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24 May 2006 : Column 1797W—continued

Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Personal Data)

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training is given to (a) Jobcentre Plus and (b) other benefits staff on dealing with queries from hon. Members in relation to the Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Personal Data) (Elected Representatives) Order 2002. [64438]

Mrs. McGuire: No specific training on this particular Order is provided to Jobcentre Plus or other DWP staff. However, all staff in the Department must use the Personal Information Policy Guide when dealing with requests for personal information relating to our customers or staff. This is the primary guidance within the Department dealing with personal customer information and when it may be passed to third parties. The Guide contains specific instructions for staff to follow when a request is received under The Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Personal Data Elected Representatives) Order 2002: SI 2002 no. 2905.


24 May 2006 : Column 1798W

Departmental Expenditure

Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the 10 non-public sector entities that have received the largest total sum of payments from his Department in each of the last five years. [71818]

Mr. Jim Murphy: The Department was formed in June 2001. The information for 2001-02 relates to the former Department of Social Security only. Information for 2005-06 will not be available until July 2006. This response covers disbursements (and the value of any other consideration) for goods and services provided under a contract.

Non-public sector entities

2001-02

Consignia (now Royal Mail)

Land Securities Trillium

Electronic Data Systems

British Telecom

Sema Group

Computacenter

Girobank

Capita Business Services

Haden Building Management

Bull Information Systems

2002-03

Electronic Data Systems

Land Securities Trillium

Royal Mail Group

British Telecom

SchlumbergerSema

Remploy

Computacenter (UK)

WS Atkins

Drivers Jonas

Working Links

2003-04

Electronic Data Systems

Land Securities Trillium

Royal Mail Group

British Telecom

Atos Origin/SchlumbergerSema

Remploy

Computacenter (Uk)

Central Office Of Information

2004-05

Electronic Data Systems

Land Securities Trillium

Royal Mail Group

British Telecom

Atos Origin

Remploy

IBM

Capita

Accenture


24 May 2006 : Column 1799W

Departmental Targets

Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what targets his Department hasset for the number of days taken to rate claims for (a) income support, (b) jobseeker's allowance and (c) incapacity benefit in Tamworth constituency; [71234]

(2) how many days it took to rate a claim for (a) income support, (b) jobseeker's allowance and (c) incapacity benefit in Tamworth constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available. [71235]

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.

Letter from Lesley Strathie:

Jobcentre Plus Target AACT 2006-07 AACT Hanley BDC April 2006

Income Support

11 days

11.4 days

Jobseeker's Allowance

12 days

14.6 days

Incapacity Benefit

18 days

11.7 days


Equal Pay

Ms Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of Statefor Work and Pensions how many (a) women and (b) men are employed in the Department; what the average pay was for (i) women and (ii) men in the Department in (1) 1997 and (2) 2006; what women's average pay is as a percentage of men's average pay; and how many (A) women and (B) men the Department employed in each of the last five years, broken down by grade. [67791]

Mrs. McGuire: The information is as follows:

1. How many women and men are employed in the Department:

The Cabinet Office collects and publishes annually statistical information on the civil service by Department. This includes data on the employment of men and women.


24 May 2006 : Column 1800W

2. Average pay for women and men in the Department in 1997 and 2006:

Table 1 shows the number of men and women by salary band at 31 October 2002, the first period available following the creation of DWP in 2001 and subsequent reorganisations as a result of its formation.

Table 1: DWP Staff by gender on salary bands at 31 October 2002
Salary band Male Female Total

Up to £10,000

3,810

7,043

10,853

£10,001-£15,000

21,154

56,047

77,201

£15,001-£20,000

12,235

27,599

39,834

£20,001-£25,000

3,691

5,737

9,428

£25,001-£30,000

1,255

1,167

2,422

£30,001-£35,000

373

281

654

£35,001-£40,000

272

191

463

£40,001-£45,000

171

107

278

£45,001-£50,000

143

64

207

£50,001-£55,000

54

29

83

£55, 001-£60,000

57

28

85

£60,001-£65,000

22

8

30

£65,001-£70,000

23

9

32

£70,001-£75,000

17

13

30

£75,001 and over

49

13

62

Total

43,326

98,336

141,662

Median salary

14,710

14,710

14,710


Table 2: DWP Staff by gender on salary bands at 31 March 2006
Salary band Male Female Total

Up to £10,000

12

13

25

£10,001-£15,000

14,261

27,780

42,040

£15,001-£20,000

10,345

31,130

41,474

£20,001-£25,000

9,233

20,817

30,050

£25,001-£30,000

3,119

5,020

8,139

£30,001-£35,000

1,123

1,212

2,335

£35,001-£40,000

304

265

569

£40,001-£45,000

305

262

567

£45,001-£50,000

187

145

332

£50,001-£55,000

226

144

370

£55,001-£60,000

97

88

185

£60,001-£65,000

84

48

132

£65,001-£70,000

37

26

63

£70,001-£75,000

34

12

46

£75,001 and over

92

30

122

Total

39,459

86,992

126,451

Median salary

17,248

16,740

16,740


The salaries do not include any allowances or overtime, nor are they adjusted for liabilities such as national insurance, income tax or occupational pension contributions. The numbers are a headcount, that is, all staff are counted as one irrespective of their working pattern.

The 25 records where salary is below £10,000 (which is below the minimum of the lowest pay scale in DWP) relate to those staff on recurring periodic appointments who are paid manually. The records therefore show their salary as 0.

3. How many women and men the Department employed in each of the last five years broken down by grade:



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