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26 Mar 2009 : Column 618W—continued
Notes:
1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000.
2. The Family Resources Survey is a nationally representative sample of approximately 26,000 households in the latest survey year.
3. Data were collected between April and March for each survey year.
4. The figures are based on a sample of households which have been adjusted for non-response using multi-purpose grossing factors which align the FRS to Government office region populations by age and sex. Estimates are subject to sampling error and remaining non-response error.
5. A family refers to a benefit unit, which is defined as a single adult or a couple living as married and any dependent children. Same-sex partners (and cohabitees) are also included in the same benefit unit. Benefits are awarded on a benefit unit basis.
6. Benefit receipt is based on self-assessment and therefore may be subject to misreporting.
7. The benefit income is as reported for the survey year and has not been adjusted to account for inflation.
8. Tax credits have not been included in benefit income.
Source:
Family Resources Survey 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07
Winter Fuel Payments: Tyne and Wear
Mr. Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much he expects to pay to pensioner households in Houghton and Washington East constituency in winter fuel payments in 2008-09. [265026]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Expenditure on winter fuel payments in the parliamentary constituency of Houghton and Washington East in 2006-07 was £2.9 million. Actual expenditure data are not yet available for 2008-09 and forecasts of benefit expenditure are not produced below national level.
Note:
Parliamentary constituencies and local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
Source:
Information directorate 100 per cent. data
Workstep
Derek Conway: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) contractors for Workstep and (b) specific disability charities in securing sponsoring employers and mentoring-assisted employment placements for disabled people; [261782]
(2) what steps he has taken to ensure that contractors under the Workstep programme provide equal treatment for people with different categories of disability. [261783]
Jonathan Shaw: All Department for Work and Pensions contracts, including Workstep, are managed using a standard contract management operating model involving review of performance, delivery and quality of service to customers. This includes monthly monitoring of performance, formal provider performance reviews and assessment of quality of provision. In addition, external inspection and validation ensures the quality and accuracy of Workstep providers.
The Department for Work and Pensions assesses the effectiveness of all Workstep providers, including charitable organisations, by following the standard contract management processes. A performance improvement plan would be agreed with the provider if the terms of the contract were not being met.
Workstep providers are required under the terms of Department for Work and Pensions contracts to cover all disabilities and health conditions and this is checked as part of the contract management arrangements. In addition, Workstep providers with a contract value over £50,000 are accredited by an external organisation on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions. These accreditation checks include compliance with diversity and equal opportunities policies in respect of Jobcentre Plus customers and providers’ staff, including non-discrimination on grounds of gender, ethnicity, disability, religion or belief. This also includes compliance with the requirement to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ within the meaning of the Disability Discrimination Act.
Workstep: Disabled
Derek Conway: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken to ensure equal treatment for the most vulnerable disabled jobseekers within the prime contractor models for Workstep. [263027]
Jonathan Shaw: There is no prime contractor model for Workstep. As set out in the White Paper, “Raising expectations and increasing support: reforming welfare for the future”, new specialist disability employment provision will be introduced in 2010. The new programme will be implemented using the principles set out in the Department for Work and Pensions Commissioning Strategy, including the prime contractor model.
An equality impact assessment covering initiatives in the White Paper, including the new specialist disability employment provision, was published in December 2008. The equality impact assessment was published online at:
Treasury
Post Bank
8. Mr. Pelling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations his Department has received on the creation of a Post Bank. [266532]
Ian Pearson: My Department has recently received representations from hon. Members, the “Post Bank Coalition” and Toynbee Hall on the creation of a Post Bank. This is in addition to those representations made to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, which is responsible for Post Office policy.
Jobcentre Plus
9. Mrs. Humble: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Statement of 24 November 2008, Official Report, columns 489-503, on the pre-Budget report, what recent estimate he has made of the funding available to Jobcentre Plus in 2009-10. [266533]
Angela Eagle: The pre-Budget report announced an additional £1.3 billion for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). This will ensure that the Government can continue to deliver effective support for the unemployed through Jobcentre Plus, and for those most at risk in the labour market. DWP will publish further details of planned Jobcentre Plus expenditure in May.
Icelandic Bank Accounts
10. Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet the Financial Services Authority to discuss the freezing of Icelandic bank accounts in the UK. [266534]
Ian Pearson: No such meeting has been planned.
UK Economic Performance
11. Mr. Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions his Department has had with the International Monetary Fund on the UK's economic performance. [266535]
Mr. Timms: The IMF holds bilateral discussions with each of its member countries, usually every year as part of its country surveillance function, under Article IV of the IMF's Articles of Agreement. IMF staff last visited London in May 2008 and met with various institutions including HM Treasury to discuss issues relating the to economy. The Government of course continue also to work closely with the IMF and other international partners in responding to the financial crisis.
16. Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions his Department has had with the International Monetary Fund on the UK's economic performance. [266540]
Ian Pearson: The IMF holds bilateral discussions with each of its member countries, usually every year as part of its country surveillance function, under Article IV of the IMF's Articles of Agreement. IMF staff last visited London in May 2008 and met with various institutions including HM Treasury to discuss issues relating to the economy. The Government of course continue also to work closely with the IMF and other international partners in responding to the financial crisis.
Credit Provision
12. Mr. Swire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further steps his Department plans to take to encourage banks to provide credit to businesses. [266536]
Mr. Timms: On 19 January, the Government announced measures to reinforce the stability of the financial system, to increase confidence and capacity to lend, and in turn to support the recovery of the economy. These build on measures announced on 8 October last year. Details are available at:
The Government are taking specific action to meet the needs of business. On 14 January 2009, the Government announced a package of support to address the cash flow, credit and capital needs of businesses, building on commitments in the 2008 pre-Budget report. Details are available at:
The Government will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the stability of the financial system, ensure lending to the economy, and support the recovery.
Electronic Games Industry
13. Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has had from representatives of the software industry on tax incentives for the electronic games industry. [266537]
Angela Eagle: Following the online petition to the No. 10 website in June 2008 on tax incentives to the electronic games industry, officials have met with representatives of the electronic games industry on a number of occasions to explore the barriers to growth faced by the video games industry.
The Government remain committed to maintaining contact and discussion with the UK industry on a range of issues.
Sir Fred Goodwin
15. Mr. Mackay To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department had with representatives of the Royal Bank of Scotland in October 2008 on the pension arrangements for Sir Fred Goodwin. [266539]
Ian Pearson: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the remarks made by my Noble Friend the Financial Services Secretary (Lord Myners) in another place on 2 March, Official Report, columns 585-587.
Quantitative Easing
17. Mr. Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment his Department has made of the effects on the economy of quantitative easing measures taken by the Bank of England. [266541]
Ian Pearson: The Chancellor has authorised the independent Monetary Policy Committee to use the Asset Purchase Facility for monetary policy purposes. Asset purchases will increase the flow of money within the economy. The objectives of the Government's monetary policy framework remain unchanged. The MPC's operational target set by the Government remains at 2 per cent., as measured by the 12-month change in the Consumer Prices Index.
Wealth Inequality
18. Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of levels of wealth inequality in (a) 1997 and (b) 2007. [266542]
Mr. Timms: Inequality in wealth distribution can be measured by a statistic ranging from 0 to 100 called the Gini coefficient, where a large value indicates greater inequality than a low value. The Gini coefficient was estimated to be 69 for the year 1997. Figures are not yet available for 2007. A value of 67 was estimated for 2003, the most recent year for which a figure is available.
20. Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the change in the levels of wealth inequality between 1997 and the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [266544]
Mr. Timms: Inequality in wealth distribution can be measured by a statistic ranging from zero to 100 called the Gini coefficient, where a large value indicates greater inequality than a low value. The Gini coefficient was estimated to be 69 for the year 1997 and the corresponding estimate for 2003, the latest year for which figures are available, was 67.
Poverty Levels
19. Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he had at the G20 Finance Ministers’ meeting on the effect of the global economic downturn on levels of poverty. [266543]
Mr. Timms: At the meeting of G20 Finance Ministers, which I attended, we discussed a wide range of issues. To help mitigate the impact on the developing world, we agreed to ensure that all multilateral development banks have enough resources, and put them to best use, to help the world’s poorest.
We also agreed on the need for an urgent increase in IMF resources, to help developing countries cope with the reversal in international capital flows.
Forecast Growth
21. Mr. Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent forecast is of UK economic growth in 2009-10. [266545]
Ian Pearson: The Government are taking action internationally, nationally and locally to help people and businesses affected by the global credit crunch. The Government will publish updated forecasts at the time of Budget 2009, as is normal practice. This will include a full assessment of developments and prospects for the world and UK economies, based on all relevant factors.
Bank Lending
22. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with banks on plans to increase lending. [266546]
Ian Pearson: The Government have regular discussions with the lending sector on a wide range of issues. As announced in the 2008 pre-Budget report, the Government have established a new lending panel, bringing together Government, industry and consumer groups to monitor lending to households and businesses.
On 19 January 2009, the Government announced measures designed to reinforce the stability of the financial system, to increase confidence and capacity to lend, and in turn to support the recovery of the economy. These build on the measures announced on 8 October last year. Further information is available at:
The Government have negotiated quantified lending agreements with the banks participating in the asset protection scheme and extended credit guarantee scheme as announced in January this year. Details of the RBS and Lloyds Banking Group lending agreements are published on the Treasury website.
Ms Keeble: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to monitor levels of bank lending to businesses and homebuyers. [266538]
Ian Pearson: On 19 January 2009, the Government announced measures designed to reinforce the stability of the financial system, to increase confidence and capacity to lend, and in turn to support the recovery of the economy. These build on the measures announced on 8 October last year. Further information is available at:
The Government have negotiated quantified lending agreements with the banks participating in the Asset Protection Scheme and extended Credit Guarantee Scheme, as announced in January this year, to determine the amount of lending they will provide to homeowners and businesses. The Government will report to Parliament annually on the delivery of these agreements.
As announced in the 2008 pre-Budget report, the Government have established a new Lending Panel, which will improve monitoring of lending to households and businesses. The remit of the panel is set out in the 2008 pre-Budget report.
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