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18 Mar 2010 : Column 976W—continued
The estimates provided comprise those who have had a health problem lasting longer than 12 months that may or may not affect their activity; categorised by their main health problem only. Regional data are not available for the more detailed long-term health problem categories due to small sample sizes.
As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
| Economic activity rate of people( 1) who have a long-term health problem( 2) -Region of UK, not seasonally adjusted, three months ending December each year | ||||||||
| Percentage | ||||||||
| 2006 | 2009 | |||||||
| Long-term health problem | No long-term health problem | Long-term health problem | No long-term health problem | |||||
| Men | Women | Men | Women | Men | Women | Men | Women | |
| (1 )Applies to all people of working age (men aged 16 to 64 and women aged 16 to 59). (2) Health problem lasting more man 12 months that may or may not limit activity. Source: ONS Labour Force Survey. | ||||||||
| Economic activity rate of people( 1) by main long-term health problem( 2) -United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted, three months ending December each year | ||||
| Percentage | ||||
| 2006 | 2009 | |||
| Men | Women | Men | Women | |
| (1 )Applies to all people of working age (men aged 16 to 64 and women aged 16 to 59). (2) Health problem lasting more than 12 months that may or may not limit activity. Source: ONS Labour Force Survey. | ||||
Employment: Disabled
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information her Department holds on the number of people with (a) language difficulties, (b) disabilities and (c) learning difficulties who have been in employment in Montgomeryshire at any one time since 2005; and if she will make a statement. [322435]
Jonathan Shaw: The information requested is not available.
Future Jobs Fund
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many Future Jobs Fund job vacancies had been submitted to Jobcentre Plus on the latest date for which figures are available; [320300]
(2) how many Future Jobs Fund job vacancies had been uploaded to the Jobcentre Plus computer system on the latest date for which figures are available; [320301]
(3) how many and what proportion of Future Jobs Fund vacancies had remained unfilled after four weeks on the latest date for which figures are available. [320302]
Jim Knight: The Department for Work and Pensions is currently assessing the quality of new sources of information on the Future Jobs Fund. The Department expects to publish official statistics in spring 2010.
Future Jobs Fund: Tyne and Wear
Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much funding was allocated to Tyne and Wear City Region under the Future Jobs Fund on 29 July 2009; and how much of that funding had been spent on each project and programme on the latest date for which figures are available. [322240]
Jim Knight: The information cannot be provided due to its commercially sensitive nature.
Housing Benefit
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate she has made of the effect on the income of recipients of housing benefit who are moving into work of her Department's proposals to introduce fixed payment awards. [322395]
Helen Goodman: Our policies over the past 12 years have made a real difference in providing increased support to help people on benefits move into work. The introduction of the national minimum wage and tax credits have meant that almost everyone is better off in work than on benefits.
However, for some, the financial gains are not clear enough. The reduction in housing benefit when income increases can discourage people from moving into work even when they are financially better-off by doing so. Many are also concerned about the effect on their benefit income where their income changes and worry about reporting changes to earnings
On 15 December 2009 we launched the consultation document "Supporting People into Work: The next stage of Housing Benefit Reform" which examines how housing benefit might play a part in encouraging people to work. We consulted on a specific proposal to set fixed awards of housing benefit for six months which would be unaffected by increases in income and earnings during that time. This would remove some of the uncertainty over benefit entitlement that comes with going back to work.
The consultation concluded on 22 February 2010. We are considering the responses that we received as well as the details of how we will take our proposals forward. The level of help that we will provide will depend on final design decisions. We will set out these decisions in due course.
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consideration she has given to reducing the marginal deduction rates in respect of housing benefit claimants moving into work. [322396]
Helen Goodman: Income-related benefits help provide a secure source of income for people out of work or receiving low income in work. Although most people are better off in work due to the introduction of the national minimum wage and tax credits, and the availability of housing benefit and council tax benefit when in work, benefit entitlement can be reduced as their income from working increases. This is known as the benefit taper. The combined taper rate that an individual faces is known as the marginal deduction rate (MDR) and reflects the proportion of any extra pound earned that is lost through increased taxes and national insurance and reduced benefits or tax credits.
The level of the housing benefit taper targets support at those most in need, by ensuring that those with very low income receive help with their living and housing costs, whilst those with higher incomes become independent of benefit and maximising incentives to increase their earnings. Reducing the taper would be expensive and increase the level of income required to become entirely independent of benefit. We need to ensure that the taper in housing benefit continues to balance affordability with targeting support to those on lower income.
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment she has made of the operation of local housing allowance; and if she will make a statement. [322403]
Helen Goodman: The local housing allowance was rolled out from 7 April 2008 and is a more transparent way of calculating the rent element of housing benefit for people living in the deregulated private rented sector who make a new claim for housing benefit or for existing customers who change address.
The Department has committed to completing a review of the local housing allowance scheme over a two-year period from the commencement of its roll-out in April 2008. The aim of the review is to monitor the impact of the local housing allowance at a national level, against the original local housing allowance policy objectives.
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