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Terminal Illness (Benefits)

Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) for how long on average awards of (a) disability living allowance and (b) attendance allowance under the special rules for terminal illness lasted in the last year for which figures are available from the date of award to the claimant's death or the termination of the claim; [7917]

(2) what the average duration of special rules awards for cancer patients was in the last year for which figures are available; [7918]

(3) what the duration of (a) disability living allowance and (b) attendance allowance special rules awards were for each of the last five years, from the date
 
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of award to the claimant's death or end of claim; and for how many claimants awards lasted up to (i) one month, (ii) one to two months, (iii) two to three months, (iv) three to four months, (v) four to five months, (vi) five to six months, (vii) six to seven months, (viii) seven to eight months, (i) eight to nine months, (ix) nine to 10 months, (x) 10 to 11 months, (xi) 11 to 12 months and (xii) more than 12 months; [7919]

(4) what the duration of (a) disability living allowance and (b) attendance allowance special rules awards made to cancer patients were in each of the last five years, from the date of award to the claimant's death or end of claim; and for how many claimants awards lasted up to (i) one month, (ii) one to two months, (iii) two to three months, (iv) three to four months, (v) four to five months, (vi) five to six months, (vii) six to seven months, (viii) seven to eight months, (ix) eight to nine months, (x) nine to 10 months, (xi) 10 to 11 months, (xii) 11 to 12 months and (xiii) more than 12 months. [7920]

Mrs. McGuire: The requested information is not available. The information that is available is in the tables.
Disability living allowance and attendance allowance special rules awards. Estimated numbers of awards which terminated in each of the years from 2000–01 to 2004–05; estimated durations of those awards at the point at which they terminated; and estimated average duration of awards which terminated in 2004–05

		Duration of terminated awards
	Total number of terminated awards	Over 3 months and up to 6 months	Over 6 months and up to 9 months	Over 9 months and up to 12 months	Over 12 months	Average duration of terminated awards (weeks)
2000–01	70,500	23,700	16,900	9,000	20,800	—
2001–02	75,600	23,500	19,800	9,900	22,400	—
2002–03	73,200	21,200	19,100	9,500	23,400	—
2003–04	71,100	19,600	19,000	9,700	22,800	—
2004–05	70,300	19,000	18,500	9,900	22,900	62

Notes:
1.Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and may not sum due to rounding.
2.From November 2002, the methodology for producing DLA and AA figures was changed to allow statistics to be published much sooner. This has resulted in a small increase in the reported caseload. This is because some cases which have actually terminated but have not yet been updated on the computer system are now included.
Source:
DWP Information Directorate, 5 per cent. sample data.





Disability living allowance and attendance allowance special rules awards. Estimated numbers of awards made to people whose main disabling condition was recorded as Malignant Disease—including Cancer, Carcinoma and Leukaemia" which terminated in each of the years from 2001–02 to 2004–05; estimated durations of those awards at the point at which they terminated; and estimated average duration of awards which terminated in 2004–05

		Duration of terminated awards
	Total number of terminated awards	Over 3 months and up to 6 months	Over 6 months and up to 9 months	Over 9 months and up to 12 months	Over 12 months	Average duration of terminated awards (weeks)
2000–01	20,000	5,900	4,900	2,800	6,400	—
2001–02	21,700	6,100	5,600	3,200	6,900	—
2002–03	20,600	5,200	5,100	3,000	7,200	—
2003–04	19,200	4,300	5,000	2,600	7,300	—
2004–05	20,200	4,500	5,000	3,100	7,600	65

Notes:
1.Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and may not sum due to rounding.
2.Figures do not include awards in respect of people who may have had cancer, but whose main disabling condition was not recorded as Malignant Disease—including Cancer, Carcinoma and Leukaemia'.
3.From November 2002, the methodology for producing DLA and AA figures was changed to allow statistics to be published much sooner. This has resulted in a small increase in the reported caseload. This is because some cases which have actually terminated but have not yet been updated on the computer system are now included.
Source:
DWP Information Directorate, 5 per cent. sample data.





 
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EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Advertising Expenditure

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much the (a) Department and (b) non-departmental bodies for which the Department is responsible has spent on advertising type in the last three years, broken down by media type. [9499]

Maria Eagle: My Department's expenditure on advertising broken down by media type for the last three years is set out as follows:
£000

	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05
Advertising spend	11,261	16,948	11 ,825
Press	1,895	2,580	2,266
Regional	249	185	740
TV	5,966	10,110	4,177
Radio	1,362	2,923	3,897
Poster	960	543	744
Cinema	549	—	—
Internet	279	604	—

It is not possible, except at disproportionate cost, to provide a breakdown of spend on advertising from non-departmental bodies for which the Department is responsible.

All expenditure is exclusive of VAT.

Child Care (VAT)

Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the effects on the charity and voluntary sector's ability to provide welfare services of the decision to refund VAT incurred in the provision of child care and children's centres to local authorities. [8940]

Beverley Hughes: The decision to refund VAT incurred in the provision of childcare and children's centres by local authorities will have no adverse impact on the delivery of welfare services by the charity and voluntary sector organisations. Where the charity and voluntary sector provide child care and children's centres services under the Sure Start programme, funding is on the basis of full cost recovery, including any associated VAT costs providers incur.

EU Students

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2005, Official Report, column 1006W, on EU students, what estimate she has made of the likely value of deferred fee payments that will not be recovered from
 
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EU students who return to their home countries after graduation; and what the procedures are which will be put in place to minimise the risk of default. [8031]

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 29 June 2005, Official Report, columns 1633–34W, which sets out the resource cost of loans to such students. As set out in the answers given on 21 June 2005, Official Report, column 1006W and 29 June 2005, Official Report, columns 1633–34W, we will not be able to collect payment through the UK tax system for EU borrowers who return to their home country: the Student Loans Company will establish a schedule of payments to be made and we anticipate relying on EU Council Regulation 44/2001 in the cases of defaulting students.

Funding Gap

Mr. Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will publish the Learning and Skills Development Agency's report on the funding gap between schools and further education colleges; and if she will make a statement. [6932]

Bill Rammell: [holding answer 28 June 2005]: As part of the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC) Agenda for Change, the Learning and Skills Development Agency was commissioned to investigate the relative funding of learning for full-time 16 to 18-year-olds in further education compared with school 6th forms.

I understand that the LSC will publish the report after its Agenda for Change roadshow events that will occur during the summer. Further details will be available on the LSC's website.

Government have shown their commitment to further education (FE) through the unprecedented investment they are now making. Total funding for FE will increase by over £1 billion in 2005/06 compared to 2002/03—a 25 per cent. cash increase.

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