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Non-proliferation (Norwegian Initiative)
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on progress in taking forward the aims of the Norwegian seven country initiative on non-proliferation; and in what form minutes or other records of the meetings of initiative members are made publicly available. [86929]
Dr. Howells: The UK continues to be engaged with this initiative and to further the seven-country agenda in accordance with the principles outlined in the July 2005 Ministerial Declaration made in New York.
There is only one official record, of a 9 June meeting held in the Norwegian embassy in London. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House. I will also arrange for a copy to be sent to my hon. Friend.
Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support her Department has given to Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi to attend functions funded by the Government; what assessment she has made of Sheikh Al-Qaradawi’ views on (a) the use of force against UK forces in Iraq and (b) the use of suicide attacks elsewhere in the Middle East; and if she will make a statement. [86642]
Dr. Howells: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) facilitated and helped fund a “Muslims of Europe Conference” in Istanbul on 1-2 July which was organised and led by a steering group of European Muslim scholars and civil society representatives. The steering group set the agenda and chose the participants. A wide variety of international Muslim scholars attended, including Sheikh Al-Qaradawi. As with all other participants, the FCO paid for travel and accommodation costs.
Sheikh Al-Qaradawi has expressed views on the use of violence in the Middle East with which we certainly do not agree. Unless all leaders in society deliver a clear renunciation of violence as the solution to the problems in the Middle East, and a commitment to political processes to resolve conflicts, the cycle of hate will only continue. The FCO is working to bring influential leaders together to encourage the debate on the unacceptability of violence. The culminating Declaration of the Muslims of Europe Conference, which was agreed by all its participants, contained a strong renunciation of violence and terrorism. The full text is available on the following website: www.muslimsofeurope.com/topkapi.php.
Prime Minister
Iraq
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Prime Minister on which occasions he has (a) met the bereaved families of British soldiers killed in Iraq and (b) visited British soldiers wounded in Iraq in hospital. [86932]
The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Forest of Dean (Mr. Harper) on 27 February 2006, O fficial Report, column 36W.
Ministerial Meetings
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what recent discussions he has had with Sir Ghulam Noon concerning matters connected with (a) party funding and (b) the award of honours; [86693]
(2) what communications he has had with (a) Dr. Chai Patel and (b) Mr. Barry Townsley since his recommendation that they should be elevated to the peerage was rejected. [86694]
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Clwyd, West (Mr. Jones) on 25 May 2006, Official Report, column 1982W.
Missile Defence
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the US Administration on missile defence in each of the last three years. [86669]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 4 July 2006, Official Report, column 961W.
Premiership Anniversary
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister what events are planned to mark the tenth anniversary of his premiership; and if he will make a statement. [86695]
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 17 March 2006, Official Report, column 2581W.
Duchy of Lancaster
Deputy Prime Minister
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much the Government Car Service has spent on providing a car and a driver to the Deputy Prime Minister in each year since 1997-98. [85717]
Dr. Ladyman: I have been asked to reply.
I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 15 June 2006, Official Report, column 1329W given to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles).
Information Commissioner
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans the Cabinet Office has to appeal Information Commissioner ruling FS50086128. [85671]
Hilary Armstrong: The Information Commissioner has recently issued a decision in relation to Freedom of Information requests for this information. A copy of the Information Commissioner’s decision notice and the Cabinet Office’s disclosure in response to the decision is available on the Cabinet Office website at http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/foi/pdf/murdoch.pdf and in the Library for the reference of Members.
Misc 33 Committee
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the (a) purposes and (b) objectives are of the Misc 33 Committee. [86939]
Hilary Armstrong: The purpose of the Ministerial Committee on the Post Office Network (MISC33) is to allow collective consideration of, and decisions on, issues relating to the future of the Post Office network.
Deputy Prime Minister
Casinos
Mr. Moss: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which casinos he has visited in (a) the UK, (b) South Africa, (c) the USA (d) the Far East and (e) Australia in an official capacity since January 2003; and what the (i) date and (ii) time was of each visit. [84192]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Eric Pickles) by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Jim Fitzpatrick) on 8 February 2006, Official Report, column 1243W.
Consultants
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many consultants are working for (a) him and (b) his office; and what the cost of the consultants has been since May 2006. [84921]
The Deputy Prime Minister [holding answer 13 July 2006]: Staffing and expenditure will be accounted for in the Department’s annual report and accounts in the usual way.
Departmental Budget
Mr. Atkinson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what the total cost has been of providing new stationery for his private office since 5 May 2006; [84919]
(2) what the total cost of expenses for his private office was in each month since May 2006. [84920]
The Deputy Prime Minister [holding answer 13 July 2006]: Expenditure will be accounted for in the Department’s annual report and accounts, in the usual way as with other Government Departments.
Mr. Atkinson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what has been the total cost has been of refurbishments to (a) his office and (b) the offices of his members of staff since 5 May. [85059]
The Deputy Prime Minister [holding answer 13 July 2006]: There has been no refurbishment.
Ministerial Anniversary
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 24 May 2006, Official Report, columns 1840-41W, to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar, on the Ministerial Anniversary, what public funding has been allocated to events commemorating his 10 year anniversary as Deputy Prime Minister; when the nature of these events will be announced; and if he will make a statement. [85995]
The Deputy Prime Minister: None.
Ministerial Travel
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he will have the use of the proposed Government official aeroplane in fulfilling his official duties. [84922]
The Deputy Prime Minister [holding answer 13 July 2006]: All travel is undertaken in accordance with the guidance “Travel by Ministers”.
Work and Pensions
Child Support
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will direct the Territorial Army to provide the information requested by the Child Support Agency relating to (a) earnings from regular army duties and (b) reimbursements from Territorial Army activity for Sergeant Gould, currently stationed in the Gulf; and what the reasons have been for the time taken in dealing with this matter by the Territorial Army. [83527]
Mr. Plaskitt [holding answer 10 July 2006]: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the chief executive. He will write to the right hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 20 July 2006:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will direct the Territorial Army to provide the information requested by the Child Support Agency relating to (a) earnings from regular army duties and (b) reimbursements from Territorial Army activity for Sergeant Gould currently stationed in the Gulf; and what the reasons have been for the time taken in dealing with this matter by the Territorial Army.
As details about individual cases are confidential I have written to you separately about this case.
Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what charge Liberata levies for the making of an emergency payment to a parent with care at the request of the Child Support Agency. [83836]
Mr. Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the chief executive. He will write to the right hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 20 July 2006:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what charge Liberata levies for the making of an emergency payment to a parent with care at the request of the Child Support Agency.
The contract with Liberata is part of a wider DWP contract. The charge for making an emergency payment is commercially sensitive and cannot be divulged.
I am sorry I am unable to be more helpful.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many absent parents under the Child Support Scheme have left the country to work abroad in each of the last five years. [84474]
Mr. Plaskitt: The information requested is not currently available.
Mesothelioma
Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has any plans to extend (a) industrial injuries disablement benefit and (b) other relevant benefits to those who suffer from mesothelioma due to exposure to fibres brought home on the clothes of spouses, or other family members, exposed to asbestos at their workplace. [83757]
Mr. Jim Murphy [holding answer 10 July 2006]: The Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Scheme makes payments to people who have become disabled as a result of an accident at work or as a result of contracting an industrial disease in the workplace.
Spouses or other family members with mesothelioma can claim other state benefits such as incapacity benefit and disability living allowance or attendance allowance and can also seek redress through civil action in the courts.
The industrial injuries disablement benefit scheme is under review and we will publish a discussion document later this year, on which all interested parties, can comment.
New Deal Services
Mr. Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what criteria are used in (a) assessing bids and (b) letting contracts to providers of New Deal services; [74095]
(2) what the total value was of New Deal services from contracts let in Gwent by Jobcentre Plus in (a) 2003, (b) 2004 and (c) 2005; [74096]
(3) how many contracts to provide New Deal services were awarded to new providers in (a) 2003, (b) 2004 and (c) 2005; [74097]
(4) what the total value is of contracts in Wales to providers of New Deal services in the (a) charitable, (b) public and (c) private sectors. [74098]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The criteria for the award of New Deal contracts in 2006 included performance, delivery, organisation, capacity, and quality of management, staff, services, premises and facilities. These criteria were published as part of the Jobcentre Plus advice to potential contractors. Contracts were let through a fair and open competitive tendering process and were awarded to those organisations whose bids were judged best able to satisfy those criteria.
Information on the value of New Deal services contracts let in Gwent is not available. The available information is that in 2005 a total of £4,442,143 was paid to providers of New Deal services in the Eastern area of Jobcentre Plus’ South Wales Valleys District. Information for earlier years is not available.
No new contracts for New Deal services were awarded during 2003, 2004 or 2005.
The total value of contracts in Wales for the New Deals, Programme Centres, and Basic Skills assessments for the financial year 2005-06 is £12,382,703, of this £4,152,480 is in the charitable sector, £5,171,324 in the public sector, and £3,058,899 in the private sector.
Older People (Skills Training)
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what (a) grants and (b) training schemes are available through his Department (i) for people over 55 years and (ii) for people in retirement to learn new job skills; [80753]
(2) what paid apprenticeship programmes are available through his Department (a) for people over 55 years and (b) for people in retirement; [80754]
(3) what assistance is available through his Department to people over 55 years who have (a) been made redundant and (b) been redundant for more than one year to assist them to find alternative employment; [80756]
(4) how many people in the UK over 50 years are economically inactive; and what measures he has put in place to tackle this; [80757]
(5) what plans he has to make (a) grants and (b) training schemes available for people (i) over 55 years and (ii) in retirement to learn new job skills; [80779]
(6) if he will take steps to make apprenticeship programmes available through his Department for people (a) aged over 55 years and (b) in retirement to receive on the job training. [80780]
Mr.
Jim Murphy: There are now more people in work in the
United Kingdom (UK) than ever before, up 130,000 in the last quarter
and by 272,000 in the year to June 2006. At 28.94 million this is just
over 2.5 million higher than 1997. There are fewer people out of work
than in the last quarter and economic inactivity has fallen sharply,
down by 121,000. There are currently 2,477,000 people between 50 and
state retirement age
who are recorded as economically inactive in the UK.
When people over state pension age are included, this figure rises to
12,176,000.
Between 1979 and the mid 1990s, the number of people on incapacity benefits in Great Britain (GB) trebled. Growth in the caseload has since slowed significantly, and in November 2005, there were 2.71 million people claiming incapacity benefits, a fall of 61,000 over the year. Although 46 per cent. of those claiming incapacity benefits are aged between 50 and state pension age, between 2000 and 2005 the number of people in this age group fell by 52,000. This has contributed to the overall reduction in the incapacity benefits caseload.
Like other age groups, people aged 50 and over will be able to benefit from the rollout of the successful “Pathways to Work” service across Great Britain which will be completed by 2008. Pathways offers new incapacity benefits customers early support from skilled personal advisers and direct access to a “Choices Package” of employment programmes and clear financial incentives to make work pay. Any incapacity benefits customer will be able to access the support and help available on a voluntary basis.
Also like all other customers, eligible people aged 50 and over, including those above state pension age, can benefit from the range of services provided by Jobcentre Plus, including access to jobs and help and support to find work. This can include programmes such as new deal 25 plus (ND25 plus) which is mandatory for younger participants but can be accessed on a voluntary basis by people above state pension age who are in receipt of pension credit.
Additional help is provided to older people who do not find work quickly. new deal 50 plus is a voluntary programme for people who have been in receipt of benefits, including pension credit, for at least six months. It provides people in GB with advice and guidance from personal advisers, and access to in-work financial help through the 50 plus element of the working tax credit. Since April 2000, the programme has been successful in helping more than 150,000 older workers into employment. Once in work, new deal 50 plus customers can claim a training grant of up to £1,500 for training of which up to £300 can be used for life-long learning.
People aged 50 and over can also be eligible for help from ND 25 plus. People who have been claiming jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) for 18 months, who have not previously participated on ND 25 plus, are required to attend the gateway stage of the ND 25 plus programme. This is a period of up to four months of intensive job search and specialist help and support to improve job prospects. This is followed by the intensive activity period (IAP) which is currently voluntary for people aged 50 and over. The IAP provides further support and pre-work training to help people return to work.
Since April 2004, we have been piloting mandatory participation in the ND 25 plus IAP for people aged 50-59 who have been claiming JSA for 18 months. The pilot has offered people in this age group more extensive help back to work. Interim results are positive and, as announced in our Welfare Reform Green Paper, we intend to commence a phased national rollout.
In terms of people facing redundancy, we work with employer and partner organisations, to provide access to a range of services aimed at helping people find alternative employment. The help provided will vary depending upon particular needs, not the age group of individuals, or the period of unemployment following redundancy. Typically, this involves the provision of information, advice and guidance about jobs and how best to secure alternative employment. In the case of large-scale redundancies that have a significant impact on the labour market, additional help, for example skills training analysis and job focused training can be provided through the rapid response service. This help is not age related but it is time bound to 12 weeks before and 12 weeks following someone being made redundant. In the event that these redundant workers have not found alternative work within this period they then access all the other Jobcentre Plus services stated. The rapid response service is available in England, Scotland and Wales although different processes apply within each country.
Through our Age Positive Campaign, we are working with employers and others to promote the business benefits of an age diverse workforce and best practice on age in recruitment, training and promotion. In May 2005 we launched the “Be Ready” national information campaign to raise employer awareness of, and ability to adopt, flexible employment and retirement opportunities to support the recruitment and retention of older workers in advance of age legislation due in October 2006.
The Department for Education and Skills has responsibility for apprenticeships and training grants. The development and delivery of programmes to help unemployed people in Northern Ireland into work is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Office.
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