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16 Dec 2008 : Column 612W—continued
Lorries: Registration
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of non-UK registered heavy goods vehicles which have operated in the UK in each of the last three years. [242813]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not regularly collected. However an estimate for 2002 of up to 73,000 foreign HGVs was made from a one-off survey of foreign vehicle activity.
It was announced in the Budget for 2008 that the Government will be running a new foreign vehicle survey, scheduled to take place in spring 2009.
Annual data on the total number of trips made by foreign registered heavy goods vehicles travelling to mainland Europe from the UK can be found in Table 2.1a of the publication Road Freight Statistics 2007 available in the House of Commons Library and on the DfT website at:
Pedicabs
Mr. Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the safety of pedicabs as a means of public transport; what recent reports he has received on pedicab safety; and if he will make a statement. [243059]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport has not specifically assessed pedicab safety, but has received a Transport Research Laboratory report on the subject commissioned by the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association.
As road vehicles, pedicabs must comply with road traffic law including road vehicle lighting regulations, and with The Highway Code. Enforcement is a matter for the police.
Railways: Concessions
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what concessionary fare systems there are for disabled people to travel by train. [243871]
Paul Clark: All train companies offer a disabled persons railcard which gives one third off the price of a large range of rail tickets. The railcard currently costs £18 a year.
The terms of this railcard are protected by the Department for Transport through its franchise agreements with the train operating companies.
In addition passengers who are blind or visually-impaired and are travelling with a companion or passengers who stay in their own wheelchair for a rail journey are eligible for discounted travel without the need for a railcard.
Railways: Safety
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what future steps he plans to take in response to the Potters Bar derailment. [244312]
Paul Clark: I refer the hon. Member to the written statements that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport made to the House on 23 October 2008, Official Report, column 19WS, regarding the “Publication of Rail Accident Investigation Branch Investigation” and 19 November 2008, Official Report, column 24WS, regarding the “Potters Bar and Grayrigg Derailments”.
Road Traffic: Halton
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of traffic on the Silver Jubilee Bridge in Halton was accounted for by heavy goods vehicles in the latest period for which figures are available. [244210]
Jim Fitzpatrick: In 2007, heavy goods vehicles accounted for about 7 per cent. of traffic on the Silver Jubilee bridge (A533) in Halton.
Traffic data for individual motorways and ‘A’ roads for 1997 to 2007 are available at:
Roads: Bexhill
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the timetable is for the Bexhill link road development. [244556]
Paul Clark: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 December 2008, Official Report, column 379W.
Schools: Transport
Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many children have been injured while travelling on school buses which were not fitted with seat belts in the last 24 months. [243826]
Jim Fitzpatrick [holding answer 15 December 2008]: The information requested is not available.
Tyres: EU Action
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on EU proposals to introduce legislation to reduce the rolling resistance of tyres. [242635]
Jim Fitzpatrick [holding answer 11 December 2008]: There are currently two proposals from the European Commission aimed at reducing the rolling resistance of tyres. The first of these sets mandatory upper limits on permissible rolling resistance of tyres for passenger cars, light goods vehicles and heavy commercial vehicles in two stages. The Government fully support the Commission's proposed limit values and implementation dates which will reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions and contribute towards the UK meeting its carbon dioxide reduction targets.
The second proposal calls for tyre labelling, along the lines of the energy label on white goods, indicating the rolling resistance of the tyre within a set of defined bands from A (lowest rolling resistance) to G (highest rolling resistance).
This proposal has only just been published and EU negotiations on it have not yet begun. The Government supports the principle of providing consumers with information on the relative efficiency of products, but has not yet reached a view on the detail of this second proposal.
Vehicle Number Plates: Flags
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the answer of 4 November 2008, Official Report, columns 248-50W, on vehicle number plates, what the timescale is for fulfilling the intention to legalise the display of national flags of UK countries on number plates; and if he will make a statement. [242563]
Jim Fitzpatrick: We intend to make an announcement shortly on the way forward.
Work and Pensions
Carer's Allowance
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will assess the effects of the policy of ceasing carer’s allowance when a carer reaches pensionable age; and if he will make carer’s allowance available to those of pensionable age; [244249]
(2) how many carers had their entitlement to carer’s allowance removed as a result of reaching pensionable age in each of the last five years. [244250]
Jonathan Shaw: Carer’s allowance is available to all carers who meet the entitlement criteria, aged 16 or over. Entitlement is not withdrawn when a carer reaches pension age.
However, carer’s allowance is an income-replacement benefit and as such, is subject to the overlapping benefit rules. Where a carer is entitled to another income-replacement benefit, such as state pension, then they will be paid the benefit that gives them the highest amount. In the case of pensioners, this is normally state pension.
Low-income carers who have an entitlement to carer’s allowance can benefit from the additional amount for carers in pension credit even where state pension is paid instead of carer’s allowance. About 240,000 people now receive this extra help.
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what recent consideration he has given to increasing the value of the carer’s allowance; [244279]
(2) if he will review the policy that prevents higher education students who are also carers keeping their carer’s allowance entitlement when they study for more than 21 hours a week. [244281]
Jonathan Shaw: The level of carer’s allowance and its conditions of entitlement, including the 21-hour full-time education rule, were considered by the income task force, created as part of the review of the National Carers Strategy. The new strategy was published in June 2008, and included the report from the taskforce, which gave options for changes to carer’s allowance. However, the main finding of the income task force was that the current system of carers’ benefits needs to be fundamentally re-examined.
In the White Paper “Raising expectations and increasing support: reforming welfare for the future”, published 10 December 2008, we underlined our commitment to looking at carers’ benefits in the context of our wider ambitions for welfare reform. We will aim to design a system that is able to provide support where it is most needed and that can adapt to the wide range of needs that carers have, enabling carers to maintain a balance between their caring responsibilities and a life outside caring.
The level of carer’s allowance is considered annually as part of the uprating process. The proposed rate for carer’s allowance from April 2009 was announced on 11 December as £53.10.
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what comparative assessment he has made of the level of carers' allowance in the UK compared to other EU member states who administer a similar allowance for benchmarking purposes. [244280]
Jonathan Shaw: The Government have not undertaken a formal comparative assessment of level of carer's allowance in the UK compared to other EU member states.
However, we have committed to looking at carers' benefits as we move forward with welfare reform. As part of this we will look to learn from best practice both in the UK and internationally.
Christmas
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been spent on (a) departmental Christmas parties and (b) staff entertainment in the last three years. [243731]
Jonathan Shaw: No departmental funds are used for departmental Christmas parties or staff entertainment. This is in accordance with departmental guidance on financial procedures and on propriety and regularity based on principles set out in Managing Public Money and Her Majesty’s Treasury Handbook Regularity, Propriety and Value for Money. All staff Christmas parties and staff entertainment events are funded solely at the individual’s expense. An extract from the relevant guidance is provided as follows:
Departmental funds “must not under any circumstances” be used to purchase food or drink, hire a venue, or contribute in any other way to staff parties, irrespective of whether these relate to personal celebrations (e.g. birthdays or retirement) or are ostensibly to mark a particular business achievement (e.g. the opening of a new office or the award of a contract). Expenditure of this nature is regarded as a disciplinary offence and Departmental practice, where such activities come to light, is generally to seek reimbursement from the authorising officer.
Departmental Temporary Employment
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of 4 November 2008, Official Report, columns 254-56W, on departmental temporary employment, how many staff were recruited through each company in each year; and for how long on average staff recruited through these companies worked for the Department in each year. [242105]
Jonathan Shaw: The information requested is not all held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Employment Services: General Practitioners
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many GP surgeries in England have jobcentre employment advisers working in them. [241111]
Mr. McNulty: There are currently around 20 GP surgeries in England and Wales which have a jobcentre adviser in them with a similar amount due to have an adviser once the expansion of the pilot is fully in place. In addition, there are 71 GP surgeries in Scotland that have a jobcentre employment adviser working in them for at least part of the week.
Employment Vacancies: Glasgow
Mr. Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many job vacancies are available in (a) Glasgow South West and (b) Glasgow; and if he will make a statement. [240801]
Mr. McNulty [holding answer 10 December 2008]: The available information is in the following table.
| Vacancies in Glasgow city council area and Glasgow south west parliamentary constituency: as at October 2008 | ||
| Notified vacancies | Live unfilled vacancies | |
| Notes: 1. Interpretation of this data needs to take account of changes in recent years to Jobcentre Plus procedures for taking and handling vacancies. These figures are not fully comparable over time and may not indicate developments in the labour market. A more detailed explanation is available on the Nomis website at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk 2. Notified vacancies include any speculative placings recorded by Jobcentre Plus. Datasets from May 2006 may reflect substantially reduced levels of speculative placings as part of the notified series. Consequently, care should be taken in interpreting time-series data. 3. The stocks of unfilled vacancies reflect more accurately the job opportunities actually available via Jobcentre Plus. In the case of unfilled vacancies, use of the figures on live vacancies is recommended (i.e. excluding suspended vacancies), and this is the default option. Live vacancies may still include some vacancies which have already been filled or are otherwise no longer open to recruits, due to natural lags in procedures for following up vacancies with employers. 4. Comprehensive estimates of all job vacancies (not just those notified to Jobcentre Plus) are available from the monthly ONS Vacancy Survey since April 2001, based on a sample of some 6,000 enterprises. However, the ONS survey is currently designed to provide national estimates only. Source: Jobcentre Plus Labour Market System | ||
Housing Benefit: Mentally Ill
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria determine whether housing benefit is paid directly to landlords where tenants are (a) mentally ill and (b) vulnerable; and what conditions are attached to such payments. [244366]
Kitty Ussher: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the right hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) on 28 October 2008, Official Report, columns 861-62W.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals in receipt of housing benefit have had their housing benefit paid directly to their landlords on the grounds of (a) vulnerability and (b) mental illness. [244370]
Kitty Ussher: This information is not available.
Income Support: Ex-servicemen
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether (a) income and (b) lump sums paid under (i) a war pension and (ii) the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme are disregarded for the purpose of calculating income support eligibility; and if he will make a statement. [240409]
Mr. McNulty [holding answer 11 December 2008]: Income-related benefits, such as income support or income-based jobseeker’s allowance, are intended to cover an individual’s day-to-day living expenses.
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