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27 July 2010 : Column 1125W—continued
Risk Assessment
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will extend Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference arrangements to all areas. [11954]
James Brokenshire: The Government are developing a strategy to tackle violence against women and girls. This includes domestic violence and will consider MARACs.
Risk Assessment: Domestic Violence
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding her Department plans to make available to maintain each of the existing Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences and the Independent Domestic Violence Advisers in the next three years. [11955]
James Brokenshire: The Home Office is providing £3.5 million in 2010-11 to contribute to the funding of Independent Domestic Violence Advisers, Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences and some wider work to tackle violence against women.
Funding for future years will be considered as part of the comprehensive spending review.
Stop And Search: Greater London
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many stop and searches were carried out in (a) Streatham constituency, (b) the London borough of Lambeth, (c) London and (d) England in (i) each year from 2005 to 2009 and (ii) 2010 on the latest date for which figures are available; [10727]
(2) how many stop and searches were carried out on 13 to 19 year olds in (a) Streatham constituency, (b) the London borough of Lambeth, (c) London and (d) England in (i) each year from 2005 to 2009 and (ii) 2010 on the latest date for which figures are available. [10728]
Nick Herbert: Data on stop and search procedures carried out under various legislation in London and England from 2005-06 to 2008-09 (latest available) are provided in the table.
Data on the number of 13 to 19 year olds searched as well as searches in Lambeth and Streatham constituency are not available as the information on stop and searches reported to the Home Office is broken down by police force area level only, and does not include the ages of persons stopped and searched.
Data on searches in 2009-10 are scheduled to be published in spring 2011.
| Number of stop and search procedures( 1) conducted in Greater London( 2) and England, 2005-06 to 2008-09 | ||
| Number of stop and search procedures conducted in: | ||
| Financial year | England | Greater London |
| (1) Includes stops and searches under: Section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (2) Includes the Metropolitan police and City of London police force areas | ||
Telephone Tapping
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps her Department has taken to (a) detect and (b) prevent the incidence of telephone (i) hacking and (ii) blagging. [6336]
Nick Herbert: Section 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 provides an offence of unlawful interception. The police and Crown Prosecution Service are independently responsible for investigating and prosecuting such cases of unlawful interception. In some circumstances, 'blagging' or making false representations, whereby an individual pretends to be another person, could be a constituent element of a dishonesty offence.
Terrorism: Arrests
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people identified as being associated with (a) Islamic extremist, (b) far right extremist and (c) dissident republican interests have been arrested on suspicion of offences related to terrorism in each year since 1997. [8822]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not collate statistics in this way. However, the Home Office does publish statistics on arrests and outcomes under the Terrorism Act 2000 (Operation of Police Powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and Subsequent Legislation: Arrests, Outcomes and Stops and Searches). The link to the latest edition of this publication is provided as follows:
UK Border Agency
Kris Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases the UK Border Agency has defended at the High Court in each of the last three years. [10578]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency does not store information in the way requested. However the administrative court has provided the following data showing applications to the High Court where the Secretary of State for the Home Department was listed as the defendant in immigration cases in each of the last three calendar years:
| Applications received in the ACO | |||
| Number | |||
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
| Note: Figures rounded to the nearest 10; figures do not include reconsiderations against refusals of permission to appeal | |||
The administrative court has also provided the following data showing how many judicial review applications were withdrawn, discontinued or subject to a consent order in each of the last three calendar years.
| Number | |||
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
| Note: Figures rounded to the nearest 10; applications may be received in one calendar year but not recorded as withdrawn/discontinued until the following calendar year. | |||
The UK Border Agency seeks to defend all cases either considered on the papers or at an oral hearing that are not discontinued, withdrawn or subject to a consent order.
Vetting and Barring Scheme
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to announce her proposals on the future operation of the Vetting and Barring Scheme. [10877]
Lynne Featherstone: We have already announced our decision to review the criminal records and vetting and barring regime and scale it back to a common sense level. We are agreeing the terms of reference for this review and will announce further details in due course.
Violent and Sex Offender Register: Offences Against Children
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many British citizens are registered on the Violent and Sex Offender Register as having committed sexual crimes against children. [9010]
James Brokenshire
[holding answer 19 July 2010]: This question cannot be answered readily and accurately from the Violent and Sex Offender Register (ViSOR). This is due to the format in which the information is structured on ViSOR, which means information such as
the nationality of the offender or age of victim cannot readily be extracted from the database. In total, on 31 March 2009, there were 32,336 registered sex offenders in England and Wales.
Yvonne Fletcher
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will meet the Chairman of the Police Federation to discuss Government assistance to police forces to secure the arrest of the killer of WPC Yvonne Fletcher. [9337]
Nick Herbert: Home Office Ministers meet regularly with the Police Federation to discuss issues of concern. The murder of PC Yvonne Fletcher was a terrible crime. The investigation into her murder is continuing and remains an operational matter for the police. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is in regular contact with the Metropolitan police service and continues to press the Libyan Government to allow them to return.
Work and Pensions
Arthritis: Costs
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has made a recent estimate of the cost to the economy of productivity losses consequent on people with rheumatoid arthritis leaving employment; and if he will assess the merits of taking steps to assist such people to remain in work. [8260]
Chris Grayling: The Department has made no estimate of the cost to the economy as a result of productivity losses due to people with rheumatoid arthritis leaving employment.
The Government are committed to helping disabled people and those with health conditions to remain in work. Access to Work provides financial help towards the extra costs faced by people with a disability in work, where this goes beyond what would be reasonable for an employer to meet. Access to Work supported 37,210 disabled people during 2009-10.
Children: Maintenance
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent research (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have (i) commissioned and (ii) undertaken on the use and application of the rules on departures and variations. [4773]
Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the use of departures and variations within the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement
Commission. As the Child Maintenance Commissioner is currently on annual leave, I am responding on his behalf.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent research (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have (i) commissioned and (ii) undertaken on the use and application of the rules on departures and variations. [4773]
The Department and the Commission have not conducted any formal research in this area. The Commission has, through the Child Support Agency, carried out some interviews with people working in this area to get operational feedback on how variation cases are processed in order to identify concerns and issues.
Previously, when policy responsibility rested with the Department for Work and Pensions, officials met with a range of stakeholders including client representative organisations to discuss problems in the current system and the potential solutions. Subsequently Commission officials have met, and received representations from, client representative groups on an ad-hoc basis to discuss a range of policy issues including variations.
All of these sources of information and ideas are feeding in to the policy work being carried out to develop rules for variations in the future scheme, currently planned to be launched in 2011. Draft regulations for any proposed future scheme, including variations, will be consulted on publicly in advance of implementation.
Council Tax Benefits
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to complete the renaming of council tax benefit as council tax rebate. [11849]
Steve Webb: We cannot commit to a timetable for implementation until we have fully assessed the precise costs and impact of this change. We are engaging with local authorities and their IT suppliers in work to establish the particular delivery implications and associated costs for local authorities. Similar work is being carried out within Jobcentre Plus and the Pension, Disability and Carers Service where there are major implications for IT systems which link to local authorities' systems and play a crucial role in supporting benefit claims.
Departmental Contracts
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has made an estimate of the monetary value of the contracts between his Department and private sector companies which will be cancelled under his Department's planned spending reductions. [10171]
Chris Grayling: All areas of DWP third party expenditure are under close scrutiny to reduce costs either through contract renegotiation, demand management or collaboration with other departments. This work is being undertaken in accordance with guidance from the Efficiency and Reform Group. Negotiations with major contractors are under way, aligned with the cross-Government approach led by the Cabinet Office. These are not at a stage where estimates of the value of potential contract cancellations have been made.
Departmental Lost Property
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what property has been recorded as (a) lost and (b) stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what estimate has been made of the cost of the replacement of that property. [5967]
Chris Grayling: In accordance with guidance from HM Treasury, the Department maintains records of property that it owns, and which has been lost or stolen. In the past 12 months, no items have been recorded as lost or stolen, and there is therefore no corresponding replacement cost. These records do not include assets which are leased to, but not owned by the Department, for example under contractual arrangements.
Departmental Manpower
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of the staff employed by his Department on fixed-term contracts which are coming to an end will be given new contracts; and if he will make a statement. [9938]
Chris Grayling: As at 30 June 2010 the Department and its Agencies employed 12,531 full time equivalent staff on fixed-term appointments.
The overwhelming majority of staff on fixed-term appointments have been recruited to support the increase in workloads as a result of the economic downturn. As the economy improves and as further business efficiencies are introduced, this requirement should reduce. However, if extra staff are needed in a certain location or on a particular project, we will always seek to redeploy any surplus permanent staff wherever possible, and fixed- term contracts will only be extended, or extra staff recruited, where absolutely necessary.
The Department and its Agencies continue to keep staffing levels under close review, including the need to extend fixed-term appointments. At this stage it is not possible to say how many contracts may need to be extended.
Departmental Official Cars
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on the Government Car Service since the Government took office. [7952]
Chris Grayling: The Department has spent £59,436.92 (excluding VAT) on the Government Car Service since the Government took office.
The Department spent £95,872.04 (excluding VAT) on the Government Car Service for the same period in 2009. It has subsequently restricted the number of people who are eligible to use the service to Ministers, the Permanent Secretary and, occasionally, senior officials.
This is a service level agreement, which is a legacy from the previous Government and we are reviewing all expenditure in time for the spending review.
Departmental Official Hospitality
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on hospitality for events hosted by each Minister in his Department in (a) May and (b) June 2010. [10123]
Chris Grayling: No money has been spent by this Department on hospitality for events hosted by any of its Ministers during May and June 2010.
Departmental Operating Costs
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken to reduce the running costs of his Department since his appointment. [9815]
Chris Grayling: As my hon. Friend may know, the DWP has committed to contributing £535 million towards the Government's savings target of £6.243 billion, as announced by the Treasury on 24 May 2010. The cost saving will be made from budgets for the Young Persons Guarantee, the Six Month Offer, IT and other project investment, cost reductions from major suppliers, staff savings by implementing a recruitment freeze and not renewing the contracts of some fixed term-appointments, reductions in discretionary spending (which includes business travel and office expenses) and reducing the cost of our buildings.
The DWP will continue to find greater efficiencies throughout the Spending Review in order to meet the spending challenges set by the Treasury. Further details will be available from 20 October.
Departmental Secondment
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to increase the number of officials seconded from his Department to EU institutions. [9285]
Chris Grayling: DWP uses its limited budget strategically to support secondees to EU institutions, focusing on areas likely to be of most interest to this Department. Although the Department has no plans to increase the current level of representation at present, officials are working with other Whitehall Departments to develop best practice and improve the effectiveness of existing EU secondments and ensure that both Government and secondees achieve best value from the secondment process.
Disability Living Allowance
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) whether he plans to make changes to the system of sanctions taken against those who commit (a) fraud and (b) error in disability living allowance claims under the proposed new system; [11523]
(2) when he plans to consult disabled people on proposed changes to disability living allowance; and which organisations representing disabled people will be invited to take part in the consultation; [11524]
(3) for what reasons the medical assessment system to be used to assess eligibility for disability living allowance is to be based on the work capability assessment used in relation to employment and support allowance. [11525]
Maria Miller: Commitments were made in the June Budget to reform DLA to ensure it supports those people who are most in need. We will develop a more objective assessment for introduction from 2013-14 and consider how a more transparent system could reduce the scope for fraud and error. The criteria and assessment for disability living allowance are not linked to the capability for work and are therefore distinct from the work capability assessment.
We will talk to disabled people and a broad range of representative organisations to ensure support is effectively targeted on those with greatest need and distributed on a consistent basis, while continuing to tackle the inequalities that can arise from severe disability.
Disability Living Allowance: Medical Examinations
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what steps his Department has taken to ensure compliance with (a) the legal duty to make reasonable adjustments under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and (b) the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in relation to attendance at medical assessments by claimants of disability living allowance; [11521]
(2) what assessment he plans to make of the compatibility of the proposed changes to the disability living allowance claims forms with (a) the legal duty under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to make reasonable adjustments and (b) Article 9 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. [11522]
Maria Miller: Under the current arrangements for disability living allowance, a small proportion of applicants are requested to undertake an assessment with the Department's medical services contractor. Arrangements are made to ensure accessibility by offering an assessment in the customer's home or at a medical examination centre.
The Government's approach to reform of the assessment for disability living allowance will continue to be based on the key principle of fairness, and ensuring disabled people have the same opportunities as everyone else in society. This is an essential component of social justice, which is at the heart of this Department's agenda.
The details of the new assessment are currently under development but will be designed from the beginning to meet our obligations under the United Nations convention and our duties under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, ensuring that the impact on disabled people is given full consideration. To assist with the development process, and recognising our obligations under the UN convention, we will engage with external partners, including disabled people and their organisations.
Disability Living Allowance: Mental Illness
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to revise the eligibility criteria for disability living allowance for people with mental health or behavioural conditions. [9868]
Maria Miller: We will reform Disability Living Allowance to ensure it supports those people with the highest needs, on a consistent and transparent basis. We will introduce a more objective assessment from 2013-14 and as we develop our proposals we will talk to both disabled people and a broad range of organisations, including those representing people with mental health and behavioural conditions.
Employment: Lone Parents
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to assist lone parents into work. [9566]
Maria Miller: Supporting lone parents into paid work is essential to our strategy for the eradication of child poverty. As well as maintaining and building the necessary culture and infrastructure around provision of childcare and promotion of flexible working, the coalition Government will introduce a single work programme in the first half of 2011, which offers all benefit recipients, including lone parents, personalised help, delivered by contractors drawn from the private, public and voluntary sectors, as well as social enterprises.
We are also increasing the requirement on lone parents with older children to seek work, in line with their caring responsibilities. Currently, lone parents whose youngest child is 10 or over and who are not in paid work must ordinarily claim jobseeker's allowance and look for work, or employment and support allowance and undergo a work capability assessment. Before that, they can claim income support. The age of the youngest child will be reduced to seven in October 2010, and the June 2010 Budget announced that it would be lowered to when the youngest child enters school or formal education. We plan to implement this change in 2011-12, subject to passage of the relevant primary legislation.
Lone parents with children under the age of 13 can restrict their availability for work to their children's school hours, and non-availability of childcare must be taken into account by benefit decision-makers when considering whether a parent had good cause for turning down an offer of employment.
Lone parents with younger children are not required to seek work, but if they wish to return to work, pre-employment and in-work support is available through specialist Lone Parent Advisers.
In recognition of the difficulties lone parents caring for disabled children may encounter in returning to work, regulations provide that lone parents on income support with a child aged fifteen or under who have a child receiving the middle or higher care component of disability living allowance are not required to seek work in return for benefit.
Ethnic Minority Employment Task Force: Expenditure
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost to the public purse was of the Ethnic Minority Employment Task Force in each year since 2004. [10081]
Maria Miller: The Ethnic Minority Employment Task Force does not have a specific budget. Secretariat support is provided by the Department for Work and Pensions as part of its general functions and the cost of this support is not separately identified. This taskforce is a non-departmental public body and is therefore subject to the review currently being undertaken by the Cabinet Office.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost to the public purse was of the Ethnic Minority Advisory Group in each year since 2006. [10082]
Maria Miller:
The Ethnic Minority Advisory Group is an independent advisory group to Government and has no specific budget and members receive no remuneration. Secretariat support is provided by my
Department as part of its general functions and there are some small costs in hiring accommodation for meetings, covering travelling expenses, but these are not separately identified
Funerals: West Midlands
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the monetary value of reclaimed funeral payments in (a) the West Midlands and (b) Dudley borough has been in each year since 2000. [9697]
Steve Webb: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave him on 22 July 2010, Official Report, column 549W.
Housing Benefit
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has made a recent estimate of the level of over-occupation in social sector housing in respect of which the main tenant is in receipt of housing benefit in (a) Bishop Auckland and (b) Blackpool North and Cleveleys constituency. [5177]
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the extent of over-occupation in social sector housing in Stretford and Urmston constituency among households where the main tenant is in receipt of housing benefit. [5858]
Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the extent of over-occupation in social sector housing in Makerfield constituency among households where the main tenant is in receipt of housing benefit. [6053]
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the extent of over-occupation in social sector housing in Houghton and Sunderland South constituency in households where the main tenant is in receipt of housing benefit. [6057]
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the extent of over-occupation in social sector housing in (a) Glasgow North and (b) Ealing Central and Acton constituency in households where the main tenant is in receipt of housing benefit. [6151]
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.
Information on housing occupancy rates generally is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of Sate for Communities and Local Government.
The English Housing Survey in 2008-09 showed that 258,000 (6.7%) of all social rented households and 164,000 (5.4%) of all private rented households in England were over-occupied as measured by the bedroom standard.
The bedroom standard is essentially the difference between the number of bedrooms needed to avoid undesirable sharing (given the number and ages of household members and their relationships to each other) and the number of bedrooms actually available to the household.
Figures on over-occupation are taken from Table 6: 'Overcrowding and under-occupation by tenture' from the English Housing Survey, 2008-09.
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has made a recent estimate of the number of non-dependants living in households in which the main occupier is in receipt of housing benefit in (a) Bishop Auckland and (b) Blackpool North and Cleveleys constituency. [5184]
Rosie Cooper: 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 West Lancashire constituency. [5628]
Ann McKechin: 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 (a) Glasgow North and (b) Ealing Central and Acton constituency. [6148]
Fiona Mactaggart: 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 (a) Slough, (b) Salisbury and (c) Scarborough and Whitby constituency. [6190]
Bridget Phillipson: 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 Houghton and Sunderland South constituency. [6056]
Kate Green: 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 Stretford and Urmston constituency. [5857]
Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of non-dependants living in households where the main occupier is in receipt of housing benefit in Makerfield constituency. [6050]
Steve Webb: The information is not available.
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the likely saving to the public purse due to reductions in the sums allocated to fund temporary private sector accommodation as a result of setting local housing allowance rates at the 30th percentile of local rents for each year for April 2012 for which figures are available. [5618]
Steve Webb: The information is not available.
Housing benefit subsidy for people in temporary accommodation is considered separately from mainstream local housing allowance rates and reviewed annually.
The proposal to set local housing allowance rates at the 30th percentile, from October 2011, would not affect housing benefit subsidy levels for private sector leased temporary accommodation before April 2012.
This is because, under existing legislation, housing benefit subsidy levels for this type of temporary accommodation are based on a formula that uses local housing allowance rates for the January preceding each relevant financial year. Therefore subsidy levels until April 2012 would be based on local housing allowance rates before the proposed changes take effect.
Subsidy levels from April 2012, including the method used to calculate them, have not yet been decided.
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families in each status category receive housing benefit. [7275]
Steve Webb: The available information is published in the First Release DWP Statistical Summary Table 1.1. The most recent edition was published on 14 July 2010; a copy has been placed in the Library.
The First Release DWP Statistical Summary is also available online at:
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of claimants of housing benefit in (a) England and (b) Doncaster (i) are claimants of jobseeker's allowance and (ii) have claimed jobseeker's allowance for 12 months or more. [8967]
Steve Webb: The information requested is not available.
Information is collected on the number of housing benefit claimants in receipt of a passported benefit, and the available information on the number who are also receiving income-based jobseeker's allowance (JSA(IB)) in England and Doncaster metropolitan borough council is in the following table. However to provide the total number of JSA claimants receiving housing benefit and the duration of their claims would require a significant exercise to merge the relevant data and would incur a disproportionate cost.
The available information is shown in the following table.
| Recipients of housing benefit, in England and Doncaster council, who are also receiving JSA(IB): April 2010 | |||
| All | JSA (IB) | Percentage with JSA (IB) | |
| Notes: 1. Recipients are as at second Thursday of the month. 2. Passported status does not include recipients with unknown passported status. 3. Passported benefit as recorded on systems within the local authority. 4. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10, percentages to one decimal place. Source: Single housing benefit extract (SHBE). | |||
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of those affected by the reduction in housing benefit to 90% after 12 months on benefit, as announced in the June 2010 Budget, are estimated to be (a) families with children and (b) lone parents. [10409]
Steve Webb: The information requested is not available.
We are developing the detailed policy design for the measure announced in the June 2010 Budget to reduce
housing benefit by 10% after 12 months for those customers who are also in receipt of jobseeker's allowance. We shall publish impact assessments to accompany the relevant legislation when it is introduced in Parliament and are investigating the scope for publishing sooner.
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to monitor the effect of his proposed changes to housing benefit. [10982]
Steve Webb: We will monitor the impact of the changes to housing benefit announced in the emergency Budget through housing benefit data we routinely collect from local authorities. We will also be discussing with other Government Departments and the devolved Administrations other ways we might monitor the wider impact of these changes.
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to review the housing benefit budget in respect of (a) supported and (b) sheltered accommodation. [11220]
Steve Webb: There is no separate budget for these types of accommodation. However the Department is currently reviewing the way they are assessed within the housing benefit system.
Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households are in receipt of local housing allowance in each (a) local authority area and (b) broad rental market area. [11283]
Steve Webb: The Department does collect some management information on Broad Rental Market Areas but this has not been sufficiently quality assured below national level to use in any departmental briefing or external publication, including a parliamentary question. To do so for the purposes of this parliamentary question would incur disproportionate cost.
The available local authority information has been placed in the Library.
Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in households in receipt of local housing allowance are (a) in work, (b) unemployed, (c) retired, (d) parents with dependent children and (e) permanently sick or disabled. [11284]
Steve Webb: The information is not available in the format requested.
The available information is in the table.
Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many and what proportion of households in receipt of local housing allowance (a) make an additional payment to cover the difference between benefit received and rent paid, (b) keep the difference between the rent paid and benefit received and (c) pay the same amount in rent as their housing benefit in each local authority area; [11285]
(2) how many and what proportion of households in receipt of local housing allowance (a) make an additional payment to cover the difference between benefit received and rent paid, (b) keep the difference between the rent paid and benefit received and (c) pay the same amount in rent as their housing benefit in each broad rental market area. [11286]
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of people receiving housing benefit and local housing allowance receive less in benefit than their rent. [11412]
Steve Webb: The information requested is not available at sub-national level.
In August 2009 in Great Britain, among customers receiving housing benefit under the local housing allowance arrangements, 48% had a shortfall of £23 per week on average and 44% had an excess of £11 per week on average. This relates to shortfalls or excesses caused by a customer's contractual rent being higher or lower than the appropriate local housing allowance rate. 8% of customers paid the same amount of rent as they received in local housing allowance.
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what average housing benefit payment is for households in (a) the private sector and (b) the social housing sector. [11410]
Steve Webb: The available information is in the table.
Table taken from table 5 of publication at:
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what average housing benefit payment is for households in (a) the North West and (b) the UK. [11411]
Steve Webb: Information for Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
The available information is in the table.
| Average weekly housing benefit payment, April 2010 | |
| £ | |
| Notes: 1. Recipients are as at second Thursday of the month. 2. Average amounts are shown as pounds per week and rounded to the nearest penny. Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract 100% individual level data (SHBE). | |
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people receiving housing benefit are living in poverty. [11413]
Steve Webb: The latest information is available from the Family Resources survey, 2008-09. Of the estimated 6.5 million individuals in families who recorded receipt of housing benefit, the number who were living in households with income below 60% of median household income in 2008-09 was 2.6 million (40%) before housing costs and 3.9 million (60%) after housing costs.
1. These statistics are based on households below average income (HBAI) data sourced from the Family Resources survey (FRS).
2. The reference period for HBAI figures is single financial years.
3. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication "Households Below Average Income" 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.
4. The figures are based on OECD equivalisation factors.
5. Figures have been presented on both a before housing cost and after housing cost basis. For before housing cost, housing costs (such as rent, water rates, mortgage interest payments, structural insurance payments and ground rent and service charges) are not deducted from income, while for after housing cost they are.
6. The FRS is known to under-record benefit receipt so the estimates presented should be treated with caution.
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what assessment has been made of the effects on tenants in the private rented sector of proposed reductions in housing benefit; [11415]
(2) how many people will receive reduced housing benefit payment because of the proposed cap on local housing allowance; [11416]
(3) what equality impact assessment has been made of the proposed cap on local housing allowance; [11417]
(4) what assessment has been made of the effects on young people of the proposed reductions in housing benefit. [11440]
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people in Sunderland who will be affected by the proposed changes to housing benefit; and whether he has made an estimate of the average change in housing benefit payments to such people under his Department's proposals. [11011]
Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Staffordshire and (b) Tamworth were in receipt of housing benefit of more than £400 a month in the latest period for which figures are available. [11872]
Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households are in receipt of housing benefit (a) at the five bedroom rate and (b) of more than £400 per week for a five bedroom property in England. [11282]
Steve Webb: The Department published an Equality Impact Assessment on 'Changes to the Local Housing Allowance arrangements and Housing Benefit size criteria for people with non-resident overnight carers' and a separate document on 'Impacts of Housing Benefit proposals: Changes to the Local Housing Allowance to be introduced in 2011-12' on 23 July 2010. A copy of these has been placed in the Library.
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will provide transitional measures to those on low incomes who have reduced incomes as a result of proposed reductions in housing benefit. [11436]
Steve Webb: Existing housing benefit customers will not normally be affected by changes to the local housing allowance rates until the anniversary of their claim. This could be up to a year after the changes come into effect.
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.
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment has been made of the effects on levels of youth unemployment of changes to non-dependent deductions in housing benefit. [11437]
Steve Webb: We shall publish an impact assessment for the changes to non-dependent deductions announced in the Budget to accompany the relevant legislation when it is introduced in Parliament. We plan to announce the rates for 2011/12 as part of the annual uprating exercise.
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make reductions in housing benefit only in cases where tenants are offered suitable alternative accommodation. [11438]
Steve Webb: The measures that will be introduced in 2011 to reduce housing benefit expenditure will apply in all relevant cases, not just where tenants are offered alternative accommodation.
The change that will restrict housing benefit for working age tenants in the social rented sector who live in a property that is too large for their needs will require primary legislation. It is too early to say how the 2013 change might be designed, but my Department will be working with the Department for Communities and Local Government to identify a range of options and we will consult as we develop the proposals and during the legislative process.
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households will be affected by the proposal to limit working age housing benefit entitlement to reflect housing size. [11439]
Steve Webb: The information is not available.
The detailed policy design of this change is still being developed. Impact assessments, including the number of households affected, will be published to accompany the relevant legislation when it is introduced in Parliament.
Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the Budget Red Book, page 40, Table 2.1, how the figures in lines 29 to 36 were calculated. [11633]
Steve Webb: The assumptions and methodologies underlying policy costings for the June 2010 Budget have been published. A copy has been placed in the Library.
Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to publish draft regulations for the implementation of the housing benefit proposals in the June 2010 Budget. [11635]
Steve Webb: The Department has referred draft legislation which would give effect to the changes to local housing allowance rates in 2011 to the Social Security Advisory Committee. We will also be consulting with the Local Authority Associations in the normal way.
Housing Benefit: Camden
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people resident in the London borough of Camden have been claiming the maximum level of local housing allowance in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many of those people are in work. [11937]
Steve Webb: In April 2010, our records show that there were no housing benefit recipients in the London borough of Camden receiving the maximum level of local housing allowance of £1,800 per week.
Source:
Single Housing Benefit Extract for April 2010.
Housing Benefit: Disability
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Government's proposals for changes to housing benefit will apply to households where one or more individual has a disability. [10272]
Steve Webb: The Government intend to apply the housing benefit changes announced in the Emergency Budget to households where one or more people have a disability, as appropriate depending on the individual measure.
However, 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.
Housing Benefit: Doncaster
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many households receive housing benefit of more than (a) £250 per week for a one bedroom property, (b) £290 per week for a two bedroom property, (c) £340 per week for a three bedroom property and (d) £400 per week for a four bedroom property in Doncaster; [8968]
(2) how many households receive housing benefit of more than (a) £53 per week for a one room property, (b) £74.79 per week for a one bedroom property, (c) £90 per week for a two bedroom property, (d) £97.81 per week for a three bedroom property and (e) £132.33 per week for a four bedroom property in Doncaster. [8969]
Steve Webb: At March 2010, for housing benefit claims assessed under the local housing allowance arrangements in the Doncaster local authority, our records show that there were:
No households with a one-bedroom entitlement receiving over £250 per week;
No households with a two-bedroom entitlement receiving over £290 per week;
No households with a three-bedroom entitlement receiving over £340 per week; and
No households with a four or five-bedroom entitlement receiving over £400 per week;
660 households with a one-room entitlement receiving over £53 per week;
1,520 households with a one-bedroom entitlement receiving over £74.79 per week;
1,730 households with a two-bedroom entitlement receiving over £90 per week;
550 households with a three-bedroom entitlement receiving over £97.81 per week; and
70 households with a four or five-bedroom entitlement receiving over £132.33 per week.
Notes:
1. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 recipients.
2. The Single Housing Benefit Extract does not have bedroom entitlement recorded in 5% of the Local Housing Allowance cases in Doncaster so there may be some underestimation in the numbers reported.
Source:
Single Housing Benefit Extract
Housing Benefit: Greater London
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the numbers of (a) pensioners, (b) single parent families, (c) families in the lowest income decile, (d) individuals on disability living allowance, (e) individuals on incapacity benefit and (f) asylum claimants in (i) the London borough of Camden, (ii) the London borough of Brent and (iii) the Greater London area who will be adversely affected as a result of proposed reductions in housing benefit. [11063]
Steve Webb: The information is not available in the format requested.
The Department published an equality impact assessment for the housing benefit changes that will affect the calculation of local housing allowance rates on 23 July 2010. This contains an assessment of the impact of changes by gender, disability, age, race and on families. A copy has been placed in the Library.
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 it is introduced in Parliament and are investigating the scope for publishing sooner.
Housing Benefit: Peterborough
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) pensioners, (b) people of working age in work, (c) people of working age who are unemployed, (d) social sector tenants and (e) private sector tenants receiving housing benefit there were in (i) Peterborough constituency and (ii) the Peterborough City Council area in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement. [11294]
Steve Webb: The information requested is not available at the constituency level.
Information on whether a claimant of housing benefit is in employment or not in employment is not available. The available information for Peterborough city council area is in the following tables.
| Housing benefit (HB) recipients, split by working age/elderly, as at August 2003 to August 2007: Peterborough city council | |||
| As at August: | All housing benefit recipients | Elderly | Working age |
| Notes: 1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 and totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated. 4. Working age/elderly spilt is unavailable prior to August 2003. 5. Elderly is defined as claimants in receipt of the following Passported Benefit, as recorded on the Local Authority computer system: Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit and Minimum Income Guarantee prior to October 2003). If the claim is not passported then a claimant is counted as elderly if they are aged 60 or over. 6. Working Age is defined as claimants in receipt of the following Passported Benefits, as recorded on the Local Authority computer system: Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (Income-Based). If the claim is not passported then a claimant is counted as working age if they are aged under 60. 7. Recipients are as at second Thursday of the month. Source: Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100% taken in August 2003 to August 2007 | |||
| Housing benefit recipients, split by age group, as at November 2008, August 2009 and April 2010: Peterborough city council | |||
| All Housing benefit recipients | Aged 65 and over | Aged under 65 | |
| Notes: 1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE) is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data are available monthly from November 2008 and April 2010 are the most recent available. 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. 5. The data for November 2008 to April 2010 are not comparable to data between August 2003 and August 2007 due to different definitions. 6. Recipients are as at second Thursday of the month. Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE) | |||
| Housing benefit recipients as at November 2008, August 2009 and April 2010, by tenancy type: Peterborough city council | |||
| All Housing benefit recipients | Social rented sector | Private rented sector | |
| Notes: 1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Components may not sum to total due to (i) independent rounding (ii) exclusion of unknown and other small categories. 4. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data are available monthly from November 2008 and April 2010 are the most recent available. 5. Social Rented Sector includes Local authority and Registered Social Landlord tenants. Private Rented Sector includes Private Regulated and Private Deregulated tenants. 6. Recipients are as at second Thursday of the month. Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE) | |||
Housing Benefit: Wigan
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are receiving housing benefit in Wigan. [11414]
Steve Webb: In April 2010 there were 24,550 housing benefit claimants in the metropolitan borough of Wigan.
The information is readily available on the internet in table 2 of the publication at:
Notes:
1. Recipients are as at second Thursday of the month.
2. Data are rounded to the nearest 10.
3. April 2010 represents the latest data held.
Source:
Single Housing Benefit Extract 100% individual level data (SHBE).
Industrial Injuries
Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people unable to work as the result of an injury at work in each year since 1997. [8184]
Chris Grayling: The information is not available from data collected by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Jobcentre Plus: Edinburgh
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 21 July 2010, Official Report, columns 417-18W, on Jobcentre Plus: Edinburgh, how many of the 66 members of staff on fixed term contracts will have their contracts renewed in the future. [12013]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many of the 66 members of staff on fixed-term contracts in Edinburgh will have their contracts renewed in the future. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
As a public sector organisation, Jobcentre Plus needs to review its staffing position regularly. We are currently undertaking such a review and would expect to reach firmer conclusions in several weeks time on possible future extensions of people on fixed-term appointments. Staffing and spending plans for Jobcentre Plus will be dependent on the levels to be announced on 20 October 2010 in the Spending Review settlement set out by HM Treasury. Therefore, I am unable to answer your specific question at this time.
Jobcentre Plus: Manpower
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate he has made of the effect on the number of Jobcentre Plus jobs of the implementation of proposals in the June 2010 Budget; [10993]
(2) what estimate he has made of the likely change in the number of frontline Jobcentre plus posts in the next two years. [11020]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking i) what estimate he has made of the change in the number of Jobcentre Plus jobs resulting from the proposals in the June 2010 budget; and ii) what estimate he has made of the change in the number of frontline Jobcentre Plus posts in the next two years. These are issues that fall within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
The impact of the proposals in the June 2010 budget will be a staffing reduction in Jobcentre Plus of 2,000 full time equivalents in 2010/11. That figure comprises a headcount efficiency of 1,000 people, with the remaining reduction of 1,000 people being due to falling work volumes. However, we continue to monitor workloads
and economic forecasts, and Jobcentre Plus staffing levels are reviewed on a regular basis as part of that.
Future staffing and spending plans for Jobcentre Plus will be dependent on the levels to be announced on 20 October 2010 in the Spending Review settlement set out by HM Treasury.
I hope that this is helpful.
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of proposed staffing changes at Jobcentre plus on the ability of Jobcentre Plus Centres to help those on incapacity benefit back into work; and if he will take steps to alleviate any negative effects of any such changes on such activities. [11036]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what assessment been made of the effect of proposed staffing changes at jobcentre plus on the ability of Jobcentre Plus Centres to help those on incapacity benefit back into work; and if we are taking any steps to alleviate any negative effects of any such changes on such activities.
The impact of the proposals in the June 2010 budget will be a staffing reduction in Jobcentre Plus of 2,000 full time equivalents in 2010/11. However, we continue to monitor workloads and economic forecasts and Jobcentre Plus staffing levels are reviewed on a regular basis as part of that. We have developed plans to ensure that these headcount changes will not negatively affect Jobcentre Plus' ability to help incapacity benefit claimants back to work.
Future staffing and spending plans for Jobcentre Plus will be dependent on the levels to be announced on 20 October 2010 in the Spending Review settlement set out by HM Treasury. However, we will ensure that plans are in place to support incapacity benefits claimants following these decisions.
I hope that this is helpful.
Jobcentre Plus: Temporary Employment
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Jobcentre Plus staff are employed on temporary contracts in (a) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, (b) South Lanarkshire and (c) Scotland. [11881]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many Jobcentre Plus staff are employed on temporary contracts in a) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency; b) South Lanarkshire; and c) Scotland. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
The Office for National Statistics defines temporary staff as those on a fixed-term appointment of less than 12 months. However, Jobcentre Plus also uses fixed-term appointments for longer periods of employment. The table below sets out the position based on the three locations you requested.
| Jobcentre Plus staff employed on temporary contracts in Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency; South Lanarkshire; and Scotland (March 2010) | ||
| Location | Fixed-term appointments of less than 12 months | Fixed-term appointments of more than 12 months |
| Notes: 1. Headcount figures are quoted in full-time equivalents using ONS definitions for counting headcount and details the latest published data at March 2010. 2. Figures have been rounded to whole numbers. 3. The Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency comprises three Jobcentre Plus offices: Cambuslang, Hamilton and Rutherglen that fall within South Lanarkshire. The other two offices that make up South Lanarkshire are East Kilbride and Lanark. Source: Dataview, Jobcentre Plus | ||
Jobseeker's Allowance
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what proportion of contacted claimants attended the mandatory back to work session for claimants of jobseeker's allowance in response to the first request from Jobcentre Plus in the latest period for which figures are available; [10946]
(2) what requirement there is on Jobcentre Plus offices to provide for a security guard to attend mandatory back to work sessions for claimants of jobseeker's allowance; [10947]
(3) what training Jobcentre Plus staff conducting the mandatory back to work session for claimants in receipt of jobseeker's allowance are required to undergo; [11001]
(4) whether the content of the mandatory back to work session for claimants in receipt of jobseeker's allowance is devised (a) centrally or (b) at local level; [11002]
(5) what provision his Department has made to collate feedback from those attending at mandatory back to work sessions for claimants in receipt of jobseeker's allowance; [11003]
(6) if he will direct Jobcentre Plus staff to distribute (a) travel cost claim forms and (b) My Three Step Plan packs at each mandatory back to work session for claimants in receipt of jobseeker's allowance. [11004]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your parliamentary questions about Back to Work Sessions as these fall within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
With regard to your first question, data is not available on this aspect of Jobcentre Plus performance.
With regard to your second question, there is no central requirement to have a security guard in attendance at Back to Work Sessions. However, we take the health and safety of our staff and customers very seriously. Each location where we run Back to Work sessions is subject to a formal Risk Assessment on which we consult staff health and safety representatives.
Additionally, and in response to your third question, before running a Back to Work Session all facilitators must have completed a bespoke learning and development package called Presenting and Facilitating Group Sessions. These sessions are designed to support those delivering the various group sessions available to our customers. The aim of the event is to provide our staff with the skills required to deliver Group Sessions to our Customers. This event gives them the necessary skills and knowledge to research, prepare and deliver group sessions.
With regard to your question about content, Back to Work Sessions are designed to raise awareness of the local labour market - employers recruiting; jobs available; travel to work areas, etc - and the help available to improve job prospects; and remind customers of their responsibilities to actively seek work and take-up opportunities made available. To support delivery, material is available centrally to ensure the consistency of basic information and key messages and is then tailored locally to give the presentation greater relevance to the local labour market.
We welcome customer feedback, as it helps us to improve our service. Nationally, Back to Work Sessions have been, and continue to be, evaluated and the results are encouraging. Most customers have viewed the sessions favourably, particularly where they have been interactive and of local relevance. Feedback has also highlighted areas where they could be better and this has led to service delivery improvements. Similarly, offices will seek and act upon customer feedback locally to help assess and improve their Back to Work Sessions.
In terms of travel expenses, we aim to run Back to Work Sessions so they coincide with the normal requirements to attend the Jobcentre for a jobsearch review. This means customers are not required to make an additional journey and do not incur additional travel expenses, so reimbursement is inappropriate. However, where this is not possible and in circumstances where customers are entitled to a reimbursement, this should be made clear at the outset of the session; and payment made promptly. I have asked for operational guidance to be reviewed and clarified in this respect.
Finally, the 3-Step Plan is an integral part of the Back to Work Session. The guidance issued to Jobcentre Plus staff states quite clearly that each attendee must be issued with a copy of the 3-Step Plan and encouraged to complete it as fully as possible. The guidance also instructs staff to encourage attendees to access the Jobseeker pages of the Direct Gov website where they can find practical help and advice when applying for jobs.
I hope this reply is helpful and assures you of our intent to provide people with the best possible service.
Local Housing Allowance
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families resident in Dundee East constituency will be affected by changes to the rate of local housing allowance from October 2011; and by how much on average per household. [10531]
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families resident in Moray constituency will be affected by changes to the local housing allowance rate from October 2011; and if he will estimate the average amount of reduction for each such family. [10446]
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families resident in Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency will be affected by changes ot the rate of local housing allowance from October 2011; and by how much on average per household. [10520]
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families resident in Angus constituency will be affected by changes to the rate of local housing allowance from October 2011; and by how much on average per household. [10529]
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families resident in Banff and Buchan constituency will be affected by changes to the rate of local housing allowance from October 2011; and by how much on average per household. [10542]
Steve Webb: The information is not available at the constituency level.
The Department published a document on 'Impacts of Housing Benefit Proposals: Changes to the Local Housing Allowance to be introduced in 2011-12' on the 23 July, which includes analysis at the local authority level. A copy of the document has been placed in the Library.
Maintenance: Children
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to ensure payment of child maintenance arrears owed to single parents in Redditch constituency. [10454]
Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner. As the Child Maintenance Commissioner is currently on annual leave, I am responding on his behalf.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure payment of child maintenance arrears owed to single parents in Redditch constituency. [10454]
In the 12 months to March 2010, £1,910,000 in child maintenance was collected and arranged for parents with care in Redditch constituency. As at March 2010, £6,720,000 in arrears was owed on cases where the parent with care is resident in Redditch constituency. £3,718,000 of this is owed specifically to the parent with care with the remainder owed to the Secretary of State.
Outstanding maintenance arrears were down from £3,828 million in March 2009 to £3,761 in March 2010. The rate of arrears during 2004/05 was increasing by around £23 million per month. In the 12 months to March 2010 arrears reduced on average by £5.6m per month.
The Coalition Government has said that tackling the issue of outstanding child maintenance arrears is a high priority and the Commission is reviewing its strategy and plans for pursuing arrears in light of this. In addition, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced in the House of Commons on 14 June 2010 that the Commission would set a new target for the collection of arrears. The Commission is working with Ministers to agree a suitable level for this target.
In the meantime the Commission is deploying its range of enforcement measures to collect arrears, including deducting money directly from bank accounts, seizing properties through Order for Sale action and preventing or reversing the transfer of assets from a non-resident parent with outstanding arrears to another person in order to evade child maintenance.
Mortgages: Government Assistance
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, (b) South Lanarkshire and (c) Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire Jobcentre Plus district received support for mortgage interest in each of the last 12 months; and how many of each were in receipt of (i) income support, (ii) jobseeker's allowance and (iii) pension credit. [11880]
Steve Webb: The available information is in the table.
| Claimants of income support, jobseeker's allowance and pension credit in receipt of support for mortgage interest (SMI), by parliamentary constituency, local/unitary authority and Jobcentre Plus district at November 2009 | ||||
| Total with SMI | Income support with SMI | Jobseeker's allowance with SMI | Pension credit with SMI | |
| Notes: 1. Figures are displayed in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. Figures have been uprated using 5% proportions against 100% Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) totals. 4. Support for mortgage interest can only be claimed on income based jobseeker's allowance. 5. Pension credit was introduced on 6 October 2003 and replaced minimum income guarantee (income support for people aged 60 or over). The vast majority of people who were previously in receipt of the minimum income guarantee transferred to pension credit in October 2003. 5. Monthly figures are not available. Quarterly information is available but as local authorities and Jobcentre Plus districts change over time the latest available data have been provided. 6. Figures marked with (*) are subject to a high degree of sampling error and should only be used as a guide. 7. "-" Denotes nil or negligible. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5% sample. | ||||
Occupational Pensions
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people who would be exempted from the requirement to pay into a workplace pension consequent on the exemption of those over (a) 50 and (b) 55 years from requirement for automatic enrolment due to begin in 2012. [11850]
Steve Webb: The current policy is that from 2012, workers between the age of 22 and state pension age, with annual earnings in at least one job of more than £5,035 (2006-07 earnings terms) will be eligible for automatic enrolment into a qualifying pension scheme, unless they are already participating in such a scheme.
Our current assumptions indicate that around 10 million -11 million people will be eligible for automatic enrolment in a workplace pension scheme from 2012.
An estimate of the numbers of people who would be exempted from the requirement to pay into a workplace pension consequent on the exemption of those aged over 50 and 55 in 2012, is provided in the following table.
| Number for people who would be exempted from automatic enrolment | |
| Million | |
| Note: Ranges are rounded to the nearest million | |
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people who would be excluded from the requirement to pay into a workplace pension consequent on the exemption of those small and medium-sized enterprises with under (a) five, (b) 10, (c) 20, (d) 30, (e) 40, (f) 50 and (g) 100 employees from the requirement for automatic enrolment due to begin in 2012. [11851]
Steve Webb: The current policy is that from 2012, workers between the age of 22 and state pension age, with annual earnings in at least one job of more than £5,035 (2006-07 earnings terms) will be eligible for automatic enrolment into a qualifying pension scheme, unless they are already participating in such a scheme.
Our current assumptions indicate that around 10 million -11 million people will be eligible for automatic enrolment in a workplace pension scheme from 2012. An estimate of the numbers of people who would no longer be eligible for automatic enrolment if small and medium sized enterprises with under five, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 100 employees were exempted from the duty to automatically enrol their workers is provided in the following table.
| million | ||
| Number for people who would no longer be eligible for automatic enrolment | New total eligible for automatic enrolment | |
| Note: Ranges are rounded to the nearest million | ||
Office for Budget Responsibility: Employment
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has been consulted by the Office for Budget Responsibility on its employment forecasts. [9564]
Chris Grayling: The Office for Budget Responsibility produces its employment forecasts independently of Government. Department for Work and Pensions staff were not consulted on them.
Pension Credit
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will bring forward proposals to uprate pension credit by a level no less than that of earnings in each year of the 2010 Parliament. [11808]
Steve Webb: There is a statutory requirement that the pension credit standard minimum guarantee will be up-rated at least in line with earnings.
Pensioners: Bedfordshire
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners receive (a) the basic state pension and (b) pension credit in (i) Bedfordshire and (ii) Mid Bedfordshire constituency. [11814]
Steve Webb: The information available is in the table.
| Area | State pension recipients | Pension credit individual beneficiaries | Pension credit household recipients |
| 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 | |||
Pensioners: Rutherglen
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency are in receipt of (a) the state pension, (b) pension credit and (c) winter fuel allowance. [11898]
Steve Webb: In winter 2008-09, the latest year for which information is available, 18,980 people received a winter fuel payment in Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency.
The information for state pension and pension credit is in the table.
| Parliamentary constituency Rutherglen and Hamilton West | |
| Number | |
| Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. State pension figure provided is the total state pension caseload. 3. 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. 4. Parliamentary constituencies are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. 5. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data as at November 2009 | |
Pensioners: Social Security Benefits
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will bring forward proposals to increase the level of those allowances paid to pensioners for which his Department is responsible. [11622]
Steve Webb: The statutory framework governing the annual uprating of benefits and pensions currently requires that all components of state pension, with the exception of the 25p age addition, must at a minimum be increased in line with annual growth in prices and that the standard minimum guarantee in pension credit must at a minimum be increased in line with annual growth in average earnings.
The coalition Government will re-link the basic state pension to earnings from 2011 and we are providing a triple guarantee that the basic state pension will rise each year by the highest of earnings, prices or 2.5%. For 2011, we will additionally ensure that the increase will not be lower then it would have been under the previous uprating arrangements.
Pensions: Index Linking
Sarah Newton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on the use of the consumer price index to calculate final salary pensions; and if he will make a statement. [10495]
Steve Webb: I would refer the hon. Member to my answer of 19 July 2010, Official Report, column 118W.
Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the change in expenditure in the Financial Assistance Scheme attributable to the use of the consumer prices index for pension indexation in the next five years. [11057] [Official Report, 6 September 2010, Vol. 515, c. 2MC.]
Steve Webb: The figures show the estimated annual reduction in Financial Assistance Scheme expenditure as a result of switching the indexation of payments in payment and revaluation of payments in deferment from RPI to CPI from 2011.
Figures are in cash terms and are rounded to the nearest £100,000. The reduction represents 0.1% of estimated total FAS spending in each year.
| CPI from 2011 (£) | |
Data and modelling limitations mean it is not possible to provide details of the saving for indexation only. However we estimate that the saving relating to revaluation would be greater than that for indexation.
Pensions: Uprating
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) level of the basic state pension and (b) value of the retail price index uprating applied to it was in each year since 1989; and if he will estimate that level had that pension been uprated in line with the consumer price index in each such year. [11860]
Steve Webb: The coalition Government are providing a triple guarantee that the basic state pension will rise each year by the highest of earnings, prices or 2.5%. For 2011, we will additionally ensure that the increase will not be lower then it would have been under the previous uprating arrangements.
The information requested is provided in the following table. An estimate for CPI inflation in September 1988 is unavailable.
In April 1994, April 2001, April 2002, April 2003 and April 2010 the basic state pension was increased by more than the value for RPI in the relevant period. The third column provides the rate the basic state pension would have been if only RPI had been used to increase it. There is no increase in April 2010 as RPI inflation was negative in the relevant period.
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