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8 July 2010 : Column 425W—continued
Human Rights
Mr Straw: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) whether the Commission on a British Bill of Rights will consider the merits of repealing the Human Rights Act 1998; [6354]
(2) whether he plans to bring forward proposals for the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights. [6355]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The Government will make a statement to Parliament on the terms of reference of the Commission on a Bill of Rights in due course. The Government have however made clear that any Bill of Rights must incorporate and build on all our obligations under the European convention on human rights and ensure that these rights continue to be enshrined in UK law.
Legal Aid Scheme: Marriage
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many people received legal aid in respect of divorce proceedings in the last 12 months for which figures are available; [6347]
(2) how much the Legal Services Commission spent on legal aid in respect of divorce proceedings in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [6348]
Mr Djanogly: Legal aid in divorce matters can be provided under two categories: legal help, for advice and assistance in both contested and uncontested petitions, and, separately, civil representation carried out under a legal aid certificate for contested divorce petitions that may require representation at court. The following table shows the number of publicly-funded divorce matters that were completed under legal help and civil representation, together with the value of the claims for the year ending 31 May 2010. It is possible for matters funded under legal help to progress to certificated work.
The claim value for legal help also includes ancillary divorce matters, such as, for example, financial provision and matters involving children where such help is provided. It is not possible to disaggregate from these cases the amounts claimed for divorce only. However, the figures for civil representation do not include ancillary matters, and therefore do relate only to divorce.
| Closed case volume | Closed case value (£ million ) | |
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects to reply to the letter dated 20 May 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Scott Kelly. [6340]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: I replied to the right hon. Member on 5 July 2010. I am sorry for the delay in responding to him.
Parricide and Matricide
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions for offences related to (a) parricide and (b) matricide there were in the UK in each of the last five years. [6282]
Mr Blunt: The Ministry of Justice does not hold centrally details of whether the offender was related to the victim other than where the offence is specified separately in law. It is therefore not possible to identify from convictions for murder or manslaughter those specifically of parricide or matricide.
Available information given in the table is from the Home Office's Homicide Index and relates to the number of homicides where a victim was the parent of the principal suspect and the principal suspect was convicted of murder, section 2 manslaughter (diminished responsibility) or other manslaughter. The data reflect the position as at 24 November 2009, when recording closed down for the purpose of analysis, and will change as subsequent court hearings take place or other information is received. Data can be provided only for cases initially recorded as homicide by police during 2007-08 and 2008-09; prior to this the 'parent' relationship category also included the relationship 'step-parent'.
Information for Scotland and Northern Ireland is within the remit of the Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Office respectively.
| Currently recorded homicides( 1) where the victim's relationship to principal suspect was parent( 2) and the principal suspect was convicted of homicide( 3) : England and Wales, 2007-08 and 2008-09( 4) | |||
| Year( 4) | |||
| Victim gender | Homicide conviction | 2007-08 | 2008-09 |
| (1) As at 24 November 2009; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by police or by the courts, or as further information becomes available. (2) Prior to 2007-08 the 'parent' relationship category also included 'step-parent'. (3) Includes convictions for murder, section 2 manslaughter (diminished responsibility) and other manslaughter. (4) Offences are shown according to the year in which they were initially recorded by police as homicide. This is not necessarily the year in which the offence took place or the year in which any court proceedings took place. Source: Home Office's Homicide Index database. Based upon headline figures in table 1.05 of "Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2008-09" (Home Office Statistical Bulletin 01/10) | |||
Departmental Photographs
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department has spent on official photographs of Ministers since the formation of the present administration. [6451]
Mr Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has not spent any money on official portraits of Ministers since the formation of the present administration. All official portraits are taken by members of the MoJ's in-house graphic design team at no extra cost to the taxpayer.
Prison Sentences
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners serving indeterminate sentences for public protection are in jail after the end of the tariff period. [5813]
Mr Blunt: The number of people detained post-tariff and serving indeterminate sentences of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) or detention for public protection (DPP) on 5 July 2010 was 2,860, of which 100 were detained in secure hospitals. This includes those released on licence and subsequently recalled to custody. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
The figures were taken from the Public Protection Unit Database (PPUD) in the National Offender Management Service, and, as with any large scale recording system, it is subject to possible errors arising from either data entry or processing. The PPUD is a live database, updated on a regular basis. As a result, snapshots taken in consecutive days will contain differences reflecting the most updates.
Prisoners' Release
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has for the future of the automatic early release from prison scheme. [6600]
Mr Blunt: The End of Custody Licence (ECL) scheme was withdrawn with effect from 12 March and this Government have no plans to re-introduce it.
Prisoners: Health Services
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much the Prison Service spent on prisoner healthcare in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [6391]
Mr Blunt: The Department of Health is responsible for healthcare in public-sector prisons and holds the budget. The Prison Service does not hold figures for prisoner healthcare expenditure.
Prisoners: Social Security Benefits
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the proportion of prisoners admitted in the last 12 months who derived their only legitimate income from benefit payments. [6496]
Mr Blunt: Our most recent information on the proportion of prisoners in receipt of benefit payments in the 12 months prior to reception into custody is derived from the Survey of Prisoner Crime Reduction, which is yet to be finalised and published. Our provisional estimate is between 61% and 66% of prisoners.
Rape: Disclosure of Information
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Warrington North of 17 June 2010, Official Report, column 189W, on rape: defendants anonymity, what progress has been made by his Department's Director of Analytical Services in compiling the available research and statistics on the number of false allegations in rape cases; and how soon before the summer recess his Department expects to publish the report of that research. [6497]
Mr Blunt: The director of analytical services in the Ministry of Justice is currently compiling a report which will collate available research and statistics relating both to false allegations of rape and to other relevant issues. The Ministry of Justice plans to publish the report, following external peer-review, during the week commencing 26 July.
Reoffenders
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what evidence he (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated in formulating his policy on the effectiveness of community sentences for certain groups of offenders. [6394]
Mr Blunt: Published statistics show that offenders subject to court orders under probation supervision have a lower reoffending rate than those sentenced to custody. Some of this effect may be because offenders discharged from prison have characteristics associated with a higher rate of reoffending, such as more previous convictions. But some may be due to the fact that offenders on community sentences are taking part in programmes which promote rehabilitation and because they have not been taken away from their homes, jobs and communities.
Cabinet Office
Departmental Official Cars
Mr Bain: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which Ministers in his Department have used an allocated ministerial car to travel between the Department and the House of Commons on each day since 21 May 2010. [5540]
Mr Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 June 2010, Official Report, column 446W. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code. Where possible, Ministers walk or cycle.
Mr Watson:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2010, Official Report, column 563W, on departmental official cars, in what circumstances a (a) civil servant and (b) special adviser may use a (i) taxi and (ii) car from the Government car pool; and on how many occasions (A) civil servants
and (B) special advisers in his Department have made use of those services since 12 May 2010. [6806]
Mr Maude: The use of official cars and taxis by civil servants, including special advisers, is governed by the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code.
Information on the number of occasions civil servants have made use of taxis or cars from the Government car pool could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Employment
Mr Clappison: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of (a) UK nationals, (b) UK-born people, (c) foreign nationals, (d) non-UK EU nationals and (e) non-EU nationals (i) aged over 16 years and (ii) of working age were in employment in the UK in each of the last four quarters for which figures are available; and what the percentage change in each category was in each of the last 16 quarters. [5172]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many and what proportion of (a) UK nationals, (b) UK-born people, (c) foreign nationals, (d) non-UK EU nationals and (e) non-EU nationals (i) aged over 16 years and (ii) of working age were in employment in the UK in each of the last four quarters for which figures are available; and what the percentage change in each category was in each of the last 16 quarters. (5172)
The information requested is shown in the attached table. The estimates are derived from the Labour Force Survey. As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. This is described in a footnote to the table.
The figures in the table are derived from the LFS microdata which are weighted using the official population estimates published in autumn 2009. These estimates are consistent with the figures published in the monthly Labour Market Statistical Bulletin.
| Employment levels and rates for people aged over 16 years in employment( 1,2) by nationality and country of birth-Three months ending March, June, September and December, 2006 to 2010,United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted | |||||||||
| Thousands and per cent age | |||||||||
| Aged over 16 years | |||||||||
| UK nationals | Rate | Annual % change in level | UK born | Rate | Annual % change in level | Foreign Nationals | Rate | Annual % change in level | |
| Thousands and per cent age | ||||||
| Aged over 16 years | ||||||
| Non-UK EU nationals | Rate | Annual % change in level | Non-EU nationals | Rate | Annual % change in level | |
| Employment levels and rates for people of working age( 3) in employment( 1,2) by nationality and country of birth-Three months ending March, June, September and December, 2006 to 2010, United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted | |||||||||
| Thousands and per cent age | |||||||||
| Working age( 3) | |||||||||
| UK nationals | Rate | Annual % change in level | UK born | Rate | Annual % change in level | Foreign Nationals | Rate | Annual % change in level | |
Government Departments: Databases
Mr David Davis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what definition of the word reshaping in section 3.4(i) of his Department's Structural Reform Plan he uses in the context of changes to the ContactPoint and identity card databases. [6788]
Mr Maude: The use of the word reshaping in the Cabinet Office Structural Reform Plan reflects the two specific programmes in question ContactPoint and ID cards. I have used the Cambridge English Dictionary definition of reshaping-to shape something again or differently.
In the case of ID cards, the closure of the programme has been announced and the process of closure is now under way. We have already announced the early release of 70 temporary staff in Durham as part of this process.
We have made clear our intention to end ContactPoint as soon as is practicable and are considering developing a new service aimed at supporting vulnerable children. We recognise that significant investment has already been made in developing ContactPoint and the infrastructure that supports it. Therefore, we will seek to make the most appropriate use of that investment when considering a new approach.
Government Departments: Internet
Mr Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will place a copy in the Library of his Department's report on the usability, cost and quality of Government websites. [5678]
Mr Hurd: A copy has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Lone Parents: Newcastle upon Tyne
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many lone parents there were in Newcastle Upon Tyne North constituency in 2009-10. [6739]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many lone parents there are in Newcastle Upon Tyne North constituency in 2009/10. (6739)
The number and type of families in the UK can be estimated using the Annual Population Survey (APS). Estimates are provided for lone parent families which include at least one child aged under 16.
The latest available figure is for 2008 and is shown in the table below. This is based on the 2008 parliamentary constituency boundary. Newcastle Upon Tyne North, as constituted in 2008, consisted of 13 electoral wards, four more than the current constituency. The breakdown of the data available is not sufficiently detailed to determine" whether the newly constituted parliamentary constituency contains the same estimated number of lone parents as the 2008 constituency.
| Geographical area | Number of lone parent families with at least one child under 16 (thousand) |
| Source: APS January to December 2008. | |
Ministerial Policy Advisers: Redundancy Pay
Pete Wishart: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the cost has been of severance payments made to special advisers from each Department made redundant at the general election. [5982]
Mr Maude: The information requested is currently being collected, and will be published in due course.
Work and Pensions
Employment Schemes: West Midlands
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to reduce the level of unemployment in (a) the west midlands and (b) Coventry. [6802]
Chris Grayling: The Government have set out a number of major welfare to work reforms, including a core integrated Work Programme and a number of measures designed to support people to find employment. These measures are designed to help in the Government's key aims of fighting poverty, supporting the most vulnerable and helping people break the cycle of benefit dependency, and will be introduced at a national level.
The Work Programme, which we aim to introduce by summer 2011, will be an integrated package of personalised support providing help for people who find themselves out of work. This support will be made available on the basis of need rather than on the benefit claimed. The Work Programme will be delivered by contractors drawn from the private, public and voluntary sectors. We will offer them stronger incentives to work with the harder to help, paying delivery partners out of the additional benefits they realise as a result of placing people into work.
Alongside the core Work Programme, a series of individual support measures will be introduced to Get Britain Working such as:
Work for Yourself, giving access to business mentors and start-up loans;
Work Clubs, to give unemployed people a place to share skills and experiences;
Service Academies, which will offer specialised pre-employment training and work placements; and
Work Together, to encourage and facilitate volunteering.
Further support is also being planned for young people, including work experience opportunities with small businesses and sole traders, more apprenticeships and more further education places.
Until the Work Programme is implemented, the Government will ensure appropriate support is in place.
Housing Benefit
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of social sector tenants in West Lancashire constituency whose housing benefit payments will be reduced from their current levels in each year from 2011-112 to 2014-15; what his estimate is of the average reduction in benefit of such people; what estimate has been made of the effects of such reductions on the local authority's housing revenue; and what assessment has been made of the effect of the reductions on new build in the social sector. [5635]
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the effects of the Government's plans to reduce by 10% housing benefit for those who have been on jobseeker's allowance for more than 12 months on the number of tenants who fall into arrears and may be subject to eviction. [5840]
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of social sector tenants in Stretford and Urmston constituency whose housing benefit payments will be reduced from their current levels in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; what his estimate is of the average reduction in benefit for such people; what estimate has been made of the effects of such reductions on the local authority's housing revenue; and what assessment has been made of the effect of the reductions on new build in the social sector. [5860]
Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of social sector tenants in Makerfield constituency whose housing benefit payments will be reduced from their current levels in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; what his estimate is of the average weekly reduction in benefit of such people; what estimate has been made of the effects of such reductions on the local authority's housing revenue; and what assessment has been made of the effect of the reductions on new build in the social sector. [6045]
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of social sector tenants in Houghton and Sunderland South constituency whose housing benefit payments will be reduced from their current levels in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; what his estimate is of the average reduction in benefit of such people; what estimate has been made of the effects of such reductions on the local authority's housing revenue; and what assessment has been made of the effect of the reductions on new build in the social sector. [6059]
Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of social sector tenants in Worsley and Eccles South constituency whose housing benefit payments will be reduced from their current levels in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; what his estimate is of the average reduction in benefit of such people; what estimate has been made of the effects of such reductions on the local authority's housing revenue; and what assessment has been made of the effect of the reductions on new build in the social sector. [6095]
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of social sector tenants in (a) Glasgow North and (b) Ealing Central and Acton constituency whose housing benefit payments will be reduced from their current levels in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; what his estimate is of the average weekly reduction in benefit of such people; what estimate has been made of the effects of such reductions on the local authority's housing revenue; and what assessment has been made of the effect of the reductions on new build in the social sector. [6143]
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of social sector tenants in (a) Slough, (b) Salisbury and (c) Scarborough and Whitby constituency whose housing benefit payments will be reduced from their current levels in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; what his estimate is of the average weekly reduction in benefit of such people; what estimate has been made of the effects of such reductions on the local authority's housing revenue; and what assessment has been made of the effect of the reductions on new build in the social sector. [6191]
Heidi Alexander:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of social sector tenants in Lewisham East constituency whose housing benefit payments will be reduced from their current levels in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; what his estimate is of the average reduction in benefit among such people; what estimate he has made of the
effects of such reductions on the local authority's housing revenue; and what assessment has been made of the effect of the reductions on new build in the social sector. [6591]
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of social sector tenants in (a) Ashfield, (b) Argyll and Bute and (c) Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency whose housing benefit payments will be reduced from their current levels in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; what his estimate is of the average weekly reduction in benefit among such people; what estimate he has made of the effects of such reductions on the local authority's housing revenue; and what assessment has been made of the effect of the reductions on new build in the social sector. [6639]
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of social sector tenants in Cynon Valley constituency whose housing benefit payments will be reduced from their current levels in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; what his estimate is of the average reduction in benefit of such people; what estimate he has made of the effects of such reductions on the local authority's housing revenue; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the reductions on new build in the social sector. [6781]
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of social sector tenants in Wakefield constituency whose housing benefit payments will be reduced from their current levels in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; what his estimate is of the average reduction in benefit of such people; what estimate he has made of the effects of such reductions on the local authority's housing revenue; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the reductions on new build in the social sector. [6793]
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of social sector tenants in Birmingham, Erdington constituency whose housing benefit payments will be reduced from their current level in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; what his estimate is of the average reduction in benefit of such people; what estimate has been made of the effect of such reductions on the local authority's housing revenue; and what assessment has been made of the effect of the reductions on new build in the social sector. [6943]
Steve Webb: We will publish an impact assessment for the housing benefit changes that will affect the calculation of local housing allowance rates on the 23 July 2010.
We are developing the detailed policy design of the other housing benefit changes announced in the Budget. We shall publish impact assessments to accompany the relevant legislation when introduced in Parliament and are investigating the scope for publishing sooner.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in each English local authority, in properties of each bedroom size, will be above the cap proposed on page 48 of the Budget Red Book on the date on which the cap is expected to be implemented on local housing allowance. [6836]
Steve Webb: An estimate of how many households in each English local authority, in each bedroom size, will be above the cap proposed on page 48 of the Budget Statement will be included in the impact assessment of the housing benefit changes that will affect the calculation of local housing allowance rates. The Department will publish this on 23 July 2010.
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) pensioners, (b) persons of working age in work, (c) persons of working age and unemployed, (d) social sector tenants and (e) private sector tenants in receipt of housing benefit in Wakefield constituency. [6794]
Steve Webb: The information is not available at the constituency level.
An exercise is being undertaken to add other geographical areas to the housing benefit data: this will include parliamentary constituencies. It is hoped this exercise will be completed by early 2011.
Jobseeker's Allowance
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) lone parents and (b) others who will have been on jobseeker's allowance for over 12 months by 2013 in Bishop Auckland and Blackpool North and Cleveleys constituency. [5179]
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of people who will have been on jobseeker's allowance for over 12 months in West Lancashire constituency in 2013; and how many of them are lone parents. [5688]
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of (a) people and (b) lone parents who will have been on jobseeker's allowance for over 12 months in Stretford and Urmston constituency in 2013. [5866]
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of (a) individuals and (b) lone parents who will have been in receipt of jobseeker's allowance for over 23 months in Houghton and Sunderland South constituency by 2013. [5902]
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of (a) individuals and (b) lone parents in (i) Slough, (ii) Salisbury and (iii) Scarborough and Whitby constituency who will have been in receipt of jobseeker's allowance for over 12 months by January 2013. [6010]
Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of (a) individuals and (b) lone parents who will have been on jobseeker's allowance for over 12 months in Makerfield constituency in 2013. [6054]
Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of (a) individuals and (b) lone parents who will have been on jobseeker's allowance for over 12 months in Worsley and Eccles South constituency in 2013. [6094]
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of (a) individuals and (b) lone parents who will have been on jobseeker's allowance for over 12 months in (i) Glasgow North and (ii) Ealing Central and Acton constituency in 2013. [6152]
Diana R. Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of people who will have been on jobseeker's allowance for over 12 months in Kingston upon Hull North constituency in 2013; and how many of them are lone parents. [6527]
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of (a) individuals and (b) lone parents who will have been in receipt of jobseeker's allowance for over 12 months in Lewisham East constituency in 2013. [6594]
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of (a) individuals and (b) lone parents in (i) Ashfield, (ii) Argyll and Bute and (iii) Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency who will have been in receipt of jobseeker's allowance for over 12 months at January 2013. [6643]
Chris Grayling: The information is not available.
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of lone parents in receipt of jobseeker's allowance in Newcastle Upon Tyne North constituency. [6741]
Chris Grayling: In April 2010 there were 65 lone parents claiming jobseeker's allowance in Newcastle Upon Tyne North.
Note:
The figure has been rounded to the nearest 5.
Pensioners: Newcastle upon Tyne
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Newcastle Upon Tyne North constituency receive (a) the basic state pension and (b) pension credit. [6740]
Steve Webb: The information available is in the following table.
| Parliamentary constituency: Newcastle Upon Tyne North | |
| Number | |
| Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. State Pension figures are for the total state pension caseload. Around 1% of State Pension recipients are not in receipt of the basic State Pension, but are receiving additional State Pension only or graduated retirement benefit only. 3. Basic State Pension only figures are not available by current 2010 parliamentary constituencies. 4. Pension credit household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves or on behalf of themselves and a partner. Individual beneficiaries are the number of claimants in addition to the number of partners for whom they are claiming. 5. Parliamentary constituencies are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data as at November 2009 | |
Pregnant Women: Grants
Diana R. Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many health in pregnancy grants were made in Kingston upon Hull North constituency in 2009-10. [6525]
Mr Gauke: I have been asked to reply.
This information is available only at disproportionate cost.
Social Security Benefits: Disability
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are in receipt of (a) disability living allowance, (b) incapacity benefit and (c) employment and support allowance in Newcastle Upon Tyne North constituency. [6738]
Chris Grayling: The information is provided in the following table:
| Disability living allowance, incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance, and employment support allowance claimants in Newcastle upon Tyne North parliamentary constituency : November 2009 | |
| Number | |
| Notes: 1. Incapacity benefit was replaced by employment support allowance (ESA) from October 2008. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10, some additional disclosure has been applied. 3. Caseload for DLA shows the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and excludes people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 4. Constituencies used are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. 5. IB/SDA 'Claimants' include people in receipt of benefit and also those who fail the contributions conditions but receive a National Insurance Credit, i.e. 'credits only cases'. Source: DWP Information Directorate 100% WPLS | |
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are in receipt of (a) disability living allowance, (b) incapacity benefit and (c) employment and support allowance in Wakefield constituency. [6792]
Chris Grayling: The information is as follows:
| Disability living allowance, incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance, and employment support allowance claimants in Wakefield p arliamentary constituency: November 2009 | |
| Claimants | |
| Notes: 1. Incapacity benefit was replaced by employment support allowance (ESA) from October 2008. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10, some additional disclosure has been applied. 3. Caseload for DLA show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 4. Constituencies used are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. 5. IB/SDA 'Claimants' include people in receipt of benefit and also those who fail the contributions conditions but receive a national insurance credit, i.e. 'credits only cases'. Source: DWP Information Directorate 100% WPLS | |
Vocational Training
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to promote re-skilling initiatives in (a) Coventry and (b) the UK; and how much funding his Department has allocated to such initiatives in 2010-11. [6801]
Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is working with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to join up employment and skills systems in England to better help jobseekers identify and address their skills needs, find employment and progress in work.
The Department is reviewing all of these initiatives as we develop the Work Programme. The Work Programme will be introduced early next year and offer better targeted support to all unemployed people, regardless of the benefit they claim.
Jobcentre Plus in Coventry currently promotes a variety of re-skilling initiatives. The major part of this is via the rapid response service to employers making redundancies. In the west midlands this support can be provided while individuals are under notice of redundancy via Unity-Better off West Midlands, who are funded by the Skills Funding Agency, to provide specialist careers advice followed by short work-focused skills training to help equip individuals return to work.
Where appropriate mainstream provision is not available, Jobcentre Plus advisers make a specific business case to support the cost of appropriate training via Rapid Response Funds where Jobcentre Plus arranges for the training to be procured. In the current financial year skill support for 60 individuals has been provided costing £3,084 in Coventry and Warwickshire, with a further £9,991 committed to the end of June. Forecast expenditure for the whole year 2010-11 is £97,395.
Responsibility for skills training in Scotland and Wales is devolved to those Administrations.
Winter Fuel Payments
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make an assessment of the merits of reducing the age of eligibility for the winter fuel allowance. [6803]
Steve Webb: The winter fuel payment is paid to most people who have reached women's state pension age. Older people are targeted because they are particularly vulnerable to the effects of cold weather during the winter months.
In line with the increase in women's state pension age, the qualifying age for winter fuel payments for both men and women will rise gradually to age 65 between 2010 and 2020.
Work Capability Assessment: Mental Illness
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the level of accuracy of ATOS in assessing the eligibility of people with mental health conditions for employment and support allowance. [6805]
Chris Grayling: The decision about entitlement to employment and support allowance is determined by DWP decision makers, not healthcare professionals working for Atos Healthcare.
Medical reports for employment and support allowance provided by healthcare professionals, including those relating to mental health conditions are subject to random quality audit by a system agreed with the DWP and which is conducted by experienced medical auditors within Atos Healthcare. The quality of Atos Healthcare audit is validated by senior medical auditors from Atos Healthcare and doctors working for the chief medical adviser to the DWP.
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