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2 Mar 2009 : Column 1306W—continued
Progression to Work Model
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of personal advisers required to administer the Progression to Work model; at what Civil Service pay band the personal advisers administering the model will be graded; and what estimate he has made of the additional cost of the scheme to his Department. [257749]
Mr. McNulty [holding answer 23 February 2009]: A cadre of skilled and capable personal advisers will be absolutely essential to effectively implement the Progression to Work model. The Department made clear in its recent discussion document “Realising Potential: developing personalised conditionality and support” that it will be necessary to think through the implications for the adviser role and implement a workforce development strategy within Jobcentre Plus. This is an issue we will discuss in detail with stakeholders. As such no final decisions have yet been made on the grading or number of personal advisers necessary to deliver the Progression to Work pathfinders. However all Jobcentre Plus personal advisers are currently band C grade staff.
The cost of the new Progression to Work pathfinders will depend on precisely what the personalised conditionality and work-related activity looks like. At this stage therefore, costs are uncertain. The impact assessment associated with the White Paper “Raising Expectations and Increasing Support—reforming welfare for the future” estimated that the increase in work-focused interviews and provision to support work and skills-related activity could cost up to an extra £20 million a year for parents with younger children. For employment and support allowance customers we are still working through the detailed design of the policy and assessing the appropriate balance between Jobcentre Plus and providers. Additional costs will be met from within the current agreed Department spending plans.
Rapid Response Service: East Riding
Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many redundancies in the East Riding of Yorkshire have been designated as significant and dealt with by the Rapid Response Service; and if he will make a statement. [254045]
Mr. McNulty [holding answer 3 February 2009]: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning how many redundancies in the East Riding of Yorkshire have been designated as significant and dealt with by the Rapid Response Service. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
A strengthened Rapid Response Service was launched on 12 November, doubling national funding from £3 million to £6 million in the current year and doubled again to £12million in 2009/10. Through the Rapid Response Service, Jobcentre Plus has access to funds to enable those individuals made redundant to receive the necessary help to get them back into work.
19 companies to date in the East Riding of Yorkshire have been designated as significant redundancies and dealt with by the Rapid Response Service. Of the 19 companies, 3 received full Rapid Response Funding to retrain redundant workers with the rest receiving retraining through other funding streams. In total 2,268 individuals accessed the Rapid Response Service.
Social Security Benefits
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the amount paid by his Department in benefits in relation to children diagnosed with foetal anti-convulsant syndrome caused by mothers receiving sodium valproate treatment during pregnancy in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [259373]
Jonathan Shaw: No estimate has been made of the amount of benefits paid in relation to children diagnosed with foetal anti-convulsant syndrome caused by mothers receiving sodium valproate treatment during pregnancy. However, the disabilities associated with this syndrome may mean that a child could be entitled to disability living allowance depending on the level of their personal care needs and/or mobility difficulties arising from those disabilities.
Social Security Benefits: Obesity
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of claimants of both employment and support allowance and incapacity benefit whose capability of work is limited by obesity. [259125]
Jonathan Shaw:
Causes of incapacity are based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10(th) Revision, published by the World Health Organisation. To qualify for incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance, claimants have to undertake a medical assessment of incapacity for work which is called the Personal Capability Assessment. Therefore, the medical condition recorded on the incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance
claim form does not itself confer entitlement to incapacity benefits. For example, the decision for a customer claiming incapacity benefit on the grounds of obesity would be based on their ability to carry out the range of activities in the Personal Capability Assessment.
DWP will be publishing National Statistics on Employment and Support Allowance in summer 2009.
As at August 2008, of the 2,632,000 claimants of incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance, 2,130 claimants had a primary diagnosis of obesity.
Note:
Data is rounded to the nearest 10.
Source:
DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent. WPLS
State Retirement Pensions
Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of women who have reached state pension age since April 2008 eligible to buy back one or more year of Class 3 national insurance contributions under the measures contained in the Pensions Act 2008; how many such women have taken up that option; whether people reaching state pension age are automatically notified of their rights under the Pensions Act 2008 when they are prompted to claim that state pension; and if he will make a statement. [255667]
Ms Rosie Winterton: [holding answer 9 February 2009]: The number of women who are estimated to reach state pension age between 6 April 2008 and 5 April 2009 and eligible to pay one or more year of Class 3 National Insurance contributions under the measure contained in the Pensions Act 2008 is 145,000.
No one can take up the option before the measure comes into force on 6 April 2009.
The Department for Work and Pensions and HM Revenue and Customs are currently working together to agree business procedures for the measure and what changes may be needed to leaflets, letters and forms.
Note:
Figures refer to women who are estimated to be resident in the UK and overseas.
Source:
Information about people's National Insurance records has been obtained from the Lifetime Labour Market Database 2, 2005 release. Numbers have been estimated based on mortality assumptions for Great Britain from the 2004 based population projections.
Winter Fuel Payments: Chronically Sick
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's estimate is of the cost of extending the winter fuel allowance to terminally ill people who would not otherwise qualify, excluding the one-off additional payment of £50 for 2008-09. [241070]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Winter fuel payments are made to people aged 60 or over including those who are disabled or terminally ill. The heating costs of terminally ill people arise throughout the year, not just in winter and disability living allowance provides additional weekly financial support of up to £5,915 a year related to an individual's circumstances.
The latest available data suggest that the annual cost of extending winter fuel payments to people aged under 60 in receipt of disability living allowance under the special rules applicable to people who are terminally ill and not expected to live for more than six months is estimated to be about £5 million. This is an estimate for 2008-09 and is based on a £200 payment, which excludes the one off additional payment of £50 for this year.
It is not possible to determine how many of the estimated beneficiaries live in a household that would already be entitled to a winter fuel payment.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to reply to Question 248845, on benefit payments to persons subject to control orders, tabled by the hon. Member for Newark on 13 January 2009. [257670]
Mr. McNulty: I replied to the hon. Member’s question on 23 February 2009, Official Report , column 88W.
Children, Schools and Families
Adult Education
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was spent on preparing and publishing the Evaluation of the impact of skills for life learning report. [254364]
Mr. Simon: I have been asked to reply.
The costs involved in publishing and printing in respect of the published “Evaluation of the Impact of Skills for Life Learning” reports are approximately £400.
Three reports have been published as follows:
Evaluation of the impact of basic skills learning: report on Wave 1;
Evaluation of the Impact of Skills for Life Learning: Report on Sweep 2; and
Evaluation of the Impact of Skills for Life Learning: Longitudinal Survey of Learners, Wave 3.
Child Minding
Mrs. Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he plans to increase the annual fee for child minders on (a) the Early Years Register and (b) the Ofsted Childcare Register. [260043]
Beverley Hughes: Following our consultation “Childcare Act 2006: Future Approach to Fees and Subsidies” we announced in June 2008 increases to the Early Years Register fees for child minders from £25 in 2008/09 to £30 in 2009/10 and £35 in 2010/11. There are no plans to increase fees for the voluntary or compulsory parts of the General Childcare Register in 2009.
Mrs. Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether the number of childminders who can join a locally-accredited childminding network is limited. [260051]
Beverley Hughes: The Government place no limits on the number of child minders who can join locally accredited child minding networks. Local authorities can limit places on networks according to resources available to them and their assessment of the need for networked child minders.
The Government’s recent document “Next Steps for Early Learning and Childcare” indicates that we will work with stakeholders to improve access to networks in all local authority areas.
Mrs. Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many locally-accredited child minding networks have reported demand for places on networks in the last 12 months. [260052]
Beverley Hughes: The Government are committed to ensuring access to high quality provision through a range of providers, including child minders. This is why in the recent document “Next Steps for Early Learning and Childcare” we clearly committed ourselves to working with stakeholders to improve access to networks in all local authority areas.
Specific information on the demand for places on child minding networks is not collected centrally.
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