Notes:
1. Asterisks indicate a high degree of sampling error and should only be used as a guide.
2. Dashes represent nil or negligible numbers of individuals.
3. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
Figures for 2006-07 and 2007-08 should be regarded as provisional and may be subject to changes in future releases.
4. Ages of individuals are taken to be ages at the end of the relevant tax year-e.g. on 5 April 2008 for the 2007-08 tax year. Source:
DWP Information Directorate: Lifetime Labour Market Database 1 per cent. sample of the National Insurance Recording System
Unemployment Benefits
Mrs. May:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what sanctions are available in relation to compulsory employment or training programmes; and how many times each such sanction has been used in each year since 1997; [313082]
(2) how many times each type of sanction available for (a) jobseeker's allowance, (b) incapacity benefit, (c) employment and support allowance and (d) income support has been used in each year since 1997. [313083]
Jim Knight:
Data on sanctions is available for jobseeker's allowance from the year 2000. Data on sanctions is not available for income support, incapacity benefit and employment and support allowance.
Questions about entitlement to jobseeker's allowance can arise at any time from the commencement of a claim. For example, if there is doubt around whether the jobseeker's agreement (JSAg) is suitable, whether the claimant is actively looking for work or making them self available for work. In most cases payment of Jobseeker's Allowance will be suspended until the doubt is resolved.
The following types of sanctions are available for jobseeker's allowance claimants:
Varied Length Sanctions: A sanction of between one week and 26 weeks is imposed for leaving employment voluntarily without just cause, refusing employment without good cause, or losing employment through misconduct. The actual period in each case is at the discretion of the adjudication officer who makes the decision.
Fixed Length Sanctions: A sanction of two weeks (four weeks if repeated within 12 months, and 26 weeks if already received a four week sanction within last 12 months) are imposed for refusal, without good cause, to attend an employment programme or carry out a jobseeker's direction. Payment of benefit continues in full pending the adjudication officer's decision on a sanction question.
Data on the number of times each type of sanction available for jobseeker's allowance has been used in each year since 2000, including those that are available in relation to compulsory employment or training programmes, has been placed in the Library.
This information is also published on the Department for Work and Pensions website:
Please note, in 2006 the Department refreshed the delivery of the jobseeker's allowance regime within Jobcentre Plus ensuring that all customers were receiving the right support at the right time. This led to a strengthening of the rights and responsibilities agenda which underpins the regime.
This coincides with the increase in jobseekers who were sanctioned between 2006-07 and 2007-08.
Mrs. May:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate her Department has made of its expenditure on out-of-work benefits in each year since 1980, expressed in real terms; [317619]
(2) what estimate her Department has made of its expenditure on unemployment benefits in each year since 1980, expressed in real terms; [317620]
(3) what estimate her Department has made of its expenditure on out-of-work benefits in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11 expressed, in real terms; [317642]
(4) what estimate her Department has made of its expenditure on unemployment benefits in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11, expressed in real terms. [317643]
Jim Knight:
The available information is in the following table:
Expenditure on out-of-work benefits in Great Britain, 1980-81 to 2010-11
£ million (2009-10 prices)
Incapacity-related benefits (including income support)
Income support for lone parents
Jobseeker's allowance
Total
Status: Outturn
1980-81
5,947
618
5,554
12,119
1981-82
6,146
761
7,683
14,589
2 Mar 2010 : Column 1047W
1982-83
6,129
1,086
9,044
16,259
1983-84
7,143
1,377
10,233
18,754
1984-85
7,528
1,486
10,832
19,846
1985-86
7,700
1,690
11,208
20,598
1986-87
8,429
1,938
11,490
21,857
1987-88
8,635
1,989
9,647
20,270
1988-89
9,073
1,985
6,800
17,858
1989-90
9,339
1,936
5,166
16,440
1990-91
9,751
2,224
5,634
17,609
1991-92
10,919
2,722
8,159
21,800
1992-93
12,095
2,962
9,642
24,699
1993-94
13,433
3,107
9,650
26,190
1994-95
13,845
3,611
8,229
25,685
1995-96
14,086
3,723
7,434
25,243
1996-97
14,068
3,621
6,297
23,986
1997-98
13,815
3,304
4,730
21,850
1998-99
13,791
3,039
4,229
21,059
1999-2000
13,523
2,799
3,787
20,109
2000-01
13,815
2,844
3,243
19,902
2001-02
13,835
2,712
2,858
19,405
2002-03
13,571
2,399
2,784
18,754
2003-04
13,458
2,564
2,671
18,693
2004-05
13,214
2,378
2,326
17,918
2005-06
13,084
2,225
2,534
17,842
2006-07
12,807
2,143
2,612
17,562
2007-08
12,836
2,220
2,342
17,398
2008-09
12,503
2,088
2,916
17,506
Status: Forecast
2009-10
13,512
2,223
4,950
20,685
2010-11
13,533
1,831
5,642
21,006
Notes: 1. Figures may not sum due to rounding. 2. Figures in the table have been adjusted to provide a consistent series throughout the period. Specifically, the following expenditure has been excluded from the table: Expenditure on invalidity benefit and incapacity benefit for people aged above state pension age, which was phased out between 1995 and 2000. Expenditure on income support in residential care and nursing homes, which was transferred to the Department of Health in 2002 and 2003. Child allowances in income support and jobseeker's allowance, which from 2003 were gradually replaced by child tax credit. 3. The JSA figures shown in the table are based on HM Treasury's assumption for claimant unemployment, which itself is based on forecasts from around 30 independent forecasters and is audited by the National Audit Office. It is intended as a cautious planning assumption, and does not represent the Treasury's own economic forecast. Sources: 1. DWP Statistical and Accounting data. 2. Pre-Budget report forecasts.
