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5 Nov 2008 : Column 554W—continued
Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what procedure is followed when a claimant presents him or herself at a (a) personal capacity assessment and (b) work capability assessment but is not in a fit state to be assessed due to intoxication. [231889]
Mr. McNulty [holding answer 3 November 2008]: Where a claimant is not in a fit state to be assessed for a personal capability assessment or a work capability assessment the relevant papers are returned to Jobcentre Plus by Medical Services to decide whether benefit is to be disallowed or whether a further assessment is to be arranged. Decisions are made taking into account the medical condition of the claimant and any other relevant factors. Where benefit is disallowed the claimant can request a reconsideration of the decision or appeal to an independent tribunal.
Working Tax Credit
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to increase the uptake of the child-care element of working tax credit. [232164]
Mr. Timms: I have been asked to reply.
The application and award process for the child care element is integrated with the rest of the tax credits system. This makes it as simple as possible for families who need help with their child care costs to claim and receive support. The child care element is promoted as part of the tax credits system, which has a higher level of take-up than any previous system of income-related financial support.
One example of steps to increase take-up of tax credits is the initiative, announced in Budget 2008, to offer tax credits advice to families with young children through children’s centres.
Women and Equality
Departmental Lost Property
Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what (a) equipment and (b) data was lost by the Government Equalities Office in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement. [231427]
Maria Eagle: Since its establishment on 12 October 2007 the Government Equalities Office has lost one laptop. The laptop was new and unused and therefore did not contain any data. No other losses of data have been reported.
Females: Crimes of Violence
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many women were victims of (a) rape, (b) domestic violence, (c) forced marriage, (d) sexual exploitation and (e) trafficking in each of the last three years, broken down by (i) parliamentary constituency and (ii) police force area. [227211]
Maria Eagle: Data on these crimes are collected in a number of ways. Where appropriate the Government do hold data on the number of recorded offences made to the police by women. However, these data are not broken down by parliamentary constituency.
The following table provides a breakdown by police force area for recorded offences of rape of a female for the last three years:
| Recorded offences of rape of a female by police force area | |||
| Number of offences | |||
| Police force area | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 |
The Government collect domestic violence data purely for police performance measurements purposes. Published domestic violence arrest rates for 2006-07 and 2005-06 by police force area can be found at
The domestic violence figures for 2007-08 by police force area will be published shortly on the Home Office website, as part of the release of information relating to police performance 2007-08.
The forced marriage unit have been keeping statistics on reportings of forced marriage since January 2008. It is not possible to provide a breakdown by police force area for this crime. Between January and September 2008 the forced marriage unit has handled 1,180 incidents of forced marriage or potential forced marriage.
Sexual exploitation and trafficking:
The Government do not hold figures on how many women were the victims of sexual exploitation or trafficking. The Government have delivered two national enforcement campaigns against trafficking for sexual exploitation, involving all 55 police forces. During Operation Pentameter 1, 88 victims of trafficking were recovered, and during Operation Pentameter 2, this number was doubled to 167 (13 of whom were children).
Working Mothers
Mrs. May: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many women with a child under the age of five returned to work in each month in the last two years. [228906]
Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated November 2008:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on how many women with a child under the age of five have returned to work in each month in the last two years. (228906)
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