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2 Oct 2006 : Column 2595W—continued

Pathways to Work

Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consultation there will be on local partnership arrangements in preparation for the start of provider-led Pathways to Work provision in (a) Oxfordshire, (b) Berkshire and (c) Buckinghamshire from April 2008. [86329]

Mr. Jim Murphy: Provider-led Pathways is scheduled to start in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire district, along with 15 other districts, as part of the final phase of rollout in April 2008.

2 Oct 2006 : Column 2596W

The Jobcentre Plus Pathways to Work team will hold provider events following the publication of the pre-qualification questionnaire and the invitation to tender to promote local partnership working later this year. They will also work with districts to promote Pathways with local strategic partners in order to encourage them to work in partnership with Pathways providers. They will then run a series of joint workshops with providers, local strategic partners and each district. Partnership working will also be encouraged as part of the local start-up arrangements prior to go-live in April 2008.

Post Office Card Account

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many post office card accounts (POCAs) there were in each local authority area in Tyne and Wear in April (a) 2004, (b) 2005 and (c) 2006; and what percentage of customers receiving (i) non-contributory jobseeker’s allowance, (ii) the basic state pension and (iii) pension credit did so via the POCA in each area at each date. [86858]

Mr. Plaskitt: Information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the information which is available.

	Jobseeker’s allowance			State pension			Pension credit
		Accounts paid by POCA			Accounts paid by POCA			Accounts paid by POCA
Local authority	Total accounts	Number	Percentage	Total accounts	Number	Percentage	Total accounts	Number	Percentage
April 2004
Gateshead	3,230	80	2.6	31,030	1,260	4.1	12,280	1,210	9.8
Newcastle upon Tyne	5,530	70	1.2	34,840	1,050	3	15,130	1,180	7.8
North Tyneside	3,340	30	0.8	33,090	960	2.9	10,880	720	6.6
South Tyneside	3,900	100	2.5	24,220	990	4.1	10,180	1,110	10.9
Sunderland	5,280	390	7.4	39,980	1,820	4.6	17,640	2,010	11.4
April 2005
Gateshead	3,300	480	14.6	31,230	9,020	28.9	13,410	6,010	44.8
Newcastle upon Tyne	5,100	1,130	22.2	34,740	9,260	26.7	16,440	7,260	44.1
North Tyneside	3,120	500	16.1	32,950	8,400	25.5	12,230	4,830	39.5
South Tyneside	4,040	760	18.8	24,030	7,780	32.4	11,260	5,230	46.4
Sunderland	4,900	1,080	22.1	40,570	13,500	33.3	19,290	9,290	48.2
April 2006
Gateshead	3,360	680	20.2	31,240	8,660	27.7	13,350	6,020	45.1
Newcastle upon Tyne	5,540	1,330	24	34,520	8,990	26	16,350	7,350	45
North Tyneside	3,310	570	17.4	32,870	8,020	24.4	12,340	4,920	39.8
South Tyneside	3,930	810	20.5	23,750	7,360	31	11,320	5,300	46.8
Sunderland	6,070	1,230	20.3	40,380	12,990	32.2	19,410	9,400	48.4

2 Oct 2006 : Column 2597W

Figures refer to benefit and pension payment accounts live and in payment on the specified date. People in receipt of more than one benefit/pension have been counted for each separate benefit/pension in payment. People who have their benefit/pension combined and paid at the same time have only been counted through the paying benefit.

Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the number of Post Office card account holders who are undischarged bankrupts. [91061]

Mr. Plaskitt [holding answer 13 September 2006]: The Department for Work and Pensions has made no estimate of the number of Post Office card account holders who are undischarged bankrupts.

Poverty

Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of (a) children, (b) people and (c) elderly people in (i) rural areas and (ii) England live in poverty. [88928]

Mr. Jim Murphy: The information for 1996-97 and for 2004-05 is in the following tables.

Proportion of children, all individuals and pensioners falling below 60 per cent. of the contemporary median income, in rural areas: England, 1996-97
Percentages
	Before housing costs	After housing costs
Children	19	27
All individuals	16	21
Pensioners	23	27

Proportion of children, all individuals and pensioners falling below 60 per cent. of the contemporary median income, in rural areas: England, 2004/05
Percentages
	Before housing costs	After housing costs
Children	13	20
All individuals	13	16
Pensioners	20	17
Notes: 1. A pensioner is a person of state pension age or above (65 for men, 60 for women). 2. The urban/rural marker information is not available on a consistent basis on the data for Scotland and Wales. Source: Family Resource Survey

Proportion of children, all individuals and pensioners falling below 60 per cent. of the contemporary median income: England, 1996/97
Percentages
	Before housing costs	After housing costs
Children	24	33
All individuals	18	25
Pensioners	22	28

2 Oct 2006 : Column 2598W

Proportion of children, all individuals and pensioners falling below 60 per cent. of the contemporary median Income: England, 2004/05
Percentages
	Before housing costs	After housing costs
Children	19	28
All individuals	16	20
Pensioners	20	17
Notes: 1. A pensioner is a person of state pension age or above (65 for men, 60 for women). 2. All results shown here are single-year values. Results for England may differ to the published results. Published results are presented as three-year averages to ensure comparability with the other Government office regions. Source: Family Resource Survey

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