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29 Mar 2007 : Column 1706W—continued


Number and percentage of incapacity benefit (IB)/severe disablement allowance (SDA) terminations in non -Pathways to Work areas
Quarter ending Up to 4 months Up to 4 months (percentage) 4-12 months 4-12 months (percentage)

February 2003

41,800

1.5

36,100

1.3

May 2003

55,300

2.0

46,900

1.7

August 2003

55,800

2.1

47,000

1.7

November 2003

57,100

2.1

46,700

1.7

February 2004

48,600

1.9

44,100

1.7

May 2004

45,600

1.8

42,300

1.6

August 2004

42,700

1.7

43,900

1.8

November 2004

45,700

1.9

44,100

1.8

February 2005

42,300

1.7

43,300

1.8

May 2005

43,700

1.8

42,800

1.7

August 2005

40,000

1.6

39,800

1.6

November 2005

40,000

1.7

37,400

1.5

February 2006

35,300

1.5

39,700

1.6

May 2006

35,700

1.5

42,500

1.8

August 2006

29,700

1.3

32,600

1.4

Notes.
1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred
2. Numbers are based on a five per cent. sample, and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
3. These figures should be used as a guide to the current situation only.
4. Local authorities and Government office regions are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory.
5. Bridgend, Renfrewshire and Derbyshire were introduced as the first Pathways to Work areas in October 2003.
6. East Lancashire, Essex, Gateshead and South Tyneside and Somerset were introduced as Pathways to Work areas in April 2004
Source:
Information Directorate five per cent. sample

Industrial Health and Safety: Cannabis

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of the regular use of cannabis on the performance at work of those employees on whom the health and safety of members of the public depend. [127806]

Mr. Plaskitt [holding answer 19 March 2007]: No such assessment has been made.

However, in 2004, Cardiff university produced a research report for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on the impact of illegal drug use in the workplace. The report is available on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr193.pdf.

Jobcentre Plus

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what checks are undertaken by Jobcentre Plus to ensure that jobs advertised by agencies via Jobcentre Plus facilities exist and are not attempts to obtain CVs. [125668]


29 Mar 2007 : Column 1707W

Mr. Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.

Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 29 March 2007:

Jobcentre Plus: Telephone Services

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many calls to the central 0845 608 8564 Jobcentre Plus number were made in each month for which records are available; what the average time taken to answer customer calls to the number was in each month; and how many calls to the number were terminated before being answered in each month; [127850]

(2) what the maximum cost per minute is of calling the central 0845 608 8564 Jobcentre Plus number from (a) a land line and (b) a mobile telephone; [127851]

(3) which sections of Jobcentre Plus have to use the central 0845 608 8564 Jobcentre Plus number to make inquiries with central benefits teams; and which sections have alternative numbers by which to contact central benefit teams; [127852]

(4) how telephone and fax numbers for central benefits teams are circulated to (a) Jobcentre Plus offices and (b) Citizen's Advice Bureau offices. [127853]

Mr. Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.

Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 29 March 2007:


29 Mar 2007 : Column 1708W

Jobseeker's Allowance

Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in how many constituencies more people claimed job seeker’s allowance at the end of 2006 than at the end of 1997. [118900]

Mr. Plaskitt: Nationally, the number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance in Great Britain in December 2006 was a third less than in December 1997.

There were twenty-four constituencies in England where the number of people in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance at December 2006 was greater than the number receiving jobseeker’s allowance at December 1997.

There are no constituencies in Wales with such an increase.

Comparable Information is not available for Scottish constituencies due to major boundary changes between the two dates. However, for Scotland as a whole less people were in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance in 2006 than in 1997.

Members: Correspondence

Mr. Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects the Minister of State for Pension Reform to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Argyll and Bute dated (a) 2 January and (b) 9 February on a constituent from the Isle of Mull. [130679]

Mr. Plaskitt: The hon. Member's letter was replied to on 29 March 2007.

New Deal

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the training providers of the new deal programmes, broken down by region. [111226]

Mr. Jim Murphy: This Department delivers new deal in England, Scotland and Wales. Information on new deal training providers in the nine English regions, Scotland and Wales is in the following lists and tables.


29 Mar 2007 : Column 1709W

New deal training providers in English Regions

East Midlands

London

North East

Yorkshire and Humber

South East

South West

North West


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