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1 Nov 2005 : Column 917W—continued
Type 23 Frigates
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) repairs, (b) structural alteration and (c) stability tests are required for the three Type 23 frigates being sold to Chile. [22357]
Mr. Ingram: During the reactivation of the frigates, repairs will be undertaken to ensure that the platform, systems and equipment are functional, safe and certified as necessary to comply with maritime regulations. This will include re-confirmation of ship stability. There will be no structural alterations, unless at a later date Chile propose and fund structural alterations to meet their particular requirements.
CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
Gravesend County Court
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the financial position of the Gravesend County Court was in financial year 2004–05; and what the position is to date in 2005–06. [22681]
Ms Harman: The local operating costs for Gravesend County Court for 2004–05 were £60,308.00. To date the operating costs for 2005–06 amount to £32,791.85 which represents 49 per cent. of the budget, reflecting an increase in staff pay and increases in some of the service budgets. District Judge fees are excluded from this figure as they have been reported through a combined county budget in 2004–05.
In 2004–05 £25,151.15 was spent on accommodation related matters. For the first half of 2005–06 £6,167.64 has been spent. Capital and further maintenance projects for the 2005–06 period have not been allocated pending the outcome of the consultation.
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The fee income for 2004–05 was £240,377 and to date for 2005–06 is £143,587.41. There has been no significant increase in fees for this year. Projected maintenance costs including required Disability Discrimination Act works are estimated at £300,000.
National Legal Services
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representations she has received about (a) National Legal Services and (b) their activities in the last two years. [22669]
Bridget Prentice: I am not aware of any representations having been received by this Department in connection with National Legal Services or their activities in the last two years.
Party Election Broadcasts
Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many candidates political parties must nominate in a UK parliamentary election in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) Wales to be eligible for a party election broadcast. [23638]
James Purnell: I have been asked to reply.
Decisions on the allocation of party election broadcasts are a matter for the relevant broadcasters, acting in accordance with the rules established by Ofcom, the BBC and the Welsh Authority having regard to any views expressed by the Electoral Commission.
WORK AND PENSIONS
Child Support Agency
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what bonuses have been paid to senior civil servants at the Child Support Agency in each of the last four years; [13873]
(2) how much was paid to senior civil servants in the Child Support Agency in bonus payments related to performance in each of the last four years. [13881]
Mr. Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Stephen Geraghty to Mr. David Laws, dated 1 November 2005:
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much was paid to senior civil servants in the Child Support Agency in bonus payments related to performance in each of the last four years.
You also asked how much was paid to senior civil servants in the Child Support Agency in bonus payments related to performance in each of the last four years.
The table below contains the number and total of bonus payments awarded to senior civil servants in the Child Support Agency over the past 4 years. All of these payments relate to performance.
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid to senior civil servants in the Child Support Agency in bonus payments related to performance in each of the last three years. [15185]
Mr. Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Stephen Geraghty to Dr. McCrea, dated 1 November 2005:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what bonuses have been paid to senior civil servants in the Child Support Agency in bonus payments related to performance in each of the last three years.
The table below contains the number and total of bonus payments awarded to senior civil servants in the Child Support Agency over the past 3 years. All of these payments relate to performance.
Citizens Advice Bureaux
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for (a) pension credit and (b) attendance allowance have been processed by citizens advice bureaux staff; and how much has been paid to the citizens advice bureaux for (i) the use of their offices and (ii) the work of their staff in processing claims for his Department. [19632]
Mr. Timms: DWP recognises the important role the citizens advice bureaux play in helping people with benefit claims. The alternative office has been developed to allow a member of a voluntary organisation who is accredited, to collect information and verify claims. Training is provided by the Pension Service to support these organisations to carry out these tasks.
The number of pension credit and attendance allowance applications that are verified specifically by citizens advice bureaux staff is not recorded.
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There are currently two joint teams operating that include citizens advice bureaux partners. Under the joint team agreement each of the parties is responsible for funding all costs incurred by them in respect of the provision of the services, the premises and the information technology and systems. The Department therefore does not provide funding to the citizens advice bureaux for this purpose.
The pension service also provides local service information points within 30 citizens advice bureaux offices around the country, working together for the mutual benefit of the customer. These arrangements are with the agreement of the local office and no funding is provided for the use of accommodation.
Cold Weather Payments
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cold weather payments have been made in each year since 1995–96; what the cost of such payments was in each year; and if he will make a statement. [21422]
Mr. Timms: A cold weather payment of £8.50 is made when the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0oC or below over seven consecutive days at the weather station linked to the eligible customer's postcode. Eligible customers are those awarded pension credit, income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance who have a pensioner or disability premium, or a child who is disabled or aged under five, when the temperature criterion is met for their postcode.
The numbers and costs of cold weather payments made in Great Britain in each year since 1995–96 are given in the following table.
| Number (000) | Cost (£ million) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1995–96 | 7,252 | 61.6 |
| 1996–97 | 4,964 | 42.2 |
| 1997–98 | 55 | 0.5 |
| 1998–99 | 26 | 0.2 |
| 1999–2000 | 114 | 1.0 |
| 2000–01 | 3,535 | 30.0 |
| 2001–02 | 1,804 | 15.3 |
| 2002–03 | 1,675 | 14.2 |
| 2003–04 | 418 | 3.5 |
| 2004–05 | 213 | 1.8 |
Source:
Secretary of State's annual reports on the Social Fund
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