House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 5 Oct 2005 (pt 6)

5 Oct 2005 : Column 2821W—continued

Energy Efficiency

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what targets he has for improving energy efficiency; and what steps his Department is taking to achieve these targets. [14249]

Mr. Plaskitt: The Department for Work and Pensions has a number of targets in line with the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. The steps taken to achieve these targets include raising staff awareness through the use of the intranet, staff magazine and poster campaigns; sharing best practice through the use of the Sustainable Development Network Group and by incorporating energy efficient spend to save measures across the Departments estate.

5 Oct 2005 : Column 2822W

The progress against these targets is reported annually in the Sustainable Development Annual report, which has been published since 2001 and will be available in December 2005.

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of electricity used by buildings in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies came from renewable sources in each year since 1997. [14250]

Mr. Plaskitt: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in 2001. The proportion of renewable energy used by the Department and its agencies is as follows:

Percentage

2001–02 25

2002–03 21.4

2003–04 46

	Percentage
2001–02	25
2002–03	21.4
2003–04	46

Figures for 2004–05 are not yet available.

Expert Medical Witnesses

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what audit his Department makes of the qualifications of expert medical witnesses in medical appeal tribunals; [14010]

(2) if he will issue guidelines relating to evidence given by expert medical witnesses where an individual's capacity to work is tested in a tribunal. [14011]

Mrs. McGuire: Expert medical witnesses are appointed as members of the Appeals Service panel by the Lord Chancellor. Their training is a matter for the President of appeal tribunals.

Housing Benefit

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average processing times for housing benefit claims are in each (a) London borough, (b) local housing authority in the north east and (c) Pathfinder area, broken down by tenure sector. [10909]

Mr. Timms [pursuant to the reply, 11 July 2005, Official Report, c. 679W]: The information is in the tables.
Average housing benefit clearance times (calendar days) in London boroughs; fourth quarter 2004–05

Authority All housing benefit Rent
rebate Rent allowance

Barking 70.02 63.1 82.17

Barnet 35.47 31.24 37.01

Bexley 44.71 34.76 46.14

Brent 37.35 32.24 38.93

Bromley 29.62 ⁽²⁾— 29.62

Camden 34.79 30.69 37.99

City of London 25.51 23.7 28.64

Croydon 32.85 17.52 43.52

Ealing 61.2 59.91 61.86

Enfield 39.08 32.91 41.83

Greenwich 35.22 31.29 39.39

Hackney 78.53 70.52 84.71

Hammersmith and Fulham ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾—

Haringey 50.34 38.07 57.31

Harrow 27.3 22.11 28.83

Havering 32.55 29.54 35.64

Hillingdon 52.37 44.46 56.31

Hounslow 40.74 33.53 45.83

Islington 49.37 54.29 43.88

Kensington and Chelsea 30.01 30.01 30.01

Kingston upon Thames 61.16 63.46 59.65

Lambeth 47.11 42.75 51.27

Lewisham 32.37 31.21 33.22

Merton 52.38 46.74 54.6

Newham 47.24 47.43 47.17

Redbridge 36.16 29.39 38.73

Richmond upon Thames 49.72 39.85 50.88

Southwark 39.13 39.13 39.13

Sutton 42.07 30.51 47.52

Tower Hamlets 61.63 62 61.35

Waltham Forest 36.2 31.17 37.71

Wandsworth 52.25 44.43 56.66

Westminster ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾—

5 Oct 2005 : Column 2823W

Average housing benefit clearance times (calendar days) in local authorities in the north-east GOR; fourth quarter 2004–05

Authority All housing benefit Rent
rebate Rent allowance

Alnwick 35.93 25.24 44.07

Berwick upon Tweed 31.82 23.16 39.81

Blyth Valley 24 22.51 25.88

Castle Morpeth 23.68 19.52 26.94

Chester le Street 29.27 25.74 34.21

Darlington 31.88 25.41 34.81

Derwentside 28.39 25.66 30.83

Durham 29.17 25.13 34.66

Easington 36.01 35.86 36.16

Gateshead 66.8 66.8 66.8

Hartlepool 28.96 18.25 29.07

Middlesbrough 36.6 83.73 35.18

Newcastle upon Tyne 65.24 75.5 52.43

North Tyneside 47.83 47.85 47.8

Redcar and Cleveland 39.05 32.58 39.28

Sedgefield 31.91 29.34 35.96

South Tyneside 42.64 42.23 43.41

Stockton on Tees 39.4 34.3 44.81

Sunderland ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾—

Teesdale 46.94 52.45 44.43

Tynedale 21.28 ⁽²⁾— 21.28

Wansbeck 42.36 40.33 44.94

Wear Valley 21.41 17.87 24.26

Average housing benefit clearance times (calendar days) in first wave local housing allowance pathfinder local authorities; fourth quarter 2004–05

Authority All housing benefit Rent
rebate Rent allowance

Blackpool 18.48 13.18 19.45

Brighton and Hove 31.84 28.24 33.41

Edinburgh 43.79 33.32 55.14

Conwy 32.01 29.88 32.68

Coventry 53.61 ⁽²⁾— 53.61

Leeds 64.2 63.2 65.28

Lewisham 32.37 31.21 33.22

North East Lincoln 36 35.35 36.24

Teignbridge 30.39 21.54 30.61

5 Oct 2005 : Column 2824W

Average housing benefit clearance times (calendar days) in second wave local housing allowance local authorities; fourth quarter 2004–05

Authority All housing benefit Rent
rebate Rent allowance

Argyll and Bute 35.51 30.87 39.31

East Riding of Yorkshire 29.46 22.1 33.78

Guildford 21.01 23.26 19.83

Norwich 17.71 15.78 19.83

Pembrokeshire 43.08 36.96 47.94

Salford ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾—

South Norfolk 31.2 15.45 32.62

St. Helens 34.21 ⁽²⁾— 34.21

Wandsworth 52.25 44.43 56.66

⁽²⁾ Means not provided by the local authority. In the case of rent rebate figures only not being available, this may be because the local authority has no rent rebate cases.
Notes:
1. Rent rebates are made on local authority properties.
2. Rent allowance is paid on all private rented accommodation, including registered social landlords.
3. Lewisham and Wandsworth both appear twice; they are London boroughs and local housing allowance pathfinders.
4. The second wave of local housing allowance local authorities went live between April and July 2005.
Source:
Local authority reported data.

Authority	All housing benefit	Rent rebate	Rent allowance
Barking	70.02	63.1	82.17
Barnet	35.47	31.24	37.01
Bexley	44.71	34.76	46.14
Brent	37.35	32.24	38.93
Bromley	29.62	⁽²⁾—	29.62
Camden	34.79	30.69	37.99
City of London	25.51	23.7	28.64
Croydon	32.85	17.52	43.52
Ealing	61.2	59.91	61.86
Enfield	39.08	32.91	41.83
Greenwich	35.22	31.29	39.39
Hackney	78.53	70.52	84.71
Hammersmith and Fulham	⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—
Haringey	50.34	38.07	57.31
Harrow	27.3	22.11	28.83
Havering	32.55	29.54	35.64
Hillingdon	52.37	44.46	56.31
Hounslow	40.74	33.53	45.83
Islington	49.37	54.29	43.88
Kensington and Chelsea	30.01	30.01	30.01
Kingston upon Thames	61.16	63.46	59.65
Lambeth	47.11	42.75	51.27
Lewisham	32.37	31.21	33.22
Merton	52.38	46.74	54.6
Newham	47.24	47.43	47.17
Redbridge	36.16	29.39	38.73
Richmond upon Thames	49.72	39.85	50.88
Southwark	39.13	39.13	39.13
Sutton	42.07	30.51	47.52
Tower Hamlets	61.63	62	61.35
Waltham Forest	36.2	31.17	37.71
Wandsworth	52.25	44.43	56.66
Westminster	⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—

Authority	All housing benefit	Rent rebate	Rent allowance
Alnwick	35.93	25.24	44.07
Berwick upon Tweed	31.82	23.16	39.81
Blyth Valley	24	22.51	25.88
Castle Morpeth	23.68	19.52	26.94
Chester le Street	29.27	25.74	34.21
Darlington	31.88	25.41	34.81
Derwentside	28.39	25.66	30.83
Durham	29.17	25.13	34.66
Easington	36.01	35.86	36.16
Gateshead	66.8	66.8	66.8
Hartlepool	28.96	18.25	29.07
Middlesbrough	36.6	83.73	35.18
Newcastle upon Tyne	65.24	75.5	52.43
North Tyneside	47.83	47.85	47.8
Redcar and Cleveland	39.05	32.58	39.28
Sedgefield	31.91	29.34	35.96
South Tyneside	42.64	42.23	43.41
Stockton on Tees	39.4	34.3	44.81
Sunderland	⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—
Teesdale	46.94	52.45	44.43
Tynedale	21.28	⁽²⁾—	21.28
Wansbeck	42.36	40.33	44.94
Wear Valley	21.41	17.87	24.26

Authority	All housing benefit	Rent rebate	Rent allowance
Blackpool	18.48	13.18	19.45
Brighton and Hove	31.84	28.24	33.41
Edinburgh	43.79	33.32	55.14
Conwy	32.01	29.88	32.68
Coventry	53.61	⁽²⁾—	53.61
Leeds	64.2	63.2	65.28
Lewisham	32.37	31.21	33.22
North East Lincoln	36	35.35	36.24
Teignbridge	30.39	21.54	30.61

Authority	All housing benefit	Rent rebate	Rent allowance
Argyll and Bute	35.51	30.87	39.31
East Riding of Yorkshire	29.46	22.1	33.78
Guildford	21.01	23.26	19.83
Norwich	17.71	15.78	19.83
Pembrokeshire	43.08	36.96	47.94
Salford	⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—
South Norfolk	31.2	15.45	32.62
St. Helens	34.21	⁽²⁾—	34.21
Wandsworth	52.25	44.43	56.66

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) average number of days to process new housing benefit claims and (b) percentage of new housing benefit claims determined within 14 days was in each local authority in Scotland in each of the last 16 quarters for which figures are available. [13957]

Mr. Plaskitt: The available information has been placed in the Library.

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost was of housing benefit in council housing transferred to housing associations in each of the last two years. [14236]

Mr. Plaskitt: The information requested is not available.

Industrial Injuries (Hearing Loss)

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many claims for industrial injuries disablement benefit have been made on the basis of hearing loss in each year since 1995; and how many were successful; [14115]

(2) what percentage of (a) claims for industrial injuries disablement benefit (IIDB) and (b) IIDB claims awarded were for hearing loss in each year since 1995. [14116]

Margaret Hodge: The available information is in the tables.

5 Oct 2005 : Column 2825W

Claims to Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit⁽³⁾

All prescribed diseases Occupational deafness

Number Number Percentage of total claims

1995 ⁽⁵⁾21,900 ⁽⁵⁾4.900 22.1

1996 44,200 6,800 15.3

1997 60,600 5,800 9.6

1998 45,600 4,300 9.4

1999 41,300 4,100 9.9

2000 48,700 4,300 8.8

2001 39,000 3,900 10.0

2002 41,050 3,430 8.4

2003 37,435 3,200 8.5

2004 ⁽⁶⁾28,255 ⁽⁶⁾2,705 9.6

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit assessments where the level of disablement was above the threshold for receiving Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit⁽⁴⁾

All prescribed diseases⁽⁹⁾ Occupational deafness⁽¹⁰⁾

Number Number Percentage of total assessments

1995 ⁽⁵⁾2,835 ⁽⁵⁾585 20.6

1996 3,770 530 14.1

1997 5,950 415 7.0

1998 6,255 260 4.2

1999 4,265 315 7.4

2000 3,205 225 7.0

2001 3,410 265 7.8

2002 4,470 265 5.9

2003 4,790 335 7.0

2004 ⁽⁶⁾5,035 325 6.5

⁽³⁾ Claims are based on a 10 per cent. sample up to 31 March 2002 and on a 100 per cent. count thereafter.
⁽⁴⁾ Assessments are based on 100 per cent. count and rounded to the nearest 5 to ensure anonymity.
⁽⁵⁾ Figures are for 9 months only.
⁽⁶⁾ Figures for 2004 are provisional.
⁽⁷⁾ The number of assessments may not relate to claims during the same period.
⁽⁸⁾ Figures relate to Industrial Disease as data on assessments for accidents was not collected prior to April 2002.
⁽⁹⁾ The figures for assessments for all prescribed diseases do not include cases where the level of disablement is below the threshold for receiving Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.
⁽¹⁰⁾ The figures for assessments for occupational deafness show all cases where there is a level of disablement assessed as, due to the nature of the scheme, all assessments for occupational deafness have to be at least 20 per cent. and therefore above the threshold for receiving Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.
Source:
DWP Information Directorate.

5 Oct 2005 : Column 2826W

	All prescribed diseases	Occupational deafness
	Number	Number	Percentage of total claims
1995	⁽⁵⁾21,900	⁽⁵⁾4.900	22.1
1996	44,200	6,800	15.3
1997	60,600	5,800	9.6
1998	45,600	4,300	9.4
1999	41,300	4,100	9.9
2000	48,700	4,300	8.8
2001	39,000	3,900	10.0
2002	41,050	3,430	8.4
2003	37,435	3,200	8.5
2004	⁽⁶⁾28,255	⁽⁶⁾2,705	9.6

	All prescribed diseases⁽⁹⁾	Occupational deafness⁽¹⁰⁾
	Number	Number	Percentage of total assessments
1995	⁽⁵⁾2,835	⁽⁵⁾585	20.6
1996	3,770	530	14.1
1997	5,950	415	7.0
1998	6,255	260	4.2
1999	4,265	315	7.4
2000	3,205	225	7.0
2001	3,410	265	7.8
2002	4,470	265	5.9
2003	4,790	335	7.0
2004	⁽⁶⁾5,035	325	6.5

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the evidential basis was for setting (a) the lower threshold for hearing loss caused by noise at work at 50db when assessing claims and (b) a three-year time limit for hearing loss industrial injuries disablement benefit. [14119]

Margaret Hodge: The 50db threshold for benefit payment was set following the advice of experts in audio logy and the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council who determined that this level of loss equated to 20 per cent. disablement in the Industrial Injuries Scheme.

The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council advised that noise-induced hearing loss is only slowly progressive. Thus a person whose claim for disablement benefit has been disallowed is unlikely to suffer deterioration in their hearing loss due to noise to the degree that they fulfil the criteria for diagnosing occupational deafness (prescribed disease (PD) A10) in less than three years.

A claim cannot be made less than three years after the previous disallowance of a claim. This is because the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council advised that noise-induced deafness is only slowly progressive. A person who fails to fulfil the diagnostic criterion of a 50dB loss is unlikely to suffer deterioration in their hearing loss due to noise to the degree that they fulfil the criteria in less than three years.

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