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Jobs (Relocation)
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his oral answer of 18 July 2011, Official Report, columns 603-4W, on departmental jobs (relocation), by what means he will ensure that the Department's subcontractor for the Adams 2 contract will minimise future offshoring of jobs from North Tyneside. [68885]
Chris Grayling: The Department is in discussions with the sub-contractor for the Adams 2 contract about the best way of ensuring that UK jobs remain in the UK. The Department will provide further information on the outcome of these discussions in due time.
Procurement
Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what methodology (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible used to estimate savings to the public purse made in respect of its procurement and purchasing since May 2010. [69263]
Chris Grayling: Procurement and purchasing in the Department for Work and Pensions and its non-departmental public bodies is conducted under a commercial strategy that has an objective to achieve the best outcome for the UK taxpayer in terms of cost, quality and business outcome. Progress against this objective has been measured since 2001 by a key performance indicator that reports the commercial function's contribution to the Department living within its spending review allocations. This indicator is based on tracking all commercial expenditure and measuring procurement value for money gains. The Department uses a procurement value for money measurement methodology initially developed by the then Office of Government Commerce (OGC) in response to the Peter Gershon Review of 1998-99. The methodology was subsequently updated by OGC to reflect new efficiency policy.
The methodology is applied in the Department by procurement category teams and results are subject to annual internal audit. It allows savings to be counted from the value added by procurement negotiations, collaboration, process efficiencies and improved contract or asset management. It also provides a distinction between procurement action that releases cash and other action that adds value but does not release cash, for example cost avoidance by resisting a suppliers bid to raise prices.
Since May 2010 the Department has worked with the Efficiency and Reform Group to incorporate savings from Crown supplier negotiations and centralised procurement into departmental procurement savings results.
Internships
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) persons undertaking unpaid work experience, (b) unpaid interns and (c) other persons in unpaid positions were working in his Department as of 1 July 2011. [69506]
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Chris Grayling: In response to the parliamentary question asking the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many persons were:
(a) undertaking unpaid work experience, in his Department as of 1 July 2011
The first people commenced their unpaid work experience on 11 July.
As of 5 August there were 49 placements on unpaid work experience.
(b) unpaid interns in his Department as of the 1 July 2011
There are two pilot Whitehall internship schemes that DWP have been involved in, which are explained as follows:
Pilot 1—6th Form College Level
The pilot programme involved 60 interns and took place between 25 July-5 August 2011. DWP provided work placements for six of the 60 interns.
Pilot 2—Secondary school year 9 level
The pilot programme took place on Thursday 7 July 2011 and provided participants with an opportunity to listen to Whitehall guest speakers in the morning and an afternoon visit to Civil Service Live.
(c) in unpaid positions were working in his Department as of 1 July 2011
There is no record of any other unpaid positions within DWP on the date in question.
Disability Living Allowance: Care Homes
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) when he expects to announce the outcome of his review of the proposal to withdraw the mobility component of disability living allowance from people in residential care; [68855]
(2) what process his Department will follow to resolve any overlap in funding of the mobility component of the disability living allowance to people in residential care homes. [69183]
Maria Miller: Officials in the Department for Work and Pensions are considering existing evidence and gathering more to determine the extent to which there are overlaps in provision for mobility needs of people in residential care homes. This work should be completed shortly and we will then make a final decision on the way forward. We are committed to getting this right to ensure that disabled people are able to get out and about and live independently. Any changes will be rolled into the introduction of personal independence payment from April 2013.
Disability Living Allowance: St Helens
Mr Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people in St Helens South and Whiston constituency were in receipt of disability living allowance including the (a) higher and (b) lower rate mobility component in each of the last three years; [68902]
(2) how many people in St Helens South and Whiston constituency were in receipt of disability living allowance in the latest period for which figures are available; how many such recipients have been interviewed and their benefits reassessed since May 2010; and how many (a) were awarded a lower level of benefit, (b) lost all of their allowance and (c) were successful on appeal. [68903]
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Maria Miller: The information requested on the number of people in St Helens South and Whiston constituency in receipt of disability living allowance mobility component is contained in the following table. Information regarding how many people in St Helens South and Whiston constituency have been interviewed and their DLA reassessed since May 2010, and how many (a) were awarded a lower level of benefit, lost all of their allowance or were successful on appeal is not routinely collated and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
| The number of disability living allowance recipients by mobility component in St Helens South and Whiston parliamentary constituency in each of the last three years | ||||
|
|
Total | Higher rate mobility | Lower rate mobility | Nil rate mobility |
| Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Figures do not include people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 3. Constituencies used for November 2010 are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. ‘St Helens South’ constituency is used for November 2009 and 2008 from the Westminster Parliament of 2005. 4. Those with ‘nil rate’ of mobility component are in receipt of the care component. Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study | ||||
Disability Living Allowance: Visual Impairment
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance cannot be paid to severely visually impaired people who claim it for the first time when they are aged 65 and over. [69458]
Maria Miller: Disability living allowance is intended to focus additional help with the extra cost of disability on people who have the very considerable disadvantage of being severely disabled earlier in life and who as a consequence have less opportunity to work, earn and save compared to non-disabled people. It is normal for pensions and benefit schemes to contain different provisions for people at different stages of their lives.
Where someone is in receipt of the higher rate mobility component before their 65(th) birthday, it can remain in payment beyond age 65 as long as the conditions of entitlement remain satisfied. A new entitlement to the higher rate mobility component, under whatever provision, cannot be established after the age of 65 as to do so would not be consistent with the principle of this benefit which is to ensure that additional help is focussed to those who become disabled earlier in life.
Employment and Support Allowance
Duncan Hames:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of applications for employment and support allowance made by residents of (a) Chippenham constituency and (b) England and Wales were rejected on the basis of a work capability
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assessment in 2010-11; and in respect of what proportion of such applications that decision was (i) reversed and (ii) upheld on appeal. [69839]
Chris Grayling: The data on work capability assessments are not held at a constituency level—however, it is possible to provide information for Wiltshire Unitary Authority (UA).
The data are not available for the financial year 2010-11.
Table 1 presents data for all new employment and support allowance (ESA) claims starting between October 2008 and November 2010 (the latest data available). Figures are for initial assessments only and numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.
| Table 1: Fit for work decisions on new ESA claims | ||
|
|
Fit for work | Percentage of all new ESA claims (1) |
| (1) Includes claims that are closed before assessment and those still in progress. | ||
Table 2 shows appeals heard on fit for work decisions for claims starting between October 2008 and May 2010. Figures are for initial assessments only and numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.
| Table 2: Appeals heard on fit for work decisions | ||||
|
|
Decision in favour of appellant | Decision in favour of appellant (percentage) | DWP decision upheld | DWP decision upheld (percentage) |
| Notes: 1. The Department regularly publishes official statistics on the employment and support allowance (ESA) work capability assessment at the national level. The latest report, published in July 2011, covers new claimants to ESA for October 2008 to November 2010 (the latest data available) and can be found here: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php?page=esa_wca 2. The data presented above come from benefit claims data held by the Department for Work and Pensions, functional assessment data from Atos Healthcare and appeals data from the Tribunals Service. 3. Data on appeals include ESA claims up to the end of May 2010 (the latest month where we have sufficient volumes of appeals heard to include in the publication) where the person claiming has been assessed to be fit for work, they subsequently appeal the Department's decision and the appeal has been heard by Tribunals Service. | ||||
Due to the time it takes for appeals to be submitted to the Tribunals Service and heard, it is likely that there are more appeals that have not yet been heard. Therefore these figures should be treated as emerging findings rather than final at this stage.
Incapacity Benefits
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) in what circumstances incapacity benefit claimants are to return to their previous payments if they returned to work but need a break on health grounds; [69761]
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(2) whether he has any plans to simplify the claim form to be completed by multiple sclerosis sufferers who return to work and then require a break on health grounds. [69762]
Chris Grayling: Incapacity benefit claimants who return to work are not able to return to incapacity benefit. From October 2008, employment and support allowance replaced incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance and income support paid on incapacity grounds for new claims. Access to these old style disability benefits was closed from 31 January 2011. A person who is unable to work because of illness or disability will need to claim employment and support allowance.
There are no plans to change the employment and support allowance claim form for multiple sclerosis sufferers. The claim form is, however, kept under review. It is also possible to claim by telephoning 0800 055 6688 and an adviser can gather the necessary information thus avoiding the need for a claim form.
Industrial Health and Safety
Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) with reference to the review of health and safety by Lord Young, Common Sense, Common Safety, whether the Health and Safety Executive has established a minimum standard of professional qualification for all those operating as consultants in the health and safety industry; [69365]
(2) with reference to the review of health and safety by Lord Young, Common Sense, Common Safety, whether the Health and Safety Executive has established a web-based directory of accredited health and safety consultants; [69366]
(3) what progress has been made on the Health and Safety Executive's consultations on (a) the operation of Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, (b) a draft voluntary code of practice to replace the existing Adventure Activities Licensing Authority regime and (c) consolidating health and safety legislation into a single set of regulations; [69367]
(4) with reference to the review of health and safety by Lord Young, Common Sense, Common Safety, whether the Health and Safety Executive has instituted periodic checklists for use by low risk voluntary organisations to check compliance against regulations; [69368]
(5) with reference to the review of health and safety by Lord Young, Common Sense, Common Safety, whether the Health and Safety Executive has published revised guidance for police and fire officers undertaking heroic acts; [69369]
(6) with reference to the review of health and safety by Lord Young, Common Sense, Common Safety, whether (a) his Department and (b) the Health and Safety Executive has produced guidance under the Code of Practice for small and medium-sized businesses engaged in lower risk activities. [69370]
Chris Grayling: Regular updates on progress against the Common Sense, Common Safety recommendations, according to the Government body which is responsible for updating them, are published on the DWP website at
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/health-and-safety/
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Jobcentre Plus: Vacancies
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many job vacancies were advertised in Jobcentre Plus branches in Richmond Park constituency in the latest period for which figures are available. [69385]
Chris Grayling: In June 2011, 269 job vacancies were advertised in Jobcentre offices in the Richmond Park constituency.
Jobseeker's Allowance
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that claims for jobseeker's allowance and employment and support allowance are processed promptly. [69646]
Chris Grayling: Jobcentre Plus monitors the average time taken to process new claims via internal measurement indicators using an Average Actual Clearance Time (AACT) and Time band clearance rates for jobseekers allowance and employment and support allowance.
As well as gathering the data we take steps to ensure it is used and cases are processed promptly. We produce a series of reports to site level that enables local managers to identify hotspots and issues where we feel the levels being achieved are impacting on the customer's claim being cleared promptly.
We charge managers with being accountable for prompt handling of claims. Senior Managers within Jobcentre Plus regularly monitor this area of performance and commission improvement work.
In addition we monitor against agreed performance levels through Performance Management Framework.
Jobseeker's Allowance: Lone Parents
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance his Department provides to Jobcentre Plus staff on the provision of advice on jobs outside of school hours for lone parents in receipt of jobseeker's allowance. [69462]
Chris Grayling: At the outset of a claim to jobseeker's allowance, guidance to Jobcentre Plus advisers is to discuss and put in place a jobseeker's agreement, which contains information about the type of work being sought, the claimant's availability for work and jobsearch activities that, if taken, offer best prospects of employment.
Guidance stresses the importance of taking into account individual personal circumstances, including child care responsibilities and agreeing appropriate restrictions on the claimant's availability for work, eg lone parents with a child aged 12 or under may restrict their availability to their child's normal school hours.
Taking into account the claimant's agreed availability for work, advisers provide information, advice and guidance on how best to identify and apply for suitable jobs, including those outside of school hours, where they are appropriate given the claimant's circumstances. The adviser can also offer ongoing personalised support
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which may include pre and post employment support, appropriate training, signposting to other relevant services and information about the support available to help overcome issues that may be making it harder to find and keep jobs, for example, in-work financial support and information about available child care.
For many parents to enter sustained employment they will need to source and utilise formal child care. Advisers recognise the importance of child care as a key enabler to work and therefore provide parents with the necessary support, assistance and advice to overcome this barrier to work.
Pensioners: Poverty
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) pensioners and (b) children in Leicester are living in a household with under 60% of the median income. [69678]
Steve Webb: Estimates of the number and proportion of children and pensioners living in poverty are published in the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series. HBAI uses household (rather than family) income adjusted (or “equivalised”) for household size and composition, to provide a proxy for standard of living.
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The sample size of this survey is not sufficient to provide estimates for small areas such as Leicester. However, figures at a regional level for the East Midlands are available. Three survey years have been combined to ensure sufficient sample sizes.
Statistics covering 2007-08 to 2009-10 are the most recent available and are shown in the following table.
The targets set out in the Child Poverty Act and our broader set of income measures in the Child Poverty Strategy are calculated on a “Before Housing Costs” (BHC) basis. International comparisons are also calculated this way.
When considering the living standards of children, measures After Housing Costs (AHC) can underestimate the true standard of living as a family may make a choice to spend more on rent or mortgage to attain a higher standard of accommodation.
Conversely measures for pensioners are generally on an After Housing Costs basis. This is because pensioners are far more likely to own their homes outright and so receive value from housing, without having to pay for rent or mortgage payments out of their current income. So for assessing pensioner poverty a Before Housing Costs basis does not provide a good comparison of living standards.
| Numbers and proportions of children and pensioners in low income households (1) in East Midlands Region 2007-08 to 2009-10 | ||
|
|
Number | Proportion (Percentage) |
| (1) Below 60% median. Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data available at: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php? page=hbai_arc 2. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data sourced from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). This uses disposable household income, adjusted using modified OECD equivalisation factors for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 3. Net disposable incomes have been used to answer the question. This includes earnings from employment and self-employment, state support, income from occupational and private pensions, investment income and other sources. Income tax, payments, national Insurance contributions, council tax/domestic rates and some other payments are deducted from incomes. 4. Figures have been presented on a Before Housing Cost and After Housing Cost basis. For Before Housing Costs, housing costs are not deducted from income, while for After Housing Costs they are. 5. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to a degree of uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 6. The reference period for HBAI figures is the financial year. 7. Numbers of children and pensioners have been rounded to the nearest hundred thousand children. 8. Proportions in low-income households have been rounded to the nearest percentage point. Source: Households Below Average Income. | ||
Personal Independence Payment
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the mobility element of the personal independence payment will be payable once claimants reach pensionable age. [69759]
Maria Miller: Individuals will be able to make a new claim for personal independence payment up to the age of 65 or state pension age, if that is higher. We recognise that individuals who develop additional needs earlier in their lives have had less opportunity to earn and save for later life. Therefore we intend in regulations to detail that individuals already in receipt of personal independence payment when they reach state pension age to continue to receive the benefit, this will include the mobility element, subject to the entitlement conditions continuing to be satisfied.
Personal Independence Payment: Visual Impairment
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many blind people in receipt of disability living allowance will be reassessed for the personal independence payment; [68830]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of people on higher rate care and/or the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance who are to be reassessed for the personal independence payment by 2015-16. [69193]
Maria Miller:
We will replace disability living allowance for people of working age with personal independence payment, a new, more transparent and sustainable benefit with an objective assessment of individual need. Support through personal independence payment will be focused on those with the most need. The detailed criteria that will be used in the new assessment to determine eligibility
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are currently being developed and tested, informed by comments on our initial draft regulations, which we published on 9 May 2011.
At this stage, it is not possible to provide an assessment of the impact of personal independence payment on the pool of existing recipients of disability living allowance. However, we are working with disabled people and the organisations that represent them on the design and delivery of personal independence payment and the outcomes from this work will be reflected in updates to the impact assessment for this change.
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Personal independence payment will be introduced for new claimants from April 2013. We will also reassess the existing disability living allowance (DLA) working-age (16-64) case load over three years beginning in 2013 and transfer individuals who are eligible for personal independence payment to the new benefit. Working-age individuals in receipt of DLA whose main disabling condition is blindness will be included in this exercise.
| DLA cases in payment where the main disabling condition is blindness—February 2011 | |
| Blindness | Number |
| Notes: 1. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. Figures are adjusted to be consistent with the overall caseload from the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). 3. Figures do not include people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended for example if they are in hospital. 4. The preferred data source for benefit statistics is 100% Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. However, the 5% sample data are generally the preferred source for analysis on disabling condition as information is more complete for disabling condition on the 5% sample (Some recipients of DLA who transferred from the AA system may not have been allocated a specific disabling condition code. This problem can be corrected on the sample data but not on the WPLS data. The number of cases affected is decreasing over time). 5. A diagnosed medical condition does not mean that someone is automatically entitled to DLA. Entitlement is dependent on an assessment of how much help someone needs with personal care and/or mobility because of their disability. These statistics are only collected for administrative purposes. Source: DWP Information Directorate: Sample data (5%) | |
Remploy
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that Remploy is not replacing the jobs of employees who were recently made redundant; [65479]
(2) what recent discussions he has had with Remploy on the filling of posts of employees who were recently made redundant. [65480]
Maria Miller: DWP Ministers agree the funding, objectives and performance targets for the company.
The voluntary redundancy scheme was a management matter for Remploy. Remploy has assured my officials that the company is committed to honouring their legal obligations for the voluntary redundancy scheme. It has confirmed there will be no external recruitment to fill posts where employees took voluntary redundancy.
Social Security Benefits: Disability
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Chatham and Aylesford constituency (a) of each age group, (b) of each sex, (c) with each physical disability and (d) with each mental health diagnosis are in receipt of disability benefits; and if he will make a statement. [68401]
Maria Miller: The information requested is contained in the following tables.
| Disability living allowance (DLA) recipients in Chatham and Aylesford parliamentary constituency by main disabling condition, of physical and mental health disabilities, age and sex—February 2011 | |||||||||
| Total with physical or mental health disabilities | Mental health disabilities | Physical disabilities | |||||||
|
|
All | Female | Male | All | Female | Male | All | Female | Male |
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| Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) | |||||||||
| Attendance allowance (AA) recipients in Chatham and Aylesford parliamentary constituency by main disabling condition, of physical and mental health disabilities, age and sex—February 201 | |||||||||
| Total with physical or mental health disabilities | Mental health disabilities | Physical disabilities | |||||||
|
|
All | Female | Male | All | Female | Male | All | Female | Male |
| Notes: 1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. ‘—’ denotes nil or negligible. 3. Where more than one disability is present only the main disabling condition is recorded. 4. Figures show 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. 5. ‘Mental health disabilities’ encompass the main disabling conditions ‘learning difficulties’ and ‘mental and behavioural disabilities’. In October 2008 much finer classifications were introduced for new DLA claimants. DWP do not report on these finer classifications as the majority of pre-2008 claims still have the “old codes” on the administrative system. A new code (cognitive disorders—other/type not known) was introduced within the general classification of “psychiatric disorders”. Claimants allocated to this group are included within “mental health disorders”. 6. “Physical disabilities” encompass all categories not included in “mental health disabilities”, including the main disabling conditions arthritis, muscle/joint/bone disease, blindness, stroke related, epilepsy, deafness, malignant disease, chest disease, back ailments, heart disease, Parkinson's disease, diabetes mellitus, renal disorders, aids, skin disease, frailty, multiple sclerosis. The small number of cases with unknown medical code (see note 7) have been included in “physical disorders”. 7. The preferred data source for benefit statistics is 100% Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. However, the 5% sample data are generally the preferred source for analysis on DLA disabling condition as information is more complete. However in this case the WPLS data have been used as some of the caseload figures produced are very small and so would have a high level of statistical variation should the sample data have been used. 8. Parliamentary constituency is based on the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) | |||||||||
| Disability living allowance (DLA) recipients in Chatham and Aylesford parliamentary constituency by main disabling condition, of each physical or mental health disability by gender—February 2011 | ||||
|
|
|
Total | Female | Male |
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| Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) | ||||
| Attendance allowance (AA) recipients in Chatham and Aylesford parliamentary constituency by main disabling condition, of each physical or mental health disabilities, by gender, February 2011 | ||||
|
|
|
Total | Female | Male |
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| Notes: 1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. ‘—’ denotes nil or negligible. 3. Where more than one disability is present only the main disabling condition is recorded. 4. Figures show 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. 5. ‘Mental health disabilities’ encompass the main disabling conditions ‘learning difficulties’ and ‘mental and behavioural disabilities’. In October 2008 much finer classifications were introduced for new DLA claimants. DWP do not report on these finer classifications as the majority of pre-2008 claims still have the “old codes” on the administrative system. A new code (cognitive disorders—other/ type not known) was introduced within the general classification of “psychiatric disorders”. Claimants allocated to this group are included within “mental health disorders”. 6. “Physical disabilities” encompass all categories not included in “mental health disabilities”, including the main disabling conditions arthritis, muscle/joint/bone disease, blindness, stroke related, epilepsy, deafness, malignant disease, chest disease, back ailments, heart disease, Parkinson's disease, diabetes mellitus, renal disorders, aids, skin disease, frailty, multiple sclerosis. The small number of cases with unknown medical code (see note 7) have been included in “physical disabilities”. 7. The preferred data source for benefit statistics is 100% Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. However, the 5% sample data are generally the preferred source for analysis on DLA disabling condition as information is more complete. However in this case the WPLS data has been used as some of the caseload figures produced are very small and so would have a high level of statistical variation should the sample data have been used. 8. Parliamentary constituency is based on the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) | ||||
Universal Credit
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow North East (Mr Bain), Official Report, column 478, on universal credit: transitional payments, what estimate he has made of the cost of transitional protection for recipients of the childcare element of working tax credits who continue to qualify for childcare support under the universal credit in each of the first five years. [68035]
Chris Grayling: The Government have made a commitment that there will be no cash losers purely as a result of the move to universal credit. At the point of change a comparison will be made between current amount received in tax credits and/or benefits and the household entitlement under universal credit. If the universal credit entitlement is less, and no other circumstances have changed, a cash amount will be paid in order to make up the difference. Details of this protection will be available when policy details have been finalised but we would expect future increases in universal credit entitlement to reduce the need for transitional protection.
Work Capability Assessments
Richard Fuller:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to assist
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people with mental and behavioural disorders into work. [69335]
Chris Grayling: New measures introduced in April 2011 allow Jobcentre Plus to offer more flexible support to people with mental and behavioural difficulties, ensuring provision is tailored to personal and local labour market needs.
This includes advice and support about maintaining well-being and managing health in preparation for a return to work
The Work programme is a cross-benefit programme that ensures providers are free to innovate and design support that addresses the needs of individuals. Work programme providers are paid more to support harder to help groups into sustained employment, including those claiming employment support allowance.
In addition, disabled people may be able to access a range of specialist employment provision including Work Choice; Access to Work; Remploy Employment Services and Enterprise Businesses; and Residential Training.
Jobcentre Plus Disability Employment Advisers offer help with finding and retaining employment. They can refer individuals to specialist programmes including Residential Training and Work Choice and may also use the professional expertise of Work Psychologists specialising in working with disabled people. They can advocate with employers on the individual's behalf and help employers to explore job solutions such as the restructuring of a job's tasks or the environment, or the provision of, or change to equipment.
Jobcentre Plus Mental Health and Well-being Partnership Managers work with mental health services to ensure an awareness of the services available locally, and to develop the knowledge and confidence of Jobcentre Plus advisers. Advisers also have access to resources such as the mental health adviser toolkit, and the Hidden Impairments toolkit, developed in conjunction with professional experts, charitable organisations and service users.
As part of the Department for Work and Pensions Health and Work programme, occupational health advice services are available across Great Britain to employers in small businesses who need to support an individual employee to remain in or return to work, and to GPs who require support on patient-specific or general occupational health issues. Also, Fit for Work Services are being piloted across Great Britain to ensure individuals can access case-managed, multidisciplinary support in the early stages of sickness absence to help them back to work as soon as possible and ensure they remain in work.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists, supported by the Department for Work and Pensions, has produced an online resource providing information and guidance about returning to work after a period of mental ill health to provide support to workers, employers, clinicians, and carers.
As part of the Department of Health (DH) Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme, which will be rolled-out across England by March 2015, employment support coordination ensures employment and advice support providers and psychological therapy services work together to help people remain in or return to work when issues arise. In Scotland, support
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for those with mental health conditions is delivered through the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives, which provides training to employers on developing Mentally Healthy Workplaces. In Wales, the Mental Health in Primary Care Network works to improve awareness of the importance of work to health, making specific reference to mental health and well-being.
Communities and Local Government
Sky TV
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on subscriptions to Sky TV since May 2010. [67557]
Robert Neill: The Department has had no subscriptions to Sky TV.
Council Tax
Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average change in council tax in England was in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2010-11. [69161]
Robert Neill: The change in the average band D council tax in England in 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2010-11 over the previous year's figure was 4.2%, 3.9% and 1.8% respectively.
This information is available in table 1 of the statistical release “Council tax levels set by local authorities in England—2011-12” that is published on the Department for Communities and Local Government website and can be found at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/localregional/localgovernmentfinance/statistics/counciltax/rates/
This information is collected from the Budget Requirement forms that are completed by all billing and precepting authorities in England.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his Department's consultation on localising support for council tax in England, August 2011, paragraph 11.8, when he plans to publish the technical consultation on the level of grant allocated to local authorities for their local council tax support schemes. [69341]
Robert Neill: A separate detailed technical consultation on the specific factors and indicators which should determine the level of grant allocated to a particular authority will take place after the current consultation has closed.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his Department's consultation on localising support for council tax in England, August 2011, paragraph 4.4, how the amount of money given to each local authority to fund local council tax support schemes will be calculated in (a) 2013-14 and (b) subsequent years. [69345]
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Robert Neill: The Government are currently consulting on the principles for calculating the grant to be given to each local authority to fund local council tax support schemes. A separate detailed technical consultation will subsequently be held on the specific factors and indicators which should determine the level of grant allocated to a particular authority.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his Department's consultation on localising support for council tax in England, August 2011, what proportion of recipients of council tax benefit were of (a) working age and (b) pension age in (i) England and (ii) each local authority area on the most recent date for which figures are available. [69346]
Robert Neill: I have today placed in the Library of the House a table that provides the proportion of council tax benefit claimants that were of (a) working age and (b) pension age, by each local authority in England, based on the May 2011 Department for Work and Pensions Single Housing Benefit Extract. England figures show that 62.5% of claimants are of working age, the remaining 37.5% are of pension age.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his Department's consultation on localising support for council tax in England, August 2011, whether he plans to prepare and publish an impact assessment on the localisation of council tax benefit. [69347]
Robert Neill: An impact assessment will be published alongside draft legislation providing for the localisation of council tax support in England.
Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much council tax revenue was collected by each local authority in England in the latest period for which figures are available; and how much council tax revenue net of council tax benefit was collected by each local authority in England in that period. [69563]
Robert Neill: I have today placed in the Library of the House a table that gives the following information for each local authority in England:
Total receipts of 2010-11 council tax collected in 2010-11.
Council tax benefit transferred to Collection Fund in 2010-11.
Total 2010-11 council tax revenue collected in 2010-11 (in year receipts plus council tax benefit transferred to the collection fund).
Council Tax: Green Deal Scheme
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward proposals for a one-month council tax payment holiday for households that are participating in the Green Deal. [69239]
Robert Neill: Local authorities have the discretion provided by section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 to grant council tax discounts as they see fit.
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Council Tax: Halifax
Mrs Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many properties in Halifax constituency have been moved into an (a) higher and (b) lower council tax band since May 2010; and what the average (i) increase and (ii) decrease was in the last financial year. [69470]
Robert Neill: As at 30 June 2011 there were 45,274 domestic properties in the Halifax constituency and in the period from 1 April 2010 to 30 June 2011 there were (i) 42 properties that moved into a higher council tax band and (ii) 234 properties which moved into a lower council tax band. Official statistics are published by Valuation Office Agency on an annual or quarterly basis only.
In the financial year 2010-11 the modal (average) increase was from band B to C and the modal decrease was from band B to A.
Advertising
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on (a) television, (b) radio and (c) newspaper advertising in (i) real and (ii) nominal terms between June 2007 and May 2010; and what the total cost to the public purse was. [68376]
Robert Neill: The Department purchases its advertising space through the Central Office of Information. Their figures, excluding VAT and recorded on a financial year basis, are as follows:
| £ | ||||
|
|
TV advertising | Radio advertising | Press advertising | Total |
| (1 )Using GDP deflators as published 28 June 2011 by HM Treasury, using 2009-10 as the base year. | ||||
The figures for press advertising include magazines as well as newspapers, due to the mechanism Central Office of Information employ to record financial data.
Air Travel
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what occasions he has flown on official business (a) by budget airline and (b) in economy class in the last 12 months. [67924]
Robert Neill:
I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 22 June 2011, Official Report, columns 288-89W; this
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was business class given the distance travelled. The Secretary of State has undertaken no other flights on official business.
Lost Property
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what property has been (a) lost and (b) stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what the cost of replacement was. [66578]
Robert Neill: In the last 12 months the following departmental items have been (a) lost and (b) stolen.
| Item | Lost | Stolen | Replacement value (£) |
The laptops were encrypted. The unit cost of the laptops incorporate a series of encryption and security measures, and associated licence, set-up and support costs.
Procurement
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of procurement contracts offered by his Department have been advertised on the Contracts Finder website since the website's inception. [67248]
Robert Neill: The Department has published all contracts with a value of greater than £20,000 on the Contracts Finder website since the website's inception. This is 50% of the total number of contracts with a value of greater than £10,000. The Department is currently in the process of updating the website with all such contracts.
Rail Travel
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost to the public purse was for (a) first class and (b) all train travel by (i) Ministers, (ii) staff and (iii) special advisers in his Department between June 2007 and May 2010. [68341]
Robert Neill: Information on the cost of rail travel was not held centrally before April 2009 and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
In 2009-10 the Department spent £199,516 on first class rail travel and £689,348 on standard rail travel and in April and May 2010 the Department spent £18,372 on first class rail travel and £79,069 on standard rail travel.
The breakdown between Ministers, special advisers and staff could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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Travel Costs
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many civil servants in his Department are provided with travel cards funded by his Department. [68901]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not have any civil servants provided with travel cards funded directly by the Department. However, the Department does allow staff to take out a loan for season ticket costs and pay it back over a maximum period of 12 months. As of July 2011, there were a total of 488 civil servants making repayments on a season ticket loan.
Internships
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) persons undertaking unpaid work experience, (b) unpaid interns and (c) other persons in unpaid positions were working in his Department as of 1 July 2011. [69510]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government had (a) no people undertaking work experience, (b) no unpaid interns, and (c) no other persons in unpaid positions working in the Department as of 1 July 2011, however the Department did have three Youth Council volunteers working in the Department, and all three of them finished on 30 June 2011. Additionally, six people joined the Department in July for two weeks work experience, however all of them started after 1 July 2011.
Disability Aids
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health about the funding of communication aids and assistive technology specifically for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities; and if he will make a statement. [69398]
Andrew Stunell: Ministers within the Department for Communities and Local Government regularly meet colleagues from other Departments to discuss a range of matters.
It is the responsibility of local social care services to determine who is responsible for the provision and repair of communication aids and assistive technology.
The Vision on Adult Social Care, Capable Communities and Active Citizens is clear that “councils should commission a full range of appropriate preventative and early intervention services such as re-ablement and telecare, working in partnership with the NHS, housing authorities and others”.
Generally, councils may supply equipment costing up to £1,000 free of charge but in some circumstances may make direct payments to purchase equipment or adaptations themselves.
DCLG provides funding for the Disabled Facilities Grant, a mandatory entitlement administered by local housing authorities. It helps to fund the provision of
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adaptations that enable disabled people to live as comfortably and independently as possible in their homes. It can be used to adapt heating or lighting controls to make them easier to use.
Disabled Facilities Grant
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the review of the effectiveness of administration of the disabled facilities grant will be concluded. [69547]
Andrew Stunell: There is currently no review into the effectiveness of administration of the disabled facilities grant. However, the recently published report by the Commission on the Funding of Care and Support recommends reviewing the operation and administration of the disabled facilities grant. The Government welcome this report and will be reviewing the recommendations with the care sector over the autumn. Following this engagement, we will publish a White Paper on social care reform in the spring next year, as well as a progress report on funding reform.
Fire Services
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what legal advice he received on the abolition of the regional fire control centres. [68875]
Robert Neill: I would refer my hon. Friend to the National Audit Office report of 1 July 2011, HC 1272, on the Failure of the FiReControl project which sets out the specialist commercial legal advice received.
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what process his Department followed in making decisions on the reconfiguration of regional fire control centres. [69034]
Robert Neill: Following the termination of the FiReControl project we consulted the fire and rescue community on the future of control services and, at the same time, invited Fire and Rescue Services to discuss with us how they might use the buildings. The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority took on the lease for the building in London in March this year and are planning to move their control room later this year. We are in discussion with a number of Fire and Rescue Authorities who are interested in taking on other buildings; where there is no interest the buildings are being marketed more widely, including to other emergency services. This approach is building improved control room resilience through local solutions, not imposing a solution from central Government.
Government Procurement Card
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) date of purchase, (b) amount, (c) supplier and (d) level 3 or enhanced transaction entry was of each transaction undertaken by the Local Government Ombudsman using the Government Procurement Card in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10. [68891]
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Robert Neill: A table providing a breakdown of expenditure by the Local Government Ombudsman using Government Procurement Cards for 2008-09 and 2009-10 has been placed in the Library of the House. This includes (a) date of purchase, (b) amount, (c)supplier and (d) level 3 or enhanced transaction details. Each transaction has an expenditure type which is a broad description of the type of goods purchased.
The data cover the periods 1 December 2008 when the Local Government Ombudsman started using Government Procurement cards to 31 March 2009; and 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010.
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) date of purchase, (b) amount, (c) supplier and (d) level 3 or enhanced transaction entry was of each transaction undertaken by the Infrastructure Planning Commission using the Government Procurement Card since its establishment. [68893]
Robert Neill: A table detailing the available information on expenditure incurred by the Infrastructure Planning Commission through use of the Government Procurement Card since its inception on 1 October 2009 through to 22 July 2011 has been placed in the Library of the House.
My Department is committed to greater transparency over the use of the Government Procurement Card than under the last Administration, and has strengthened checks and balances to ensure protection of taxpayers' money.
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) date of purchase, (b) amount, (c) supplier and (d) level 3 or enhanced transaction entry was of each transaction undertaken by the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation using the Government Procurement Card in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10. [68894]
Robert Neill: The London Thames Gateway Development Corporation does not use the Government Procurement Card.
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) date of purchase, (b) amount, (c) supplier and (d) level 3 or enhanced transaction entry was of each transaction undertaken by the Valuation Tribunal Service using the Government Procurement Card in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10. [68896]
Grant Shapps: Purchases using the Government Procurement Card for the Valuation Tribunal Service covering the financial years of 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 are listed in an Excel spreadsheet which has been placed in the Library of the House.
The figures in brackets show the number of persons involved in those particular expenditures.
My Department is committed to greater transparency over the use of the Government Procurement Card than under the last Administration, and has strengthened checks and balances to ensure protection of taxpayers' money.
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Official Hospitality
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost to the public purse was of (a) four star, (b) five star and (c) other hotel accommodation for (i) staff, (ii) Ministers and (iii) special advisers in his Department between June 2007 and May 2010. [68373]
Robert Neill: Information on hotel expenditure is not held centrally prior to April 2009 and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost. In the financial year 2009-10 the Department spent £498,471 on hotel accommodation and in April and May 2010 the Department spent £56,662 on hotel accommodation.
Unfortunately this cannot be broken down by hotel rating. The breakdown between Ministers, special advisers and staff could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
As part of my transparency initiative, spending over £500 since 2008-09 is available for scrutiny on my Department's website.
Housing: Licensing
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many selective licensing areas were in existence in the latest period for which figures are available; what their (a) name, (b) location, (c) relevant local authority and (d) date of establishment is in each such case; how many houses are included in each such area; and what proportion of those houses are owned by private landlords. [69466]
Andrew Stunell: 19 selective licensing designations in 14 local authority areas were granted approval by the Department before the general consent for selective licensing schemes was introduced on 1 April 2010. These were as follows:
| Local authority | Designation | Commencement |
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|
One designation including Bum Valley, Dyke House, Foggy Furze, Grange and Stranton wards |
||
Information on the number of properties within each designation, and the proportion of these that are privately rented, is held by each individual local authority.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which applications by local authorities for selective licensing areas have been rejected since 2006; and what the reasons were in each such case. [69467]
Andrew Stunell: Prior to the general consent for selective licensing schemes that came into force on 1 April 2010, no local authority applications for selective licensing schemes were rejected by the Department.