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27 Mar 2006 : Column 712W—continued

Benefits

Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for (a) mobility allowance, (b) disability living allowance and (c) attendance allowance were allowed in each year between 2000 and 2005 (i) on application and (ii) on appeal, broken down by region; and if he will make a statement. [55521]

Mrs. McGuire: The requested information for mobility allowance is not available because the benefit was replaced by the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance in April 1992. The available information for disability living allowance and attendance allowance is in the tables.
Disability living allowance: number⁽³¹⁾ of new awards⁽³²⁾ (a) on initial claims; and (b) on appeal in each Government office region⁽³³⁾ in Great Britain and in total in each year from 2000–01 to 2004–05

Government office region	North East	North West	Yorkshire and Humber	East Midlands	West Midlands	East
Awards on initial claims
2000–01	10.5	29.8	21.0	14.8	20.9	16.6
2001–02	9.9	33.1	20.7	14.2	20.5	18.2
2002–03	9.5	33.6	23.5	17.1	21.7	19.3
2003–04	8.5	31.5	20.3	15.5	20.0	17.6
2004–05	7.5	29.3	17.1	14.1	18.1	16.1
Awards on appeal
2000–01	2.1	5.6	2.2	1.4	1.4	1.2
2001–02	3.1	4.6	2.3	2.2	2.0	1.2
2002–03	1.9	4.4	2.4	1.4	2.2	1.2
2003–04	2.2	3.8	2.1	2.0	2.3	1.0
2004–05	2.6	4.5	2.1	1.6	2.0	1.0

 
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Government office region	London	South East	South West	Wales	Scotland	Total
Awards on initial claims
2000–01	24.5	19.9	14.4	14.0	21.4	207.9
2001–02	25.4	20.6	14.7	15.3	21.4	214.1
2002–03	28.9	22.2	16.3	16.5	23.4	232.0
2003–04	26.1	23.8	16.2	15.5	22.1	217.2
2004–05	23.5	22.2	17.6	13.8	22.1	201.5
Awards on appeal
2000–01	2.8	1.6	1.6	2.0	4.8	26.8
2001–02	3.7	2.2	2.0	2.1	6.1	31.5
2002–03	3.3	2.2	2.1	1.8	5.6	28.6
2003–04	3.0	1.9	1.7	1.5	5.2	26.7
2004–05	3.5	2.2	1.6	1.7	5.5	28.2

⁽³¹⁾Figures are based on the 5 per cent. QSE data (and are therefore subject to sampling variation) and are expressed in thousands, rounded to the nearest hundred. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
⁽³²⁾Awards may be for a care component only, or for a mobility component only, or for a care component and a mobility component.
⁽³³⁾Awards have been allocated to Government office regions using the ONS postcode directory.
Source:
DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study for totals and 5 per cent. samples for detail/long time series.





Attendance allowance: number⁽³⁴⁾ of new awards (a) on initial claims; and (b) on appeal in each Government office region⁽³⁵⁾ in Great Britain and in total in each year from 2000–01 to 2004–05

Government office region	North East	North West	Yorkshire and Humber	East Midlands	West Midlands	East
Awards on initial claims
2000–01	14.9	38.6	28.4	24.7	31.1	30.1
2001–02	14.0	36.2	24.4	21.8	27.9	29.0
2002–03	14.2	37.4	25.5	20.9	28.6	29.6
2003–04	14.1	40.5	23.9	22.9	30.7	30.2
2004–05	14.9	39.8	23.7	22.6	29.5	29.8
Awards on appeal
2000–01	*0.4	0.7	*0.4	*0.3	*0.4	*0.3
2001–02	0.5	*0.4	*0.4	*0.4	*0.4	*0.3
2002–03	*0.3	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.7	*0.3
2003–04	*0.4	0.6	0.6	*0.4	*0.4	*0.2
2004–05	*0.4	*0.2	0.5	*0.4	*0.4	*0.3

Government office region	London	South East	South West	Wales	Scotland	Total
Awards on initial claims
2000–01	26.2	36.9	32.8	17.4	28.5	309.6
2001–02	27.0	37.8	28.4	18.0	25.9	290.4
2002–03	28.0	40.4	32.3	17.8	29.8	304.5
2003–04	30.2	44.5	35.1	19.1	31.3	322.6
2004–05	25.9	42.0	33.3	19.8	29.4	310.7
Awards on appeal
2000–01	0.5	0.6	*0.3	*0.3	1.1	5.2
2001–02	0.6	0.7	*0.3	*0.3	1.4	5.7
2002–03	0.5	0.7	*0.3	*0.3	0.9	5.8
2003–04	*0.4	0.5	*0.2	*0.2	0.7	4.7
2004–05	0.7	0.5	*0.3	*0.2	0.7	4.5

⁽³⁴⁾Figures are based on the 5 per cent. QSE data (and are therefore subject to sampling variation—those below 500 are subject to a high degree of sampling error and are marked *") and are expressed in thousands, rounded to the nearest hundred. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
⁽³⁵⁾Awards have been allocated to Government office regions using the ONS postcode directory
Source:
DWP Information Directorate





 
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Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what collaborative projects his Department has undertaken with the Staffordshire police authority to combat fraudulent activities in relation to benefits; and if he will make a statement. [58078]

Mr. Plaskitt: Investigators from the Department for Work and Pensions collaborate with officers from Staffordshire police authority on cases where they have a common interest and where the Department requires police assistance.

The Department is currently collaborating with the police authority on a number of multi-agency investigations into illegal workers using false identities, some of whom were suspected of benefit fraud. The investigations are continuing, and so far a number of people have received custodial sentences; others are still awaiting prosecution.

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what changes the Department has made in decision-making arrangements for the referral of cases of potential fraud for criminal investigation since April 2003. [59000]

Mr. Plaskitt [holding answer 16 March 2006]: There have been no changes in the decision-making process for the referral of cases of potential fraud for criminal investigation since April 2003. The current process is based on a computerised scoring system, the Fraud Referral Intelligent Scorecard (FRISc). Using this system, each referral is given a score based on pre-determined criteria. Cases that attain a score above a set level are referred for investigation by the Fraud Investigation Service.

From 1 April 2006, we are introducing a revised referral decision system that will also identify cases that require action at a level below the criminal law standard. Cases identified under the new system will be referred for action by Customer Compliance Officers. Customer Compliance Officers will deal with cases of lower level fraud, enabling the Fraud Investigation Service to concentrate its resource on cases requiring criminal investigation.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what targets his Department has set to ensure that claims for (a) jobseeker's allowance, (b) income support and (c) incapacity benefit are paid at the earliest possible date after the initial claim has been made; [48977]

(2) what steps he is taking to ensure benefits are paid to claimants in the Chesham and Amersham constituency as quickly as possible after a claim is made. [48978]

Margaret Hodge [holding answers 6 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:

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to reply to your questions asking what targets his Department has set to ensure that claims for (a) Jobseeker's Allowance, (b) Income Support and (c) Incapacity Benefit are paid at the earliest possible date after the initial claim has been made, and what steps he is taking to ensure benefits are paid to claimants in the Chesham and
 

27 Mar 2006 : Column 716W
 

Amersham constituency as quickly as possible after a claim is made. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

Jobcentre Plus does not have targets for benefit processing times. However, data relating to claim clearance times is collected and measured against acceptable standards of delivery" that are set at the beginning of each year. By this we mean how many working days it takes, on average, to process benefit claims. This is referred to as the Actual Average Clearance Time (AACT) and each benefit is set its own AACT benchmark.

The information requested is in the table.

	Acceptable standards of delivery (days)
Jobseeker's Allowance	12
Income Support	12
Incapacity Benefit	19

A range of actions are underway to improve benefit clearance times in the Chesham and Amersham constituency. These include:

moving work around the Benefit Delivery Centre network;

drafting in additional staff and telephone teams;

establishing dedicated arrears clearance teams; and

deploying experienced officers on more complex claims to reduce delays.

These actions are designed to deal with outstanding claims by the beginning of April. New claims for Jobseeker's Allowance, Incapacity Benefit and Income Support are already being delivered within acceptable average clearance times.

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the annual cost of uprating housing benefit and council tax benefit earnings disregards for (a) a single person to £8.35, (b) a couple to £16.75, (c) higher rate recipients to £25.10 and (d) lone parents to £38. [59800]

Mr. Plaskitt: The estimated additional benefit expenditure that would arise from such an uprating is in the following table.
Annual cost of uprating housing benefit and council tax benefit earnings disregards £ million

	Housing benefit	Council tax benefit
Single person to £8.35	9	2
Couple to £16.75	16	8
Higher rate recipients to £25.10	4	2
Lone parents to £38	38	7
Total	67	19

Notes:
1.The costs are rounded to the nearest £1 million and are for Great Britain.
2.The impact is estimated using the Department's Policy Simulation Model for 2005–06, using data from the 2003–04 Family Resources Survey up-rated to 2005–06 prices, benefit rates and earnings levels, and is calibrated to latest published forecasts and policies.
3.Results are subject to sampling and reporting errors and estimation assumptions, and are therefore indicative only. No behavioural changes are assumed.

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2006, Official Report, column 590W, on benefits, what the principal reasons were for the decision
 
27 Mar 2006 : Column 717W
 
not to implement the simplification of the non-dependent deduction regime proposed in the Housing Green Paper, Quality and Choice: A decent Home for All", in 2000; and if he will make a statement. [57960]

Mr. Plaskitt: The Government's reasons for not taking forward options to simplify non-dependent deductions were set out in paragraph 10.54 of The Way Forward for Housing" published in December 2000:

There are a number of changes raised in the Green Paper which we don't intend to pursue at this time. These include further reform of disregards, tapers and non-dependent deductions. Given the current problems, sorting out the administration, combined with our benefit run-ons", will have more impact on work incentives than changing additional rules in these areas".

Although we have not taken forward the options in the Green Paper, there have been reforms to the non-dependent deduction scheme. From October 2003, if the householder or their partner is aged 65 or more, and a non-dependant moves into their home or an existing non-dependant's circumstances change to increase the deduction, then the start of the deduction or increase in deduction is delayed for 26 weeks. Also, from April 2005, if the non-dependant is on pension credit, no deduction is made in respect of that non-dependant.

However, as with all aspects of the benefit system, the provisions for non-dependants in housing benefit will continue to remain under review.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Denton and Reddish constituency, (b) Tameside metropolitan borough and (c) Stockport metropolitan borough are in receipt of (i) disability benefit and (ii) income support. [58008]

Mr. Plaskitt: The most recent available information is in the table.
Income support and disability living allowance claimants:August 2005

	Income support	Disability living allowance
Denton and Reddish constituency	3,600	5,300
Tameside MBC	9,500	13,000
Stockport MBC	8,100	12,200

Notes:
1.Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred .
2.Pension credit replaced minimum income guarantee (MIG) on 6 October 2003. Residual MIG cases have been excluded from the income support figures. These are mainly cases where the claimant is aged under 60 and the partner over 60.
3.Disability living allowance figures show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and excludes people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example where they are in hospital.
Source:
DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average cost is of making a home visit to benefit (a) claimants and (b) recipients. [52223]

Mr. Plaskitt: Jobcentre Plus and the Pension Service staff carry out home visits. Home visits carried out by Jobcentre Plus can include work on behalf of other
 
27 Mar 2006 : Column 718W
 
agencies. Information to enable an estimate of the average cost of home visits made by Jobcentre Plus is not routinely collected and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

The Pension Service Local Service offer a holistic full benefit check service on all home visits, regardless of the original referral reason for the visit. The average cost of a home visit is the same for both new and existing customers, as a visit may be made to a pension credit recipient, which results in a new application for another benefit. The average cost of a home visit is £75 per visit to both claimants and recipients.

Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to ensure deaf adults claim the benefits to which they are entitled. [57720]

Mrs. McGuire: The Disability and Carer Service (DCS) have a number of initiatives in place to help people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These include the Customer Information Leaflet (CIL) which is produced in British Sign Language (BSL) in both video and DVD format. All DCS offices have text-phones with text-phone numbers that are published to the public. Typetalk is also available (a BT service that enables a customer who is deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired to communicate via a third party on the telephone).

For face-to-face contact with customers accessing our services, some DCS staff have BSL interpreting qualifications and DCS staff can also book external BSL interpreters via RNID or contact the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People (CACDP). In addition, DCS are currently producing an information video and DVD, You Can Benefit", which includes subtitles, audio and a BSL interpreter.

Pension Centres and Jobcentre Plus offices are equipped with audio induction loops, high-powered earphones, radio microphones and text-phones. Training and guidance on deaf and hard of hearing issues are routinely provided for staff. The Pension Service Local Service teams use a portable communication aid to support those people who are hard of hearing.

The Pension Service are working with the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) to ensure that the service achieves the RNID Louder than Words accreditation, which has already been attained by the National Pension Centre.

Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Oxford, East constituency receive council tax benefit; and how many have received it in each of the last 10 years. [58271]

Mr. Plaskitt: The information is not available in the format requested. Council tax benefit information is not available broken down by parliamentary constituency. A breakdown of the figures by age is not available prior to 2003. The available information for Oxford city council is in the table.
 
27 Mar 2006 : Column 719W
 

Council tax benefit recipients aged 60 years or over in the Oxford city council area

	Number
August
2003	4,000
2004	3,600
2005	3,700

Notes:
1.The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple where either the claimant or partner is aged 60 years or over.
2.Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.
3.Figures exclude any single adult rebate cases.
Source:
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken between August 2003 and August 2005.

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the maximum level of income is at which council tax benefit is payable for a single earner household with two adults and two children; and if he will make a statement. [59343]

Mr. Plaskitt: There is no prescribed maximum income above which council tax benefit would cease to be payable. The amount of income required to float someone off council tax benefit will depend on the level of council tax for which the household is liable, and the makeup and characteristics of the claimant's household.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents in (a) Denton and Reddish constituency, (b) Tameside metropolitan borough and (c) Stockport metropolitan borough are (i)entitled to and (ii) receiving council tax benefit. [57827]

Mr. Plaskitt: Information on council tax benefit is not available broken down by parliamentary constituency.

The latest available information on unclaimed council tax benefit is in Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take Up in 2003–04", a copy of which is in the Library.

As at August 2005, the most recent available figures, there were 20,700 households in the Stockport metropolitan borough council area and 22,000 households in the Tameside metropolitan borough council area in receipt of council tax benefit.

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State forWork and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2006, Official Report, column 246W, on housing benefit, what research evidence base his Department is using to determine policy decisions on the non-dependent deduction regime for housing benefit. [57959]

Mr. Plaskitt: The current system of non-dependant deductions has been in place since 1992, with an increase in the number of non-dependant deduction bands from four to six in 1996. The latest research specifically about non-dependant deductions is: Paying for Rented Housing: Non-Dependant Deductions from Housing Benefit". A copy is available in the Library. The Department has implemented several recommendations
 
27 Mar 2006 : Column 720W
 
made in this report, including improvements to the notification processes and concessions to those aged 65 and over.

Note:

Department of Social Security Research Report no. 43, published in 1996.

Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the likely average change in amount received for those who receive the replacement for incapacity benefit. [60481]

Mrs. McGuire: The new employment and support allowance will focus on how we can help people into work and will not automatically assume that because a person has a significant health condition or disability they are incapable of work. It will be an integrated, contributory and income-related allowance, replacing current incapacity benefit and income support on the grounds of incapacity. The allowance will provide underlying and targeted financial support for those with needs arising from health problems and disabilities. It will be built on the principle of rights and responsibilities, rewarding those who take steps to realise a return to work where that is reasonable. The new allowance will do much to remove the complexity surrounding existing benefits.

Details of the exact benefit rates of this new allowance have yet to be decided.

Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the benefit replacing incapacity benefit will be taxable. [60482]

Margaret Hodge: Taxation is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer and an announcement will be made in due course.

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of incapacity benefit were also in receipt of (a) housing benefit and (b) council tax benefit in the latest period for which figures are available. [59853]

Mr. Plaskitt: As at May 2004, the most recent date for which figures are available, there were 519,000 housing benefit households and 583,000 council tax benefit households in which the claimant or their partner also claimed incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance.

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the take-up rate of each category of means-tested benefit was in each year since 1997. [60614]

Mr. Plaskitt: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave my right hon. Friend the Member for North Tyneside (Mr. Byers), on 3 March 2006, Official Report, column 1034W.

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