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8 Jan 2007 : Column 163W—continued
Thefts: Telephone Report
Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the theft of (a) a mobile telephone and (b) a wallet can be reported to the Metropolitan Police on the telephone; and what guidance been has been issued to officers dealing with such enquiries. [109976]
Mr. Coaker: The theft of a mobile telephone and/or a wallet can be reported to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on the telephone. The MPS has a telephone investigation bureau on each borough which will deal with any crime that is suitable to be investigated in this manner. The focus of any initial MPS decision whether to deploy officers to the scene or whether to deal with the matter over the phone will, on the whole, be based on the likelihood of capturing the offender or of obtaining evidence from the scene which may provide lines of inquiry.
The Home Office Counting Rules for Recorded Crime (HOCR), which includes the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS), is issued to forces annually in April. The NCRS, which was introduced in 2002 with the aim of promoting greater consistency between police forces in the recording of crime and of taking a more victim oriented approach to crime recording, contains guidance on dealing with crimes reported to the police. Any report of crime by the public should be dealt with in accordance with the NCRS.
Underage Drinking
Mr. Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was (a) committed and (b) has been paid to local councils for trading standards campaigns against underage drinking at the time of the Football World Cup. [101494]
John Reid: The Police Standards Unit committed a total of £350,000 for Trading Standards test purchase operations for the period including the Summer 2006 Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign and the World Cup, on the basis of payment for operations undertaken. In terms of payments to date, a total of £302,231 has been paid out.
Work and Pensions
Asperger's Syndrome
Mr. David Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what support is given by his
Department to persons with Asperger’s syndrome to assist them in integrating into the work environment. [106368]
Mrs. McGuire: Many disabled people, including some with Asperger’s syndrome, make very effective use of the mainstream job placing services provided by Jobcentre Plus. For those who need more support, Jobcentre Plus provides a range of specialist disability measures for those disabled customers who cannot be helped by these services. Disability employment advisers and incapacity benefit personal advisers can help to find suitable local employment.
People with Asperger’s syndrome may make use of the Access to Work programme, if they need help with the additional costs, caused by their disability, of travelling to work, or can be helped through the provision of a support worker. A support worker can help in a number of ways, for example as a job coach to provide help in breaking a job down into simple steps to make learning easier or as a mentor, advocate or counsellor.
WORKSTEP. People with Asperger’s syndrome may also make use of this programme of supported employment which can provide tailored support to find, and retain jobs for disabled people who have more complex barriers to finding and keeping work. WORKSTEP provides the support and opportunity for people to progress to open employment where this is the right option for the individual. Longer-term support continues to be available for those who need it.
In addition, new deal for disabled people (NDDP) is a voluntary initiative offered to customers on a disability or health-related benefit. A network of providers offer support and services to those on eligible benefits who want to enter work, with the aim of achieving lasting, paid employment. NDDP is available to customers across the full range of health conditions and disabilities, including those with Asperger’s syndrome.
Our highly successful Pathways to Work services, currently operating in 20 Jobcentre Plus districts, help people with a range of health conditions and disabilities. The Pathways to Work programme is primarily aimed at new incapacity benefit customers, but is also available to existing benefit customers on a voluntary basis.
Benefit Payments
Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioner households in (a) Cleethorpes constituency, (b) Great Grimsby constituency, (c) Scunthorpe constituency and (d) Brigg and Goole constituency are receiving (i) pension credit and (ii) pension savings credit; and what the average amount awarded is in each case. [110038]
James Purnell: The answer is in the following tables. The pension credit is made up of two elements, guarantee credit and savings credit, an individual can receive one or both guarantee credit and savings credit.
| Table (a): Number of households in receipt of pension credit by type in Cleethorpes and the average weekly payments—August 2006( 1) | ||
| Type of pension credit | Household recipients | Average weekly payments (£) |
| Table (b): Number of households in receipt of pension credit by type in Great Grimsby and the average weekly payments—August 2006( 1) | ||
| Type of pension credit | Household recipients | Average weekly payments (£) |
| Table (c): Number of households in receipt of pension credit by type in Scunthorpe and the average weekly payments—August 2006( 1) | ||
| Type of pension credit | Household recipients | Average weekly payments (£) |
| Table (d): Number of households in receipt of pension credit by type in Brigg and Goole and the average weekly payments—August 2006( 1) | ||
| Type of pension credit | Household recipients | Average weekly payments (£) |
| (1) The figure provided is an early estimate. The preferred data source for figures supplied by DWP is the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). However, the figure provided is the latest available figure which is taken from the GMS scan at 1 September 2006. These are adjusted using the historical relationship between WPLS and GMS data to give an estimate of the final WPLS figure. Notes: 1. Case loads are rounded to the nearest 10 . Totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the 2005 postcode directory. 3. Household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household. 4. Average weekly payments are shown as £ per week and rounded to the nearest penny. Source: DWP 100 per cent. data from the Generalised Matching Service (GMS) pension credit scan taken as at 1 September 2006. | ||
Benefit Payments: Cleethorpes
Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in each electoral ward in Cleethorpes constituency receive pension credit. [110035]
James Purnell: The answer is set out in the following table.
| Households in receipt of pension credit in each ward in Cleethorpes constituency May 2006 | |
| Ward name | Households |
| Notes: 1. Case loads are rounded to the nearest10. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the 2005 postcode directory. 3. Wards are based on 2003 ward boundaries. 4. Household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household. Source: DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data | |
Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Cleethorpes constituency were in receipt of state benefits in each of the past 10 years, broken down by benefit. [110036]
Mr. Plaskitt: The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Benefit Payments: Tamworth
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Tamworth are claiming incapacity benefit. [105735]
Mrs. McGuire: The number of incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants at 31 May 2006 in the Tamworth parliamentary constituency was 3,530.
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
2. Claimant figures include all incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance (including IB credits only cases).
3. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory.
Source:
DWP Information Directorate, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. Data.
Carers
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his Department's plans to support carers. [103993]
Mrs. McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions recognises the valuable efforts of carers in supporting sick or disabled family members, friends and neighbours.
Depending upon their circumstances, carers have access to the full range of social security benefits. In particular, through payment of carer's allowance, the Department provides income maintenance support to over 450,000 carers providing at least 35 hours of care
per week for severely disabled people receiving attendance allowance, or the equivalent rates of the disability living allowance care component, or a constant attendance allowance paid under the industrial injuries disablement benefit or war pension schemes. Around 216,000 low-income carers are supported through the carer premium in income support and income-based jobseekers allowance, while a further 195,000 receive the carers additional amount in pension credit.
We are continuing to make it easier for carers to claim their benefit entitlements. Since December 2003, carers have been able to make electronic claims for carer's allowance. Next month, we are introducing a shortened claim form for pension-age carers, which will make it easier for them to claim carer's allowance and, subsequently, the carer's additional amount in pension credit.
The Pensions Bill, introduced on 28 November 2006, contains a number of initiatives to help carers build up better entitlement to state pensions. It includes a new ‘carers credit’ for those caring for severely disabled people for at least 20 hours a week, a reduction to 30 in the number of qualifying years needed for a full basic state pension, and changes to make it easier for carers to accrue the second state pension. The reduction in qualifying years for the full basic state pension will particularly help carers with gaps in their work records.
Working age carer’s allowance claimants who wish to combine caring and work have access to a range of support and services available from Jobcentre Plus, for example through the New Deal or a voluntary work focused interview with a trained personal advisor.
As with all our policies, the Department will continue to regularly evaluate its support for carers.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the annual cost of abolishing the overlapping benefit rule for the carers allowance and basic state pension; and if he will make a statement. [103994]
Mrs. McGuire: The estimated gross cost of exempting all pensioners with entitlement to carer's allowance from the overlapping benefits rule would be around £660 million. After adjusting for offsets in income-related benefits and pension credit the net cost would be around £370 million. This estimate does not take account of carers presently not claiming carer's allowance who might be induced to do so by a change in the rules.
Civil Servants
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many of his Department’s civil servants work full-time to support departmental special advisers; and what the salary is of each such civil servant.[106501]
Mrs. McGuire: The Special Advisers in the Department of Work and Pensions are supported by three civil servants. The salary ranges are:
| Range | Number of Civil Servants |
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