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Fuel Poverty

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how he is contributing to the Government's commitment to eradicate fuel poverty. [57401]

Mr. Timms: This Department is committed to eradicating fuel poverty.

The winter fuel payment administered by the Department has already made significant inroads in eradicating fuel poverty. The payment has risen above the level of inflation, from £20 in winter 1997–98 to £200 from winter 2000–01 and to £300 for those aged 80 or over from winter 2003–04. Over £1.9 billion was paid out in 2004–05.

The Pension Service's Local Service, has also been carrying out benefit entitlement checks as part of their home visits to customers and refers them to the warm front scheme administered by the Department for Trade and Industry, if appropriate.

New processes have also been developed between The Pension Service and the Home Heat Helpline", a private sector run and funded fuel poverty helpline
 
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launched in October 2005, which help to maximise the take-up of benefits, help from the utilities companies and warm front grants. The Department is also working closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Energy Industry and the Voluntary Sector to tackle fuel poverty in the UK.

The most recent data available show that the numbers of households in fuel poverty in the UK fell from a high of 6.5 million in 1996 to 2 million in 2003.

Households Below Average Income

Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the next set of Households Below Average Income data will be published. [56980]

Margaret Hodge: Households Below Average Income 1995–96 to 2004–05 was published on 9 March 2006 and a copy is being placed in the Library.

Housing Benefits

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) housing benefit and (b) local housing allowance claimants there are in each Pathfinder area; and how many in each category have private tenancies. [56283]

Mr. Plaskitt: The local housing allowance only applies to deregulated private sector tenancies. The information is in the table.
Housing benefit case load in Pathfinder local authorities: overall, private rented sector and local housing allowance cases,August 2005

Housing benefit cases
Of which:
Pathfinder authorityAll tenanciesPrivate sector tenanciesLocal housing allowance
Blackpool14,6009,0008,200
Brighton and Hove23,60010,3008,700
Conwy6,6002,6002,100
Coventry22,6005,7004,300
Edinburgh33,5007,5006,200
Leeds54,2007,5006,300
Lewisham29,1005,6004,200
N.E. Lincolnshire12,3005,0004,300
Teignbridge5,7002,5002,000




Notes:
1. Case loads are rounded to nearest 100. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
2. Local housing allowance (LHA) case loads reported here exclude LHA claimants currently in receipt of transitional protection.
3. All tenancies include social sector (local authority tenancies and registered social landlord (RSL) tenancies) and private sector tenancies.
4. Local housing allowance is a form of housing benefit.
Source:
DWP administrative data, August 2005.




Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many housing benefit claimants there were in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many claimants in each country had private tenancies. [56284]

Mr. Plaskitt: Information regarding Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Office. The available information for Great Britain is in the table.
 
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Housing benefit (HB) recipients in Great Britain by country: August 2005

All HB recipientsPrivate tenancies
Great Britain3,981,000805,500
England3,340,300707,000
Wales200,20045,800
Scotland440,50052,800




Notes:
1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.
2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.
3. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases.
4. Figures for any non-responding local authorities have been estimated.
5. Private" tenancies exclude Registered Social Landlords (RSL) tenancies.
Source:
Housing benefit and council tax benefit management information system quarterly 100 percent. caseload stock-count taken in August 2005.




Jobcentre Plus

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the Jobcentre Plus training budgets were allocated for in (a) 2005–06 and (b) 2006–07 in (i) England, (ii) Wales and (iii) each Jobcentre Plus office; and what the percentage change between the two years is in each case. [51556]

Margaret Hodge [holding answer 14 February 2006]: 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:

Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff were employed in Jobcentre Plus in the UK at the end of each of the last 18 months for which figures are available. [54236]

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.
 
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Letter from Lesley Strathie:


Jobcentre Plus Staff in Post figures

YearMonthNumber
2004August86,589
September85,605
October85,605
November85,034
December85,307
2005January84,460
February83,996
March82,603
April82,489
May82,099
June82,075
July82,328
August82,230
September82,015
October81,671
November81,582
December81,567
2006January81,629




Source:
Management Information (Ml) Portal




Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the pay scales are for staff employed by Jobcentre Plus; and how many staff were paid at each level in the latest period for which figures are available. [56280]

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:


ANNEX A


Grade

Job title

Min pay

Max pay
Staff numbers
Generalist
AA/Band An/a12,34017,3804,527
AO/Band Bn/a13,99020,89043,125
EO/Band Cn/a18,16027,30030,593
HEO/Band Dn/a23,93032,5304,006
SEO/Band En/a29,57039,2401,239
Grade 7/Band Fn/a38,39056,360193
Grade 6 Band Gn/a51,79068,63078
Pay Band 1Senior Civil Servant54,78879,65629
Pay Band 2Senior Civil Servant75,609101,90514
Pay Band 3Senior Civil Servant93,139132,586
Permanent Secretary130,350209,4771
Specialist
Grade 3Security Guard17,27022,810
Grade 2Security Guard20,02026,130
SGB2Security Guard/Cleaners12,89017,280280
SGB1Security Guard/Cleaners14,46018,98038
N/ACleaners12,67513,115
SEO/Band EAccountant35,760459909
Grade 7/Band FAccountant44,09059,9002
Grade 6/Band GAccountant57,20071,7003
EO/Band CAnalyst Statistical Officer18,16027,300
HEO/Band DHigher Statistical Officer23,93032,5301
EO/Band CScientific Officer19,03031,440
HEO/Band DHigher Scientific Officer23,93036,280
SEO/Band ESenior Scientific Officer29,57043,7801
Grade 7/Band FPrinciple Scientific Officer42,31059,4203
HEO/Band DAuditor MIIA29,77038,700
HEO/Band DAuditor PIIA28,63037,250
SEO/Band EAuditor MIIR35,76045,990
Grade 7/Band FAuditor44,09059,900
Grade 6/Band GAuditor57,20071,700
EO/Band CComms Group Assistant info Officer21,28031,440
HEO/Band DInformation Officer27,89036,28013
SEO/Band ESenior Information Officer34,37047,55014
Grade 7/Band FCommunications42,31058,5201
EO/Band CAssistant Librarian21,28031,440
Grade 7/Band FLawyer41,76057,950
Grade 6/Band GLawyer51,79070,890
EO/Band CSocial Worker18,16027,3003
EO/Band CTrainee Graduate Psychology21,00027,30016
HEO/Band DHigher Psychologist25,68033,80045
SEO/Band ESenior Psychologist32,32043,300
Grade 7/Band FPrinciple Psychologist41,12056,360
Grade 6/Band GMedical Officer58,98078,890
HEO/Band DLibrarian25,01036,280
SEO/Band ESenior Librarian28,29043,540
EO/Band CGraphic Technical Officer18,16030,0603
HEO/Band DHigher Graphics Officer27,89034,780
HEO/Band DIT Specialist27,42033,770
SEO/Band EIT Specialist32,78038,830
Grade 7/Band FIT Specialist41,20056,360
Grade 6/Band GIT Specialist54,65071,530
N/ALaw Group Pupil Barrister/ Legal Trainee18,57024,210
N/ALegal Officer31,59041,650
HEO/Band DResearch Officer22,04031,4402
SEO/Band ESenior Research Officer29,57043,7802
Grade 7/Band FSenior Principle Research Officer42,31059,420144
Grade 6/Band GSenior Principle Research Officer54,54070,89063
Grade 7/Band FPrinciple Statistician42,31059,420
Grade 6/Band GSenior Principle Statistician54,54070,890
Grade 7/Band FPrinciple Economist42,31059,4202
Grade 6/Band GSenior Principle Economist56,54070,890
N/AFast Stream27,240364802
SEO/Band EAudit Group Risk Consultant31,440410202








 
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