Previous Section Index Home Page

10 Nov 2008 : Column 917W—continued

Mr. McNulty: Following the action already taken by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and the United Kingdom Border Agency to deal with persons suspected of working in the security industry in breach of immigration laws, 468 of the 3,275 cases where names or national
10 Nov 2008 : Column 918W
insurance numbers given to the SIA were false have been referred to the Department for Work and Pensions Fraud Investigation Service. So far, no evidence of criminal activity against the DWP has been identified.

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 17 September 2008, Official Report, column 2220W, on national insurance: immigrants, how many of 1,873 national insurance numbers which existed on the Department's Customer Information System but which were registered in a different name had been issued since July 2006. [224536]

Mr. McNulty: Of the 1,873 national insurance numbers provided to the Security Industry Authority where the name did not correspond to the name held on the Department's Customer Information System, all had been issued to genuine individuals and 35 had been issued after July 2006.

Pathways to Work

Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of individuals with each type of incapacity who have been through the Pathways to Work programme and subsequently gained employment were still employed after six months in each month since the programme began; and if he will make a statement. [230482]

Mr. McNulty: The information is not available.

Pension Credit: Overpayments

Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases of pension credit overpayment his Department has taken to court to seek recovery of payments in each (a) month of 2008-09 to date and (b) year from 2003-04 to 2007-08; and if he will make a statement. [230483]

Ms Rosie Winterton: Information is not available on the number of civil actions taken in respect of pension credit cases.

It is not normal practice to pursue enforcement of an overpayment through civil proceedings where a customer is in receipt of benefit. Typically people over pension age would be in receipt of benefit from which compulsory deductions can be taken to repay an overpayment.

Where the customer is in receipt of benefit, deductions from benefit will be arranged compulsorily to recover an outstanding debt.

In the exceptional circumstances where a person is no longer in receipt of benefit we would normally seek an agreement to pay by instalments. If no such agreement can be reached, then only as a last resort would civil proceedings be considered.

Pensioners: Council Tax Benefits

Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of pensioner households in (a) Bexley and (b) Greater London claiming council tax benefit. [233764]


10 Nov 2008 : Column 919W

Ms Rosie Winterton: The most recent available information is in the table.

Number of pensioner households receiving council tax benefit

London London borough of Bexley

August 1997

259,670

7,480

Notes:
1. Data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.
2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated.
4. Council tax benefit totals exclude any second adult rebate cases.
5. For this request “pensioners” are those who are aged 60 and over.
6. Data for Greater London refer to the London GOR.
Source:
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken in August 2007.

Pensioners: Personal Savings

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the number of pensioners who were assessed as having savings insufficient for their retirement in each year since 1997. [226173]

Ms Rosie Winterton: It is the responsibility of individuals to determine the level of income in retirement they want. This will take account of their circumstances, their ability to save and their expectations for their retirement.

For most people, income in retirement will come from a combination of the basic State Pension and a second pension or savings. Where that is not the case, the Government provides a minimum guaranteed income through the guarantee credit element of pension credit (previously the minimum income guarantee and income support for pensioners).

The pension reforms being introduced in the Pensions Act 2007 and the current Pension Reform Bill will provide better access and coverage of the state provision, providing a solid foundation for private saving.

Pensions Disability and Carers Service

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library, a copy of organisational charts relating to the structure of the Pensions Disability and Carers Service below Board level. [219498]


10 Nov 2008 : Column 920W

Ms Rosie Winterton: The following answer was provided to the hon. Member on 17 September 2008, however, due to a procedural error was not published in the Official Report.

The answer is as follows:

Redundancy: Females

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of people made redundant in each of the last 12 months were women, broken down by (a) profession, (b) region and (c) age. [231656]

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 31 October 2008:

Table 1: Proportion of those made redundant( 1) who were women aged 16 and over by the occupation( 2) they were made redundant from, United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted
Percentage

Total( 3) Managers and Senior Officials Professional Occupations Associate Professionals and Technical Occupations Administrative and Secretarial Occupations

Q2

2008

42

31

*

31

68

Q1

2008

30

*

43

63

Q4

2007

40

46

*

*

92

Q3

2007

42

29

33

58

85



10 Nov 2008 : Column 921W

10 Nov 2008 : Column 922W
Percentage

Skilled Trades Occupations Personal Service Occupations Sales and Customer Service Occupations Process, Plant and Machine Operatives Elementary Occupations

Q2

2008

*

100

85

36

28

Q1

2008

*

*

*

*

*

Q4

2007

*

*

57

*

*

Q3

2007

*

*

75

29

23

* Sample too small to provide a reliable estimate
— = Zero
(1) Includes those who have been made redundant in the three months prior to their Labour Force Survey interview.
(2) Occupation in main job.
(3) Includes those who did not state the occupation they worked in.
Note:
The estimates exclude people in most types of communal establishments (e.g. hotels, boarding houses, hostels, mobile home sites etc.)
Source:
Labour Force Survey (ONS)

Table 2: Proportion of those made redundant( 1) who were women aged 16 and over by region( 2) , United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted
Percentage

Total( 3) North East North West Yorkshire and Humberside East Midlands West Midlands Eastern

Q2

2008

42

40

37

42

46

50

39

Q1

2008

30

52

20

19

22

34

28

Q4

2007

40

35

35

29

34

28

66

Q3

2007

42

45

34

43

49

41

49


Percentage

London South East South West Wales Scotland Northern Ireland

Q2

2008

33

39

30

38

60

53

Q1

2008

27

57

29

21

36

*

Q4

2007

35

48

38

45

43

29

Q3

2007

20

56

41

35

32

53

* Sample too small to provide a reliable estimate
— = Zero
(1) Includes those who have been made redundant in the three months prior to their Labour Force Survey interview.
(2) Government office region of residence.
(3) Includes those who did not state their region of residence.
Note:
The estimates exclude people in most types of communal establishments (e.g. hotels, boarding houses, hostels, mobile home sites etc.)
Source:
Labour Force Survey (ONS)

Next Section Index Home Page