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21 July 2008 : Column 862W—continued
Personal Accounts: Small Businesses
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received from representatives of the small business sector on the introduction of personal accounts in 2012. [218878]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: In response to the May 2006 White Paper consultation, Security in retirement: towards a new pensions system, and the December 2006 White Paper Personal accounts: a new way to save, the Department for Work and Pensions received responses from various representatives of the small businesses sector regarding the introduction of personal accounts in 2012.
The organisations broadly welcomed the Government's pension reforms. Full details of the responses are available in:
Security in retirement: towards a new pension system—Summary of responses to the consultation; and
Personal Accounts: a new way to save—Summary of responses to the consultation
DWP Ministers and officials hold meetings with organisations representing the small businesses sector on an ongoing basis.
Rented Housing: Low Incomes
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff worked for the Rent Service (a) at the most recent date for which figures are available and (b) in 1997. [220622]
Mr. Plaskitt: The administration of The Rent Service is a matter for the chief executive of The Rent Service, Patrick Boyle. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Patrick Boyle, dated 18 July 2008:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about The Rent Service, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff worked for The Rent Service a) at the latest period for which figures are available and b) in 1997.
a) The Rent Service had 571 (headcount) staff at the end of June 2008.
b) The Rent Service did not become an Executive Agency until 1 October 1999 therefore figures for 1997 are unavailable.
Social Security Benefits: Fraud
Mr. Clappison:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2008, Official Report, column 740W, on social security benefits: fraud, how many people (a) received a caution and (b) were convicted in respect of an offence
of benefit fraud in each quarter for the last three years for which figures are available; and how many of those convicted were dealt with by way of (i) a discharge, (ii) a fine, (iii) a community sentence, (iv) a suspended sentence, (v) a custodial sentence, (vi) a custodial sentence of more than six months and (vii) a custodial sentence of more than 12 months. [216777]
Mr. Plaskitt: Information broken down by the length of the custodial sentence is not available.
The available information for DWP administered benefits is in the table.
| Caution | Conviction | Discharge | Fine | Community service | Suspended sentence | Custodial sentence | |
| Sources: 1. FIBS (Fraud Information by Sector) and FRAIMS. 2. Quarterly conviction figures from DWP/DH Legal Group. | |||||||
Available information for local authority administered benefits is in the table.
| Number of people cautioned and convicted during each quarter for the last three years | ||
| Cautions | Convictions | |
| Source: Local authority housing benefit administrative returns. | ||
Winter Fuel Payments: Halifax
Mrs. Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Halifax received the winter fuel allowance in 2007-08. [220149]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Figures for winter 2007-08 are not yet available. In winter 2006-07, 17,940 people in the Halifax constituency received a winter fuel payment.
Notes:
1. Figures rounded to the nearest 10.
2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
Source:
Information directorate 100 per cent data.
Young People: Mothers
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of (a) the proportion of teenage mothers who receive benefits and (b) the proportion of benefits payments that are paid to teenage mothers. [218377]
Mr. Plaskitt: Information about the proportion of teenage mothers who receive benefits is not available. Information about the proportion of benefits payments that are paid to teenage mothers could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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