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22 May 2006 : Column 1481W—continued
Incapacity Benefit
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Government target of reducing the overall number of incapacity benefit claimants by 1 million over the next decade takes account of the number of new claimants eligible in this time span. [72944]
Mrs. McGuire: Our aspiration of a million fewer people claiming incapacity benefits over a decade does indeed take account of the volume of people making a new claim for the benefit and the number of people leaving the benefit. That is why our ambitious proposals outlined in the Welfare Reform Green Paper encompass helping people to retain the jobs they have; get back into employment where they do not have one; and help them stay in work when they get a job.
Our measures are already working, reversing a trend which saw an additional 1.7 million more people claiming incapacity benefits between 1979 and 1997.
While it is difficult to model the precise impact of our proposed measures at this early stage, the Green Paper sets out our aspiration to see a million fewer claimants of incapacity benefits over the course of a decade through the combined efforts of the Government, employers, local authorities and health professionals.
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people received incapacity benefit in each year since 1991, broken down by the condition that enables them to claim this benefit; [68863]
(2) how many incapacity benefit recipients experienced (a) mental and (b) behavioural disorder in each year since 1992, broken down by the type of disorder. [68864]
Mrs. McGuire: Information about incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants broken down by their primary diagnosis is available from 1995. The available information has been placed in the Library.
Jobcentre Plus
Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disability employment officers there are; where they are located; what criteria are used in deciding on their location; and whether account is taken of the number of disabled people in a particular area in determining locations. [69478]
Mrs. McGuire [holding answer 9 May 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.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many disability employment officers there are; where they are located; what criteria are used in deciding on their location; and whether account is taken of the number of disabled people in a particular area in determining locations. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
Jobcentre Plus currently has 570 Disability Employment Advisers (DEAs) nationally. A regional breakdown of where they are located is set out in the table.
| Disability Employment Advisers | |
| Number | |
Local managers have the maximum flexibility in deciding where to locate DEAs. Their decisions take into account local factors, such as the number of disabled people, so that resources are deployed to best meet their customers' needs.
Not all disabled people need to see a DEA. Specialist incapacity benefit personal advisers (SIBPAs) also work with such customers. Jobcentre Plus currently has 595 SIBPAs nationally. A regional breakdown of where they are located is set out in the following table.
| Specialist incapacity benefit personal advisers | |
| Number | |
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training (a) disability employment advisers and (b) other Jobcentre Plus staff receive on awareness of the needs of (i) visually impaired people and (ii) other groups with impairments. [68317]
Mrs. McGuire: 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 what training (a) disability employment advisers and (b) other Jobcentre Plus staff receive on awareness of the needs of (i) visually impaired people and (ii) other groups with impairments. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
A "Working with customers with a Health Condition or Disability" learning module forms a core part of training for all customer facing staff. All advisers who specialise in interviewing people with a disability or health condition, including disability employment advisers (DEAs), receive specialist training which includes this module.
The module provides an overview of health conditions and disabilities and raises staff awareness of various impairments. It looks at attitudes towards disability and suggests the appropriate approach to take in supporting our customers with disabilities. The content of this module includes specific advice on how best to help those people with visual impairments.
Since April 2006, DEAs have had to complete the generic Adviser Skills training of around 22 days, followed by the specialist DEA training.
The approach for DEA training has moved away from focussing on any specific disabilities towards giving advisers the skills to help the individual to recognise their abilities and think through their barriers to work. DEAs also have access to Work Psychologists if they need additional help and advice to assist people with specific impairments.
I hope this is helpful.
Kvaerner Pension Fund
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the implication for pensions protection of the decision of the Pensions Regulator in the case of the Kvaerner Pension Fund; and if he will make a statement. [68396]
James Purnell: This is a matter for the Pensions Regulator who has investigated the circumstances of the case.
The action taken by the regulator is in line with its statutory objective to reduce the risk of situations arising that may lead to claims for compensation from the Pension Protection Fund.
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the Pension Regulator's decision to give clearance to the
Kvaerner Pension Fund ceasing to be a sponsoring employer. [71170]
James Purnell [holding answer 15 May 2006]: No. This is a matter for the Pensions Regulator.
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Kvaerner Pension Fund is eligible to enter the Pension Protection Fund at a future date. [71171]
James Purnell: The criteria for eligibility to the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) are set out in the Pensions Act 2004 and accompanying regulations. The eligibility of the Kvaerner scheme at any particular time would depend on whether it met those requirements at that time.
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has been informed of an application by the Kvaerner Pension Fund to seek entry into the Pension Protection Fund; and if he will make a statement. [71172]
James Purnell [holding answer 15 May 2006]: Scheme entry to a Pension Protection Fund (PPF) assessment period is triggered by the occurrence of a qualifying insolvency event. The PPF has received no approach regarding entry of the Kvaerner pension scheme to the Fund.
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the application by the Kvaerner Pension Fund to the Pensions Regulator to cease its responsibilities as a sponsoring employer. [71374]
James Purnell: [holding answer 16 May 2006]: None. This is a matter for the Pensions Regulator.
Mental Illness
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have received benefits on the basis of mental illness in each of the last five years; and what the cost was. [69979]
Mrs. McGuire: The information is not available in the format requested. Information on the key benefits paid to people with a primary diagnosis within the mental and behavioural disorders or mental health or learning difficulties diagnoses groups is in the tables.
The estimates of benefit expenditure provided understates the true costs of benefit spending on those with the stated conditions, as they do not include any additional income-related benefits which may be in payment. The expenditure figures provided do not include any costs associated with administering the specified benefits.
| Estimated total benefit expenditure, for specified benefits, for those with mental and behavioural disorders or mental health or learning difficulties, 2000-01 to 2004-05 | ||||
| £ million, 2006-07 prices | ||||
| Incapacity benefit | Severe disablement allowance | Attendance allowance | Disability living allowance | |
| Notes: 1. All figures are estimates of expenditure by main diagnosis. 2. Figures for incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance relate to cases that have been diagnosed as having a mental and behavioural disorder. Diagnoses are based on the International Classification of Diseases. For attendance allowance and disability living allowance cases relate to primary diagnosis of mental health problems or learning difficulties. 3. All figures are consistent with the historical outturn expenditure figures published in the DWP's Benefit Expenditure which can be found on the Department for Work and Pensions website at: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/expenditure, asp. 4. All figures are in real terms, calculated using the latest GDP deflator. 5. All figures are rounded to the nearest million pounds. Source: Information for incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance is based on DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. Information for attendance allowance and disability living allowance is based on DWP Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, 5 per cent. sample data. |
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