House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 23 Jan 2006 (pt 31)

23 Jan 2006 : Column 1814W—continued

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefit Helplines

Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff will be answering calls on each of the benefit helplines at his Department from 23 December 2005 to 3 January 2006; and what the equivalent figures were for (a) 2004 and (b) 2003. [39178]

Mr. Plaskitt: The number of people answering calls at any helpline may vary during each day in order to provide as consistent a level of service as possible to the varying volume of calls being received.

The information that is available is recorded in the table:

BEL (DCS) Disability Living Child Support Agency Debt
Mgmt Jobcentre Plus Direct—First Contact Employer Direct National Benefit Fraud Hotline Pension Centres

2005–06

23 December 2005 22 348 185 30 1,762 60 33 745

29 December 2005 27 264 108 16 ⁽³⁰⁾1,532 80 28 770

30 December 2005 27 265 216 13 1,452 ⁽³²⁾71 24 709

3 January 2006 38 311 445 24 1,951 250 35 767

2004–05

24 December 2004 21 95 119 19 ⁽³¹⁾n/a ⁽³³⁾n/a ⁽³⁴⁾n/a ⁽³⁵⁾n/a

30 December 2004 27 149 169 21 n/a n/a n/a n/a

31 December 2004 22 90 139 11 n/a n/a n/a n/a

4 January 2005 41 306 286 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

2003–04

23 December 2003 20 206 130 ⁽²⁹⁾n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

29 December 2003 32 81 76 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

30 December 2003 38 83 114 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

31 December 2003 21 53 152 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

2 January 2004 22 208 313 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

23 Jan 2006 : Column 1815W

Pension Credit App Line Pension Direct Pension Guide Order Line Future Pension Centre RP
Tele Claim IPC Pension
Info Order Line

2005–06

23 December 2005 259 133 71 84 57 44 9

29 December 2005 ⁽³⁶⁾n/a 133 44 68 52 42 8

30 December 2005 n/a 133 45 82 49 40 7

3 January 2006 n/a 161 45 116 95 50 7

2004–05

24 December 2004 n/a 155 41 60 72 ⁽²⁹⁾ ⁰ n/a ⁽²⁹⁾⁽³⁰⁾n/a

30 December 2004 n/a 155 31 58 51 n/a n/a

31 December 2004 n/a 155 46 43 36 n/a n/a

4 January 2005 n/a 155 38 102 39 n/a n/a

2003–04

23 December 2003 n/a 141 49 ⁽³⁷⁾n/a 88 n/a n/a

29 December 2003 n/a 141 61 n/a 84 n/a n/a

30 December 2003 n/a 141 56 n/a 85 n/a n/a

31 December 2003 n/a 141 41 n/a 62 n/a n/a

2 January 2004 n/a 171 49 n/a 77 n/a n/a

n/a=Not available.
⁽²⁹⁾Debt Management figures are unavailable due to installation of new IT system.
⁽³⁰⁾In addition, Jobcentre Plus Direct, First Contact will have 194 staff answering calls from Scotland on 28 December 2005.
⁽³¹⁾Jobcentre Plus Direct, First Contact figures are unavailable for 2003–04 and 2004–05 as, prior to the establishment of the new organisational structure in April 2004 calls, would have been dealt with right across the dispersed regional organisation.
⁽³²⁾In addition, Employer Direct will have six staff answering calls on 31 December 2005.
⁽³³⁾Employer Direct has only recently joined the Jobcentre Plus Directorate, exact figures are not available for 2003–04 or 2004–05.
⁽³⁴⁾National Benefit Fraud Hotline has only recently joined the Jobcentre Plus Directorate, exact figures are not available for 2003–04 or 2004–05.
⁽³⁵⁾Comparable Pension centre figures are not available for 2003–04 or 2004–05.
⁽³⁶⁾No further Pension Credit Application Line data is available.
⁽³⁷⁾Data for the Future Pension Centre is not available for 2003–04.
⁽³⁸⁾Data for the International Pension Centre are not available for 2003–04 or 2004–05.
⁽³⁹⁾Data for the Pension Information Order Line are not available for 2003–04 or 2004–05.
Note:
No information is available for the outsourced Winter Fuels Line.

	BEL (DCS)	Disability Living	Child Support Agency	Debt Mgmt	Jobcentre Plus Direct—First Contact	Employer Direct	National Benefit Fraud Hotline	Pension Centres
2005–06
23 December 2005	22	348	185	30	1,762	60	33	745
29 December 2005	27	264	108	16	⁽³⁰⁾1,532	80	28	770
30 December 2005	27	265	216	13	1,452	⁽³²⁾71	24	709
3 January 2006	38	311	445	24	1,951	250	35	767

2004–05
24 December 2004	21	95	119	19	⁽³¹⁾n/a	⁽³³⁾n/a	⁽³⁴⁾n/a	⁽³⁵⁾n/a
30 December 2004	27	149	169	21	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
31 December 2004	22	90	139	11	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
4 January 2005	41	306	286	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

2003–04
23 December 2003	20	206	130	⁽²⁹⁾n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
29 December 2003	32	81	76	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
30 December 2003	38	83	114	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
31 December 2003	21	53	152	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
2 January 2004	22	208	313	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

	Pension Credit App Line	Pension Direct	Pension Guide Order Line	Future Pension Centre	RP Tele Claim	IPC	Pension Info Order Line
2005–06
23 December 2005	259	133	71	84	57	44	9
29 December 2005	⁽³⁶⁾n/a	133	44	68	52	42	8
30 December 2005	n/a	133	45	82	49	40	7
3 January 2006	n/a	161	45	116	95	50	7

2004–05
24 December 2004	n/a	155	41	60	72	⁽²⁹⁾ ⁰ n/a	⁽²⁹⁾⁽³⁰⁾n/a
30 December 2004	n/a	155	31	58	51	n/a	n/a
31 December 2004	n/a	155	46	43	36	n/a	n/a
4 January 2005	n/a	155	38	102	39	n/a	n/a

2003–04
23 December 2003	n/a	141	49	⁽³⁷⁾n/a	88	n/a	n/a
29 December 2003	n/a	141	61	n/a	84	n/a	n/a
30 December 2003	n/a	141	56	n/a	85	n/a	n/a
31 December 2003	n/a	141	41	n/a	62	n/a	n/a
2 January 2004	n/a	171	49	n/a	77	n/a	n/a

Benefit Payment Times

Ms Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the average time taken from application was for claimants to receive their payments of each benefit that the Department distributes in the last period for which figures are available; [39393]

(2) what proportion of payments of each benefit that his Department distributes were not distributed within the target timescale in the last period for which figures are available. [39394]

Margaret Hodge: The available information is in the table.

Target Achievement (percentage) Average actual clearance time (days)

Attendance allowance⁽⁴¹⁾: clear claim in 22 days 100 17.9

Attendance allowance⁽⁴²⁾: clear claim in 8 days 100 4.5

Bereavement benefit/widows benefit ⁽⁴⁵⁾n/a 10.6

Carers allowance: clear claim in 22 days 100 13.4

Disability living allowance⁽⁴¹⁾: clear claim in
39 days 100 34.5

Disability living allowance⁽⁴²⁾: clear claim in
8 days 100 5.7

Incapacity benefit: clear claim in 19 days 92.4 15.4

Income support: clear claim in 12 days 95.41 11

Jobseekers allowance: clear claim in 12 days 91.62 14

Maternity allowance ⁽⁴⁵⁾n/a 11.5

Pension credit: average actual clearance time
10 days⁽⁴³⁾ n/a 8.62

State pension claims: clear 95 per cent. in
60 days⁽⁴⁴⁾ 97.05 n/a

State pension claims: clear 91 per cent. in
85 days⁽⁴⁴⁾ 90.64 n/a

⁽⁴¹⁾Figures are year to date to November 2005.
⁽⁴²⁾Normal rules
⁽⁴³⁾Special rules (those cases where the claimant has a terminal illness)
⁽⁴⁴⁾Measured from when evidence requirements are met
⁽⁴⁵⁾Target applies only to non-complex cases (complex cases are those claims to state pension from customers who have been widowed or divorced and the spouse's national insurance contributions are taken into consideration).
Note:
Not part of any PSA or reportable performance measure and do not appear on the management information portal. We still collect data through MISP but the information is purely used as a local measurement tool.

23 Jan 2006 : Column 1816W

Target	Achievement (percentage)	Average actual clearance time (days)
Attendance allowance⁽⁴¹⁾: clear claim in 22 days	100	17.9
Attendance allowance⁽⁴²⁾: clear claim in 8 days	100	4.5
Bereavement benefit/widows benefit	⁽⁴⁵⁾n/a	10.6
Carers allowance: clear claim in 22 days	100	13.4
Disability living allowance⁽⁴¹⁾: clear claim in 39 days	100	34.5
Disability living allowance⁽⁴²⁾: clear claim in 8 days	100	5.7
Incapacity benefit: clear claim in 19 days	92.4	15.4
Income support: clear claim in 12 days	95.41	11
Jobseekers allowance: clear claim in 12 days	91.62	14
Maternity allowance	⁽⁴⁵⁾n/a	11.5
Pension credit: average actual clearance time 10 days⁽⁴³⁾	n/a	8.62
State pension claims: clear 95 per cent. in 60 days⁽⁴⁴⁾	97.05	n/a
State pension claims: clear 91 per cent. in 85 days⁽⁴⁴⁾	90.64	n/a

Benefit Services

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of the free telephone service on the take-up of (a) crisis loans and (b) other benefits. [41823]

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.

23 Jan 2006 : Column 1817W

Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 23 January 2006:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what assessment he has made of the impact of the free telephone service on the take up of (a) crisis loans and (b) other benefits. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

In areas that are covered by the new Jobcentre Plus model, the customer calls a contact centre to make a claim for any working age benefit. This call is charged at local rate, or alternatively the customer can use a dedicated Customer Access phone in their local Jobcentre free of charge. We have not undertaken any central assessment of the impact of the availability of Customer Access phones on the take-up of working age benefits.

The free telephone service for crisis loans is not yet available in every part of the country and, therefore, we are not yet able to formally assess the impact of the service on national take-up of Crisis Loans.

I hope this helpful.

Child Poverty

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children were living in poverty in each year since 1975–76, measured in terms of (a) absolute low income, (b) relative low income and (c) material deprivation; and if he will make a statement. [41195]

Margaret Hodge: The information requested is not available. The available information is in the tables.
Children with income below 60 per cent. of 1996–97 median income held constant in real terms, 1994–05 to 2003–04, (absolute low income) Number (Million)

Below 60 per cent. median

FRS (GB) Before housing costs After housing costs

1994–95 3.3 4.3

1995–96 3.2 4.4

1996–97 3.2 4.2

1997–98 3.0 4.0

1998–99 2.8 3.9

1999–2000 2.4 3.6

2000–01 2.0 3.0

2001–02 1.6 2.5

2002–03 1.5 2.2

2003–04 1.4 2.2

Children falling below 60 per cent. of contemporay median income, (relative low income) Number (Million)

Below 60 per cent. median

FRS (GB) Before housing costs After housing costs

1994–95 2.9 4.0

1995–96 2.8 4.0

1996–97 3.2 4.2

1997–98 3.1 4.1

1998–99 3.1 4.1

1999–2000 3.0 4.1

2000–01 2.7 3.8

2001–02 2.6 3.7

2002–03 2.6 3.6

2003–04 2.6 3.5

Notes:
1.The Family Resources Survey (FRS) data is for all financial years 1994–95 until 2003–04. Comparisons of estimates between the two sources should be treated carefully.
2.FRS figures are for Great Britain. The reference period for FRS figures is single financial years.
Source:
FRS.

23 Jan 2006 : Column 1818W

	Below 60 per cent. median
FRS (GB)	Before housing costs	After housing costs
1994–95	3.3	4.3
1995–96	3.2	4.4
1996–97	3.2	4.2
1997–98	3.0	4.0
1998–99	2.8	3.9
1999–2000	2.4	3.6
2000–01	2.0	3.0
2001–02	1.6	2.5
2002–03	1.5	2.2
2003–04	1.4	2.2

	Below 60 per cent. median
FRS (GB)	Before housing costs	After housing costs
1994–95	2.9	4.0
1995–96	2.8	4.0
1996–97	3.2	4.2
1997–98	3.1	4.1
1998–99	3.1	4.1
1999–2000	3.0	4.1
2000–01	2.7	3.8
2001–02	2.6	3.7
2002–03	2.6	3.6
2003–04	2.6	3.5

Detailed information about the number and proportion of children living in low income households is published in 'Households Below Average Income 1994/95–2003/04', available in the Library. The report includes comparisons of incomes against low income thresholds, such as the commonly used relative low income threshold of 60 per cent. of contemporary median income.

Data to measure material deprivation have been collected on the Family Resources Survey since 2004. Baseline data for the material deprivation and low income combined tier of the child poverty measure will be available in spring 2006.

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children lived in workless households in each year since 1975–76; and if he will make a statement. [41223]

Margaret Hodge: At spring 2005 there were 1.75 million children living in a household with no adult in work. Information prior to 1992 is not available; the available information is in the table.

Period Children in households
with no one in work

Spring 1992 2,224,705

Spring 1993 2,312,341

Spring 1994 2,420,001

Spring 1995 2,370,800

Spring 1996 2,292,382

Spring 1997 2,126,242

Spring 1998 2,132,863

Spring 1999 2,080,762

Spring 2000 1,900,721

Spring 2001 1,841,432

Spring 2002 1,899,472

Spring 2003 1,820,008

Spring 2004 1,782,604

Spring 2005 1,752,731

Source:
Household Labour Force Survey

Period	Children in households with no one in work
Spring 1992	2,224,705
Spring 1993	2,312,341
Spring 1994	2,420,001
Spring 1995	2,370,800
Spring 1996	2,292,382
Spring 1997	2,126,242
Spring 1998	2,132,863
Spring 1999	2,080,762
Spring 2000	1,900,721
Spring 2001	1,841,432
Spring 2002	1,899,472
Spring 2003	1,820,008
Spring 2004	1,782,604
Spring 2005	1,752,731

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of children in (a) working and (b) workless households were living in relative poverty in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [41291]

Margaret Hodge: The seventh annual Opportunity for all" report (Cm 6673) sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and reports progress against a range of indicators. Detailed information about the number and proportion of children living in low income households is published in Households Below Average Income 1994/95–2003/04", available in the Library. The threshold of below 60 per cent. contemporary median income is the most commonly used in reporting trends in low income.

The information requested is in the table.
Percentage of children living in households with income less than 60 per cent. of contemporary median income, Great Britain

2003–04 Percentage

Before housing costs

Working 13

Workless 55

After housing costs

Working 17

Workless 77

Notes:
1.Working households are defined as having at least one adult in work, where an adult is over 16 years of age including those above state retirement age.
2.Workless households are defined as having no adults in work.

23 Jan 2006 : Column 1819W

2003–04	Percentage
Before housing costs
Working	13
Workless	55
After housing costs
Working	17
Workless	77

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by what date he plans to start to measure the number of children experiencing material deprivation in the United Kingdom; what targets he will set for reducing this measure of deprivation; and if he will make a statement. [41308]

Margaret Hodge: Data to measure material deprivation have been collected on the Family Resources Survey since 2004. Baseline data for the material deprivation and low-income combined tier of the child poverty measure will be available in spring 2006.

The technical note setting out details of how the child poverty PSA target announced in the 2004 Spending Review will be measured is available in the Library.

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