsibility of the chief electoral officer who is writing to the hon. Lady. The letter contains the following information:

Constituency Postal ballot papers issued Postal ballot papers returned

Belfast East 584 493

Belfast North 570 488

Belfast South 681 492

Belfast West 743 586

East Antrim 622 517

East Londonderry 1,647 1,399

Fermanagh and South Tyrone 4,559 4,060

Foyle 2,515 2,210

Lagan Valley 1,087 941

Mid Ulster 2,891 2,659

Newry and Armagh 1,873 1,664

North Antrim 1,444 1,245

North Down 727 577

South Antrim 711 633

South Down 2,041 1,749

Strangford 861 722

Upper Bann 1,162 1,043

West Tyrone 2,962 2,722

Total 27,680 24,200

Constituency	Postal ballot papers issued	Postal ballot papers returned
Belfast East	584	493
Belfast North	570	488
Belfast South	681	492
Belfast West	743	586
East Antrim	622	517
East Londonderry	1,647	1,399
Fermanagh and South Tyrone	4,559	4,060
Foyle	2,515	2,210
Lagan Valley	1,087	941
Mid Ulster	2,891	2,659
Newry and Armagh	1,873	1,664
North Antrim	1,444	1,245
North Down	727	577
South Antrim	711	633
South Down	2,041	1,749
Strangford	861	722
Upper Bann	1,162	1,043
West Tyrone	2,962	2,722
Total	27,680	24,200

Railway Crossing (Lurgan)

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many trains pass through Lurgan on weekdays; and for how long on average each day William Street is closed to traffic and pedestrians as a result. [5247]

Mr. Woodward: 110 trains pass through Lurgan on each weekday, 55 in each direction. This necessitates the closure of the barrier at William Street for approximately two minutes on each occasion. As a result, the William Street barrier is closed in total for approximately three hours and 40 minutes daily.

WORK AND PENSIONS

"Inspire" Magazine

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) cost and (b) circulation of "Inspire" magazine was in the last year for which figures are available. [4511]

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.

22 Jun 2005 : Column 1077W

Letter from Lesley Strathie to Mr. Tim Boswell, dated 22 June 2005:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the costs and circulation of the Jobcentre Plus 'Inspire' magazine. This falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

'Inspire' is designed to promote Jobcentre Plus services to customers by offering real examples of how others have been helped to get or keep employment. It encourages customers to help themselves by making use of our services, including the Jobseeker Direct telephone line and website. We plan to produce 'Inspire' four times a year.

To date, two editions of 'Inspire' have been produced. The cost per edition has averaged £70,400 for 210,000 copies (33 pence per copy). 'Inspire' is mainly distributed to our customers through Jobcentre Plus offices, but copies are also sent to external organisations such as Citizens Advice and doctors' surgeries. 'Inspire' is also available on our website www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk.

I hope this is helpful.

Acts of Parliament

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to make all Acts of Parliament published before 1988 for which his Department is responsible available online. [3740]

Mr. Timms: The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) within the Cabinet Office is the Queen's Printer of Acts of Parliament, and responsible for the publication of Acts of Parliament. HMSO has considered the publication of Acts prior to 1988, which is the earliest date when these were available electronically, but has decided not to do so as many have been heavily amended. To publish them in their original form would be misleading for many users. The Government are, however, taking forward development of a Statute Law Database which will contain the fully revised and updated text of all legislation from 1275. It is expected that this will be made available to the general public during 2006.

Incapacity/Invalidity Benefit

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the most recent average time taken between an application for incapacity benefit being received and the personal capacity assessment. [1340]

Mrs. McGuire: The information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of (a) invalidity benefit and (b) incapacity benefit (i) in cash terms, (ii) in real terms and (iii) as a proportion of the benefit budget for people of working age has been in each of the last 30 years. [1875]

Mrs. McGuire [holding answer 8 June 2005]: The available information is in the tables.

22 Jun 2005 : Column 1078W

Total expenditure on incapacity related benefits by year in nominal and real terms

Total invalidity benefit, sickness benefit and severe disablement allowance (nominal terms)⁽¹¹⁾ Total invalidity benefit, sickness benefit and severe disablement allowance (real terms, 2005–06 prices)⁽¹¹⁾

1974–75 665 4,544

1975–76 885 4,824

1976–77 1,093 5,252

1977–78 1,331 5,631

1978–79 1,605 6,117

1979–80 1,735 5,660

1980–81 1,912 5,279

1981–82 2,180 5,495

1982–83 2,301 5,417

1983–84 2,319 5,220

1984–85 2,657 5,684

1985–86 2,891 5,868

1986–87 3,138 6,172

1987–88 3,457 6,439

1988–99 3,868 6,735

1989–90 4,386 7,135

1990–91 5,076 7,653

1991–92 6,355 9,037

1992–93 7,214 9,934

1993–94 8,136 10,913

1994–95 8,823 11,665

Total incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance (nominal terms)⁽¹¹⁾^(5507910012) Total incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance (real terms, 2005–06 prices)⁽¹¹⁾^(5507910012)

1995–96 8,726 11,213

1996–97 8,567 10,651

1997–98 8,411 10,195

1998–99 8,235 9,702

1999–2000 7,796 8,990

2000–01 7,780 8,868

2001–02 7,789 8,657

2002–03 7,716 8,292

2003–04 7,575 7,918

⁽¹¹⁾ Information on income support (IS) paid to Short term sick and Long term sick and disabled client groups is not available prior to 1991–92, so IS expenditure is not shown for all years. As many incapacity benefit (IB) claimants receive income via IS, expenditure presented here is less than is usually quoted for total IB expenditure.
⁽¹²⁾ Incapacity benefit (IB) replaced invalidity benefit and sickness benefit in 1995–96. However, IB expenditure for 1995–96 includes a small amount of sickness and invalidity benefit.
Note:
All figures are expressed in £ million and are rounded to the nearest £ million.
Source:
DWP Benefit expenditure tables 1, 2, 3a and 4a.

Expenditure on working-age incapacity related benefits by year in nominal and real terms, and as a proportion of working age expenditure

Total invalidity benefit, sickness benefit and severe disablement allowance paid to people of working age (nominal terms) ⁽¹³⁾^(5507910014)⁽¹⁵⁾ Total invalidity benefit, sickness benefit and severe disablement allowance paid to people of working age (real terms, 2005–06 prices) ⁽¹³⁾^(5507910014)⁽¹⁵⁾ Proportion of working age expenditure⁽¹⁶⁾ (percentage)

1991–92 5,341 7,595 25

1992–93 6,065 8,352 24

1993–94 6,859 9,200 24

1994–95 7,467 9,873 26

22 Jun 2005 : Column 1079W

Total incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance paid to people of working age (nominal terms) ⁽¹³⁾^(5507910014)⁽¹⁵⁾ Total incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance paid to people of working age (real terms, 2005–06 prices) ⁽¹³⁾^(5507910014)⁽¹⁵⁾ Proportion of working age expenditure⁽¹⁶⁾ (percentage)

1995–96 7,543 9,692 25

1996–97 7,594 9,441 25

1997–98 7,607 9,220 26

1998–99 7,660 9,025 26

1999–2000 7,491 8,638 27

2000–01 7,614 8,679 28

2001–02 7,623 8,473 28

2002–03 7,553 8,117 27

2003–04 7,406 7,741 26

⁽¹³⁾ Information on income support (IS) paid to Short term sick and Long term sick and disabled client groups is not available prior to 1991–92, so IS expenditure is not shown for all years. As many incapacity benefit (IB) claimants receive income via IS, expenditure presented here is less than is usually quoted for total IB expenditure.
⁽¹⁴⁾ Incapacity benefit (IB) replaced invalidity benefit and sickness benefit in 1995–96. However, IB expenditure for 1995–96 includes a small amount of sickness and invalidity benefit.
⁽¹⁵⁾ The working age expenditure is consistent with published figures for DWP Objective 2, to "promote work as the best form of welfare for people of working age, while protecting the position of those in greatest need". Information prior to 1991–92 is unavailable.
⁽¹⁶⁾ The working age proportion is part of the total working age expenditure published under DWP Objective 2, which includes expenditure on housing benefit and council tax benefit.
Note:
All figures are expressed in £ million and are rounded to the nearest £ million.
Source:
DWP Benefit expenditure tables 1, 2, 3a and 4a.

	Total invalidity benefit, sickness benefit and severe disablement allowance (nominal terms)⁽¹¹⁾	Total invalidity benefit, sickness benefit and severe disablement allowance (real terms, 2005–06 prices)⁽¹¹⁾
1974–75	665	4,544
1975–76	885	4,824
1976–77	1,093	5,252
1977–78	1,331	5,631
1978–79	1,605	6,117
1979–80	1,735	5,660
1980–81	1,912	5,279
1981–82	2,180	5,495
1982–83	2,301	5,417
1983–84	2,319	5,220
1984–85	2,657	5,684
1985–86	2,891	5,868
1986–87	3,138	6,172
1987–88	3,457	6,439
1988–99	3,868	6,735
1989–90	4,386	7,135
1990–91	5,076	7,653
1991–92	6,355	9,037
1992–93	7,214	9,934
1993–94	8,136	10,913
1994–95	8,823	11,665

	Total incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance (nominal terms)⁽¹¹⁾^(5507910012)	Total incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance (real terms, 2005–06 prices)⁽¹¹⁾^(5507910012)
1995–96	8,726	11,213
1996–97	8,567	10,651
1997–98	8,411	10,195
1998–99	8,235	9,702
1999–2000	7,796	8,990
2000–01	7,780	8,868
2001–02	7,789	8,657
2002–03	7,716	8,292
2003–04	7,575	7,918

	Total invalidity benefit, sickness benefit and severe disablement allowance paid to people of working age (nominal terms) ⁽¹³⁾^(5507910014)⁽¹⁵⁾	Total invalidity benefit, sickness benefit and severe disablement allowance paid to people of working age (real terms, 2005–06 prices) ⁽¹³⁾^(5507910014)⁽¹⁵⁾	Proportion of working age expenditure⁽¹⁶⁾ (percentage)
1991–92	5,341	7,595	25
1992–93	6,065	8,352	24
1993–94	6,859	9,200	24
1994–95	7,467	9,873	26

	Total incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance paid to people of working age (nominal terms) ⁽¹³⁾^(5507910014)⁽¹⁵⁾	Total incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance paid to people of working age (real terms, 2005–06 prices) ⁽¹³⁾^(5507910014)⁽¹⁵⁾	Proportion of working age expenditure⁽¹⁶⁾ (percentage)
1995–96	7,543	9,692	25
1996–97	7,594	9,441	25
1997–98	7,607	9,220	26
1998–99	7,660	9,025	26
1999–2000	7,491	8,638	27
2000–01	7,614	8,679	28
2001–02	7,623	8,473	28
2002–03	7,553	8,117	27
2003–04	7,406	7,741	26

Next Section

Index

Home Page