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22 July 2010 : Column 537W—continued
Police: Pay
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average annual salary was for police officers based in (a) north Kent and (b) the Metropolitan police district in the latest period in which figures are available. [6841]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not currently collect data from police forces on the pay of individual police officers, and does not hold information on average salary for police officers based in North Kent and the Metropolitan police.
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average salary was of a police officer in (a) the Thames Valley and (b) the Metropolitan police area in the latest period for which figures are available. [7073]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not currently collect data from police forces on the pay of individual police officers, and does not hold information on average salary for police officers based in Thames Valley and the Metropolitan police.
Police: Sick Leave
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many days sick leave were taken by (a) police constables, (b) sergeants, (c) inspectors, (d) police community support officers and (e) support staff in each police force in England and Wales in the latest period for which figures are available. [9267]
Nick Herbert: The available data are provided in the following table. The latest available period is the financial year 2008-09. Figures are collected centrally as hours lost to sickness and are only broken down in to 'police officers' and 'all police staff'.
Security Services
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will commission research into the level of public trust in the security service. [8817]
Nick Herbert: The Government do not consider such research to be a priority for scarce resources at this time. The Prime Minister, in a statement on 6 July 2010, Official Report, column 175, noted that public confidence in the security services was being eroded by allegations of their complicity in mistreatment of detainees carried out by other countries, and set out the steps which the Government intend to take to remedy this situation.
Sexual Offences
Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to amend the National Police Records (Recordable Offences) Regulations 2000 to provide for police powers to take DNA and fingerprint evidence in respect of offences contrary to section 51A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. [9599]
Nick Herbert: We have recently been made aware of the absence of this offence from the National Police Records (Recordable Offences) Regulations 2000. We are considering how and when this can be corrected.
Terrorism
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) charges were made and (b) prosecutions were brought consequent on discoveries following searches undertaken under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in the last five years; and what estimate she has made of the likely change in the number of such charges and prosecutions following her changes to guidance on the use of such powers. [8482]
Nick Herbert:
In relation to the number of charges and prosecutions brought against individuals following a search under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000, the Home Office does not collate statistics to show these incidences. There will be no further stop and searches of pedestrians under section 44(2) as police officers will now be using alternative powers under section 43. Stops and searches under section 44(1) of vehicles and their occupants will continue; however, reasonable suspicion
will be required for the exercise of this power. The oral statement of 8 July 2010 set out the changes to the use of this power.
Terrorism: Stop and Search
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were stopped and searched under the provisions of the Terrorism Act 2000 in each of the last five years. [8807]
Nick Herbert: The total number of stop and searches under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 for the years between 2005 and 2009 is as follows:
| Number of stop and searches | |
These data are available in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin Police Powers and Procedures 2008/09 (published on 15 April 2010), at the following link:
Data from 2009-10 are not yet available.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the US administration on detention conditions in US prison establishments at Bagram in Afghanistan; how many individuals apprehended by British forces have been rendered to US detention facilities in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [9927]
Alistair Burt: The Government maintain an ongoing dialogue with US colleagues on a range of detention-related matters, including detention conditions.
Two individuals were captured by UK forces in and around Baghdad during a security operation conducted in February 2004. They were transferred to US detention, in accordance with normal practice, and subsequently moved to a US detention facility in Afghanistan. The individuals transferred to Afghanistan are members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a proscribed organisation with links to al-Qaeda.
Andrei Lugovoi
Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Department's officials in the Russian Federation on Andrei Lugovoi. [8774]
Mr Lidington: I last discussed this issue with our ambassador to Russia, Anne Pringle, during her visit to London in the week of 5 July 2010. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I receive regular advice from our embassy in Moscow on this and the whole range of issues relating to the Government's policy towards Russia.
Asia and East Africa: Water
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on water rights and allocations (a) between the Nile states and (b) in Asia. [9813]
Alistair Burt: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has received two formal written representations from the Egyptian Government on water rights and allocation between Nile states in connection with the Nile Basin Initiative. The Egyptian Government have also raised the Nile Basin Initiative with officials.
In the responses, the Government have emphasised that they would welcome a broad multilateral solution, which addressed the main concerns of all Nile Basin Initiative countries. The Nile Basin Initiative is an appropriate framework for settling differences between upstream and downstream countries.
The Government are an active participant in the donor group to support the Nile Basin Initiative.
The Foreign Secretary has not received any recent representations on water rights and allocations in Asia.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Politics and Government
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [9966]
Mr Lidington: The security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is assessed as calm and stable. The recent commemorations of the fifteenth anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre passed off without serious incident. However in an incident on 27 June 2010, a police officer was killed and another injured in a bomb attack on a police station in Bugojno (central BiH). The BiH Government-along with the Peace Implementation Council and the EU-publicly condemned the attack in the strongest terms and urged the relevant authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. More broadly the Government have serious concerns about the political dynamics and continued nationalist tensions in BiH. In this context the presence of the EU military mission continues to play a crucial role underpinning stability.
British Nationals Abroad: Homicide
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens were murdered while abroad in each of the last five years. [10316]
Alistair Burt: The following figures are the numbers of British nationals that have come to our attention as having been murdered while abroad in each of the last four years:
| Number | |
These figures are taken from our casework database, which is used to record all consular assistance casework. Prior to 2006 we had no centralised database and do not have reliable data earlier than April 2006.
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Edward Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on the operation of his Department's Low Carbon, High Growth programme. [8578]
Alistair Burt: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has received three representations. The first from the right hon. Member for South Shields (David Miliband); the second from the noble Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean; and the third, a representation from Members of both Houses who are members of the Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE).
Edward Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on climate change programmes in 2009; and how much he expects it to spend on such programmes in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011. [8579]
Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) spent £18.93 million on Low Carbon High Growth Strategic Programme Fund projects in the 2009-10 financial year. £14.2 million has been allocated to the programme for the current (2010-11) financial year. All FCO funding beyond the current financial year is subject to the outcome of the spending review. However, as my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary stated in his written ministerial statement of 29 June 2010, Official Report, columns 37-38WS, the FCO is exploring alternative sources of funding for this particular programme for future years.
Edward Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how his Department plans to secure alternative sources of funding for its Low Carbon, High Growth programme. [8595]
Alistair Burt: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary stated in his written ministerial statement to the House on 29 June 2010, Official Report, columns 37-38WS, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is exploring alternative sources of funding for this programme for future years. These discussions are ongoing and a further statement will be made once they are complete and a final decision on the future funding of the Programme has been taken.
Departmental Internet
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how much his Department spent on maintaining its YouTube channel in the last 12 months; [8834]
(2) how much his Department spent on maintaining its Flickr channel in the last 12 months; [8841]
(3) how many people in his Department are engaged in maintaining his Department's social media and networking sites; and what estimate he has made of the cost of employing such staff in the last 12 months; [8843]
(4) how much his Department spent on maintaining its Twitter feed in the last 12 months. [8844]
Alistair Burt: Digital social media channels, such as Flickr, Twitter and Youtube, are run by the proprietors of those websites. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is not charged for the use of these sites which results in a cost-saving to the department as we are able to utilise their free hosting services for otherwise expensive media storage.
The FCO expects staff in all functions and grades to use a range of digital media-including the social web-to publish, carry out research and engage with peers, partners and the public. Our centralised digital team can advise staff on use of the social web but no one member of staff is allocated to manage Flickr, Twitter or Youtube and responsibility for social media channel management is devolved across the FCO. As a result, information on the specific numbers of staff and their costs could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Official Residences
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what residential properties maintained by his Department have been (a) refurbished and (b) redecorated since the Government came to office; and at what cost in each case. [9223]
Alistair Burt: This response refers only to the self contained accommodation on the second and third floors of 1 Carlton Gardens. The remainder of the building is classified as Non Residential
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has undertaken no refurbishment of the residential property at 1 Carlton Gardens since the Government came to office.
Some essential maintenance and redecoration work has been undertaken in accordance with lease obligations and as a result of recommendations highlighted in the Quadrennial Inspection of 2009. This includes maintenance work to some ceilings and walls to repair identified cracks and damage caused by significant water ingress and previous repairs. A number of window frames identified as rotten have also been repaired.
The cost of this maintenance work to the FCO is £3,437.
The cost of other redecoration and refurbishment work, aside from this essential maintenance, undertaken in the residential accommodation as a result of my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's occupancy has been met by him personally.
EU Accession
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the accession of (a) Turkey, (b) Iceland and (c) the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to the EU. [8544]
Mr Lidington:
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I engage regularly with our EU counterparts on the progress of accession negotiations with Turkey, Iceland and Croatia, and EU enlargement to the Western Balkans, including Macedonia. We discussed these issues
for example, at the 2 June 2010 High Level meeting between Western Balkan and EU Foreign Ministers in Sarajevo and at, or in the margins of, the 14 June 2010 General and Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg.
Israel: Educational Exchanges
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on expansion of the British-Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership for its next round. [10352]
Alistair Burt: We have committed £10,000 to the British-Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership (BIRAX) for this financial year which is an increase on previous spends. BIRAX is an important scheme and while we are unable to confirm funding for the next financial year we hope that we will be able to continue to support this initiative.
Nuclear Weapons
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the oral answer by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Cambridge (Dr Huppert) of 23 June 2010, Official Report, column 291 by the Prime Minister, whether the options considered under his Department's policy on multilateral disarmament include relinquishing the UK nuclear deterrent; and if he will make a statement. [9878]
Alistair Burt: Our nuclear deterrent continues to play an important role in ensuring our national security. Large arsenals of nuclear weapons remain, and the risk of nuclear proliferation continues. Our judgment is that only a credible nuclear capability can provide the necessary guarantee to our security. The Government therefore share a commitment to the maintenance of the UK's national nuclear deterrent, based on the ballistic missile submarine system.
The Government are committed to the long-term vision of a world without nuclear weapons and to fulfilling our disarmament obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. The Government have pledged to press for multilateral disarmament and we will continue to work to create a safer and more stable world where the UK and others are able to relinquish their nuclear weapons.
Trinidad and Tobago: Capital Punishment
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on capital punishment with the government of Trinidad and Tobago. [10486]
Alistair Burt: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not yet had a meeting with representatives of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. However, Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials and our high commission in Port of Spain maintain an ongoing discussion with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago on human rights issues, including capital punishment.
Work and Pensions
Departmental Billing
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information his Department holds on the time taken by contractors employed by it to pay the invoices of their sub-contractors under prompt payment arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [9246]
Chris Grayling: It is Government and departmental policy to pay in arrears after the goods or services have been satisfactorily provided and to pay promptly. DWP is a signatory to the Prompt Payment Code which aims to encourage good practice throughout the supply chain. DWP is committed to paying invoices within 10 days of receipt of a valid invoice. However the terms of the standard departmental contract state that payment will be within 30 days. Suppliers have a contractual requirement to pay subcontractors on these same standard terms.
As there is not currently a contractual requirement for suppliers to pay subcontractors within 10 working days DWP does not monitor or record the time taken by contractors to pay invoices of their subcontractors under prompt payment arrangements.
Departmental Communication
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what instructions have been issued by the private office of each Minister in his Department on the preparation of briefing, speeches and replies to official correspondence. [9658]
Chris Grayling: A guide to the style to be used for ministerial correspondence is available on the Department's intranet site. In addition the offices of the Secretary of State and the Minister for Disabled People have issued guidance notes on submissions, briefings and speeches. I am placing copies of all of this material in the Library.
Departmental Location
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to relocate (a) civil servants and (b) Government bodies for which his Department is responsible (i) out of London and (ii) to the West Midlands; and if he will make a statement. [8298]
Chris Grayling: The location of public sector activity and plans for the Government's estate will be considered alongside other public spending issues over the course of the spending review.
Departmental Travel
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of its expenditure on travel undertaken in an official capacity by each Minister in his Department during (i) May 2010 and (ii) June 2010. [8223]
Chris Grayling: A breakdown of ministerial UK travel expenses for May and June is as follows:
| £ | ||
| Minister | May | June |
The figures in the table do not include the cost of the use by Ministers of the Government Car Service.
As set out in the Ministerial Code, Departments will publish, at least quarterly, details of all travel overseas by Ministers. Information for the first quarter will be published as soon as it is ready.
All travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
Disability Living Allowance
Phil Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of decisions on applications for disability living allowance were (a) appealed and (b) reversed on appeal in the latest period for which figures are available. [8646]
Maria Miller: The information for 2009-10 is in the following table:
During 2009-10 the number of DLA decisions heard by the Tribunal Service was 5.3% of the total DLA decisions made.
In 41.2% of DLA appeals heard during the same period, the Tribunal Service found in the customers favour. This equates to 2.2% of the total DLA decisions made during 2009-10.
Phil Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) adults and (b) children with autism have received disability living allowance in each of the last 10 years. [8748]
Maria Miller: The information is not currently available in the format requested. Autism is included as one of a group of disabling conditions within the main disabling condition of learning difficulties. The information for disability living allowance in payment for learning difficulties for adults and children in each of the last 10 years is set out in the table.
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants of each (a) component and (b) level of disability living allowance there are in (i) England, (ii) Wales and (iii) Carmarthen East and Dinefwr constituency. [9367]
Maria Miller: The information requested is as follows:
| DLA cases in payment by mobility award type: November 2009 | ||||
| DLA rate of mobility as paid | ||||
| All | Higher | Lower | Nil rate | |
| DLA cases in payment by care award type: November 2009 | |||||
| DLA rare of care as paid | |||||
| All | Higher | Middle | Lower | Nil rate | |
| Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Parliamentary Constituency used are for the Westminster parliament for May 2010. 3. Figures 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. Recipients can be in receipt of both DLA care and mobility. 5. 'Nil rate', shows the number of cases where there is entitlement to the care component but not to the mobility component, and cases where there is entitlement to the mobility component but not to the care component. Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data. | |||||
Disability Living Allowance: Greater London
Luciana Berger: 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 Hornchurch and Upminster constituency. [9879]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is as follows:
| Employment support allowance claimants, incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance, and disability living allowance: November 2009 | |
| Parliamentary constituency: Hornchurch and Upminster | |
| 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 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 Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data as at November 2009 | |
Disability Living Allowance: Stirling
Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Stirling constituency are in receipt of (a) disability living allowance, (b) incapacity benefit and (c) employment support allowance. [9837]
Chris Grayling: The information is as follows:
| Employment support allowance claimants, incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance, and disability living allowance: November 2009 | |
| Stirling parliamentary constituency | 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. Case load 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, ie 'credits only cases'. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data as at November 2009. | |
Employment and Support Allowance
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of those who applied for employment and support allowance failed to complete the application process in each of the last five years. [10386]
Chris Grayling: Employment and support allowance was introduced on 27 October 2008.
The Department regularly publishes official statistics on the work capability assessment-including statistics for those who failed to complete the Employment and Support Allowance application process. The statistics were last updated in April 2010 and published in the report "Employment and Support Allowance: Work Capability Assessment: Official Statistics: April 2010",
a copy of which has been placed in the Library. The report is also available on the internet at the following address:
Employment: Wales
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to improve employment prospects for 18 to 24 year olds in (a) North Wales and (b) rural communities. [8720]
Chris Grayling: The Government are committed to tackling young unemployment. Young people in North Wales, and more rural communities generally, can access a range of support and advice to help them find employment.
Through Jobcentre Plus, young people have access to a named personal adviser from day one of their claim. They work with the jobseeker to create a personalised back-to-work plan. This support continues throughout the jobseeker's spell of unemployment. At six months of unemployment, young people are guaranteed an offer of a job, training or work experience.
Funeral Payments: West Midlands
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the monetary value of funeral payments reclaimed in (a) the West Midlands and (b) Dudley borough was in each year since 2000. [8216]
Steve Webb: The available information is in the table. Information at borough level is unavailable.
| Funeral payment recovery amount by financial year | |
| West Midlands (£ million) | |
| Notes: 1. The West Midlands has been interpreted as the Government Office Region of that name. 2. The information above is for Funeral Payment claims recovered in full or in part. 3. The amount of Funeral Payments recovered has been rounded to the nearest £0.01 million. 4. Data for 2000-01 to 2002-03 for the West Midlands Government Office Region is not available, because one Social Fund district then straddled the border between the West Midlands and the East Midlands Government Office Regions. (Data is only available by Social Fund district.) Source: DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System. | |
Future Jobs Fund: Dudley
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much funding has been allocated from the Future Jobs Fund to organisations in (a) Dudley borough and (b) Dudley North constituency. [8414]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available.
Housing Benefit
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the number of (a) pensioners, (b) people of working age who are (i) employed and (ii) unemployed, (c) social sector tenants and (d) private sector tenants in receipt of housing benefit in Edinburgh East constituency. [8190]
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) pensioners, (b) people of working age in work, (c) people of working age and unemployed, (d) social sector tenants and (e) private sector tenants receiving housing benefit in City of Durham constituency. [8467]
Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) pensioners, (b) people of working age in work, (c) people of working age and unemployed, (d) social sector tenants and (e) private sector tenants receiving housing benefit in Newport East constituency. [8477]
Steve Webb: The information is not available at the constituency level.
The available information on Housing Benefit recipients is published at:
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.
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the number of non-dependants living in households in Edinburgh East constituency where the main occupier is in receipt of housing benefit. [8191]
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of non-dependants living in households where the main occupier is in receipt of housing benefit in City of Durham constituency. [8469]
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of non-dependants living in households where the main occupier is in receipt of housing benefit in Liverpool, Wavertree constituency. [9624]
Steve Webb: The information is not available.
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effects of proposed changes to housing benefits on the number of people moving home in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15. [9389]
Steve Webb: We will publish an impact assessment for the housing benefit changes that will affect the calculation of local housing allowance rates on 23 July 2010.
This impact assessment will not include a specific breakdown of number of people who may have to move home as a result of the proposed changes. However, the Department is working closely with the Department for Communities and Local Government, the devolved Administrations and local authorities to continue to assess the impact, to ensure an effective implementation of these measures and to provide support for those people who will be affected by the changes.
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.
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effects of proposed changes to the level of housing benefit announced in the June 2010 Budget on levels of homelessness in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15. [9390]
Steve Webb: We are working closely with the Department for Communities and Local Government and the devolved Administrations to assess the impacts of the proposed changes to housing benefit, including looking at ways to minimise any risk of adverse impacts on local authorities' homelessness prevention strategies.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many new housing benefit claims were made in each local authority area in England in the latest year for which figures are available. [10562]
Steve Webb: The information is not available in the format requested. The available information has been placed in the Library and can be found at:
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average payment from local housing allowance in each local authority for (a) a shared room, (b) a single room, (c) a one bed property, (d) a two bed property, (e) a three bed property, (f) a four bed property and (g) a five bed property was in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [10563]
Steve Webb: We are currently updating our estimate of the average payment from local housing allowance in each local authority by bedroom entitlement. Following quality assurance, this updated estimate 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.
Housing Benefit: Edinburgh
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the level of under-occupation in social sector housing in Edinburgh East constituency in which the main tenant is in receipt of housing benefit. [8192]
Steve Webb: The information is not available. The Department for Work and Pensions does not collect information on dwelling size for all Housing Benefit recipients.
Housing Benefit: Homelessness
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the likely effects on levels of homelessness of his proposed changes to the housing benefit system. [10390]
Steve Webb: We are working closely with the Department for Communities and Local Government and the devolved Administrations to assess the impacts of the proposed changes to housing benefit, including looking at ways to minimise any risk of adverse impacts on local authorities' homelessness prevention strategies.
Housing Benefit: Sunderland
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are in receipt of housing benefit in (a) Sunderland and (b) Houghton and Sunderland South constituency; and how many are (i) not of working age, (ii) in work and (iii) not in work. [9319]
Steve Webb: The available information is in the table. Information on whether a claimant of housing benefit is in employment or not in employment is not available.
| Housing benefit (HB) claimants in Sunderland city council area by under 65/65 and over: as at April 2010 | |
| Number | |
| Notes: 1. Recipients are as at second Thursday of the month. 2. Data are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. April 2010 represents the latest data held. 4. Age groups are based on the age on the count date (second Thursday in the month), of either: (a) the recipient if they are single, or (b) the elder of the recipient or partner if claiming as a couple. Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract 100% individual level data (SHBE). | |
The information is not available at the constituency level.
The available information on Housing Benefit recipients is published at:
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.
Housing Benefit: Temporary Accommodation
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which local authorities have made representations to his Department on the effects of proposed changes to housing benefit and local housing allowance on temporary accommodation. [10021]
Steve Webb: The Department for Work and Pensions has received one letter from Westminster city council that includes a question about the effects of proposed changes to housing benefit and local housing allowance on housing benefit subsidy for people living in temporary accommodation.
We have also received some informal queries from officials in various local authorities seeking clarification around future housing benefit subsidy levels for people living in temporary accommodation.
Housing Benefit: Vulnerable Adults
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to mitigate the negative effects on vulnerable people of reductions in entitlement to housing benefit; and if he will make a statement. [9553]
Steve Webb: The Department for Work and Pensions will provide practical support for local authorities and welfare advisers to ensure that a comprehensive and consistent communication strategy is developed for people in receipt of housing benefit who may face a reduction in entitlement.
The Government will provide additional funding for discretionary housing payments. This will be an additional £10 million in 2011-12 and £40 million a year thereafter. This will help local authorities target additional funding to those customers who they feel need the most support.
The Department is working with other Government Departments and the devolved Administrations to explore strategies that can be adopted to ease the process for households seeking and moving to alternative accommodation.
Independent Living 2006 Fund
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will take steps to ensure that the new eligibility criteria for support from the Independent Living Fund do not disadvantage carers of community care service users formerly eligible to apply for support from the fund; [8491]
(2) if he will take steps to reduce the (a) financial and (b) time burden on the parents and carers of school leavers formerly eligible for support from the Independent Living Fund; [8492]
(3) if he will take steps to prevent parents and carers of school leavers formerly eligible for grants from the Independent Living Fund from leaving paid employment to become full-time carers. [8493]
Maria Miller: The Independent Living Fund is a discretionary fund subject to strict budgetary limits. There is no statutory entitlement to Independent Living Fund funding and there has never been any guarantee that funding can be provided in any particular case. Local authority social service departments will already be engaged with individuals and statutory responsibility for assessing and delivering essential care remains with local authorities.
Jobseeker's Allowance: Lone Parents
Sheila Gilmore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most estimate is of the
number of lone parents in receipt of jobseeker's allowance in Edinburgh East constituency. [8194]
Chris Grayling: In April 2010 there were 70 lone parents claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in Edinburgh East.
The figure has been rounded to the nearest five.
Pensions: Uprating
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average change in the level of private pensions of increasing them in line with the consumer price index in 2011-12. [9221]
Steve Webb: The median occupational pension in payment is around £70 a week.
The impact on individuals of the proposal to base the statutory minimum for increases in private occupational pensions on the consumer prices index rather than the retail prices index will depend on factors such as the pension scheme's rules and when the individual's pension rights were accrued.
In 2011-12 some pensioner members are likely to experience no change as a result of the proposal to alter the method of uprating applied, and some pensioner members are likely to have their pensions increased by around 1 percentage point less due to using the consumer prices index as the basis for indexation rather than the retail prices index.
Poverty: Children
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children were living in workless households in Great Yarmouth constituency in (a) 1997, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010. [9175]
Maria Miller: The requested data are not available for 1997, 2009 and 2010. The latest available data are for the year 2008. Data for constituency level information only go back to 2004.
In 2008, there were estimated to be 3,200 children living in workless households in Great Yarmouth. In 2004, there were estimated to be 3,700 children living in workless households in Great Yarmouth. These figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.
It is important to note that as with any sample survey, estimates from the Household Annual Population Survey (HAPS) are subject to a margin of uncertainty as different samples give different results. At the constituency level the group in question is very specific and the estimate is based on very small sample sizes. Therefore, the margin of uncertainty is very large for this estimate and the figure is deemed unreliable and would not be used by the Department for Work and Pensions for practical purposes.
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children were living in poverty (a) before housing costs and (b) after housing costs in the Great Yarmouth constituency in each year since 2000. [9177]
Maria Miller: Estimates of the number and proportion of children living in poverty are published in the households below average income (HBAI) series. HBAI uses household income adjusted (or 'equivalised') for household size and composition, to provide a proxy for standard of living.
As they are based on survey data, child poverty estimates published in HBAI only allow breakdowns to Government office region and analysis by parliamentary constituency is not possible. However, figures for East of England are set out in the following table.
| Number and percentage of children living in households with less than 60% of contemporary median household income for the East of England, before housing costs and after housing costs | ||||
| Number of children (million) and percentage | ||||
| Before housing costs | After housing costs | |||
| Period | Number (million) | Percentage | Number (million) | Percentage |
| Notes: 1. These statistics are based on the HBAI series, sourced from the Family Resources Survey. Both of these are available in the Library. 2. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 3. The reference period for HBAI figures are single financial years. 4. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication HBAI series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted (or 'equivalised') for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 5. For the HBAI series, incomes have been equivalised using Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) modified equivalisation factors. 6. Numbers of adults and children in low-income households have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. Source: Households Below Average Income, DWP | ||||
Measures of income poverty at constituency level are available with National Indicator 116. This indicator shows the proportion of children living in families in receipt of out of work benefits, or tax credits where their reported income is less than 60% median income.
Due to methodological differences to the HBAI publication, these small area estimates are not directly comparable with national or regional figures. National Indicator 116 does not necessarily capture all those, or only those, children living in households below the 60% of median threshold.
Published data for Great Yarmouth constituency are set out in the following table.
| Number and proportion of children living in families in receipt of income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance, or tax credits where their reported income is less than 60% of median income, Before Housing Costs, in Great Yarmouth | ||
| As at August each year | Number of children | Percentage of children |
Income measures do not necessarily capture ail aspects of poverty or inequality facing children and their families and the Government are committed to tackling the causes of poverty and not just treating the symptoms. We must tackle the root causes of how people get trapped in poverty, breaking the cycle of disadvantage and dependency culture to stimulate social mobility.
The right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr Field) has been asked to lead an independent review of poverty and life chances including examining the case for reforms to poverty measures, in particular for the inclusion of non-financial elements. The review will explore whether there are measures that can improve the way poverty is tackled, ensuring we focus on the root causes and the paths into poverty as well as looking at the non-financial side.
Both National Indicator 116 and the HBAI series are available in the Library. They can also be accessed online at:
Social Security Benefits
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in what locations medical examinations and reassessments will be undertaken of people in receipt of incapacity benefit and income support during the planned trial reassessments. [8303]
Chris Grayling: During the planned trial medical examinations and reassessments will be undertaken primarily in Aberdeen medical examination centre (MEC), Burnley MEC and Preston MEC.
Bolton MEC may also undertake the examinations and reassessments, however this will only be in cases where the person has specifically requested to attend there.
Social Security Benefits: Arthritis
Miss Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to assist those with rheumatoid arthritis who are able to work to find employment. [7134]
Chris Grayling: The Department has a set of employment programmes designed to help disabled people get and keep jobs. Some programmes focus on helping people into work; others focus on support in the work place.
These programmes range from: national back-to-work programmes available to all customers claiming incapacity benefits and ESA in Great Britain; specialist disability employment programmes for those with more significant support needs through to; the Access to Work programme
which provides practical advice and financial support to employed disabled people to help them overcome obstacles resulting from disability and thus stay in work.
We want to establish a system of employment support that treats people with the dignity they deserve. The Work Programme will provide a coherent package of support for people out of work delivering truly flexible and personalised support regardless of the barriers they face or benefits they claim.
The full scope and shape of the Work Programme has not yet been finalised but we do recognise there will be some people for whom the Work Programme is not appropriate. The Government are committed to supporting severely disabled people and are currently reviewing the best way of doing this.
Social Security Benefits: Disability
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has undertaken an assessment of the reasons for the increase in the number of applications to the Independent Living Fund in the financial year 2010-11; and if he will make a statement. [7839]
Maria Miller: Around 2,600 applications were received by the independent living fund in March and April 2010 following the independent living fund letter to local authorities explaining that the fund would only accept applications from those in work from 1 May in order to keep within their annually agreed budget. The number of applications received in these two months represented around 65% of the number of applications that the independent living fund received in 2009-10. These included applications that would have been made throughout this year but were brought forward by local authorities when they had been notified that independent living fund would only be considering applications in line with the priorities in the trust deed from May 2010.
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Edinburgh East constituency are in receipt of (a) disability living allowance, (b) incapacity benefit and (c) employment and support allowance. [8189]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is as follows.
| Disability living allowance, incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance, and employment support allowance claimants in Edinburgh East parliamentary constituency: November 2009. | |||
| Number | |||
| Parliamentary Constituency | DLA | IB/SDA | ESA |
| Notes: 1. Incapacity Benefit was replaced by Employment Support Allowance (ESA) from October 2008. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 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 | |||
Social Security Benefits: EU Nationals
Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under what circumstances migrants from other EU countries may continue receiving UK benefit payments after returning to their countries of origin; and after what period such payments cease. [7982]
Chris Grayling: Migrants from other EU countries, who have become entitled to a UK benefit by satisfying the domestic conditions, may continue to receive that benefit on returning to their country of origin, if it is covered by the EU rules that coordinate social security. The general rule is that contributory benefits should continue to be paid in whichever country a person resides but that income-related benefits should not.
The period for which the benefit is paid depends on the specific conditions for each benefit. If a person is entitled to contributory Jobseeker's Allowance, it can be retained for up to three months, provided that person has gone to another member state to look for work and fulfils that country's job seeking conditions. Employment and Support Allowance can continue to be paid for as long as all the conditions of entitlement are met including any work capability assessment. The UK can ask the state of residence to carry out medical testing on its behalf.
Social Security Benefits: Females
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has made an assessment of the effects on women of proposed reductions in his Department's welfare spending. [10395]
Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions is considering the equality impacts of all proposed reductions in the Department's welfare spending announced in the Budget on 22 June 2010.
Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what medical qualifications specialists undertaking medical examinations for (a) incapacity benefit and (b) employment and support allowance (i) assessments and (ii) appeals are required to have. [8437]
Chris Grayling: Health care professionals undertaking incapacity benefit and employment and support allowance medical assessments are trained in disability assessment medicine. Recruitment criteria for the health care professionals are specified in the contract between DWP and Atos Healthcare. All health care professionals have to be registered with the relevant licensing authority. They must have a minimum of three years post registration experience which may be waived at the discretion of the chief medical adviser to the DWP. Their experience should feature broad based medical practice in roles that have a clear relevance to a career in disability assessment medicine. Atos Healthcare do not undertake medical assessments for incapacity benefit and employment and support allowance appeals.
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average time taken to complete the medical tests and appeals used to reassess benefit entitlements. [8438]
Chris Grayling: The current average clearance time for completion of employment support allowance medical assessments is 32.8 working days. The average time taken by health care professionals to complete an individual employment support allowance assessment is 46 minutes.
Social Security Benefits: Mental Illness
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of incapacity benefit and employment support allowance claimants in each English constituency have a mental health-related condition as the primary medical factor. [7739]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available.
Social Security Benefits: Scotland
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in respect of how many people in receipt of (a) incapacity benefit and (b) income support in northern Scotland he expects claims to be reassessed under the planned trial between October 2010 and February 2011. [8302]
Chris Grayling: 850 people will be included in the planned trial to reassess people in northern Scotland between October 2010 and February 2011.
I am unable to give a specific split of the customers who are in receipt of (a) incapacity benefit and (b) income support as customers will be selected according to when their existing personal capability assessment becomes due and the information to identify these customers will not be available before 23 September 2010.
Unemployment Benefits: Drugs
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if his Department will undertake research into the merits of replacing out of work benefits for problem drug users with exchangeable vouchers. [7847]
Chris Grayling: We do not have plans to undertake research into replacing benefits with exchangeable vouchers for DWP customer groups. However, the Government are determined to reform the welfare system to support employment and earnings and to tackle welfare dependency. A reformed system will make it easier to ensure that drug and alcohol users receive the help and support they need to overcome their dependency and get back to work.
Drug and alcohol addiction is one of the most damaging root causes of poverty, and helping people who are trapped on benefits through drug and alcohol addiction so that they can recover and find employment is a top priority for the Government.
DWP has recently published research examining the issues surrounding benefit uptake in England by individuals who use illicit drugs, in particular heroin and crack cocaine, 'Problem Drug Users Experiences of Employment and the Benefit System' Department for Work and Pensions, Research Report No. 640, June 2010:
The study explores the wider context of education, training and employment for drug users as well as the role of treatment. The report found that drug users face a number of barriers to employment which can include a lack of self-confidence, mental and physical health problems, a criminal record, lack of skills and qualifications and employer discrimination. In addition, financial problems can lead to homelessness and an increase in levels of crime.
Winter Fuel Payments
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the merits of extending eligibility for the winter fuel allowance to (a) cancer patients and (b) carers. [8722]
Steve Webb: Winter fuel payments are targeted at older people because they are particularly vulnerable to the effects of cold weather. They provide assurance to older people that they can keep warm during the colder winter months because they know they will receive significant help with their bills.
The structure of the scheme, which provides for an annual lump sum payment, is not necessarily appropriate for the needs of people with cancer, whose extra heating needs can arise at any time of year, not just in the winter months.
The Government do appreciate that some people with cancer can face extra costs as a result of their condition and treatment, including heating costs, and believe that disability benefits and the disability premiums in the income-related benefits are the most appropriate way of providing this extra help.
With regard to carers, older carers can qualify for winter fuel payments in the same way as any other older person who has reached women's state pension age. Where carers who have not yet reached this age look after a disabled person, any extra costs of impairment for the disabled person, including higher heating costs, are also provided for through disability benefits and the disability premiums in the income-related benefits. Of course, if the disabled person is above women's state pension age, provision is provided through winter fuel payments as well.
Work Capability Assessment
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average monthly number of appeals following the introduction of work capability assessments for existing incapacity benefit claimants. [10383]
Chris Grayling: The work capability assessment is used as part of the assessment of entitlement for employment and support allowance not incapacity benefit.
The Department regularly publishes official statistics on the work capability assessment-including those on appeals. The statistics were last updated in April 2010 and published in the report "Employment and Support Allowance: Work Capability Assessment: Official Statistics: April 2010", a copy of which has been placed in the Library. The report is also available on the internet at the following address:
Working Conditions: Hearing Impaired
Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on use by employers of loop systems for the deaf and hard of hearing in the workplace. [10232]
Maria Miller: Currently, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 places a duty on an employer to make reasonable adjustments for a disabled employee or job applicant to avoid that person being put at a substantial disadvantage, compared with non-disabled people, in the workplace. A similar duty will apply from 1 October 2010 under the work provisions of the Equality Act 2010.
The Government consider that the installation of a permanent or temporary loop system may be a reasonable adjustment for an employer to make for an employee or a job applicant who has a hearing impairment. However, there may be a range of adjustments that an employer could put in place to avoid a hearing-impaired employee or job applicant being placed at a substantial disadvantage in the workplace. Whether or not the use of a loop system is appropriate or reasonable will depend upon the circumstances of the individual case. Consequently, we do not consider it appropriate to be prescriptive about the use of loop systems.
Cabinet Office
Academies
Mr Anderson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether academies are considered to be in the private sector for the purposes of compiling the national (a) accounts, (b) economic and (c) labour market statistics. [9062]
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 16 July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking whether academies are considered to be in the private sector for the purposes of compiling the national (a) accounts, (b) economic and (c) labour market statistics. 9062.
ONS produces the United Kingdom's National Accounts. The National Accounts are an internationally comparable accounting framework that describes the activities in a national economy, including the transactions that take place between sectors of that economy. The relevant international manuals are the System of National Accounts 1993 (SNA93) and the European System of Accounts 1995 (ESA95) in particular.
As part of the process of producing the National Accounts, ONS decides on the classification of institutions and transactions within the economy. This well-established process is published on the ONS website at
and classification decisions are recorded in the Sector Classification Guide which is available at
City Academies were initially examined by ONS in 2001, and classified in the Central Government Sector. They were reviewed again in 2005 and the initial classification decision was reconfirmed by the National Accounts Classification Committee, consequently ONS continues to classify City Academies within the public sector, as Central Government entities.
Departmental Operating Costs
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he has taken to reduce the cost of running his Department since his appointment. [9365]
Mr Maude: Like all Government Departments, the Cabinet Office has adopted a range of initiatives in order to reduce the cost of running the Department. These include centralising our procurement function to drive down prices; reviewing our biggest projects to see where costs can be reduced; a freeze on all new consultancy spend; an advertising freeze; a freeze on recruitment and cutting spend on expenses such as first class travel and Government cars.
Electoral Register
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of electors were added to the electoral register during the period 1 December 2008 to 1 September 2009 in each local authority area. [9185]
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 16 July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking how many, and what proportion of electors were added to the electoral register during the period 1 December 2008 to 1 September 2009 in each local authority area (9185).
The table shows the number of people who were registered to vote in local government elections as at 1 December 2008 and 1 December 2009 and the differences in the number of registered electors between these points in time. This difference refers to the net change between the reference points of the registers and will therefore reflect the net effect of the number of people removed from the registers as well as the number of people added. ONS does not hold detailed data on the number of people added to (or removed from) electoral registers each year.
ONS does not hold electoral registration figures for 1 September 2009 for the UK. Electoral statistics collated by ONS for publication refer to the number of people who would be entitled to vote if an election had been held on the 1 December of each year. This is based on the qualifying date of October of the same year.
A copy of the table has been placed in the House of Commons library.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many elector records were deleted from the September 2009 electoral register following the second year of non-response to canvass in each local authority area. [9186]
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 16 July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking how many elector records were deleted from the September 2009 electoral register following the second year of non-response to canvass in each local authority area (9186).
ONS does not hold data on the number of people who have been deleted from the electoral register.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people were registered to vote for parliamentary elections in each local authority area in each year since 1997. [9193]
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 16 July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking how many people were registered to vote for parliamentary elections in each local authority area in each year since 1997 (9193).
The table shows the number of people registered to vote in parliamentary elections in each local authority area, from 2001 to 2009 for England and Wales, and from 1997 to 2009 for Scotland. These are the latest data available.
Data on the number of people registered to vote in parliamentary elections in each local authority area in England and Wales are not available before 2001. This information has only been collated since 2001.
Figures are available for England, Wales and Scotland only. Data on the number of people registered to vote in parliamentary elections by local authority area in Northern Ireland are not available.
Parliamentary electors are those individuals entitled to vote in parliamentary elections for Westminster and who meet the residence qualification. They include overseas electors but exclude Peers and European Union citizens. Attainers (people who attain the age of 18 during the currency of the register) are also included in these figures.
A copy of the table has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many electors there were on the register in each local authority area on (a) 1 September 2009 and (b) 1 December 2009. [9198]
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 16 July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking how many electors there were on the register in each local authority area on (a) 1 September 2009 and (b) 1 December 2009 (9198).
ONS does not hold electoral registration figures for 1 September 2009 for the UK.
The table shows the number of people registered to vote in local government elections in each local authority area on 1 December 2009.
Electoral statistics collated by ONS for publication refer to the number of people who would be entitled to vote if an election had been held on the 1 December of each year and is based on the qualifying date of October of the same year.
A copy of the table has been placed in the House of Commons library.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many were on the electorate registered in each parliamentary constituency in (a) February 1997, (b) February 2001, (c) December 2004 and (d) February 2010. [9199]
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 16 July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking how many electors there were in each parliamentary constituency in (a) February 1997, (b) February 2001, (c) December 2004 and (d) February 2010 (9199).
The tables show the number of electors there were in each parliamentary constituency in (a) February 1997, (b) February 2001, (c) December 2004 and (d) December 2009 (Tables 1 to 4 respectively).
Figures are not available for February 2010. This is because of a change in the reference date for electoral registers in 2001, from 16 February to 1 December of each year. As a result data are only available for December of each year since 2001.
Parliamentary electors are those individuals entitled to vote in parliamentary elections for Westminster and who meet the residence qualification. They include overseas electors but exclude Peers and European Union citizens. Attainers (people who attain the age of 18 during the currency of the register) are also included in these figures.
Boundary changes affecting some Parliamentary constituencies in Scotland came into effect in 2004. For these constituencies some of the difference in the number of people who were registered to vote between 1997 and 2009 may be a result of the boundary changes.
A copy of the table will be placed in the House of Commons library.
Employment
Mr Clappison: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) UK nationals, (b) UK-born people, (c) non-UK EU nationals and (d) non-EU nationals of working age were in employment in the (i) public and (ii) private sector in each of the last 12 quarters for which figures are available; and what the equivalent figures were in 1997. [10596]
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 National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many (a) UK nationals, (b) UK-born people, (c) non-UK EU nationals and (d) non-HU nationals of working age were in employment in the (i) public and (ii) private sector in each of the last 12 quarters for which figures are available; and what the equivalent figures were in 1997. (10596)
In the Labour Force Survey (LFS) the distinction between public and private sector is based on respondents' views about the organisation for which they work. The public sector estimates provided do not correspond to official Public Sector Employment estimates. Those are derived directly from employers and are based on National Accounts definitions, but do not include a nationality breakdown.
The available information is shown in the table. The estimates are derived from the LFS and are not seasonally adjusted. As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. This is assessed 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 for people of working age( 1) in employment by public and private sector and by nationality and country of birth. Three months ending December 1997 and three months ending March, June, September and December, 2007 to 2010 United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted | ||||
| Thousand | ||||
| Public sector( 2, 3) | ||||
| UK nationals | UK born | Non-UK EU nationals( 6) | Non-EU nationals( 6) | |
| Thousand | ||||
| Private sector( 2, 4) | ||||
| UK nationals | UK born | Non-UK EU nationals( 6) | Non-EU nationals( 6) | |
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