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24 Jan 2007 : Column 1868W—continued


24 Jan 2007 : Column 1870W
The number of agency people working on the National Helpline who have access to both computer systems and those who have access to the CSCS only
January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006

Child Support computer system only

Full-time equivalent

97

99

114

108

119

118

Individuals

115

123

134

134

141

140

CS2 and Child Support computer system

Full-time equivalent

332

357

350

341

347

345

Individuals

415

417

434

446

446

438


July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006

Child Support computer system only

Full-time equivalent

111

111

117

118

115

115

Individuals

133

133

142

147

142

142

CS2 and Child Support computer system

Full-time equivalent

350

349

361

357

351

349

Individuals

447

435

451

452

445

443


Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the sanctions available to the Child Support Agency to apply against non-compliant non-resident parents. [113555]

Mr. Plaskitt: The Child Support Agency is currently able to apply to the magistrates court, seeking an order to disqualify the non-resident parent from driving (for a maximum of two years) or to commit the non-resident parent to prison (for no longer than 42 days).

Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many deduction from earnings orders were applied through the Child Support Agency in each year for which figures are available. [113559]

Mr. Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 24 January 2007:

Month ending Cases with DEO or DER as method of maintenance collection

November 1995

41,000

November 1996

64,000

November 1997

91,000

November 1998

119,000

November 1999

136,000

November 2000

141,000

November 2001

139,000

November 2002

139,000

November 2003

November 2004

136,000

November 2005

153,000

September 2006

165,000

Notes:
1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand.
2. The table includes deduction from earnings orders (DEOs) and deduction from earnings request (DERs). DERs are the equivalent method of collection when the non-resident parent is a member of the armed forces.
3. November 1995 is the earliest month for which data is available and September 2006 is the most recent. Data on the old scheme prior to March 2003 are only available quarterly for irregular quarters (February, May, August, and November). As such, figures are shown at yearly intervals from November 1995 onwards except for September 2006.
4. Robust information covering the period March 2003 to February 2004 is not currently available, so no figure is available for November 2003.
5. The table includes those old scheme cases with a full maintenance assessment, and those new scheme cases with either a full maintenance calculation, or a default maintenance decision. Old scheme cases with a punitive interim maintenance assessment (an imposed assessment due to the non co-operation of the non-resident parent), a small number of which would have deductions from earnings orders in place, are excluded from this analysis in line with the Agency’s target definitions, as are new scheme cases being processed clerically.

24 Jan 2007 : Column 1871W

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what definition his Department uses of (a) uncollectable and (b) collectable Child Support Agency arrears; and if he will make a statement; [102240]

(2) what definitions his Department uses for unpaid Child Support Agency maintenance that is (a) probably uncollectable and (b) possibly collectable; and if he will make a statement. [102242]

Mr. Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 24 January 2007:

Definitions of Poverty

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what definition of poverty for older people is used by (a) his Department and (b) the EU. [115915]

James Purnell: The Department does not have a single official measure of poverty for older people. Specific information regarding low income is available in “Households Below Average Income 1994-95 -2004-05”. The threshold of below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income is the most commonly used in reporting trends in low income.


24 Jan 2007 : Column 1872W

Indicators of material well being, including income and wealth, are reported on as part of the Government’s “Opportunity for All” strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion, and as part of “Opportunity Age”, its strategy for an ageing society.

The agreed EU definition of the risk of poverty among the elderly is the proportion of people aged 65 and over with an equivalised income of less than 60 per cent. of the overall median equivalised income, calculated separately for each member state. This differs from the Department’s measure of low income which takes into account all pensioners, that is, includes women aged 60-64, and looks at income both before and after housing costs.

The EU also reports on a number of other indicators of income and living conditions, reflecting the fact that having an income below the 60 per cent. of median income threshold is not the only indicator of poverty.

Job Vacancies

Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many job vacancies were notified to the jobcentre in Peterborough constituency in each month since May 1997. [114854]

Mr. Jim Murphy: The available information is in the following table.


24 Jan 2007 : Column 1873W
Vacancies notified to Jobcentre Plus in the Peterborough parliamentary constituency
Month of notification Number of vacancies

April 2004

680

May 2004

690

June 2004

560

July 2004

660

August 2004

660

September 2004

690

October 2004

1,240

November 2004

780

December 2004

630

January 2005

500

February 2005

670

March 2005

530

April 2005

700

May 2005

540

June 2005

530

July 2005

580

August 2005

630

September 2005

900

October 2005

870

November 2005

790

December 2005

510

January 2006

510

February 2006

520

March 2006

610

April 2006

1,070

May 2006

880

June 2006

610

July 2006

830

August 2006

1,020

September 2006

1,220

October 2006

980

November 2006

850

Notes:
1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
2. Jobcentre Plus boundaries do not match directly to parliamentary constituency boundaries. Therefore, figures quoted are aggregate totals for vacancies notified in the Peterborough parliamentary constituency.
3. Figures are not fully comparable over time and may not indicate developments in the labour market.
Source:
DWP Information Directorate Jobcentre Plus Labour Market System

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