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16 Mar 2006 : Column 2457W—continued
Jobcentre Plus
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) when he expects the planned roll out of Jobcentre Plus benefit delivery centres to be completed; [54248]
(2) if he will make a statement on the transitional arrangements for benefit claim processing that are in place prior to the roll out of Jobcentre Plus Benefit Delivery Centres. [54249]
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.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking when he expects the planned roll out of Jobcentre Plus Benefit Delivery Centres to be completed and if he will make a statement on the transitional arrangements for benefit claim processing that are in place prior to the roll out of Jobcentre Plus
- Benefit Delivery Centres. These are issues which fall within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
The move to Benefit Delivery Centres involves detailed implementation plans for each site. These include ensuring the minimum disruption to performance and customer service.
For customers, the main impact will be the introduction of a new 0845/0800 telephone contact number and a new postal address. Customers will receive mailings about this, and there will be publicity campaigns in Jobcentre Plus outlets, other Government Departments and outlets which customers may use to obtain contact details — for example GP's surgeries, Local Government Offices, Citizen Advice Bureaux.
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which Jobcentre Plus offices carry out benefit claim processing; and how many staff are employed for the purpose of processing benefit claims in each such office. [54251]
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.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking which Jobcentre Plus offices carry out benefit claim processing and how many staff are employed for the purpose of processing benefit claims in each such office. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
At September 2004 benefit processing took place in approximately 650 sites. Since that date, as part of the rationalisation of the Jobcentre Plus business and estate, the number of sites processing claims has reduced to approximately 450.
We have now shared the planned implementation of the Benefit Delivery Centres with the first Centre due to go-live in April this year. By March 2008 processing will be carried out in 77 sites as previously announced.
The information requested on staffing is not available. Jobcentre Plus keeps staffing records by grade and location, but not by job role in each location.
Lone Parents
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of lone parents moved from income support to (a) incapacity benefit, (b) jobseeker's allowance, (c) other out-of-work benefits and (d) employment when their youngest child reached 16-years-old in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [55072]
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Mr. Plaskitt: Between August 2003 and August 2004, the number of lone parents that left income support within three months of their youngest child turning 16 was 15,400. 16 per cent. of these did not move to an out-of-work benefit. We do not currently have robust data that would allow us to estimate how many of those who have not returned to benefit have entered employment.
The proportion of those moving to out-of-work benefits is in the table.
(40) The benefit has been taken to be the first benefit spell a customer has had after their child reaches 16.
Notes:
1. A customer may have an overlapping claim for income support and incapacity benefit. For this reason the proportion moving to an out-of-work benefit due to health condition or disability is 18 per cent.
2. A time period of three months around the date where the claimant's youngest child turns 16 has been used to assume that any claimant leaving income support in this period is doing so because their youngest child has turned 16.
3. The figures presented show all those who left income support between August 2003 and August 2004 and tracked for one year.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Afghanistan
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions the Government has had with (a) coalition partners in Afghanistan and (b) the Afghan Government concerning alternative methods of poppy eradication in Afghanistan; [58631]
(2) what assessment his Department has made of the feasibility of the use of (a) chemical eradication and (b) incineration in the destruction of poppy crops in Afghanistan. [58632]
Dr. Howells:
The UK believes that the Government of Afghanistan's recently updated National Drug Control Strategy represents the best means of securing a sustainable reduction on the production and trafficking of opiates in Afghanistan. The strategy highlights four key priorities. These are: disrupting the drugs trade by targeting traffickers and their backers; strengthening and diversifying legal rural livelihoods; reducing the demand for illicit drugs and treatment of problem drug users; and developing effective state institutions to combat drugs at the central and provincial level. The strategy also states that there is a role for targeted ground-based eradication where alternative livelihoods exist, in order to incentivise the shift away from poppy cultivation. As key partner nation for counter narcotics, the UK is committed to helping Afghanistan deliver its National Drug Control Strategy and to co-ordinating international assistance in support of the strategy.
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The UK is supporting the Government of Afghanistan to deliver viable commercial crops as feasible economic alternatives to poppy. Farmers also need access to credit, land and markets, alternative employment opportunities, infrastructure, such as irrigation and roads to help grow and transport produce, and Government emergency mechanisms to ensure food security. Targeted ground based eradication is necessary to inject risk into the system and encourage farmers to give up growing poppy.
Neither chemical eradication nor incineration of poppy crops are viable options in Afghanistan. Spraying chemicals or burning fields will not give accurate enough targeting to ensure that only those cultivators who have access to alternative livelihoods have their crops destroyed. There would also be concerns about the risks that both chemicals and incineration pose to the environment and human health.
Al-Qaeda
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of reports that al-Qaeda is seeking to re-establish a presence in (a) Somalia, (b) Ethiopia and (c) Sudan; and what steps are being taken by his Department to counter such re-establishment. [58830]
Dr. Howells: Al-Qaeda and related groups continue to pose a significant global threat, including to British interests in Somalia, Sudan and Ethiopia. We continuously assess the threat from al-Qaeda and al-Qaeda related terrorist cells, but do not publish these assessments.
We work with other governments in tackling international terrorism including Somalia, Sudan and Ethiopia. International efforts have inter alia led to the disruption of terrorist operations, and the planning, financing and support for such operations in the region.
Burma
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of recent reports that the military junta in Burma has been sending troops into battle under the influence amphetamines. [58800]
Ian Pearson: We are aware of press reports that the military regime in Burma has been sending troops into battle under the influence of amphetamines, but have no information to substantiate these reports.
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