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19 Nov 2008 : Column 571W—continued
Taxis
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was claimed in expenses for taxi travel by officials from (a) his Department and (b) its Executive agencies in (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2005-06, (iii) 2004-05, (iv) 2003-04 and (v) 2002-03; and if he will make a statement. [227047]
Jonathan Shaw: The information requested on taxi travel expenditure is available only from 2005-06 and is recorded at departmental level (which includes the Department’s Executive agencies) only. Details of the separate payments made by the Department’s agencies could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The Department’s expenditure on taxis in the years for which information is available is as follows:
| £ million | |
This amount of expenditure should be viewed in the context of the size of the DWP work force of over 100,000 employees and the nature of its business operations that cover an office network of over 1,000 locations across Great Britain.
The Department has clear policies in place which not only limit the circumstances under which officials can justify the use of taxis but also challenges the need to travel and strongly advocates the use of video and teleconferences wherever these facilities are practical alternatives.
Winter Fuel Payments: Chronically Sick
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate his Department has made of the likely cost of extending the winter fuel allowance to terminally ill people who would not otherwise qualify; and if he will make a statement. [236011]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Winter fuel payments are made to people aged 60 or over including those who are disabled or terminally ill.
The annual cost of extending winter fuel payments to people aged under 60 receiving disability living allowance under the special rules relating to a terminal illness is estimated to be approximately £6.6 million. This is an estimate for 2008-09 and is based on a £250 payment, which includes a one off additional payment of £50 for this year.
The extra heating needs of terminally ill people can arise at any time of year, not just in the winter months. Help is available for terminally ill people through disability living allowance, Attendance allowance and the disability premiums in the income-related benefits which have a substantially higher annual value and are spread over a 52 week period. In addition, where a disability premium is paid in an income-related benefit, a cold weather payment is payable in periods of very cold weather. Together, these payments are designed to meet the extra costs, including heating, of terminally ill people.
Winter Fuel Payments: Crosby
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners aged 60 and over have claimed the winter fuel payment in (a) Crosby constituency and (b) England in each year since its inception; and what proportion of such pensioners have not applied for the payment in each year. [236683]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Around 98 per cent. of winter fuel payments are made automatically without the need to claim.
| Winter fuel payments made to people aged 60 or over from inception | ||
| Crosby constituency | Great Britain | |
| Notes: 1. Figures rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Parliamentary constituencies, local authorities and Government office regions are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory. Source: Information directorate 100 per cent data. | ||
Information relating to winter fuel payments for the winters of 1997-98 and 1998-99 is not available.
Information regarding Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Office.
Home Department
Acceptable Behaviour Contracts
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when acceptable behaviour contracts will be extended to young people caught drinking and behaving anti-socially in public. [234288]
Jacqui Smith: Antisocial behaviour contracts (ABCs) are already available to tackle young people caught drinking and behaving antisocially in public.
Agricultural Machinery: Theft
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps she has taken to reduce the rate of theft of agricultural equipment. [235375]
Mr. Alan Campbell [holding answer 17 November 2008]: The Government's crime strategy builds upon the achievements of the last 10 years in reducing crime and disorder but moves away from centrally imposed targets instead making local agencies accountable and responsive to the needs and priorities of the local community. This means that local areas can focus greatest effort on reducing those crimes that matter most to people locally, whatever the crime.
Where the theft of agricultural machinery emerges as a pressing local issue we would encourage local police forces and their partners in Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships to devote resources to tackling this crime. To this end the National Policing Improvement Agency has produced a practical guide specifically for those facing the challenges of policing rural areas, titled Neighbourhood Policing in Rural Communities (2008). This aims to support the police in tailoring their approach to the needs of the rural communities they serve.
The Home Office supports schemes such as Farm Watch and Countryside Watch, which are now operating across England and Wales, allowing farmers and those living in rural communities to share practical advice on crime prevention in order to look after their vehicles, property, families and animals.
Antisocial Behaviour Orders
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been (a) issued and (b) breached in each criminal justice system area since 31 December 2005. [232369]
Mr. Alan Campbell: The answer is given in the following table.
| The number of antisocial behaviour orders issued in 2006 and the number proven in court to have been breached( 1) in 2006, by Criminal Justice System Area | ||
| CJS area | Number of ASBOs issued | Number of ASBOs breached( 3) |
| (1) ASBOs may be issued in one area and breached in another. Breaches are counted in this table by area of issue. ASBOs may be issued in one year and breached in another. Some of the breaches counted in the table will be associated with ASBOs issued prior to 2006. It is therefore not possible to compute breach rates from the figures presented in this table. (2) Breach data from the magistrates court administrative systems in Kent and Northamptonshire are known to have been under-reported. (3) Covers ASBOs issued in years prior to 2006 as well as those issued in that year. Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Sources: (ASBOs breached): OCJR Court Proceedings Database. (ASBOs issued): as reported to the Home Office by the Court Service. | ||
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