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18 Jan 2006 : Column 1369W—continued
Crisis Loans
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many crisis loans were made in each of the last 24 months. [41824]
Mr. Plaskitt: The information is the table.
Notes:
1. Initial awards do not include awards made after review.
2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
Source:
DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.
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Data Protection
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many of his Department's staff have had their personal details stolen for fraudulent tax credit applications; [39317]
(2) if he will make a statement on the recent theft of data relating to staff in his Department for use in fraudulent tax credit applications. [39318]
Margaret Hodge [holding answers 9 January 2006]: The joint DWP and HMRC investigation conducted into the identity theft of DWP staff details and the subsequent use of some of these details to fraudulently claim tax credit has completed its analysis of the numbers of staff affected. The initial estimate of those potentially affected was around 13,000. However, the investigation has now established that the number of stolen identities was around 8,800. All the 8,800 people concerned worked in Jobcentre Plus London region (including the linked benefit processing and contact centres) in 2003–04.
All the records have been analysed and the joint DWP and HMRC investigation has now confirmed that:
There is no evidence to suggest the security of DWP's IT systems has been breached. None of our customers appear to have been affected by this in any way.
Our internal records are completely separate from systems used to manage customer information.
The HMRC E-portal used to make fraudulent tax credit claims remains closed. A criminal investigation into the circumstances which led to this fraud was instituted as soon as the fraud was discovered and is still in progress.
DWP and HMRC are working urgently to ensure the records concerned are corrected. They will ensure that staff are not disadvantaged as a result of this incident and arrangements are in place to contact individually all those affected.
EU Committees
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many meetings of the EU (a) Technical Adaptation Committee on the minimum safety and health requirements for improved medical treatment on board vessels, (b) Technical Adaptation Committee on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to chemical, physical and biological agents at work and (c) Committee on the European Communities statistics programme have taken place during the UK Presidency of the EU; who was presiding over each meeting; what other UK representatives were present; what provisions were made for representation of the devolved governments; and if he will make a statement. [38802]
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Mr. Plaskitt: I understand from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency that the Technical Adaptation Committee on the minimum safety and health requirements for improved medical treatment on board vessels has not met during the UK Presidency. Similarly, there were no meetings of Technical Adaptation Committee on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to chemical physical and biological agents at work.
I understand from the Office for National Statistics that the Statistical Programme Committee (SPC) met on 29–30 November 2005. The meeting was presided over by the Commission (Eurostat) and the UK was represented by ONS officials who consulted devolved Administrations as appropriate.
Free Movement of Persons Directive
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the potential costs of social security provision for non-UK nationals resident in the UK as a result of Directive 2004/58/EC on free movement of persons. [40952]
Mr. Plaskitt: Directive 2004/38/EC 1 brings together into one Directive nine existing Directives on rights of residence and free movement, and part of Regulation 1612/68 on free movement of workers, as well as the relevant case law of the European Court of Justice. It is intended to reduce complexity and bureaucracy.
The Directive maintains the requirement that EU citizens need to exercise an economic activity or have sufficient resources in order to take up residence in another member state.
Member states must transpose the Directive into their national law before 30 April 2006.
The Government are bringing forward Regulations to ensure that the new Directive will not result in any significant additional costs for the UK social security system.
Sick Leave
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of his Department's employees who are within one year of the official retirement age are on extended sick leave. [32588]
Mrs. McGuire: There are currently 175 staff who are on long-term sick absence (28 days or more) and who are within one year of the official retirement age.
Winter Fuel Payment
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether receipt of pension guarantee credit affects the level of winter fuel payment. [41159]
Mr. Timms:
Most people in receipt of pension credit receive the full winter fuel payment. However, people in receipt of pension credit who live in a care home and have done so for 13 weeks or more at the end of the September qualifying week do not receive a winter fuel payment. This is because the majority receive public funding for their care costs including heating.
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HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION
Audible Fire Alarms
Bob Spink: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what proportion of the House is fitted with audible fire alarms. [42877]
Nick Harvey: With the exception of both chambers and the immediate surrounding areas, all parts of the parliamentary estate are fitted with audible fire alarms. In the Palace of Westminster, Portcullis House, 1 Parliament Street, 1 Derby Gate, Norman Shaw South and 7 Millbank this is supplemented by a voice alarm system. The remaining buildings on the estate will be upgraded to voice alarm standard as each building is refurbished.
CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
Legal Aid
Mr. Baron: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) if she will list the 10 barristers who received the highest legal aid fees for clinical negligence work in the last 12 months, indicating in each case (a) the amount received, (b) the number of cases taken, (c) the number of cases taken which proceeded beyond investigation, (d) the number of cases taken which resulted in (i) an award of damages and (ii) a settlement involving an agreement to pay damages and (e) whether each barrister was Queen's counsel or junior counsel; [43087]
(2) if she will list the 10 firms of solicitors which received the highest legal aid fees for clinical negligence work in the last 12 months, indicating in each case (a) the amount received, (b) the number of cases taken, (c) the number of cases taken which proceeded beyond investigation and (d) the number cases taken which resulted in (i) an award of damages and (ii) a settlement involving an agreement to pay damages. [43088]
Bridget Prentice: The information requested is not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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