| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
8 Jan 2008 : Column 436W—continued
Low Incomes: Council Tax
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in relative poverty were paying full council tax in the latest year for which information is available; and if he will make a statement. [172095]
Caroline Flint: The number of households in relative poverty paying full council tax is 2.7 million (before housing costs) and 3.0 million (after housing costs).
1. The information shown is for Great Britain in 2005-06.
2. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the DWP publication 'Households Below Average Income' series, which uses disposable household income, equivalised for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living.
3. The figures are based on OECD equalisation factors.
4. The preferred measure of low income is by using a threshold of 60 per cent. of the contemporary median income. This is an internationally recognised measure.
5. Figures have been presented on both a before housing cost and after housing cost basis. For before housing cost, housing costs (such as rent, water rates, mortgage interest payments, structural insurance payments and ground rent and service charges) are not deducted from income, while for after housing cost they are. This means that after housing cost incomes will generally be lower than before housing cost.
6. The numbers are in millions rounded to the nearest 100,000.
Source: Family Resources Survey, 2005-06
Minimum Wage
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many London-based staff are employed by his Department on the national minimum wage. [175971]
Mrs. McGuire: There are no London-based staff employed by DWP on the national minimum wage. The pay scale minima for all DWP pay scales are set at a higher level.
Part Time Employment
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of (a) the number of people in part-time work, (b) the proportion of the workforce in part-time work and (c) the number of people in part-time work who are seeking full-time work in each year since 1997. [173913]
Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 January 2008:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about (a) the number of people in part-time work, (b) the proportion of the workforce in part-time work and (c) the number of people in part-time work who are seeking full-time work in each year since 1997. (173913)
The attached table gives the number and percentage of part-time people in employment. The information on people in part-time work who are seeking full-time work was provided in response to a previous PQ (ref 173892).
The LFS estimates at this detailed level are only consistent with the UK population estimates published in February and March 2003 and they do not incorporate the more recent population estimates that are used in the headline LFS series.
Estimates are taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
| Number and percentage of part-time workers in employment, aged 16 and over, April to June 1997 to 2007—United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted | |||
| Thousands, except where indicated | |||
| Total in employment | Part-time | Part-time workers as percentage of all in employment | |
| Note: Comparable data not available for 1998 or 2000. Source: ONS Labour Force Survey (LFS). | |||
Pathways to Work
Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the numbers moving from incapacity benefits into paid employment in (a) Wirral and (b) other Pathways to Work pilot areas; and if he will make a statement. [172580]
Mrs. McGuire: Wirral is part of the Liverpool and the Wirral Pathways to Work area and received the service provided by Jobcentre Plus from April 2006. To the end of April 2007, a minimum of 230 people moved from an incapacity benefit to employment in Wirral. In the same period, in other Pathways pilot areas a minimum of 12,530 people moved from an incapacity benefit to employment.
The Government's successful Pathways to Work programme has been running since October 2003 and rolled out over time to 40 per cent. of the country. The programme has achieved over 69,000 job entries. By April 2008 Pathways will be made available to the whole of Great Britain, with provider-led organisations contracted to deliver the service to the remaining 60 per cent. of the country.
Remploy
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether transitional funding will be provided to assist the transfer of ownership of the Remploy factories in (a) Treforest, (b) Ystradgynlais and (c) Brynamman. [171382]
Mrs. McGuire [holding answer 4 December 2007]: The Secretary of State made clear during his recent statement on the modernisation of Remploy that Remploy has been contacted by third parties interested in keeping some form of production or training at six of the sites due for closure—Lydney, Glasgow Hillington, St. Helens, Treforest, Ystradgynlais and Brynamman. The details of such negotiations are a matter for Remploy.
Social Security Benefits: Personal Records
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what personal account data have been provided by his Department to the National Audit Office in the last 12 months. [167672]
Mrs. McGuire [holding answer 26 November 2007]: As required under the National Audit Office Act of 1983 and the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000, the Department provides access to its records relating to the income, expenditure and liabilities appearing in its accounts. The National Audit Office has regular and routine access to all departmental records, including individual records which contain personal account data.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
British Council
10. Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much grant-in-aid the British Council received in each of the last three years. [175900]
Dr. Howells: The British Council received grant-in-aid totalling £189,210,000 in financial year 2005-06, £188,124,000 in financial year 2006-07, and £192,803,000 in financial year 2007-08. These figures are final as reported in the British Council’s annual reports, copies of which are available from the Library of the House.
Gaza
12. Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Gaza. [175902]
Dr. Howells: We are concerned by the recent violence in Gaza, and call on all parties to restore order to the streets. There is a pressing need to re-open Gaza’s crossings for people and goods.
We remain concerned by the humanitarian situation in Gaza. During 2007, the UK gave over £31 million in aid to the Palestinians. In December, we pledged $500 million over the next three years, and we were pleased at the response of the governments that attended the post-Annapolis Donors’ Conference in Paris before Christmas when $7 billion was pledged.
Kosovo
13. Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Kosovo. [175904]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The status quo in Kosovo is unsustainable. In the absence of agreement between the parties, the Government will continue strongly to support the Ahtisaari proposals for supervised independence as the way forward.
Lebanon
14. Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking to help Lebanon hold democratic elections. [175905]
Dr. Howells: The UK remains deeply concerned by the political crisis in Lebanon. It is essential for Lebanon’s stability that a free, fair and constitutional Presidential election is held without delay. The UK has been working closely with international partners to resolve the crisis, particularly on the UN Security Council and in the EU. I visited Lebanon last month to encourage all parties to resolve their differences by peaceful and democratic means.
Iran
16. Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on relations with Iran; and if he will make a statement. [175907]
Dr. Howells: Iran could be one of the world’s great nations, but it needs to make a choice between engagement and co-operation with the international community, or continuing to refuse to abide by its international obligations which will only lead to further isolation. We urge the Iranian regime to make the right choice by suspending their uranium enrichment programme and honouring all of its international commitments including on human rights.
Climate Change
17. Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the contribution of the EU to securing international agreement at Bali on action to tackle climate change. [175908]
Meg Munn: At Bali we reached an historic agreement. For the first time all countries agreed to start negotiations to achieve a global climate deal by 2009.
EU leadership was central. Last March EU leaders committed Europe to becoming the first low carbon major economy by setting ambitious targets for reducing EU greenhouse gas emissions; and they set out the key elements of the future framework, reflected in the Bali action plan.
Guantanamo Bay
18. Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the US administration on Guantanamo Bay; and if he will make a statement. [175909]
Dr. Howells: The Government have held detailed discussions with the US Administration about five former UK residents held at Guantanamo Bay. Consequently, the US returned three of the men—Mr. Jamil El-Banna, Mr. Omar Deghayes and Mr. Abdennour Sameur—to the UK in December.
The US Government have so far declined our request for the release and return of Mr. Aamer and we are no longer in active discussions regarding his transfer to the UK. We are still discussing with the US the case of Mr. Mohammed. We continue to discuss the welfare of both men with the US.
Iraq
19. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress made on redevelopment of Iraq’s industrial base. [175910]
Dr. Howells: Redevelopment of Iraq’s industrial sector after decades of conflict, sanctions, underinvestment, corruption and poor management is challenging. We welcome Iraqi efforts to improve infrastructure, pass key legislation, such as the Investment Law, and increase budgetary allocations to key Government Ministries eg Ministry of Industry and Minerals.
The UK and our partners continue to support investment, job creation and economic reconstruction through Provincial Reconstruction Teams, international compact, and UK-inspired Basra Economic Package.
Pakistan
20. Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will next meet the Prime Minister of Pakistan. [175911]
Dr. Howells: My right hon. Friend spoke to Prime Minister Soomro on 30 December to express condolences following the murder of Ms Benazir Bhutto and to express the UK’s strong support to Pakistan in combating terrorism and for the country’s continued transition to democracy. Although my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no immediate plans to meet Prime Minister Soomro they agreed to stay in close touch by telephone.
23. Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Pakistan. [175914]
Dr. Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the Statement on Pakistan made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in the House on 7 January 2008, Official Report, columns 21-24.
24. Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Pakistan. [175915]
Dr. Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the statement on Pakistan and Kenya made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in the House on 7 January, Official Report, columns 21-24.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |