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25 Jun 2009 : Column 1056W—continued
| Table 1. Median length of completed claims (off-flows) of Jobseeker's Allowance for claimants resident in Essex and Castle Point parliamentary constituency | ||
| Months | ||
| May | Essex | Castle Point |
| Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative system | ||
Pension Service: Consultants
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the Pensions Service spent on consultants in each of the last five years. [280344]
Angela Eagle: The Pension Service spend on consultants in the last four years is shown in the table:
| Financial year | Expenditure spent on consultants by the Pension Service (£ million) |
| Source: The Departmental Resource Management system Investment Management Report Period 2 | |
The Pension Service did not account for the costs of consultancy services separate from other related costs in 2004-05. Figures could therefore be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Petrol: Storage
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what developments within development proximity zones surrounding (a) large-scale petrol storage depots and (b) onshore non-nuclear major hazard installations do not comply with Health and Safety Executive guidance on development within such zones; and if she will make a statement. [280695]
Jonathan Shaw [holding answer 22 June 2009]: Development proximity zones (DPZs) around large-scale petrol storage depots were introduced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in July 2008. Since then HSE has advised against the granting of planning permission on safety grounds for five planning applications which involved developments within a DPZ. In one of these cases the planning authority granted planning permission.
DPZs only apply to large-scale petrol storage depots. HSE does not record information on the number of developments within the consultation distances around other onshore non-nuclear major hazard installations where planning authorities have granted planning permission following HSE’s advice against development.
Public Information Zones
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the radius is of public information zones surrounding (a) large-scale petrol storage depots and (b) onshore non-nuclear major hazard installations; and if she will make a statement. [280692]
Jonathan Shaw [holding answer 22 June 2009]: Public information zones (PIZs) around large-scale petrol storage depots and other COMAH ‘top-tier’ onshore non-nuclear major hazard installations are rarely circular. They reflect the effect of site specific conditions, for example, the quantities and locations of hazardous substances stored on the site, and the influence of local weather conditions. PIZs range from a few hundred metres for sites storing flammable substances to a few kilometres for sites storing toxic substances.
The PIZ around a single, large scale petrol storage tank has a radius of 400 m from the edge of the tank’s circular bund. However, most large-scale petroleum storage sites have more than one storage tank, and in some cases the PIZ will extend beyond 400 m due to the presence of the other hazardous substances.
To provide details of the PIZs for all ‘top tier’ COMAH sites, including large-scale petrol storage depots, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Social Security Benefits: Fraud
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what use her Department makes of voice risk analysis products; and what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of their use in her Department’s work; [277050]
(2) which companies supply voice risk analysis products to her Department. [277051]
Jonathan Shaw: The Department is currently funding trials of voice risk analysis technology in 24 local authorities. These trials are due to finish in December 2009 and an evaluation report will be produced after that date.
In 2007-08 the Department conducted small scale trials of voice risk analysis technology in Jobcentre Plus and local authorities. The Department’s assessment of these trials has been made available. I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement of 11 March 2009, Official Report, columns 19-20WS.
Capita Group, in conjunction with Digilog UK, assisted in the implementation of Voice Risk Analysis technology in small scale trials in local authorities and Jobcentre Plus in 2007-08. This included supplying the system and advising on its use and training.
Social Security Benefits: Overseas Residence
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to which benefits recipients who move to another country in the European Economic Area continue to be entitled when they are no longer resident in the UK; and what rules apply to such recipients. [281742]
Jonathan Shaw [holding answer 23 June 2009]: In general a person moving to reside in another EEA country can take the following benefits with them if they have satisfied the conditions of entitlement:
State retirement pension
Contributory employment and support allowance
Contributory jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)
Bereavement benefits
Industrial injuries benefits
Winter fuel payments
Cash sickness benefits like statutory sick pay, disability living allowance (care component) (DLA), attendance allowance (AA) and carer’s allowance (CA)
Maternity benefits which are based on a period of employment and a level of earnings
The right to retain the benefit is tied to conditions specific to each benefit. For example, as far as JSA is concerned, to qualify in the first place a person would have to have done some work in the UK. It can then be retained for up to three months, provided that person has already qualified for it in the UK and is going to the other member state to look for work and fulfils that country’s job seeking conditions.
Unemployed: Training
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate she has made of the marginal cost of providing the 75,000 additional training places under the six month offer to the unemployed; [271709]
(2) how long on average a training course offered as part of the six month offer to the unemployed will last; [271710]
(3) what qualifications can be gained as a result of the training places to be provided as part of the six month offer to the unemployed; [271711]
(4) who she expects to deliver the 75,000 new training places to be provided as part of the six month offer to the unemployed. [271712]
Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
The Government are committed to ensuring that people facing redundancy and long term unemployment are able to access the help they need to improve skills and find employment. Since April 2009, the government has made available a new package of help for the unemployed including a £100m package of training for 70,000 people under notice of redundancy, newly redundant, or close to the labour market. This is part of a wider package of advice and guidance available to jobseekers.
The Government are also investing £83 million over the next two years to support 75,000 people who reach six month JSA claim point to up-skill or re-skill in an area linked to the needs of the local labour market in order to help them get a job. Provision will be tailored to meet the individual's needs and we expect learners typically to follow Skills for Life, Level 2 or Level 3 vocational training. Training will be linked to the needs of the employers in the local job market. Learners can progress onto qualifications from this provision through the Adult Learner Responsive budget or through Train to Gain if they are in employment.
In the period funded through this programme, we expect learners to achieve a significant step on the path to the qualification of their choice. However, we recognise that it may take longer for them to complete the full qualification and additional support will be available to enable them to do that through Train to Gain or Adult Learner Responsive funding. At this time it is not possible to confirm the average length of training overall which will depend on the nature of that training, and whether it is full or part time.
Contracts have initially been allocated to colleges, and will be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that there is a good coverage and learners' needs are being met. A list of providers with whom initial allocations have been agreed has been placed in the House Libraries. However, allocations may change in response to demand and provision may be extended to other providers in the future in certain circumstances.
A further package of help for young unemployed people was announced in the Budget and includes £122 million for training.
Treasury
Crown Estate Commissioners
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, (1) if he will list the names and locations of structures sited on Crown Estate land but not owned by the Crown Estate to which repair work has been carried out by the Crown Estate; [281913]
(2) what duty the Crown Estate has to maintain and repair structures located on land owned by the Crown Estate where these contribute towards coastal protection; [281915]
(3) if he will list the names and locations of (a) piers and (b) harbours for which the Crown Estate has a duty of care. [281916]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Crown Estate land comprises extensive urban, rural, foreshore and seabed interests. It does not keep an ownership record of all the structures, including piers and harbours, on its land.
The Crown Estate does not erect structures on the foreshore and seabed on its land. It permits third parties to do so by granting leases. Such leases normally oblige tenants to repair structures on the land they lease.
The Crown Estate has no duty to maintain and repair structures on its land for coast protection purposes. Nor has it any general duty of care as landowner for piers or harbours on its land, whether leased or not. In common with all landowners, the Crown Estate has a statutory duty of care to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable injury to persons, and has to comply with any statutory notices.
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent by the Crown Estate on repairs to historic structures within its care or ownership in each of the last five years. [281914]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Crown Estate's portfolio includes over 1,000 listed buildings and structures, and many historic structures which may not be listed. Total figures for repairs to historic structures over the last five years are not readily available, and to aggregate all individual repair bills would involve disproportionate time and cost.
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent by the Crown Estate on (a) piers and (b) harbours (i) owned by the Crown Estate and (ii) located on Crown Estate land in each of the last five years. [281917]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: In relation to piers, the Crown Estate has spent £17,649.98 in connection with works at the Generator Pier, Newburgh in Fife dating between May 2007 and May 2009.
As far as harbours are concerned, the Crown Estate has spent £2,291,000 in the last five years as follows:
Departmental Nurseries
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what crèche facilities his Department provides for its employees working in Whitehall. [282230]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Treasury does not provide any crèche facilities.
The Department supports its staff through the provision of child care vouchers for those eligible. These can be used to fund attendance at crèches at the most convenient locations for staff.
The Department is a member of the Westminster Holiday Playscheme, which operates during school holidays and is open to children aged 4 years and 9 months up to 12 years of age. The Treasury provides two rooms for this play scheme, which can accommodate up to 18 children.
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