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31 Oct 2005 : Column 738W—continued
Incapacity Benefit
Mr. David: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has for reform of incapacity benefit. [22511]
Margaret Hodge: We have already published our Principles of Welfare Reform and our strategy for the health and well-being of people of working age, 'Health, Work and Well-Being—caring for our future'.
A Welfare Reform Green Paper will be published shortly.
Pensions
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish further research on women and pensions. [22504]
Mr. Timms:
We will be publishing the latest research later this week.
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Mr. Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with the Pension Commission on pensions. [22516]
Mr. Timms: I have discussions from time to time with the Pensions Commissioners on issues within their remit.
The Commission is due to publish its final report on 30 November. This will provide an independent view of the long-term pensions challenges posed by increasing longevity and an ageing society.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the responsibilities of his Department in relation to public sector pensions reform. [21560]
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry regarding the reform of public sector pensions. [22500]
Mr. Timms: The Department for Work and Pensions has no responsibilities in relation to Public Sector Pensions Reform.
Overall responsibility for Public Sector Pensions lies with HM Treasury, because of the long term funding issues involved. Responsibility for the details of each scheme rests with the relevant public sector employer—for example, the Department for Education and Skills is responsible for the Teachers' Pension Scheme.
In April, the Prime Minister asked the then Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, supported by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, to lead discussions with the public service trade unions on issues affecting the public sector schemes. My right hon. Friend took this responsibility with him when he moved to the Department for Trade and Industry.
Barbara Follett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he is planning to have with the Minister for Women about women's pensions. [22515]
Mr. Timms: Later this week we will be publishing a report on women and pensions, providing the latest analysis and projections of future pension entitlement for women.
My right hon. Friend the Minister for Women has been kept informed of the analysis in this report. She will also be joining DWP Ministers at a National Pensions Debate event next week, where we will be discussing these issues with a range of key stakeholders and members of the public.
WALES
Departmental Electricity
Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of electricity used by buildings in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies has come from renewable sources in each year since 1997. [18137]
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Nick Ainger: The Wales Office was established in July 1999. In June 2003 the Wales Office became a separate entity within the Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA). Since 2003–04 at least 10 per cent. of all electricity supplied to the Department of Constitutional Affairs comes from renewable sources. Information for the Wales Office could not be made available except at a disproportionate cost.
Information for years previous to 2003 is not held.
Departmental Stationery
Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) 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; [18465]
(2) what measures he has put in place to ensure that his Department meets the targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that all copying paper bought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content; and by what date this target is expected to be achieved; [18466]
(3) what measures he has put in place to ensure that his Department meets the targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that all paper for printed publications bought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled, of which a minimum is 75 per cent. post-consumer waste; and by what date this target is expected to be achieved. [18467]
Nick Ainger: In June 2003, The Wales Office became a separate entity within the Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA).
Information from 2003–04 is not held by Department.
For internal printing and copying, 2004–05 figures show that the Department uses a standard paper manufactured from 100 per cent. recycled paper, 13.6 per cent. meeting 75 per cent. post consumer waste specification. 2004–05 figures show that paper for printed publications has minimum 60 per cent. recycled content, 5.2 per cent. of this meets the 75 per cent. post consumer waste specification.
Procurement ensure that contracts for copy and publication paper are awarded to suppliers who are able to meet the given targets set on 1 November 2003.
These targets are under review. Findings will be available towards the beginning of financial year 2006–07.
Energy Efficiency
Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what targets he has for improving energy efficiency in his Department; and how he intends to achieve these targets. [18136]
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Nick Ainger: In June 2003 the Wales Office became a separate entity within the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA). The DCA has a commitment to source at least 10 per cent. electricity from renewable sources by 31 March 2008. This has been achieved for the last two years.
The Wales Office shares the DCA targets for improving energy efficiency, which can be found on the following link
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Big Lottery Fund (Hemel Hempstead)
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list projects from the Hemel Hempstead constituency area that were unsuccessful in applications for grants from the Big Lottery Fund in the last two years; and for what reason each application was refused. [22741]
Mr. Caborn: I have been given the information shown in the following table by the Big Lottery Fund:
Departmental Energy Consumption
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much energy has been consumed by her Department in each of the last five years; and how much was spent on energy in each year. [22458]
Mr. Lammy: The Department's energy consumption and expenditure are shown in the following table. Data on fuel consumption for the years prior to 2004–05 are not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Data on fuel costs for the years prior to 2004–05 are, in some cases, based on estimated meter readings.
Although, for the reasons stated, data on energy costs for 2004–05 are not strictly comparable with those for previous years the downward trend in energy costs reflects the Department's decisions to review its fuel-purchasing policies and to implement the recommendations of a DEFRA-sponsored energy audit.
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