House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 21 Jul 2005 (pt 24)

21 Jul 2005 : Column 2007W—continued

Disability Allowance

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to increase the amount of money that people with disabilities are allowed to earn before their benefits are affected; and if he will make a statement. [12950]

Mrs. McGuire: Benefits paid specifically for disability, disability living allowance and attendance allowance are not subject to earnings restrictions but are assessed on need for additional help with care and mobility.

Income related benefits, such as income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit all have a variety of disregards, dependant upon the claimant's circumstances, above which certain earnings are taken into account. There is a higher disregard for those receiving a disability premium. The number of hours a person can work while claiming these benefits is restricted.

People with disabilities may be entitled to the full range of social security benefits, depending on their individual circumstances; where they are, they will be subject to the earnings restrictions that apply to those benefits in the same way as all other claimants.

We have no plans to change these rules.

Disability and Careers Service

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the courses the Disability and Careers Service offers to employees based on (a) gender, (b) ethnic origin, (c) sexuality and (d) any combination of the above; how much each course costs to run; and if he will make a statement. [12494]

Mrs. McGuire: The administration of the Disability and Carers Service is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Terry Moran. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

Letter from Terry Moran to Philip Davies, dated 21 July 2005:

You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list the courses the Disability and Carers Service offers to employees based on (a) gender, (b) ethnic origin, (c) sexuality and (d) any combination of the above; how much each course costs to run. The Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire MP, promised you a substantive reply from the Chief Executive of the Disability and Carers Service.

The information I have available regarding courses for Disability and Carers Service employees, and the cost in the last financial year, where known, is shown in the attached annexe.

I am unable to provide any details regarding attendees' gender, ethnicity, and sexuality, as this information is not routinely collected, but all of our courses are available to all of our staff.

I am sorry I cannot be more helpful.

21 Jul 2005 : Column 2008W

Training event Approximate costs in the year April 2004 to March 2005 (£)

Half Hour Closures 521,541

AA New Claims 23,094

Appeals inc. Modernisation 41,837

Assertiveness and related courses 65,570

Assessing and Developing Leadership Skills and related courses 2,201

Assessment Centre Skills Workshop 468

Auditing Staff Club Accounts 0

Better Letters 0

BSI Training 0

Care First for ATOS Referrals 0

Career Review—Recognising and Recording Achievement 2,384

Complaints Investigator's Training 0

Contributing to Teams 0

Counselling Introduction 4,447

Creative Problem Solving 2,000

Creativity and Imaginative Solutions 0

CSO PC support 520

Customer Service Workshop 34,085

Dealing with Abusive Customers 10,089

Dealing With Vulnerable Groups—Deaf Awareness, Life Events, Visual Impairment 7,793

Decision Maker Training 869,845

Desk Training 968,132

Developmental: Further Education 11,500

Developmental: Job Shadow 30,518

Developmental: NVQ/SVQ 19,501

Developmental: Observing at Meetings 2,422

Developmental: Presentations 8,609

Developmental: Prince's Trust 4,377

Developmental: Working Parties 13,549

Disability Awareness Workshops 7,173

Diversity Awareness video 4,650

Diversity: Managing Diverse Teams 6,693

Drafting and Briefing Skills 7,939

Driver Training 465

Effective Management 741

Effective Writing 3,674

EFQM Excellence Model Assessor Training 0

DOI CSO Training 108

DOI Training/Awareness 550

Equal Opportunities at Work 2,084

Equal Opportunities: A Manager's Role 0

Equal Ops Refresher 1,862

External Recruitment Skills Workshop 1,374

Facilitating Groups 3,276

FAMIS Courses 0

Finance HEO/EO Workshop 0

First Aid 4,431

Generic People Skills Workshop 32,630

Handling and Resolving Conflict 11,952

Harassment Officer's Training 3,075

Health and Safety 37,857

Health and Safety—Risk Assessment (inc. DOI) 12,432

Health and Safety—The Managers Role 7,169

Helpline Training 765,032

Human Rights Act Training 551

IiP internal Assessor 4,692

Induction 86,335

Industrial Relations 0

Internal Vacancy Filling and Promotion Skills Workshop 3,512

Interviewing the Public—including PVP 2,268

IT Training/Skills 198,608

Junior and Middle Management Induction 12,760

Leadership for Results 1,510

Leading an Effective team 4,085

Learning at Work 15,181

Learning Resource Centre 5,125

Making Effective Presentations 4,807

Managers as Mentors 0

Managing/Implementing Change 13,505

Managing the Development of Your Staff 3,318

Mentoring Events 819,606

Meeting Skills 5,131

Motivation 2,520

MP's Enquiries 0

Non-technical training—miscellaneous 81,564

New Tax Credits 0

Overview Training 10,487

Participating in Meetings 0

Payment Modernisation Programme—ACT 0

People Management Part 1 8,856

People Management Part 2—Dealing with Difficult People 3,344

Performance Management Workshops 8,804

Personal Account Security Enhanced for non interviewing staff 0

Personal Appraisal for Job Holders 5,509

Personal Development Planning 10,162

Personal Effectiveness for Managers 2,800

Planning and Managing Projects 0

Preparing for Retirement and related courses 13,938

Problem Solving and Decision Making 1,907

Promotion Report Writing 0

PV Procedures 6,951

Running Staff Clubs 1,407

Secure Print Operator 343

Security Specialist Event 9,647

Self Development for AAs 29,457

Self Development for AOs 47,529

Self Development for Middle Managers—360 degree Feedback 203

Serving the Needs of the Community 927

Specialist Trace Officer 0

Specialist Training—Disability Awareness 161,654

Specialist Training for Visiting Officers 0

Speed Reading Courses 3,656

Stress Management 5,858

Stress Management for Managers 25,855

Team Development 982

Team Leadership for Call Centre Managers 0

Team Leader Training 41,830

Technical/Benefit Related Training: Appeals 27,194

Technical/Benefit Related Training: MARS 103,803

Technical/Benefit Related Training: Miscellaneous 746,666

Technical Benefit Related Training: New Claims 301,740

Telephone Techniques 20,998

Time Management 4,099

Training for Trainers Events 12,081

Union Events 520

Unit Costing—Agency Costing System (ACOS) 1,184

Voice Care 24,556

Widening Horizons 2,210

Working in Teams 0

Pre retirement course ⁽¹⁰⁾111

E-learning/Open learning—Attendance Management 4,637

E-learning/Open Learning—External Recruitment 0

E-learning/Open Learning—Internal Vacancy Filling and Promotion 1,599

E-learning/Open Learning—Performance and Development 6,905

E-learning—Activity Based Information (ABI) for Managers 404

E-learning—DOI Awareness 317

E-learning—Introduction to Windows 2000 482

E-learning—Risk Management 26

E-learning—Junior Management 450

E-learning—Middle Management 0

E-learning—Using Outlook 98 0

E-learning—Better Letters 601

E-learning—Here and Now! 0

E-learning—Getting Started with the Intranet 419

E-learning—Security Awareness 1,356

E-learning—Using Outlook 2000 to e-mail 719

E-learning—The Diversity Toolkit 21,075

E-learning 3,109

Elearning 3,854

⁽¹⁰⁾Per attendee

21 Jul 2005 : Column 2009W

DCS Disability Specialists Group⁽¹¹⁾ There are no costs available for these courses

Understanding our customers —

Customer awareness for telephony staff —

Understanding learning disabilities —

Understanding mental health problems —

Understanding emotional and behavioural disorders in children —

Understanding colleagues with complex needs —

Visiting customers with disabilities —

Customer awareness, communication and personal presentation —

Understanding cognitive impairments—this course is currently under development —

⁽¹¹⁾Delivers customer focused impairment awareness training to DCS staff. This is modular training and is tailored to the needs of staff receiving it, and is therefore either in-depth or overarching in its content. DWP principles of Diversity and Equality underpin all of the training

21 Jul 2005 : Column 2010W

Training event	Approximate costs in the year April 2004 to March 2005 (£)
Half Hour Closures	521,541
AA New Claims	23,094
Appeals inc. Modernisation	41,837
Assertiveness and related courses	65,570
Assessing and Developing Leadership Skills and related courses	2,201
Assessment Centre Skills Workshop	468
Auditing Staff Club Accounts	0
Better Letters	0
BSI Training	0
Care First for ATOS Referrals	0
Career Review—Recognising and Recording Achievement	2,384
Complaints Investigator's Training	0
Contributing to Teams	0
Counselling Introduction	4,447
Creative Problem Solving	2,000
Creativity and Imaginative Solutions	0
CSO PC support	520
Customer Service Workshop	34,085
Dealing with Abusive Customers	10,089
Dealing With Vulnerable Groups—Deaf Awareness, Life Events, Visual Impairment	7,793
Decision Maker Training	869,845
Desk Training	968,132
Developmental: Further Education	11,500
Developmental: Job Shadow	30,518
Developmental: NVQ/SVQ	19,501
Developmental: Observing at Meetings	2,422
Developmental: Presentations	8,609
Developmental: Prince's Trust	4,377
Developmental: Working Parties	13,549
Disability Awareness Workshops	7,173
Diversity Awareness video	4,650
Diversity: Managing Diverse Teams	6,693
Drafting and Briefing Skills	7,939
Driver Training	465
Effective Management	741
Effective Writing	3,674
EFQM Excellence Model Assessor Training	0
DOI CSO Training	108
DOI Training/Awareness	550
Equal Opportunities at Work	2,084
Equal Opportunities: A Manager's Role	0
Equal Ops Refresher	1,862
External Recruitment Skills Workshop	1,374
Facilitating Groups	3,276
FAMIS Courses	0
Finance HEO/EO Workshop	0
First Aid	4,431
Generic People Skills Workshop	32,630
Handling and Resolving Conflict	11,952
Harassment Officer's Training	3,075
Health and Safety	37,857
Health and Safety—Risk Assessment (inc. DOI)	12,432
Health and Safety—The Managers Role	7,169
Helpline Training	765,032
Human Rights Act Training	551
IiP internal Assessor	4,692
Induction	86,335
Industrial Relations	0
Internal Vacancy Filling and Promotion Skills Workshop	3,512
Interviewing the Public—including PVP	2,268
IT Training/Skills	198,608
Junior and Middle Management Induction	12,760
Leadership for Results	1,510
Leading an Effective team	4,085
Learning at Work	15,181
Learning Resource Centre	5,125
Making Effective Presentations	4,807
Managers as Mentors	0
Managing/Implementing Change	13,505
Managing the Development of Your Staff	3,318
Mentoring Events	819,606
Meeting Skills	5,131
Motivation	2,520
MP's Enquiries	0
Non-technical training—miscellaneous	81,564
New Tax Credits	0
Overview Training	10,487
Participating in Meetings	0
Payment Modernisation Programme—ACT	0
People Management Part 1	8,856
People Management Part 2—Dealing with Difficult People	3,344
Performance Management Workshops	8,804
Personal Account Security Enhanced for non interviewing staff	0
Personal Appraisal for Job Holders	5,509
Personal Development Planning	10,162
Personal Effectiveness for Managers	2,800
Planning and Managing Projects	0
Preparing for Retirement and related courses	13,938
Problem Solving and Decision Making	1,907
Promotion Report Writing	0
PV Procedures	6,951
Running Staff Clubs	1,407
Secure Print Operator	343
Security Specialist Event	9,647
Self Development for AAs	29,457
Self Development for AOs	47,529
Self Development for Middle Managers—360 degree Feedback	203
Serving the Needs of the Community	927
Specialist Trace Officer	0
Specialist Training—Disability Awareness	161,654
Specialist Training for Visiting Officers	0
Speed Reading Courses	3,656
Stress Management	5,858
Stress Management for Managers	25,855
Team Development	982
Team Leadership for Call Centre Managers	0
Team Leader Training	41,830
Technical/Benefit Related Training: Appeals	27,194
Technical/Benefit Related Training: MARS	103,803
Technical/Benefit Related Training: Miscellaneous	746,666
Technical Benefit Related Training: New Claims	301,740
Telephone Techniques	20,998
Time Management	4,099
Training for Trainers Events	12,081
Union Events	520
Unit Costing—Agency Costing System (ACOS)	1,184
Voice Care	24,556
Widening Horizons	2,210
Working in Teams	0
Pre retirement course	⁽¹⁰⁾111
E-learning/Open learning—Attendance Management	4,637
E-learning/Open Learning—External Recruitment	0
E-learning/Open Learning—Internal Vacancy Filling and Promotion	1,599
E-learning/Open Learning—Performance and Development	6,905
E-learning—Activity Based Information (ABI) for Managers	404
E-learning—DOI Awareness	317
E-learning—Introduction to Windows 2000	482
E-learning—Risk Management	26
E-learning—Junior Management	450
E-learning—Middle Management	0
E-learning—Using Outlook 98	0
E-learning—Better Letters	601
E-learning—Here and Now!	0
E-learning—Getting Started with the Intranet	419
E-learning—Security Awareness	1,356
E-learning—Using Outlook 2000 to e-mail	719
E-learning—The Diversity Toolkit	21,075
E-learning	3,109
Elearning	3,854

DCS Disability Specialists Group⁽¹¹⁾	There are no costs available for these courses
Understanding our customers	—
Customer awareness for telephony staff	—
Understanding learning disabilities	—
Understanding mental health problems	—
Understanding emotional and behavioural disorders in children	—
Understanding colleagues with complex needs	—
Visiting customers with disabilities	—
Customer awareness, communication and personal presentation	—
Understanding cognitive impairments—this course is currently under development	—

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