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16 Nov 2005 : Column 1258W—continued
Incapacity Benefit
Mr. Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many incapacity benefit claimants there were in (a) Oxfordshire and (b) Wantage constituency in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2005. [25355]
Mrs. McGuire: The information is in the following table.
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
2. 1997 Figures have been produced using the 5 per cent. proportions against WPLS totals.
3. Claimant" figures include all IB and SDA (including IB credits only cases).
4. Oxfordshire" includes the following local authorities: Cherwell, Oxford, South Oxfordshire, West Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse.
Source:
DWP Information Directorate, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data.
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time spent on incapacity benefit in (a) pathways to work areas and (b) the UK excluding pathways to work pilots was in each quarter since each of the pilots began. [29211]
Mrs. McGuire: The information has been placed in the Library.
Rachel Scully (Pension)
Mr. Frank Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if the Retirement Pension Forecast
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team will supply Rachel Scully, a constituent of the hon. Member for Birkenhead, with a forecast which takes into account her underlying entitlement to carer's allowance and the awarding of credits for her second state pension. [20260]
Mr. Timms: The administration of the Pension Service is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Alexis Cleveland. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Frank Field, dated 16 November 2005:
You asked the Secretary of State if the Retirement Pension Forecast team will supply Rachel Scully with a forecast which takes into account her underlying entitlement to carers allowance and the awarding of credits of her second state pensions. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of The Pension Service.
I am pleased to advise you that a State Pension Forecast that takes into account her underlying entitlement to carers allowance and the award of credits for her state second pension was issued on 7th November 2005.
CABINET OFFICE
Consultants/Special Advisers
Mike Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many (a) consultants and (b) special advisers were employed by his Department in each year since 1997; what the cost of each was in each year; and if he will make a statement. [27421]
Mr. Jim Murphy: Information relating to the number of consultants engaged by the Cabinet Office is not held centrally and may not be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.
The total expenditure on the use of consultants since 1997 is shown in the table:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 5.53 |
| 1998–99 | 8.09 |
| 1999–2000 | 10.81 |
| 2000–01 | 10.93 |
| 2001–02 | 16.88 |
| 2002–03 | 13.39 |
| 2003–04 | 15.93 |
| 2004–05 | 12.70 |
Notes:
1. Figures relating to financial years prior to 2001–02 include Centre for Management and Policy Studies, Regional Co-ordination Unit, Government Car and Despatch Agency and Central Office of Information.
2. Figures from 2001–02 include 'core' Cabinet Office only.
Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the names and overall cost of special advisers and the number in each payband. For the most recent information I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 July 2005, Official Report, columns 158–61WS.
Information on the numbers of special advisers prior to 2003 was provided at regular intervals and this information will be available in the Library of the House.
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HOME DEPARTMENT
Alcohol Sales
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he had with (a) the Department of Trade and Industry and (b) major supermarket chains about a possible link between the sale of alcohol in supermarkets and street crime. [27298]
Paul Goggins: No discussions have taken place on this topic, but Ministers recently met representatives from major supermarkets to discuss sales of alcohol as part of our wider efforts to promote responsible drinking.
Asylum/Immigration
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Afhram Hasen reference A1108602 will receive notification of his immigration status. [25467]
Mr. McNulty: Mr. Hasen was notified of his immigration status on 27 October 2005.
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Joseph Grant reference G11116730 will receive notification of his immigration status following the letter of 15 September to the hon. Member for Banbury. [25468]
Mr. McNulty: Mr. Grant was notified of his immigration status on 4 November 2005.
British Overseas Territories
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many British passports have been processed for each of the British overseas territories (a) in 2005 to date and (b) in each of the last three years. [27611]
Andy Burnham: The information is as follows.
(a) 4,916 British passports have been processed for each of the British overseas territories in 2005 to date.
Carbon Management Programme
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department will sign up to the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management programme. [23736]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The Department has no current plans to join the Carbon Trust CMP, it will be considered as further work on energy efficiency and climate change impacts, in response to the estate management targets of the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate, is taken forward.
The Energy White Paper and the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate set targets for central Government Estate of reducing absolute carbon, from fuel and electricity used in buildings on our estate, by 12.5 percent. by 2010–11, relative to 1999–2000 and increasing energy efficiency of the buildings on the estate by 15 percent. over the same
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period. In order to address these targets the Department is benchmarking key office sites, after which we propose to undertake energy surveys at those sites above the benchmark, and thereafter will compile site-specific action plans. The public sector Prison Service has an Energy Efficiency Action Plan. A benchmarking guide has been developed and the data used to help set carbon dioxide key performance indicators for each prison.
Central European Time
Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the (a) advantages and (b) disadvantages of the United Kingdom moving to Central European Time; and if he will make a statement. [27316]
Mr. Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
There are many arguments—and opinions—for and against a move to Central European Time. Any change would need to have full regard to a wide range of factors including the impact on social and community life, transport links with other countries, health and safety issues, such as road traffic accidents, and the views of the business community and other stakeholders. However, I do not believe there is a clear case for change.
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