House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 1 Mar 2006 (pt 30)

1 Mar 2006 : Column 795W—continued

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefits

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2006, Official Report, column 1458W, on benefits, whether departmental staff other than those in the Jobcentre Plus division make home visits to benefit (a) claimants and (b) recipients; and if he will make a statement. [52224]

Margaret Hodge: As set out in the reply to my hon. Friend's question on 9 February 2006, Official Report, columns 1458–59W, home visits are carried out by Jobcentre Plus and the Pension Service. The Disability and Carer Service also commissions home visits but these are carried out for them by Jobcentre Plus and the Pension Service, in accordance with a Partnership Agreement between the two services.

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Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was budgeted for council tax benefit in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales each year since 1991–92; and what forecasts have been made for future years. [53173]

Mr. Plaskitt: The available information is in the following tables.
Council tax benefit by country £ million (Nominal terms)

England Wales Scotland Total

1997–98⁽¹⁵⁾ 1,988 97 241 2,326

1998–99⁽¹⁵⁾ 2,150 110 298 2,557

1999–2000⁽¹⁵⁾ 2,175 110 277 2,561

2000–01⁽¹⁵⁾ 2,198 118 334 2,650

2001–02⁽¹⁵⁾ 2,356 128 347 2,831

2002–03⁽¹⁵⁾ 2,530 139 356 3,026

2003–04⁽¹⁵⁾ 2,883 154 350 3,387

2004–05⁽¹⁵⁾ 3,095 165 370 3,629

2005–06⁽¹⁵⁾ 3,199 178 410 3,786

2006–07⁽¹⁶⁾ 3,503 191 412 4,106

2007–08⁽¹⁶⁾ 3,801 213 447 4,461

Council tax benefit by country £ million (Real terms, 2005–06 prices)

England Wales Scotland Total

1997–98⁽¹⁵⁾ 2,391 117 289 2,797

1998–99⁽¹⁵⁾ 2,521 128 349 2,999

1999–2000⁽¹⁵⁾ 2,500 127 318 2,945

2000–01⁽¹⁵⁾ 2,495 134 379 3,007

2001–02⁽¹⁵⁾ 2,608 142 384 3,134

2002–03⁽¹⁵⁾ 2,716 150 382 3,248

2003–04⁽¹⁵⁾ 3,015 161 366 3,541

2004–05⁽¹⁵⁾ 3,168 169 378 3,715

2005–06⁽¹⁵⁾ 3,199 178 410 3,786

2006–07⁽¹⁶⁾ 3,419 186 402 4,007

2007–08⁽¹⁶⁾ 3,614 202 425 4,241

⁽¹⁵⁾ Estimate.
⁽¹⁶⁾ Forecast.
Notes:
1. Expenditure by country has been taken from information held in spreadsheet form by the Department for Work and Pensions, available from 1997–98.The information is not available for years 1991–92 to 1996–97.
2. The country figures are consistent with the total council tax benefit for Great Britain. They are an estimate of money which will be spent in each financial year which was shown in departmental reports after each Budget, except for 1997–98 when the Budget was on 2 of July 1997 (see note 3.). The figures shown are not actual expenditure. Expenditure is available on the DWP internet site.
3. The 2006–07 and 2007–08 figures are forecast and consistent with the pre-Budget report 2005.
Source:
Departmental reports and underlying data, and benefit expenditure tables.

	England	Wales	Scotland	Total
1997–98⁽¹⁵⁾	1,988	97	241	2,326
1998–99⁽¹⁵⁾	2,150	110	298	2,557
1999–2000⁽¹⁵⁾	2,175	110	277	2,561
2000–01⁽¹⁵⁾	2,198	118	334	2,650
2001–02⁽¹⁵⁾	2,356	128	347	2,831
2002–03⁽¹⁵⁾	2,530	139	356	3,026
2003–04⁽¹⁵⁾	2,883	154	350	3,387
2004–05⁽¹⁵⁾	3,095	165	370	3,629
2005–06⁽¹⁵⁾	3,199	178	410	3,786
2006–07⁽¹⁶⁾	3,503	191	412	4,106
2007–08⁽¹⁶⁾	3,801	213	447	4,461

	England	Wales	Scotland	Total
1997–98⁽¹⁵⁾	2,391	117	289	2,797
1998–99⁽¹⁵⁾	2,521	128	349	2,999
1999–2000⁽¹⁵⁾	2,500	127	318	2,945
2000–01⁽¹⁵⁾	2,495	134	379	3,007
2001–02⁽¹⁵⁾	2,608	142	384	3,134
2002–03⁽¹⁵⁾	2,716	150	382	3,248
2003–04⁽¹⁵⁾	3,015	161	366	3,541
2004–05⁽¹⁵⁾	3,168	169	378	3,715
2005–06⁽¹⁵⁾	3,199	178	410	3,786
2006–07⁽¹⁶⁾	3,419	186	402	4,007
2007–08⁽¹⁶⁾	3,614	202	425	4,241

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate the Government has made of the mortality rate of existing incapacity benefit claimants in each year up to 2016; and if he will make a statement. [54982]

Mrs. McGuire: The Department does not explicitly make projections about the mortality rate of existing incapacity claimants.

However, we do have historical information on those leaving incapacity benefit due to death; in the year to February 2005, the number was 28,100.

1 Mar 2006 : Column 797W

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate the Government has made of the number of existing incapacity benefit claimants who will reach state retirement age in each year up to 2016; and if he will make a statement. [54983]

Mrs. McGuire: Information is not available in the format requested. The number of those currently claiming incapacity benefit who could reach state retirement age in each year to 2016 is in the table.
People claiming incapacity benefit as at 31 August 2005 who could reach state retirement age in each year to 2016

Number

2006 115,800

2007 118,200

2008 110,100

2009 105,000

2010 79,400

2011 77,800

2012 79,200

2013 68,300

2014 65,100

2015 60,200

2016 57,700

Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
2. 'Claimant' figures include all incapacity benefit (IB) claimants, including IB credits only cases.
3. Figures do not include severe disablement allowance (SDA) as claimants can remain entitled to SDA past state retirement age.
4. These figures take no account of claimants who may flow on or off the benefit in the future.
5. A woman born before 6 April 1950 attains pension age when she reaches the age of 60. For women born between 6 April 1950 and April 1955 'Equalisation rules' have been applied to gradually raise the pension age. A Woman born after 5 April 1955 attains pension age when she reaches the age of 65.
Source:
DWP Information Directorate, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study l00 per cent. data.

	Number
2006	115,800
2007	118,200
2008	110,100
2009	105,000
2010	79,400
2011	77,800
2012	79,200
2013	68,300
2014	65,100
2015	60,200
2016	57,700

Financial Assistance Scheme

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether provision will be made for pensioners who receive Financial Assistance Scheme payments to receive increases (a) as they get older and (b) to take account of the cost of living increases. [54602]

Mr. Timms: Payments will not increase with age nor be index-linked. This allows the available funds to be spread more widely and benefit more people.

Post Office Closures

Mrs. Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many branches of the Post Office there were in the county of Bedfordshire in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [54847]

Barry Gardiner: I have been asked to reply.

This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. Alan Cook the Managing Director has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Statutory Sick Pay

Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many own occupation tests were conducted pursuant to the Social Security (Incapacity

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for Work) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 1999 in relation to those claiming statutory sick pay in each of the last three years. [53736]

Mrs. McGuire: The available information is in the table.
Own occupation tests completed for statutory sick pay and statutory maternity pay

Number

2003 79

2004 123

2005 88

	Number
2003	79
2004	123
2005	88

Sure Start

Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list visits made by Ministers in his Department to Sure Start schemes and facilities in each parliamentary constituency in England and Wales in the 12 months to 5 May 2005; what was the cost to public funds of each visit; and if he will make a statement. [53765]

Mrs. McGuire: I can confirm that there have been no visits made by any of my Ministers to Sure Start schemes or facilities in England or Wales in the 12 months to 5 May 2005.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcohol-related Prosecutions

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought for (a) sales of alcohol to under age children under the Licensing Act 2003 and (b) crime and disorder associated with pubs and clubs in West Lancashire since November 2005. [53393]

Hazel Blears: The Licensing Act 2003 came into force on 24 November 2005. Data from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform for 2005 will be available in autumn 2006.

Penalty notices for disorder may be issued for nine Licensing Act 2003 offences. Provisional figures for notices issued since November 2005 will be available in March 2006.

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders were found guilty of (a) drunken and disorderly behaviour and (b) drunken and aggravated disorderly behaviour in (i) England and (ii) West Lancashire in each year since 1997. [53394]

Paul Goggins: Data from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of offenders found guilty for drunkenness and drunkenness with aggravation in Lancashire po1ice force area and England 1997–2004 are given in the table. It is not possible to identify those convicted in West Lancashire, as the data are not collected at this level of detail. Court statistics for 2005 will be available in autumn 2006.

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The penalty notice for disorder scheme was brought into effect in all police forces in England and Wales during 2004. Under the scheme the police are able to issue persons committing specified minor offences with a fixed penalty notice. No admission of guilt is required and payment of the penalty discharges all liability for the offence. In 2004 25,591 penalty notices were issued in England and 2,869 in Lancashire police force area for the offence of being drunk and disorderly.

Provisional data for 2005 to the end of September shows that 24,150 penalty notices were issued in England and 3,362 in Lancashire police force area for this offence. It is not possible to identify those issued in West Lancashire, as the data are not collected at this level of detail. The aggravated offence is not included in the scheme.
Number of offenders found guilty at all courts for offences relating to drunkenness, Lancashire police force area and England 1997 to 2004⁽¹⁷⁾

Lancashire police force area
England

Drunkenness, simple⁽¹⁹⁾ Drunkenness with aggravation⁽¹⁹⁾ Drunkenness, simple⁽¹⁸⁾ Drunkenness with aggravation⁽¹⁹⁾

1997 224 1,237 3,333 22,474

1998 216 1,319 3,710 23,864

1999 182 1,444 3,134 22,764

2000 247 1,682 2,579 22,078

2001 181 1,815 2,424 21,468

2002 177 1,643 2,201 22,741

2003 74 1,574 1,999 23,893

2004 38 675 1,674 17,550

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	Lancashire police force area	England
	Drunkenness, simple⁽¹⁹⁾	Drunkenness with aggravation⁽¹⁹⁾	Drunkenness, simple⁽¹⁸⁾	Drunkenness with aggravation⁽¹⁹⁾
1997	224	1,237	3,333	22,474
1998	216	1,319	3,710	23,864
1999	182	1,444	3,134	22,764
2000	247	1,682	2,579	22,078
2001	181	1,815	2,424	21,468
2002	177	1,643	2,201	22,741
2003	74	1,574	1,999	23,893
2004	38	675	1,674	17,550

¹ These data are on the principal offence basis.

² Includes offences under S.12 Licensing Act 1872, Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985 SS.1(4), 1 A(4), 2.(2) and S.12 Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 ³ Includes offences under S.91 Criminal Justice Act 1967,8.12 Licensing Act 1872, S.174 Licensing Act 1964, S.9(4) Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969, S.28 London Hackney Carriage Act 1843J SS.101(1)(a)(b), (4) & (5) Merchant Shipping Act 1995, S.2 Licensing Act 1902 and S.61 Town Police Clauses Act 1847.

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