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25 May 2006 : Column 2038W—continued
During September 2005 the system that records the number of inbound calls and calls available to be answered did not accurately record data on two days. This resulted in the calls in columns (i) and (iii) to be under recorded, because of missing data.
In April 2006 we improved the recording process. We can now record the point at which a call is abandoned, of the total 5,029 calls abandoned in April, 1,043 reached the point where they could have been answered i.e. in the adviser queue.
I hope this information is helpful.
Post Office Card Accounts
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 15 February 2006, Official Report, column 2187W, on Post Office card accounts, what conclusions his Department has drawn from its recent pilot studies testing approaches to moving people from Post Office card accounts to bank accounts as to (a) the number of current Post Office card account users who will continue to use the post office and (b) the impact that the termination of the Post Office card account will have on rural post offices; and if he will make a statement. [73575]
Mr. Plaskitt: The pilots ran between 13 February and 10 March 2006. We have just finished evaluating the results and are in the process of sharing the results with the Post Office. I will place a summary report of the findings in the Library shortly.
Single Room Rent Restrictions
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will commission research into the barriers vulnerable young people face in accessing privately rented shared accommodation at a rent at or below the local single room rent restriction. [68453]
Mr. Plaskitt: We published research on the single room rent last year as DWP research report 243 “Research into the Single Room Rent Regulations”. A copy is available in the Library. There are currently no plans to commission any further research. The current evaluation of the local housing allowance pathfinders in the private rented sector will be completed later this year and will inform our plans for the further reform of housing benefit in the private rented sector.
Staff Surveys
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff surveys have been conducted in his Department in each of the last three years. [72865]
Mrs. McGuire: A corporate departmental survey has been conducted in DWP annually for the last three years. In addition, smaller interim surveys were conducted in 2004 and 2005. The annual surveys are censuses; the interim surveys are random samples.
In addition to these surveys, different parts of DWP have used ad hoc staff surveys to gauge opinion on specific issues as part of continuous improvement work.
Television Sets
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many television sets are in operation in the Department (a) in total, (b) in Ministers’ private offices and (c) in each office building in the Department; and how many television licences are held by the Department. [62801]
Mrs. McGuire: There are 589 television sets in operation in the Department for Work and Pensions of which 12 are in Ministers’ private offices.
We are not able to provide an accurate figure on how many television sets are in each office building as the information is not recorded in the format requested. To provide that would incur disproportionate cost.
The Department is covered by 444 television licences.
In establishing this answer the Department has also consulted the Health and Safety Executive and the Rent Service, both Executive Agencies for which the Department is responsible across the country.
Communities and Local Government
Antisocial Behaviour
John Mann: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which councils have not prosecuted any tenants for antisocial behaviour. [65161]
Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
There are a wide range of powers available to local authorities to tackle the antisocial behaviour of both tenants and residents. We do not have full data on the use of these powers.
We are taking steps to improve data on uptake of housing related powers. For example, my department has asked that local authorities collect data on use of possession and demotion from last year (2005-06), which will be available in the summer.
Arm's Length Management Organisations
Mr. Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many arm’s length management organisations which have been inspected have achieved (a) no stars, (b) one star, (c) two stars and (d) three stars. [70997]
Yvette Cooper: Some 45 arm’s length management organisations have had at least one inspection. Based on the most recent inspection for each of those ALMOs, one has achieved no stars, five have achieved one star, 29 have achieved two stars and 10 have achieved three stars.
Mr. Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many applications she has received from councils to set up (a) stock-transfers and (b) arm’s length management organisations in the next round. [71005]
Yvette Cooper: We have yet to invite applications. We will open the bidding round shortly.
Mr. Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what housing stock has been transferred from local authority control to arm's length management organisations; and how many transfers were based on (a) a ballot of tenants and (b) other methods of seeking tenant approval. [71006]
Yvette Cooper: Local authorities do not transfer their housing stock to arms length management organisations (ALMOs). The stock and the ALMO remain wholly owned by the local authorities. ALMOs are set up by local authorities to manage all or part of their housing stock.
The Department for Communities and Local Government does not prescribe how a local authority should demonstrate tenant approval for the transfer of the management of the authority's housing functions to an ALMO. However, a local authority must demonstrate that tenants have been fully involved in the process in order to be successful in their ALMO application. They should also show that tenants will continue to be consulted about the ALMO’s operation and performance.
The following table lists which ALMOs have held ballots and which have used other methods.
| Held a ballot | Used other method to test opinion |
|
Sheffield: Bard Street, Richmond/Spinkhill, Sky Edge and Upper Manor | |
Mr. Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will list transfers to arm’s length management organisations since 1999; and what the estimated value is of each item of stock. [71016]
Yvette Cooper: Local authorities do not transfer their housing stock to arm’s length management organisations (ALMOs). The stock and the ALMO remain wholly owned by the local authorities. ALMOs are set up by local authorities to manage all or part of their housing stock.
The ALMO programme has been running since 2001-02. Since then, 57 local authorities have transferred their housing management functions to an arm’s length management organisation (ALMO). They are listed as follows. Because this is a management contract between the ALMO and the local authority, the Department for Communities and Local Government does not estimate the value of the individual items of housing stock.
Arm’s length management organisations:
ALMO round 1-announced 29 November 2001
Ashfield
Derby
Hounslow
Kirklees
Rochdale
Stockton-on-Tees
Westminster
Wigan
ALMO round 2-announced 29 May 2002
Barnsley
Blyth Valley
Bolton
Brent
Carrick
Cheltenham
Colchester
Hillingdon
Kensington and Chelsea
Leeds?East
Leeds?North East
Leeds?North West
Leeds?South
Leeds?South East
Leeds?West
Oldham
Salford (withdrawn)
Waltham Forest (withdrawn)
ALMO round 3-announced 28 July 2003
Barnet
Camden (withdrawn)
Easington
Gateshead
Harrow (withdrawn)
High Peak
Islington
Newcastle
Poole
Sheffield (partial)
Solihull
South Lakeland
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