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31 Mar 2008 : Column 548W—continued
Foreign Workers: EC Countries
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the percentage of job vacancies filled by migrant workers from other European Union member states in the latest period for which figures are available. [197189]
Mr. Timms: The information requested is not available.
Jobseeker’s Allowance
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average duration is of a claim for jobseeker’s allowance when the claimant maintains their claim (a) in person once a fortnight and (b) by post. [185881]
Mr. Plaskitt: No such breakdown is available because the normal expectation is that people will maintain their claim in person.
For jobseeker's allowance claims ending in January 2008, the median duration of claim was 9.4 weeks (Great Britain).
Notes:
1. Figures are based on computer held cases only.
2. The median indicates that half of the clams ending in January 2008 were shorter than 9.4 weeks and half were longer.
Source:
100 per cent count of claimants of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus Computer Systems.
Jobseeker’s Allowance: Lone Parents
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether lone parents on jobseeker's allowance may be sanctioned or have their claims disallowed if they refuse employment based up to one and a half hours travelling distance from their home. [192924]
Mr. Plaskitt: Jobseeker's allowance is designed to ensure that all jobseekers take every necessary step to get into work, it is not payable to anyone who has, without good cause, failed to take up a reasonable opportunity of employment.
Travelling time is taken into account in deciding whether there is good cause. After the first 13 weeks of entitlement to jobseeker's allowance, reasonable travelling time is normally one and a half hours or less each way. However, a person's health or caring responsibilities
will be taken into account in determining whether the time it would take to travel to work is unreasonable. This applies to all jobseekers, including those who are lone parents.
Pensions
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to reduce the burden of regulation on small defined benefit schemes where all the fund’s assets are held by an insurance company. [197349]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: In May 2006, the Government announced a rolling deregulatory review with the aim of making the private pensions regulatory framework simpler and less burdensome. The current Pensions Bill includes, for example, measures to reduce the statutory cap which applies to the revaluation of deferred pension rights from 5 per cent. to 2.5 per cent. for all defined benefit rights which build up after the change is introduced. That change could potentially provide significant savings for all defined benefit pension schemes. We are taking forward other changes to ease the burden on all defined benefit schemes in secondary legislation and/or guidance, and would welcome further specific proposals for change.
Social Security Benefits
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what recent estimate he has made of the level of benefit uptake among (a) 16 to 30-year-olds, (b) 31 to 65-year-olds and (c) pensioners; [197348]
(2) what estimate he has made of the value of benefits not taken up by (a) 16 to 30-year-olds, (b) 31 to 65-year-olds and (c) pensioners in the last financial year for which figures are available. [197620]
Mr. Plaskitt: Estimates of take-up of the main income-related benefits are available in the Department’s publication series entitled “Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up”. These estimates cover income support, jobseeker’s allowance, pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit. Copies of the latest publication can be found in the Library. The latest report is also available online at:
Breakdowns by specific age group and information on the take-up of other DWP administered benefits are not available.
Social Workers: Labour Turnover
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many social workers left the profession in each of the last 10 years. [195964]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
The Department does not collect this information centrally.
State Retirement Pensions
Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) women and (b) men drew deferred state retirement pensions as a lump sum in the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [195640]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The information requested is in the following table:
| SP caseload as at 31 May 2007 where a lump sum amount is recorded and the deferment period ended in the 12 months to 31 May 2007 | |
| Number | |
| Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10; some additional disclosure control has also been applied. 2. Includes overseas cases. 3. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 4. Figures include inherited lump sums. 5. The option to take a lump sum was introduced in April 2006 but only for those deferring for a minimum of 12 months. Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal study. | |
Tax Allowances: Pensioners
Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with officials on extending the pensioners' tax allowance to women between the ages of 60 and 65 years. [196540]
Jane Kennedy: I have been asked to reply.
Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions on a wide range of issues as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of these discussions.
Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of extending the pensioners' tax allowance to women between the ages of 60 and 65 years. [196541]
Jane Kennedy: I have been asked to reply.
Age related income tax personal allowances are available for people over 65 years of age. The cost of extending the age related income tax personal allowance to all men and women aged 60 to 64 would be around £1 billion in 2008-09. Introducing such a change for women only would cost approximately half this amount but would not be possible as it would discriminate on the basis of gender.
Estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes 2005-06, projected in line with Budget 2008 assumptions.
Prime Minister
Departmental Domestic Visits
Mr. Willis:
To ask the Prime Minister what visits he made to (a) Harrogate International Centre, (b) International Conference Centre, Birmingham, (c) Manchester Central, (d) Scottish Exhibitional and Conference Centre, Glasgow, (e) Edinburgh International Conference Centre, (f) Bournemouth International Conference Centre, (g) the Brighton Centre, Brighton, (h) the Riviera Centre, Torquay, (i) Queen Elizabeth Centre, London, (j) Excel Conference
Centre, Docklands, London, and (k) Business Design Centre, Islington, London, in the period 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2007; and what events he attended at each. [197168]
The Prime Minister: A list of my UK visits will be published in the usual way following the end of the financial year.
Departmental Internet
Mr. Swire: To ask the Prime Minister if he will (a) follow the Internet Content Rating Association (ICRA) guidelines and (b) display ICRA’s label on 10 Downing Street’s website. [191775]
The Prime Minister: The Government are committed to safety online for all users, including children. The Central Office of Information is preparing a new set of guidance for many aspects of the Government web estate.
Mr. David Jones: To ask the Prime Minister what guidance is issued to members of his Office on the authorship and publication on the internet of material relating to their official duties; and if he will make a statement. [196745]
The Prime Minister: The Civil Service Code, the Civil Service Management Code and Propriety Guidance on Government Communications, all provide guidance to staff on the publication of material relating to their official duties. Copies of each of these are in the Libraries of the House. They are also available on the Cabinet Office website.
Departmental Travel
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister on what date he last travelled by rail on official business. [195949]
The Prime Minister: I travel, making the most efficient and cost-effective arrangements, including by rail. My travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in chapter 10 of the “Ministerial Code”, and the accompanying guidance document, “Travel by Ministers”.
Jennifer Moses
Mr. Maude: To ask the Prime Minister on what policy area Ms Jennifer Moses provides advice to the Prime Minister. [198252]
The Prime Minister: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 12 March 2008, Official Report, column 449W.
John McCain
Mr. Davey: To ask the Prime Minister what matters he discussed at his most recent meeting with US Senator John McCain. [198017]
Jo Swinson: To ask the Prime Minister whether he raised the issue of (a) the Israeli-Palestine conflict, (b) climate change, (c) Darfur and (d) Tibet in his recent meeting with Senator John McCain. [197614]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Members to the press briefing given by my spokesman on 20 March 2008. A transcript of this is available on the No. 10 website
and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
Mayor of London
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister how many official meetings he has had with the Mayor of London since 27 June 2007. [195852]
The Prime Minister: I have regular meetings and discussions with ministerial colleagues and others on a wide range of subjects.
National Register of Risks
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Prime Minister whether the information to be published on the National Register of Risks will be made public in unredacted form. [197841]
The Prime Minister: The national register of risks will be written with the express purpose of informing the public of the risks that they face. It will include as much information as possible without prejudicing national security.
National Security
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his oral statement on 19 March 2008, Official Report, columns 925-29, on the national security strategy, when this capacity is planned to be available; whether the individuals will be contracted to serve in dangerous areas; how much has been allocated for the initiative; from what budget; whether the participants will be full-time or on standby; what the implications of the standby capacity for the Post-Conflict Reconstruction Unit are; and what discussions the Government has had with (a) NATO, (b) the EU and (c) other countries on the development of this capacity. [198031]
The Prime Minister: As I announced to the House on 19 March, the UK supports a significant increase and acceleration in international capacity, and will lead this effort by building the UK’s own capacity towards a target of 1,000 stand-by deployable civilians, including police, emergency service professionals, judges and trainers.
The Stabilisation Unit (formerly Post-Conflict Reconstruction Unit), working with relevant departments leads on building capability to deploy civilians into countries emerging from violent conflict. Pre-deployment training and equipment is funded from the Stabilisation Unit’s budget, with the costs of deployments themselves falling primarily to the Stabilisation Aid Fund, Conflict Prevention Pool and the Peacekeeping Budget.
The UK continues to discuss its arrangements to increase capacity with its international partners in the EU, NATO and the UN.
National Security Forum
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Prime Minister what criteria will be used in determining the membership of the new National Security Forum. [196832]
The Prime Minister: The National Security Forum will harness a wide range of expertise and experience. It will include representatives from central and local government, politics, academia, the private and third sectors, and other bodies, as well as people with relevant security experience.
Prime Minister: Visits
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many sporting events outside England he has attended in his official capacity since appointment; [195410]
(2) how many secondary schools he has visited in an official capacity since taking office. [195411]
The Prime Minister: A list of my UK visits will be published in the usual way following the end of the financial year. In addition, since 1999, the Government have published an annual list of all overseas visits undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Copies of these lists are available in the Library of the House.
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