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2 Apr 2009 : Column 1400W—continued
Jobcentre Plus
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what outreach services are offered by Jobcentre Plus staff outside of Jobcentre Plus; and in what types of locations. [261022]
Mr. McNulty: 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 right hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what outreach services are offered by Jobcentre Plus staff outside of Jobcentre Plus; and in what types of locations. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
In addition to its network of 744 Jobcentres, Jobcentre Plus services are available from over 140 ‘Flexible Service Delivery’ sites across Great Britain.
The services available at each site depend on local circumstance and range from the availability of a Jobcentre Plus ‘jobpoint’ (which provides electronic access to a vast array of available vacancies and training opportunities) to a significant number of services available in a Jobcentre such as jobsearch advice, benefit enquiries and signposting to other sources of help.
Jobcentre Plus works closely with partners in the community to consider whether further outreach services, for example in deprived areas, may be necessary and will continue doing so as part of its response to the continuing economic situation.
Some recent examples include a pilot launched in January this year in conjunction with the Department for Children, Schools & Families and the Child Poverty Unit. One full time adviser is located in each of 30 Children’s Centres (in a mix of urban and rural locations) across Great Britain. Advisers offer a full range of work focused services to unemployed parents including parents whose partner is currently employed.
Jobcentre Plus is also piloting an adviser outreach service, locating one adviser in each of ten of its districts (comprising urban and rural areas) in a GP surgery. The main role of the adviser is to signpost provision offered under Pathways to Work, patients are referred by their GP for initial employment advice and signposting to a range of support and assistance.
Jobcentre Plus advisers also provide an outreach service alongside Prison Service and other agency staff in Employment and Benefit surgeries to advise prisoners at both the induction and pre release stages of custody.
Jobseeker’s Allowance
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the level of jobseeker's allowance as a percentage of average earnings was in each year since 1980; and what he estimates the level will be in each of the next 10 years. [242174]
Mr. McNulty: Contribution-based jobseeker's allowance paid at a flat rate is only part of the comprehensive support available to jobseekers. Income-related jobseeker's allowance, income support and other income-related benefits, such as housing benefit and council tax benefit, are available to top up flat-rate benefits. People bringing up children may also be able to qualify for tax credits.
Generally jobseeker's allowance (and its predecessor unemployment benefit) has been increased annually to ensure that it retains its value in relation to prices.
The available information is in the table.
Jobseeker’s Allowance: Cumbria
Mr. Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid in jobseeker's allowance to claimants in (a) Cumbria and (b) Copeland constituency in each of the last five years. [263701]
Mr. McNulty: The information is in the following tables.
| Jobseeker ’ s allowance expenditure—2008-09 prices | ||
| £ million | ||
| Cumbria | Copeland | |
| Jobseeker ’ s allowance expenditure—nominal terms | ||
| £ million | ||
| Cumbria | Copeland | |
| Notes: 1. Caseloads and average amounts have been used to calculate expenditure amounts. 2. Expenditure figures are consistent with the PBR 2008 published expenditure figures. 3. Department of Work and Pensions benefit expenditure tables are available at: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/expenditure.asp Source: DWP statistical and accounting data | ||
New Deal Schemes
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects phase two of the Flexible New Deal to start. [266118]
Mr. McNulty: Plans for the phased implementation of the Flexible New Deal were announced to Parliament on 14 March 2008. The Government expect to bring in the Flexible New Deal, in phase two areas, from October 2010.
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the procurement process for phase two of the Flexible New Deal is due to start. [266182]
Mr. McNulty: DWP has already embarked on market engagement for phase 2 of flexible new deal, including five supplier briefing events held around the country in February 2009. The pre-qualification questionnaire documents will be available to download from the DWP website in May 2009.
Pension Credit
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples are in receipt of pension credit in each Parliamentary constituency; and what the average entitlement is in each case. [267432]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The information requested will be placed in the Library.
Public Opinion
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what payments for (a) polling and (b) other services his Department has made to (i) Deborah Mattinson and (ii) Opinion Leader Research Limited since 31 December 2007; and if he will make a statement. [260990]
Jonathan Shaw: The information requested is as follows:
(i) We have no record of any payments being made to Deborah Mattinson.
(ii) The total payments made to Opinion Leader Research since 31 December 2007 are £33,622.75
Social Security Benefits: Eligibility
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit entitlement checks have been carried out for people in (a) Crosby constituency and (b) England in the last 12 months. [260152]
Mr. McNulty: The information requested is not held centrally.
Vocational Training
Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many drug users have been placed on a training course through progress2work; and how many have completed such a course. [261075]
Mr. McNulty: Since September 2004, the number of customers entering further education or training both for progress2work and for progress2work-LinkUP is 12,203. Providers can not claim for completion of further education and training as an outcome and therefore we do not collect that information.
The number of customers undertaking specialist training or provision, which could include training courses is 7,620. The number completing specialist training or provision is 4,966.
Notes:
1. Figures are correct at the end of January 2009
2. Numbers are rounded up to the nearest 10 to avoid the risk of identifying individuals.
3. Information is only collected if the customer signs a consent form for their information to be collected on the web based Management Information collection system.
Transport
A316
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of road works undertaken on the A316 in 2008-09; and for what reasons such works were undertaken. [267086]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The A316 in London has formed part of the Transport for London road network since July 2000. Therefore, any improvement schemes for that road are a matter for the London Mayor and Transport for London as are the details of the costs of any improvements. Further questions should be directed accordingly.
There have been no major works undertaken on the section of the A316 outside of the London Boundary during 2008-09.
Accidents: Animals
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many personnel trained in animal welfare are employed by the Highways Agency to assist traffic officers in road incidents involving injured animals. [266950]
Paul Clark: The Highways Agency does not directly employ any personnel trained in animal welfare. To assist traffic officers in road incidents involving injured animals, the Highways Agency has national partnership agreements in place with the British Equine Veterinary Association through the ‘emergency services protocol when dealing with incidents involving equines’ and with the RSPCA. These partnership arrangements provide trained personnel to the traffic officer service to ensure the welfare of injured animals.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of animals killed on main roads in England in each of the last five years. [266958]
Paul Clark: The Highways Agency (HA) is responsible for the strategic road network in England which consists of motorways and trunk roads. Other roads are the responsibility of local authorities. The Highways Agency do not keep records and the managing agents are not required to record the number of animals killed on the roads they are managing. Any records that are kept are inconsistent making it difficult to collate the data to give an accurate figure. Some agent’s contracts have terminated within the five-year period and these records are not available. From the data available, the following figures are for the minimum number killed.
| January to December | Number of animals killed |
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