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4 Feb 2008 : Column 860W—continued
Jobseeker’s Allowance: Greater London
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people had received job seeker's allowance for two years or more in each London borough at the most recent date for which figures are available; and what steps the Government plan to take to reduce the numbers. [181691]
Mr. Plaskitt: The latest available information is in the following table.
We announced plans for significant changes to the way we help and support jobseeker's allowance customers back into work in our Green Paper Response Paper 'Ready for Work' in December 2007.
From April 2009, a stepped programme of support will be available for all customers from day one. The successful New Deal Gateway will be refreshed and introduced for all customers from six months of a claim. From October 2009, all those unemployed for 12 months will enter a new flexible New Deal, receiving intensive support from a specialist provider. During their time with a provider we expect all customers will enter work or participate in some form of full time activity increasing the chances of work.
| Jobseeker's allowance claimants with a duration of 2 years and over by London borough as at December 2007 | |
| Number | |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five. 2. Figures are based on computer held cases only. Source: NOMIS 100 per cent count of claimants of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus Computer Systems | |
National Insurance
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of his Department's employees who hold temporary national insurance numbers; and what his Department's policy is on the employment of staff with temporary national insurance numbers. [181849]
Mrs. McGuire: No current DWP employees hold a temporary national insurance number (NINO).
The Department's recruitment policy is not to employ people until they can provide a valid NINO.
Pension Credit
Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate he has made of the number of (a) men and (b) women who will have reached the age of 60 between 23 September 2007 and 29 February 2008 who live alone and receive pension credit or jobseeker’s allowance; [181390]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of (a) men and (b) women who will have reached the age of 60 between 23 September 2007 and 29 February 2008 who live in a care home and do not claim pension credit; [181391]
(3) what estimate he has made of the number of (a) men and (b) women who will have reached the age of 60 between 23 September 2007 and 29 February 2008 who live with a partner who receives pension credit or jobseekers’ allowance on their behalf. [181403]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 23 January 2008]: The information requested is not available.
Pension Service: ICT
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many customers were incorrectly identified as being in prison due to a computer fault by the Pension Service over the last 12 months. [179588]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Over the last 12 months, seven Pension Service customers were incorrectly identified as being in prison when in fact this was not the case. All affected cases were related to a winter fuel payment. The error has now been corrected, correct payments allocated and a letter of apology sent to the customers.
Pensioners: Poverty
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the number of old age pensioners living in poverty in (a) Romford, (b) Essex and (c) Greater London. [181686]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Specific information regarding low income for the United Kingdom is available in “Households Below Average Income 1994/95-2005/06”. The threshold of below 60 per cent. contemporary median income is the most commonly used in reporting trends in low income.
The data source does not allow us to provide robust numbers for estimates below the level of Government office region. However the available information for each of the regions containing the areas in the question is given in the following table.
Personal Income: Devon
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of households in North Devon whose income is below 60 per cent. of median UK household income; and if he will make a statement. [183080]
Mrs. McGuire: The information requested is not available below the level of Government office region.
Our child poverty statistics, published in the Households Below Average Income series, allow a breakdown of child poverty by Government office region.
Social Fund: Birmingham
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average length of time was for (a) a decision on and (b) a review of social fund claims from the Birmingham office in the most recent period for which figures are available. [174667]
Mr. Plaskitt: 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.
Reviews of Social Fund applications at the Birmingham office (the Independent Review Service for the Social Fund) are a matter for the Social Fund Commissioner, Sir Richard Tilt. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 4 February 2008:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the average length of time for a decision on social fund applications in the most recent period for which figures are available. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
The average actual clearance times for discretionary social fund applications in Great Britain from April to December 2007 are given in the table.
Social Security Benefits
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were in receipt of at least one benefit at the most recent date for which figures are available. [182549]
Mr. Plaskitt: The estimated number of people in the UK in receipt of at least one benefit including child benefit and state retirement pension is 22,400,000.
Notes:
1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000.
2. Benefit receipt is based on self-assessment and therefore may be subject to mis-reporting.
3. Benefits include retirement pension and child benefit.
Source:
Family Resources Survey, United Kingdom 2005-06.
Social Security Benefits: Administration
Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2008, Official Report, column 1557W, on social security benefits: administration, in what form information on the cost of administering each benefit is collected and collated by the Department. [178801]
Mr. Plaskitt: The Department does not record the costs of administering benefits by benefit type; i.e. information on administering each benefit is not collected and collated by the Department.
However, total administration costs are analysed by Request for Resource (RfR) in the published Resource Accounts, currently split into the following RfR's for the 2006-07 Financial Year, together with the benefits administered:
| Benefit | |
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