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22 July 2008 : Column 1172W—continued
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people with a learning disability were supported in work through Access to Work funding in each of the last 10 years. [220556]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 21 July 2008]: The available information is in the following table.
| Number of people estimated as having a learning disability who have received Access to Work help | |
| Number | |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. A new, more relevant definition of participation has been established for reporting from 2007-08 onwards. Data are not yet available to give a final figure for the year 2007-08. This figure is not directly comparable with figures for previous years. 3. These figures are based on the condition recorded on the Access to Work computer system. Only the primary condition of a participant is recorded, and as such these figures are likely to under-estimate the numbers of those with a learning disability. A high proportion of participants (20-30 per cent.) have their condition recorded as ‘Other’. Source: The Access to Work Evaluation Database. | |
Benefits
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many and what proportion of housing benefit recipients received backdated payments (a) in total and (b) for a period covering (i) up to three months, (ii) between three and six months and (iii) between six and 12 months in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement; [219195]
(2) how many and what proportion of working age council tax benefit recipients received backdated payments (a) in total and (b) for a period covering (i) up to three months, (ii) between three and six months and (iii) between six and 12 months in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [219199]
(3) how many and what proportion of pensioner council tax benefit recipients received backdated payments (a) in total and (b) for a period covering (i) up to three months, (ii) between three and six months and (iii) between six and 12 months in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [219200]
Mr. Plaskitt: The information is not available.
Our ability to provide this breakdown is restricted by the breadth and reliability of the data available to us.
As part of the Equality Impact Assessment, we have provided an estimate of the proportion of housing benefit and council tax benefit case loads affected by the proposals to reduce the backdating facilities to three months. There are, however, important caveats to these estimates which must be noted.
A copy of the Equality Impact Assessment has been placed in the Library. It is also available on the Department for Work and Pensions website at:
Figures on the number of successful backdating claims are derived from the Single Housing Benefit Extract (HBSD-IAD scan). The backdating variable in the Single Housing Benefit Extract was introduced relatively recently in April 2007 and accordingly we have no means of corroborating the data’s robustness against historical data. Furthermore, given that the data only go back six months, we currently have an insufficient pool of evidence to derive reliable figures from the data. These concerns should be allayed with time as the scan data improve.
Based on the first six months of data available, it is estimated that approximately 0.2 per cent. of new housing benefit and council tax benefit claims would be affected by a reduction in the backdating period to three months. These figures may be subject to revision as more data become available.
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the average sum received for backdated housing benefit was (a) in total and (b) per month for housing benefit recipients who received backdated payments for a period covering (i) up to three months, (ii) between three and six months and (iii) between six and 12 months in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement; [219196]
(2) what was the average sum received in backdated council tax benefits was (a) in total and (b) per month by pensioner council tax benefit recipients who received backdated payments for a period covering (i) up to three months, (ii) between three and six months and (iii) between six and 12 months in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [219202]
Mr. Plaskitt: The information is not available.
Our ability to provide this breakdown is restricted by the breadth and reliability of the data available to us. We will review the situation regularly as more data become available.
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how much his Department spent on backdated payments of housing benefit in each of the last five years (a) in total and (b) broken down by the smallest geographical area for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement; [219198]
(2) how much was spent by his Department on backdated payments of council tax benefit in each of the last five years (a) in total and (b) broken down by the smallest geographical area for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [219204]
Mr. Plaskitt: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander) on 16 June 2008, Official Report, column 734W.
Child Support Agency: Managers
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what categories of managers are working at the Child Support Agency; [216600]
(2) how many managers are employed at the Child Support Agency. [216601]
Mr. Plaskitt [holding answer 8 July 2008]: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 22 July 2008:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what categories of managers there are working at the Child Support Agency. [216600] and
How many managers are employed at the Child Support Agency. [216601]
The Child Support Agency, in line with other government departments and agencies, uses the standard Civil Service grade structure. The Agency's managers are distributed across the six traditional Civil Service management grades: Executive Officer, Higher and Senior Executive Officer, Unified Grades 7 and 6 and the Senior Civil Service.
These grades include both management and a variety of non-managerial, specialist roles. An analysis of the information that the Agency holds on the number of people within these grades with job titles suggesting managerial responsibility reveals that there are presently around 800 people employed either as 'managers', 'directors' or 'area heads', and a further 700 people employed as 'team leaders'. These figures do also include a number of specialist and professional roles which may not include people management.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Child Support Agency: Telephone Services
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what income his Department received from the Child Support Agency's 0845 number in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2005-06. [217547]
Mr. Plaskitt: Figures concerning income from the use of 0845 numbers are only available for the Department for Work and Pensions as a whole and cannot be allocated to individual agencies. The Department stopped receiving a rebate from its 0845 numbers on 14 December 2007. This did not affect the charge customers pay for contacting the Department.
The Department received a rebate of £1,490,640.47 for the period covering 1 October 2005 to 14 December 2007 and this was used to pay for other telecommunication services. No information is available for any earlier period and no breakdown of this figure is available. The Department ceased this arrangement on 14 December 2007 and no longer receives any rebate. This change in arrangement does not affect the charge a customer pays for contacting the Department.
Children: Poverty
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate his Department has made of the effect on child poverty if fraud and error were eradicated from (a) council tax benefit, (b) the savings element of pension credits, (c) housing benefit/local housing allowance and (d) all benefit payments; and if he will make a statement; [218670]
(2) what estimate his Department has made of the effect on levels of child poverty of the eradication of fraud and error from (a) income support and (b) jobseekers allowance systems; and if he will make a statement. [219148]
Mr. Timms: The information requested is not available.
Benefits, including income-related benefits, play a key role in making work pay, supporting those who cannot work, reducing poverty, and have helped to lift 600,000 children out of relative poverty since 1998-99.
The estimates of fraud and error across all benefits has reduced by a third since 2000-01 and for fraud are down by two thirds during the same period. We are keen to ensure that support goes to the right customers at the right time and are committed to reducing error and fraud across all benefits.
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate his Department has made of the effect on child poverty if caseload take-up rates amongst working age families for income support were increased to (a) 100 per cent. and (b) 90 per cent.; and if he will make a statement; [218673]
(2) what estimate his Department has made of the effect on child poverty if the caseload take-up rates amongst working age families for all benefit entitlements were increased to (a) 100 per cent. and (b) 90 per cent.; and if he will make a statement; [218679]
(3) what estimate his Department has made of the effect on child poverty if the caseload take-up rates amongst working age families for council tax benefit were increased to (a) 100 per cent., (b) 90 per cent. and (c) 80 per cent.; and if he will make a statement; [218680]
(4) what estimate his Department has made of the effect on child poverty if expenditure take-up rates amongst working age families for jobseekers allowance were increased to (a) 100 per cent., (b) 90 per cent., (c) 80 per cent. and (d) 70 per cent.; and if he will make a statement; [218685]
(5) what estimate his Department has made of the effects on levels of child poverty if expenditure take-up rates amongst working age families for income support were increased to 100 per cent.; and if he will make a statement; [219518]
(6) what estimate his Department has made of the effect on levels of child poverty of an increase in expenditure take-up rates for all benefits amongst working age families to (a) 100 per cent. and (b) 90 per cent.; and if he will make a statement; [219558]
(7) what estimate his Department has made of the effect on levels of child poverty of an increase in expenditure take-up rates for council tax benefit amongst working age families to (a) 100 per cent., (b) 90 per cent. and (c) 80 per cent.; and if he will make a statement; [219559]
(8) what estimate his Department has made of the effect on levels of child poverty of an increase in caseload take-up rates for jobseekers allowance for working age families to (a) 100 per cent., (b) 90 per cent., (c) 80 per cent. and (d) 70 per cent.; and if he will make a statement; [219560]
(9) what estimate his Department has made of the effects on levels of child poverty if (a) caseload and (b) expenditure take-up rates for housing benefit and local housing allowance amongst working age families were increased to (a) 100 per cent. and (b) 90 per cent.; and if he will make a statement. [219561]
Mr. Timms: Poverty is a complex and multidimensional issue and, as such there are many possible measures of poverty. Nevertheless, it is generally accepted that low income is central to any poverty measurement. Definitions of low income households are set out in the annual National Statistics publication ‘Households Below Average Income’. This reports numbers of individuals in households below or persistently below 50 per cent., 60 per cent. and 70 per cent. of median household income before and after deducting housing costs.
If there were 100 per cent take-up of the main income-related benefits by everyone in the population entitled to claim them, it is estimated that the number of children below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income would fall by around 200,000 before housing costs are taken into account and 100,000 on an after housing costs basis, based on 2008-09 benefit rates. Corresponding estimates are not available for 90 per cent. take-up, nor for 100 per cent. take-up of individual benefits.
We have made good progress on tackling child poverty. We continue to develop strategies to support parents into work and progress in work, because we know that work is the best route out of poverty—providing increased incomes and better opportunities for people and their families. Our specialised schemes will ensure the long-term unemployed get the individualised support they need.
Council Tax Benefit
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average sum received in backdated council tax benefits was (a) in total and (b) per month by working age council tax benefit recipients who received backdated payments for a period covering (i) up to three months, (ii) between three and six months and (iii) between six and 12 months in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [219201]
Mr. Plaskitt: The information is not available.
Our ability to provide this breakdown is restricted by the breadth and reliability of the data available to us.
Council Tax: Tax Collection
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many times deductions have been made from benefits for failure to pay council tax in each local authority area in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement; [214915]
(2) how many claimants have had deductions made from their (a) pension credit, (b) jobseeker’s allowance and (c) income support for failing to pay their council tax in each local authority area in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement; [214928]
(3) how many claimants have had deductions made to benefits for failure to pay their council tax bill (a) once, (b) twice, (c) three times, (d) four times and (e) five times or more in each local authority area in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [214929]
Mr. Plaskitt:
The available information on the number of claimants who have had deductions made from income support, jobseeker’s allowance and pension credit
in each local authority area in each of the last 10 years has been placed in the Library.
Information is not available on how many claimants have had deductions made from their benefits for council tax broken down by the number of occasions.
Departmental Pay
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of staff in his Department and its agencies did not receive the maximum bonus possible under a bonus scheme applying to them in the last two years. [217057]
Mrs. McGuire: The information is in the following tables.
The Department for Work and Pensions currently operates two separate bonus schemes, which may be paid on top of regular salary. These are the individual performance bonus scheme and the special bonus scheme.
Individual performance bonus—all staff have the potential to earn an individual performance bonus, based on the performance level they receive through the performance management system. Individual performance is relatively assessed at the end of the performance year against the objectives set and competencies required. There are four performance levels. In 2006 and 2007 people who achieved one of the top three levels received a bonus, determined by their grade and performance level.
| Percentage of employees who received a performance bonus | ||
| Performance year | Percentage receiving maximum bonus | Percentage not receiving maximum bonus |
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