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17 Nov 2005 : Column 1474W—continued
Low-income Families
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the changes his Department have introduced to help low income families since 1997. [20315]
Margaret Hodge: The Government's strategy for tackling poverty is set out in Opportunity for All (published by DWP annually) and the Child Poverty Review (July 2004). This Department makes important contributions to the strategy in relation to providing work for those who can and support for those who cannot.
Since 1997 we have delivered macroeconomic stability, invested in active labour market policies, developed tax and benefit reforms to ensure work pays, and invested in skills. This has helped deliver a more flexible labour market in which as many people as
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possible have the opportunity to move in to work. We believe that, for most people, work is the best route out of poverty.
The number of people in employment is higher than ever before and the number of people on working age benefits is declining. This is due to our management of the economy and our successful and cost effective labour market policies delivered through Jobcentre Plus and the new deal.
We have invested, in conjunction with Department for Education and Skills, over £17 billion on early years and child care provision.
Together with HM Revenues and Customs, who administer tax credits and child benefit, we have significantly increased financial support for children. As a result of the Government's reforms of the tax and benefit system since 1997, by October 2005, in real terms families with children will be on average £1,400 a year better off, while those in the poorest fifth will be on average £3,200 per year better off.
The Child Support Reforms in March 2003 introduced the Child Maintenance Premium (CMP). This is where parents with care receiving income support or income based jobseeker's allowance can keep up to £10 a week of the maintenance paid for their children, without it affecting their benefit.
The investment in financial support for families combined with continued progress against employment targets, means that the Government are broadly on track to meet the PSA target to reduce child poverty by a quarter by 2004–5.
New Deal for Young People
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what further education and training has been available through the new deal for young people in each region in each year since 1998; and what education and training is planned to be available through the programme in each region until 2008. [25092]
Margaret Hodge: Information on the education and training opportunities that have been available in each region, in each year, through new deal for young people (NDYP) since 1998 is not available in a suitable form.
We deliver education and training opportunities through the NDYP Full Time Education and Training (FTET) option. The courses are tailored to the needs of the individual and local employers. Since 1998, 185,660 people have participated in this option.
We are currently working with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to deliver the Government's Skills Strategy. Trials will be starting next year to test arrangements to enable people on the NDYP FTET and Environmental Task Force (ETF) options, as well as those on Work Based Learning for Adults, to access suitable LSC provision to help them get a job.
There will also be other options available for the same customer group. Trials will be taking place in September 2006 of a new adult learning allowance, equivalent to benefit plus a premium of 10. This will be for people for
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whom a lack of skills is the main barrier to employment, and will give them the opportunity to gain an s/NVQ qualification.
People aged 18–24 are also eligible for LSC Modern Apprenticeship training where the young person is employed, paid a wage and given the training needed to gain a qualification.
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of those on the new deal for young people have a criminal record. [25201]
Margaret Hodge: Information on whether or not participants on new deal for young people have a criminal record is not collected.
Some disadvantaged groups can have early entry to the new deal, and this includes those who have served a custodial sentence. This information is sometimes recorded as a reason for early programme entry, but only when the individual agrees to the disclosure, and where an alternative criteria is not deemed more appropriate.
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the (a) training and (b) subsidised job options will remain as options in the new deal for young people in (i) London and (ii) the North East. [25204]
Margaret Hodge: No options have been removed from the new deal for young people. The full time education and training option which offers people an opportunity to improve their education and skills, and the employment option which offers subsidies to employers who take on new deal participants are still available.
Our aim is to ensure that all new deal participants have access to the full range of programme options. We will continue to ensure that support through the new deal will be available to those customers who need the most help and support, regardless of where they live and we have adjusted some regional budget allocations this year to ensure that we deliver our overall priorities.
NI Telephone Queries
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people called the 0845 8500284 number in respect of national insurance queries; how many times the line was engaged; and how many complaints have been received because the line was engaged in each of the last 10 months. [26214]
Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lesley Strathie to Mr. Norman Lamb, dated 17 November 2005:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions concerning how many people called the 0845 8500284 number in respect of national insurance queries; how many times the line was engaged; and how many complaints have been received, because the line was engaged in each of the last 10 months. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
The telephone number referred to relates to the East of England National Insurance Contact Centre, which was set up in May this year and became fully operational in August 2005. The
- information provided in the table below covers the 6 month period from the setting up of the Contact Centre. Information is not available on how many times the line was engaged but we do have information about the number of calls received and complaints made during this period.
| Month | Calls from applicants | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| May | 358 | (35)— |
| June | 2,255 | (35)— |
| July | 3,390 | (35)— |
| August | 5,451 | 3 |
| September | 6,522 | 12 |
| October | 5,056 | 11 |
(35) None recorded
You will see from the table that the number of calls received by the Contact Centre has increased significantly over the 6 month period. This has contributed to the difficulty which some customers have experienced in contacting the service. We are putting in place, over the next 6 months, advanced telephony systems which will help us to improve call handling and provide better customer service.
Pensioners (Benefits)
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many pensioners in (a) Crewe and Nantwich borough and (b) England are (i) receiving pension credit and (ii) eligible for but not claiming pension credit; [27950]
(2) how many of those receiving pension credit in (a) Crewe and Nantwich borough and (b) England are also receiving council tax benefit. [27951]
Mr. Timms: Information on numbers of households and individuals in receipt of pension credit at 30 June 2005 is contained in the most recent quarterly pension credit progress report published on 20 October. A copy of the report is in the Library.
As at May 2005 there were (a) 3,300 pensioner households in Crewe and Nantwich and (b) 1,634,6000 pensioner households in England receiving both pension credit and council tax benefit.
It is becoming clear that the number of people who are eligible for pension credit is somewhat less than the initial estimate. National Statistics showing the number of pensioners entitled to pension credit at a national level in the first six months after its introduction and the subsequent take-up rate are expected to be available in December. Information at constituency level will not be possible. The precise date of release of these statistics and the publication plans for the following set, covering 2004–05, will be pre-announced in National Statistics Updates"; the diary of statistical releases.
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Gravesham constituency are (a) entitled to and (b) in receipt of pension credit. [28376]
Mr. Timms:
Information on numbers of households and individuals in receipt of pension credit at 30 June 2005 is contained in the most recent quarterly pension
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credit progress report published on 20 October. A copy of the report is in the Library. The number of people in receipt of pension credit in the Gravesham constituency as at June 2005 is 4,800 individuals (3,900 households).
It is becoming clear that the number of people who are eligible for pension credit is somewhat less than the initial estimate. National statistics showing the number of pensioners entitled to pension credit at a national level in the first six months after its introduction and the subsequent take-up rate are expected to be available in December. Information at constituency level will not be possible. The precise date of release of these statistics and the publication plans for the following set, covering 2004–05, will be pre-announced in National Statistics Updates"; the diary of statistical releases.
Sir Malcolm Rifkind: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many pensioners received means-tested benefits (a) in the latest period for which figures are available and (b) in the equivalent period in 1997, broken down by sex; [25059]
(2) what his latest estimate is of the number of (a) women and (b) men who rely on means-tested benefits in retirement; and what this figure was in 1997. [27976]
Mr. Timms: The available information is provided in the Table.
| May 1997 | May 2004 | |
|---|---|---|
| All | 3,160,000 | 2,690,000 |
| Male | n/a | 970,000 |
| Female | n/a | 1,700,000 |
| Unknown | n/a | 20,000 |
Notes:
1. n/a = not available. This Information was only collected from May 2004 onwards.
2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 thousand and are subject to a degree of sampling variation.
3. Figures refer to cases where a claimant and/or partner is aged 60 and over. Therefore will contain some claimants aged under 60 where there is a partner aged over 60 years.
4. Income-related benefits are housing benefit/council tax benefit/income support (in 1997)/pension credit (guarantee credit) (in 2004)/income-based jobseeker's allowance recipients with all overlaps removed. Savings credit only claimants of pension credit have not been included in the 2004 figures.
Source:
Information Directorate, 5 per cent. samples
100 per cent. Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample, taken in May 2004
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