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10 Oct 2005 : Column 189W—continued
Policy Costings
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what costings of (a) Liberal Democrat and (b) Conservative party policies his Department has (i) undertaken, (ii) co-ordinated in the previous 12 months and (iii) advised upon in the previous 12 months. [7005]
Margaret Hodge: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary on 18 July 2005, Official Report, column 1334W.
Private Finance Projects
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 22 June 2005, Official Report, column 1076W, on private finance projects, what the total value of assets and liabilities for each of the listed private finance initiatives and public private partnerships is that are recorded on the Government balance sheet. [16133]
Margaret Hodge: An on-balance sheet private finance initiative contract is held with ICB Ltd. by Health and Safety Laboratories for the provision of serviced accommodation and support functions. The contract was undertaken on 28 October 2004 for a period of 32 years and 29 weeks.
As at 31 March 2005, the following amounts were the assets, prepayments and liabilities held on the Department for Work and Pensions' balance sheet:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| Fixed Assets | |
| Land and Buildings | 57.267 |
| Furniture and Fittings | 2.453 |
| Prepayment | |
| Due within 1 year | 0.154 |
| Due after 1 year | 4.383 |
| Liabilities | |
| Due after 1 year | 57.607 |
These figures are subject to audit. There were no on-balance sheet contracts held prior to October 2004.
Race Relations
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements are in place to ensure that bodies within the responsibility of his Department comply with the requirements of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. [3558]
10 Oct 2005 : Column 190W
Mrs. McGuire: Governance processes established across the whole Department ensure that progress is reported and measured on a regular basis. A Diversity and Equality Steering Group meets regularly and is made up of senior civil servants and representatives from across the Department. The group is responsible for agreeing and directing action and priorities across DWP. To support this work, each operational area within DWP has its own action plan and governance arrangement. DWP has published a Race Equality Scheme which sets out our progress to date and priorities for the future. DWP publishes a summary of progress annually and reviews the entire scheme once every three years.'
DWP is responsible for 15 non-departmental public and independent statutory bodies. Three of these associated bodies are subject to both the general and specific duties of the Act with regards to race equality. They are the Disability Rights Commission, the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive. Consequently, this means they have a legislative requirement to publish their own schemes.
The remaining bodies, while not being formally subject to any duties under the Act, have set out statements of intent within the Department's Race Equality Scheme.
The functions of two of these bodies are linked closely with those of two of the Department's agencies and their functions are included in their race equality schemes. Remploy's functions are included in the Jobcentre Plus Race Equality Scheme and those of the Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board are covered by the Disability and Carers Service Race Equality Scheme.
Recycling
Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of (a) copying paper and (b) paper for printed publications used by the Department in (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05 was from recycled sources; and how much post consumer waste this paper contained. [14388]
Mr. Plaskitt: Details of the percentage of paper for copying and printed publications that was from recycled sources and how much post consumer waste they contained are as follows:
In 2003–04 2,149,853 reams of copier paper were purchased by the Department for Work and Pensions. Of this 5.3 per cent. was recycled paper. In 2004–05 1,908,633 reams of copier paper were purchased by the Department for Work and Pensions. Of this 10.85 per cent. was recycled paper.
Recycled copier paper on the Department for Work and Pensions Stationery Framework Agreement contains a minimum of 80 per cent. post consumer waste, however, papers containing 100 per cent. post consumer waste are also available.
Paper for printed publications
In 2003–04 5,164 metric tonnes of paper were purchased for printed publications. Of this 41 per cent. met the 75 per cent. recycled fibre content specification. Information for 2004–05 is not yet available, although a report will be provided within the next annual DWP
10 Oct 2005 : Column 191W
sustainable development report due to be published in November. From January 2006 the Department will move to using 100 per cent. recycled paper for its printed publications.
Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list his Department's main suppliers of (a) copier paper, (b) stationery, (c) envelopes and (d) paper for reports in each case stating (i) the name of each paper used and (ii) the recycled and post consumer recycled content of each paper. [14393]
Mr. Plaskitt: The information is as follows.
During 2003–04, of the total volume of paper purchased for printed materials (5,164 metric tonnes) 41 per cent. met the 75 per cent. recycled content specification contained within the Government Quick Wins". Figures are not yet available for 2004–05—however from January 2006 the Department will be using only recycled paper (100 per cent. post consumer waste).
SMS2
Mr. Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the introduction of the SMS2 system on staff and customers. [15037]
10 Oct 2005 : Column 192W
Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Lesley Strathie to Mr. Bob Laxton, dated 10 October 2005:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning what assessment has been made of the impact of the introduction of the SMS2 IT system on staff and customers. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
May I assume that when referring to SMS2 that you are referring to the Customer Management System (CMS). CMS2 is the IT system that has been implemented to support a number of changes in the way that our customers claim benefits through Jobcentre Plus. These changes are part of a wider programme of service delivery modernisation in Jobcentre Plus that also include, for example, greater use of telephone based contact with our customers and the adoption of standard operating processes.
The impact of CMS is part of a wider assessment of Jobcentre Plus modernisation activity and investment. This will be taken forward as part of the annual review of the Jobcentre Plus Integrated Business Case. This review takes place during Spring 2006 and reports formally to Ministers and the Treasury. We are currently working towards a first assessment of CMS to inform the 2006 review of the Jobcentre Plus Integrated Business Case, and this assessment will include a staff survey, currently scheduled for early 2006.
Customer feedback on our services is gained through the Jobcentre Plus National Customer Satisfaction Surveys, and the results of the 2004 survey were published on 30th September 2004. The 2005 survey commenced in September. The surveys give us a clear picture about how our services are perceived by customers, including how well delivered they are, and how easy or difficult they are to access. However, as these surveys are based on a national sample, of 3000 or so customers, and CMS is still in the process of being deployed on a roll out basis across Jobcentre Plus, the 2005 survey may be too soon to fully capture the impact on customers.
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