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29 Nov 2005 : Column 422W—continued
Council Tax
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when pensioners in Coventry, South will receive their financial support for council tax bills due for 2005. [32323]
Mr. Timms:
The £200 payment to help with council tax bills is being issued with the winter fuel payment. Payments commenced in early November and will continue until Christmas. Eligible people who do not receive a winter fuel payment will need to claim and all claims must be received by 30 March 2006.
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Housing Benefit
Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of administering the appeals system for housing benefit was in each year since 1997. [5486]
Mrs. McGuire: This is a matter for Christina Townsend, chief executive of the Appeals Service. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Christina Townsend to Mr. Paul Goodman dated 29 November 2005:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question regarding what the cost of administering the appeals system for Housing Benefit was in each year since 1997. As the Appeals Service only assumed responsibility for Housing Benefit appeals from July 2001, I am unable to supply figures prior to that date.
As the cost of processing appeals does not vary significantly between the different types of appeals, our accounting records do not analyse our costs by different appeal type. The best indication I can, therefore, give of the cost of administering the appeals system for Housing Benefit, is by providing on a pro-rata basis the costs of the Appeals Service to the proportion of Housing Benefit appeals.
On this basis, the calculated costs for administering Housing Benefit appeals since the above date are as follows;
| Cost (£) | |
|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 879,786 |
| 2002–03 | 2,102,310 |
| 2003–04 | 2,379,699 |
The rise in costs reflects the increase in the number of Housing Benefit appeals being handled by the Appeals Service, which has risen from 3,963 in 2001/2 to 9,793 in 2003/4.
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Pension Service
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many calls made to the Pension Service (a) met an engaged tone, (b) were received and (c) were handled by an adviser during September, broken down by call centre; and what area is served by each call centre. [33062]
Mr. Timms: The administration of the Pension Service is a matter for the chief executive, Ms Alexis Cleveland. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Alexis Cleveland, dated 29 November 2005:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning how many calls made to the Pension Service have (a) met an engaged tone (b) been received and (c) been handled by an adviser during September broken down by call centre; and if he will provide details of the area served by each call centre. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of The Pension Service.
During September 2005, 1,036,547 calls were received by The Pension Service and 986,811 were answered by agents, equating to 95.2% of total calls received.
Of these calls received only 3,138 (0.3%) were blocked (attempted calls receiving an engaged tone or message during this period).
The table below shows the number of calls received, calls answered and calls blocked in September 2005 for all Regional Pension Centres and the Pension Credit Application Line and shows the area served by each call centre. In addition I am now also able to supply details for the other telephone lines offered by the Pension Service.
You will see that almost all the blocked calls occurred in our International Pension Centre. The telephony system in this centre is being upgraded, and since September the number of lines available to customers has been increased.
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I hope this information is helpful.
Welfare Reform/Incapacity Benefit
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his oral statement on welfare reform and incapacity benefit of 22 November 2005, Official Report, column 1417, where and when the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam made the remarks to which he refers. [33208]
Mr. Hutton: My recollection was that the hon. Member made the remarks during the Health Question Time" session in which he and I participated, at the Royal College of Nursing Congress on 25 April 2005.
On checking the record of that debate, I accept that the hon. Member referred to the retirement age of existing members of public sector pension schemes.
Winter Fuel Allowance
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the £200 one-off payment this winter with the winter fuel allowance will be (a) means-tested and (b) paid to pensioners receiving 100 per cent. council tax benefit. [33172]
Mr. Timms: The £200 payment is intended to assist older people who pay at least part of their council tax—that is, people who do not qualify for 100 per cent. council tax benefit. It is paid to eligible people who are not receiving the guarantee credit element of pension credit. It is a tax free lump sum payment that will not affect any state pension or benefit a person may get including council tax benefit, housing benefit and pension credit.
People in receipt of the guarantee credit element of pension credit, who are entitled to the maximum help available through council tax benefit, are not entitled to the £200 payment.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Alcohol Sales
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress in working with alcohol retailers and producers to agree and implement minimum standards for socially responsible promotion and retailing of alcohol products. [26661]
Paul Goggins:
We are taking forward a comprehensive alcohol harm reduction programme that will tackle a range of alcohol harms, including crime, and is being implemented across government. As part of this, we have been working closely with the alcohol industry to develop
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a principles and standards document that will help retailers and producers to prevent sales to under-age children and drunks, put an end to irresponsible drinks promotions and put in place end of evening dispersal policies to help drinkers get home safely and quickly.
The document was published on 18 November, and we will continue to work with the industry to ensure rapid implementation.
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