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Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 20 December 2011
House of Commons Commission
Food Procurement
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, how much the House spent on food purchased through its food and catering services in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [87006]
John Thurso: The House purchased food to the value of £2.39 million during the financial year 2010-11.
Church Commissioners
Pensions
John Hemming: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what the level of the Church of England's pension scheme deficit is; and what the capacity of the Church of England is to pay that deficit. [87676]
Tony Baldry: The Church of England Pensions Board administers three pension schemes on behalf of the Church of England.
The Church of England Funded Pensions Scheme (the scheme for clergy of the Church of England) had a deficit of £262 million at the last valuation, as at 31 December 2009. That deficit is being recovered over a 12-year period ending 31 December 2022.
Smaller deficits exist on the other schemes, which are being recovered over shorter periods.
Attorney-General
Victims’ Commissioner
Owen Smith: To ask the Attorney-General what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues and the Director of Public Prosecutions on the timetable for appointing a Victims' Commissioner. [87244]
The Attorney-General: I have not had any discussions on this issue with the Director of Public Prosecutions or ministerial colleagues. Such an appointment would be a matter for the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke).
Crown Prosecution Service
Mr Buckland: To ask the Attorney-General what assessment he has made of the potential effect on fairness of proceedings of the proposal by the London Area Crown Prosecution Service for prosecutors to make oral rather than written applications for the admission of hearsay and bad character evidence in proceedings in magistrates courts. [86972]
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The Attorney-General: The principles which govern how hearsay and bad character applications are considered by the courts are prescribed by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and the common law, and cannot be changed by any policy of the Crown Prosecution Service. The Criminal Procedure Rules 2011 allow notices and applications to adduce hearsay and bad character to be in writing, but also provide the courts with discretion to permit notices to be given or applications to be made orally and even to dispense with requirements for notice altogether. There is nothing inherently unfair in notices and applications being given or made orally. The rules apply across England and Wales.
It is envisaged that prosecutors will ask for permission to make notices/applications orally where they consider it appropriate in the circumstances of the case. Where the defence oppose this approach they are entitled to make representations on the issue. As part of its duty to actively manage cases, the court will then consider whether to allow notice to be given in the form proposed. The court will determine the issue in a way that best furthers the overriding objective of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2011—that criminal cases be dealt with justly.
Scotland
European Council
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effect on Scotland's interests in the EU following the Prime Minister's use of a veto at the recent European Council. [86982]
Michael Moore: At a time of economic hardship, both coalition parties supported a UK negotiating position that would have provided stability and reassurance to our financial sector while maintaining the integrity of the EU single market and allowing eurozone members to achieve greater fiscal union.
The UK financial sector provides direct employment for more than 90,000 people in Scotland, and indirect employment for many tens of thousands more, representing up to one in 10 Scottish jobs, and the negotiating position was the right one for our country.
Prime Minister
Civil Servants
Mr Gray: To ask the Prime Minister if serving civil servants are obliged to register at the time any approach received to leave the civil service to take up paid work in the private sector; and if so, since when they have been so obliged. [87403]
The Prime Minister: Arrangements are set out in the Business Appointment Rules for civil servants which are contained in Section 4.3 Annex A of the Civil Service Management Code
http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/resources/civil-service-management-code
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EU Action
Angus Robertson: To ask the Prime Minister from which Departments Ministers and officials who accompanied him to the recent European Council were drawn. [87009]
The Prime Minister: Details of ministerial overseas travel are published quarterly.
Japan Tobacco International
Mr Hain: To ask the Prime Minister whether (a) he and (b) his special advisers have received hospitality from Japan Tobacco International since May 2010. [87618]
The Prime Minister: Hospitality received by Ministers and special advisers is published on a quarterly basis.
Details can be found on the Cabinet Office website:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-external-organisations-april-june
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/special-advisers-gifts-and-hospitality-april-june-2011
Joint Ministerial Committee
Angus Robertson: To ask the Prime Minister when he next expects the Joint Ministerial Committee to meet. [87010]
The Prime Minister: I and ministerial colleagues are in regular contact with devolved Governments, including through the forthcoming Domestic and European sub-committee meetings.
Members: Surveillance
Mr Watson: To ask the Prime Minister whether he has reviewed the Wilson doctrine; and if he will make a statement. [87768]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Lincoln (Karl McCartney) on 14 November 2011, Official Report, column 501W.
Defence
Adam Werritty
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the pre-posting briefing meeting held in the Ministry of Defence in September 2010 for Mr Matthew Gould as HM Ambassador Designate to Israel with his predecessor and Mr Adam Werritty, referred to at paragraph 6, page 2 of the report by the Cabinet Secretary on allegations against right hon. Dr Liam Fox MP was held in a private official room; which departmental officials were present at that meeting; whether official notes of the meeting were taken; and if he will make a statement. [86058]
Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 12 December 2011]: As the Cabinet Secretary’s report states
“I understand that this was a general discussion on international defence and security matters to enable Mr Gould better to understand MOD’s perspective of the security situation in the Middle East.”
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The meeting was held in the Defence Secretary’s office. Mr Gould was present as Her Majesty’s Ambassador Designate. It was a general discussion; no officials from the Ministry of Defence were present, therefore no official record or notes were taken.
Air Force: Military Bases
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will place in the Library a copy of each item of correspondence his Department has received from the Scottish Government on their RAF basing review. [75188]
Nick Harvey: We do not normally publish private correspondence between the Department and the devolved Administrations.
Armed Forces: Pay
Kris Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to protect and improve the overall financial package for armed forces personnel. [86914]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 19 December 2011]: To protect and improve the overall financial package for armed forces personnel, we have ensured that all those eligible for incremental pay continue to receive this, even in times of a pay freeze. This ensures around 70% of service personnel receive a pay rise every year. We have further ensured that all those earning under £21,000 per annum have received a £250 consolidated pay rise, while the pay freeze is in place. Once the pay freeze is lifted, we will enable an uplift of 1% in the armed forces’ pay bill in addition to all those eligible continuing to receive their incremental pay. We have doubled the operational allowance to over £5,000 for a tour of six months and increased council tax rebate to 50% for those on operations and, following necessary reductions to allowances announced in Strategic Defence and Security Review, we have ensured that we retain an appropriate and proportionate allowance package.
In addition, our work on the new employment model programme aims to strike a better balance between service and the demands placed on service personnel and their families, adjusting the elements that make up the offer to better reflect how people actually live, to ensure that a career in the armed forces remains attractive and competitive.
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason he has not adopted the recommendations of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. [87469]
Mr Robathan: Successive Governments have accepted in full, without staging, all Armed Forces Pay Review Body recommendations since 1999. In 1998 a recommendation for one group of medical personnel was abated by 0.5%. The Pay Review Body’s next report is expected in early 2012.
Procurement
Alison Seabeck:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2011, Official Report, columns 428-9W, on departmental procurement, on what basis the sample of 42 projects out of a total of 2,580 was selected; what those 42
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projects were; and whether it is the standard practice of his Department to conduct an audit of projects on the basis of a sample size of 1.5 per cent. [86971]
Nick Harvey: To identify whether the controls were operating effectively, the selection was based partly on a random sample and partly on the basis of suspected non-compliance. The 42 tasks were as follows:
Riskhive training courses
Ballast water report and develop operating procedures
Centralised data warehouse
Safety management system
Project safety and airworthiness tasks
Upgrade airworthiness and safety data repository
Medical consumables schedule
Technical support to the attrition requirement
Review of cost estimates
Threat hazard assessment and ship explosive safety case reports
Signal smoke parachutist assessment
Review and update of safety and environmental report
Invitation to tender bid evaluation report
Business agreement negotiations and business case development
Legacy finance tasks
Requirements manager
Security assurance co-ordinator
Transport of vehicles
Requirements analysis and solution exploration
Defence information infrastructure input to the Joint Project Co-ordination Office
Human resource transition strategy
Revision to ‘Green Book’—(An intro to environmental management in the MoD acquisition process)
Provision of technical support x 7
Bowman management information systems subject matter expert
Requirements capture and control
Installations and systems safety
Future installations support
Independent safety advice
Specialist technical support—business solutions requirements manager
Initial programme design
Specialist technical support—Crypto x 2
Development of user training materials
Development of training requirements specialist technical advice
Security specialist technical support.
The sample size varies depending on the audit, timescales, resources etc. In this case it was originally intended to review a sample of 25 to identify whether controls were effective, but this was later extended.
Depleted Uranium
Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has implemented his plans to phase out depleted uranium ammunition for the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System in favour of tungsten. [87733]
Nick Harvey: Yes. All Phalanx Close-in Weapon System ammunition containing depleted uranium was made available for disposal in May 2010.
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Navy
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions Royal Navy submarines have docked at (a) Southampton and (b) Plymouth in each of the last five years. [86822]
Nick Harvey: Three Royal Navy submarines have docked at Southampton in the last five years. The specific information of individual dockings in Plymouth is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. There are, however, around 180 individual submarine movements per year in the dockyard port of Plymouth.
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of Royal Navy personnel was at sea on average in the latest period for which figures are available. [86823]
Nick Harvey: As of 15 December 2011, there were approximately 12% of the total naval service, including Royal Fleet Auxiliary, personnel deployed at sea.
Public Private Partnerships: Private Finance Initiative
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on (a) public private partnerships and (b) private finance initiative provision; and if he will make a statement. [86828]
Mr Philip Hammond: Public private partnerships (PPP) cover all types of collaboration across the private-public sector interface involving collaborative working and risk sharing to deliver policies, services, and infrastructure. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) follows HM Treasury policy in this area and adopts these arrangements where they offer best value for money.
Similarly, the policy for private finance initiatives (PFI) is set by HM Treasury and implemented by the MOD Private Finance Unit. The MOD has no preference for PFI over any other form of procurement and continues to consider the use of private finance alongside all other appropriate acquisition options at the outset of all procurements. No MOD projects are currently pursuing a PFI procurement strategy.
The MOD intends to play an active part in contributing to the reform agenda for PFI announced to the House on 15 November 2011, Official Report, columns 34-35WS, by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne).
Service Personnel and Veterans Agency
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date; and if he will make a statement; [86879]
(2) what funding his Department allocated to the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [86880]
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Mr Robathan: As at 31 March 2011, there were 929.3 full-time equivalent staff employed by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA), and 827.2 as at 30 November 2011.
£110.976 million was allocated to the SPVA for financial year (FY) 2010-11, and £111.035 million for FY 2011-12. The increase for financial year 2011-12 relates to operating costs associated with the Armed Forced Redundancy Scheme and the issue of the Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Waste Disposal
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many times the Royal Navy has witnessed foreign naval vessels dumping waste into the UK exclusive economic zone waters in each of the last five years; and what the location was in each such case; [87591]
(2) whether he has received reports that waste has been disposed into the sea off the Scottish coast from the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov; [87580]
(3) whether the Royal Navy has contacted the National Maritime Intelligence Centre concerning reports of waste being disposed into the sea off the Scottish coast by the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov. [87581]
Mr Robathan: In accordance with international agreed pollution reporting, HMS York reported she observed items in the sea off the coast of Scotland. The Royal Navy passed this information to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, who are responsible for enforcement of maritime pollution regulations via the National Maritime Information Centre. Various internal Ministry of Defence departments were also notified. Due to the weather conditions and time of day it was not possible to positively identify the items or pick them up for analysis.
The Royal Navy does not hold, and is not required to hold, records of incidents involving foreign naval vessels dumping waste into the UK exclusive economic zone waters.
Work and Pensions
Atos Healthcare
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Mental Function Champions are employed by Atos Healthcare for the purposes of the work capability assessment (a) in total and (b) in each region. [87302]
Chris Grayling: There are 60 Mental Function Champions employed by Atos Healthcare nationally for the purpose of work capability assessment. They are spread to cover all work capability assessments as necessary and based in the following regions:
|
|
Number |
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Atos Customer Charter will next be reviewed. [87304]
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Chris Grayling: The Atos Healthcare Customer Charter will be reviewed in 2012.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish the outcome of the trial of the deployment of Atos-approved health care professionals in benefit centres. [87307]
Chris Grayling: There are no plans to publish the outcome as the evaluation was aimed at advising the internal DWP decision-making process to determine next steps for health care professional deployment in benefit centres for ESA and IB reassessment cases. Results of the trial were positive with both DWP decision makers and Atos Healthcare professionals benefiting from the arrangement. However, at the end of the trial, Atos Healthcare professional capacity pressures meant that the initiative could not be continued. From the start of December, DWP and Atos have agreed the implementation of a telephone helpline so that decision makers can speak directly to health care professionals to obtain medical advice in specific cases. This is an interim arrangement until Atos are in a position to reintroduce the deployment of health care professionals in benefit centres.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Atos-approved health care professionals are deployed in benefit centres (a) in total and (b) in each region. [87308]
Chris Grayling: There are currently no Atos Healthcare professionals deployed in benefit centres for ESA and IB re-assessment cases as Atos Healthcare professional capacity pressures meant that the initiative could not progress beyond the trial. From the start of December, DWP and Atos have agreed the implementation of a telephone help line so that decision makers can speak directly to health care professionals to obtain medical advice in specific cases. This is an interim arrangement until Atos are in a position to re-introduce the deployment of health care professionals in benefit centres.
Atos Healthcare: Training
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many days of training are provided to approved healthcare professionals working for Atos Healthcare to undertake the work capability assessment in dealing with mental health conditions that are not within their clinical specialism. [87533]
Chris Grayling: Atos Healthcare only train health care professionals approved by my Department.
These professionals receive, as a minimum, to undertake the work capability assessment:
11 days for doctors of which five days are for mental health training
23 days for nurses of which nine days are for mental health training
26 days for physiotherapists of which 14 days are for mental health training
There is continual professional development offered to support carrying out work capability assessments, including the assessment of mental health conditions.
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Parliamentary Written Questions
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of questions for ordinary written answer received a substantive response within (a) 10, (b) 20, (c) 30 and (d) more than 30 sitting days in the 2010-12 Session to date. [85928]
Chris Grayling: In the 2010-12 Session to the end of November 2011, 4,250 questions for ordinary written answer had received a substantive response, of which:
(a) 3,491 (82%) were answered within 10 sitting days;
(b) 547 (13%) were answered between 11 and 20 sitting days;
(c) 118 (3%) were answered between 21 and 30 sitting days; and
(d) 95 (2%) were answered in more than 30 sitting days.
The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide this information to the Committee at the end of the Session. Statistics relating to Government Departments' performance for the 2009-10 parliamentary Session were previously provided to the Committee and are available on the Parliament website.
Employment and Support Allowance
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people in the work-related activity group of contributory employment and support allowance with (a) multiple sclerosis and (b) other long-term degenerative conditions. [86973]
Chris Grayling: The information requested relating to people with multiple sclerosis is given as follows.
The term degenerative disease/condition is a general one; it may apply to any condition that leads to gradual deterioration, therefore this can encompass a wide variety of conditions. This may include conditions as diverse as neurological, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal conditions and even cancer. It is therefore difficult to quantify the conditions to which the question refers.
| Employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants in the work-related activity group, with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in Great Britain, May 2011 | ||
|
|
All | Claimants with a contributory element |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Benefit type: The type of ESA is defined as pay status at the caseload date—this may differ to the status at the start or end of the claim. 3. Phase/stage of ESA claim is derived from payment details held on the source system. Where the claimant is not in receipt of any benefit payment then the stage of benefit is shown as unknown. 4. There are a number of claimants entitled to both the contributory and income-based elements of ESA. Source: DWP, Information, Governance and Security Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). | ||
Tom Greatrex:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions an individual who claimed employment and support allowance on or after 31 October 2011 did not receive a
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telephone call from the Jobcentre Plus decision maker advising what would happen following the outcome of the work capability assessment. [87294]
Chris Grayling: The telephone call by the decision maker to explain the outcome of the work capability assessment (WCA) was introduced as part of the Harrington review changes to better support customers making a claim for employment and support allowance (ESA) on or after 31 October 2011. Due to the length of time it takes to complete the WCA process, telephone calls have not yet commenced for the majority of claimants. Telephone calls have been completed for some straight-forward cases, where the claimant has been found to have limited capability for work and no face-to-face assessment was required. For claimants who have attended a face-to-face assessment and been found to have no limited capability for work calls are expected to commence in the new year.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last reviewed the ESA50 questionnaire; if he will publish the outcome of his most recent review of the ESA50 questionnaire; and when he next plans to review the ESA50 questionnaire. [87296]
Chris Grayling: The ESA50 questionnaire was reviewed during late 2010 and early 2011. This resulted in a new version of the ESA50 questionnaire being launched on 14 March 2011. This version incorporated many of the recommendations made by Professor Harrington and a number of disability groups consulted as part of the review.
As the Government set out in their response to Professor Harrington's second independent review, we are now working with Mind, Mencap and the National Autistic Society to review the ESA50 questionnaire in light of the recommendations they made to Professor Harrington to improve the WCA.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many formal complaints he has received in relation to the ESA50 questionnaire since May 2010. [87297]
Chris Grayling: There is no central record of formal complaints received in relation to form ESA50, the work capability assessment questionnaire. The ESA50 questionnaire is kept under review taking account of individual complaints received.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last reviewed the main employment and support allowance letters; if he will publish the outcome of his most recent review of the main employment and support allowance letters; and when he next plans to review the main employment and support allowance letters. [87299]
Chris Grayling: Minor changes were made to the main employment and support allowance letters in May 2011 to improve the clarity in distinction between contributory and income-related ESA. Further small improvements may be made in the future if there is the capacity for changes to computer systems and funding permits. Letters are currently being reviewed as part of the proposals to time-limit ESA from 2012. There are no plans to publish a review of ESA letters.
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Employment and Support Allowance: Drugs
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received on the classification by Atos of employment and support allowance recipients who are receiving residential treatment for drug or alcohol misuse as having limited capability for work without requiring them to attend a face-to-face assessment. [86841]
Chris Grayling: In March 2011, we revised employment and support allowance legislation to ensure that it met the policy intent to treat claimants as having limited capability for work on any day they attend residential rehabilitation for the treatment of drug or alcohol addiction. This widened the original provision to cover individuals receiving such treatment as part of a residential programme where no medical staff are present.
We have not provided Atos Healthcare with specific guidance on the classification of residential treatment; as we believe it has a commonly understood meaning. The policy intent is to ensure that we consider a wider scope of programmes that could satisfy this provision. It is for Atos Healthcare practitioners to gather and review the evidence on this issue and then provide advice on whether they consider the provision to be satisfied. It is then for departmental decision makers to consider all the available evidence and make a decision on entitlement.
During summer 2011, DWP officials engaged with the National Treatment Agency to better communicate the intent of this provision. We have received no other representation.
Employment Schemes
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) the Work Choice programme and (b) the Government's policies on job retention for those with neurological conditions. [85985]
Maria Miller: Qualitative research on the effectiveness of the Work Choice programme is being undertaken in a phased approach. The first stage of this was published on 24 November 2011. This document/publication is available on our website at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/ihs-index.asp
The Department has a programme of activity to help working-age people with a health condition remain in or return to work, by working with other Government Departments, devolved Governments and three key stakeholder groups: employers (specifically focusing on providing SME businesses with a greater capacity to deal effectively with health issues and sickness absence), health care professionals (to engender cultural change within the health care professions to ensure that good quality back-to-work advice is embedded in good clinical practice in primary and secondary care) and the participants themselves (focusing on supporting them to retain work when health issues arise). This support is not condition specific and so not specifically targeted at those with neurological conditions.
The Department continues to carry out research with GPs to evaluate the statement of fitness for work, or fit
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note. Qualitative research with GPs on the fit note was published in November 2011 and is available at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/report_abstracts/rr_abstracts/rra_780.asp
Two further pieces of research, an employee survey and a project involving the collection of fit note data, which will examine causes of sickness absence from work where a fit note was issued, will be published at the end of 2012 and in summer 2013 respectively.
The Department plans to publish an evaluation of the occupational health advice service pilots in February 2012. An interim report was published in the summer and is available at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/summ2011-2012/DWP_occ_health_summ.pdf
The Department plans to publish data from year one of the fit for work service pilots, including research with clients, management information, and interviews with key stakeholders, in early 2012. The final evaluation report, which will include interviews with service users and comparison data for an impact study, will be published in late 2012.
Every Decision Counts
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Every Decision Counts events his Department has held (a) in total and (b) in each region. [87305]
Chris Grayling: A total of 11 Every Decision Counts events have been held since September 2010. The events are telephone audio conferences and are open to decision makers within DWP the Benefits Directorate across all regions of the UK.
General Medical Council
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has made a submission to the General Medical Council consultation on good medical practice on the duty of a health care professional and the return of a patient to employment. [87535]
Chris Grayling: The Department did make a recent submission to the General Medical Council's consultation on good medical practice. This has been placed in the Library.
Housing Benefit: Offenders
Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to include ex-offenders in the category of vulnerable people for the purposes of direct payment of housing benefit to landlords. [87734]
Steve Webb: Currently in housing benefit, for the vast majority of tenants in the social rented sector, rent is paid direct to the landlord. In the private rented sector, the local housing allowance is paid direct to the tenant unless they have built up arrears of eight weeks or more. Additional safeguards are in place for people to allow for payment to the landlord where the local authority feels that a tenant is likely to have difficulty paying their rent. This could include people who have recently left prison.
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In preparation for universal credit, we are running six housing demonstration projects from June 2012 to June 2013 to test out elements of a direct payment to tenant process. This includes testing how we can provide support and exemptions for those who are less able to manage financially. An evaluation of the projects will be conducted by independent contractors; CRESR at Sheffield Hallam University, the Oxford Institute of Social Policy (OISP) at the University of Oxford, and Ipsos MORI.
Housing Benefit: Pensioners
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the (a) equity and (b) financial pressures on other vulnerable groups arising from the measures in respect of pensioners proposed for housing benefit reform. [87660]
Steve Webb: As part of the proposed benefit reforms outlined in the Welfare Reform Bill, housing benefit will be abolished. The proposal is that support for eligible rent for pensioners will form part of pension credit with the introduction of a new housing credit. The policy on this housing credit is still being developed and the impacts will form part of the overall assessment being developed to support the Welfare Reform Bill. This will include the impacts on all groups from the wider benefit reforms being proposed. I have included a list of published impact assessments on housing benefit reform as follows:
Consumer prices index uprating of local housing allowance (Welfare Reform Bill)
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/hb-lha-cpi-uprating-wr2011-ia.pdf
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/eia-hb-lha-cpi-uprating-wr2011.pdf
Local housing allowance changes
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/lha-impact-nov10.pdf
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/impacts-of-hb-proposals.pdf
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/lha-eia-nov10.pdf
Non-dependant deduction changes
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/eia-ndd-2011.pdf
Housing Benefit: Tenants
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to seek the views of tenants on whether the housing benefit element of universal credit should be paid directly to the tenant rather than the registered social landlord. [86756]
Steve Webb: My officials regularly attend housing forums and conferences at which tenants and their organisations are present. More specifically we shall be engaging with tenants as part of the demonstration projects, due to commence in June 2012. A major aspect of the projects will be an independent evaluation which will look at the claimant experience.
More information on the demonstration projects can be found at:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare%2Dreform/housing%2Dsupport/social%2Dsector/
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Incapacity Benefits
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last reviewed the incapacity benefit reassessment letters; if he will publish the outcome of his most recent review of the incapacity benefit reassessment letters; and when he next plans to review the incapacity benefit reassessment letters. [87298]
Chris Grayling: In May 2011 changes were made to reassessment letters as part of a release of various IT improvements to reflect feedback that had been received about the quality of reassessment letters from claimants and customer representative groups. There are no plans for a general review of all reassessment letters or for publication of such a review. We continue to keep letters under review in the light of feedback received and other changes such as amendments to legislation.
Jobcentre Plus: Hearing Impairment
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to promote deaf awareness amongst Jobcentre Plus staff. [87584]
Chris Grayling: All Jobcentre Plus staff undertake diversity and equality learning to raise awareness and help them understand issues faced by disabled customers and claimants, including those who are deaf or hearing impaired and other customers with “hidden” disabilities. Jobcentre Plus advisers and disability employment advisers also receive additional training on disability to enable them to provide the right support to individual customers and claimants. This is supplemented by guidance which includes advice on making reasonable adjustments for disabled people, including deaf people, to ensure they have full access to services. This approach ensures staff are fully equipped to deal effectively with the needs of a diverse customer base.
Training packages also stress the importance of sign- posting customers and claimants to organisations where they can obtain specialist help and support, when required. The learning includes improving accessibility to Jobcentre Plus services by supporting customers and claimants with specific communication barriers, including the use of loop-aids, text phones, “typetalk” and interpreters. There is also practical advice given on talking to customers and claimants with a hearing impairment. Jobcentre Plus and DWP learning and support materials are updated regularly to ensure they reflect advancements in practices and techniques, enabling staff to provide a high quality, personalised and flexible service to meet the needs of all our customers and claimants.
Jobseeker's Allowance
Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria will be used to determine eligibility for his proposed wage incentives scheme after (a) three and (b) six months in receipt of jobseeker's allowance. [87736]
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Chris Grayling: 160,000 wage incentives worth £2,275 each will be available to employers who recruit an 18 to 24-year-old who is participating in the Work programme.
The point at which an 18 to 24-year-old is referred to the Work programme depends on the type of benefit they are claiming and their individual circumstances.
Some of the most disadvantaged young people claiming jobseekers allowance (JSA) will be required to participate in the Work programme after three months of their claim to JSA. Others, for example care leavers and those with substance abuse problems, have the option of accessing the Work Programme after three months of their JSA claim. 18 to 24-year-olds without additional disadvantages will be referred to the Work programme after nine months.
18 to 24-year-olds claiming employment and support allowance (ESA) who are expected to be fit for work within 3 or 6 months are required to participate in the Work programme from the date of their work capability assessment. All other 18 to 24-year-olds claiming ESA can volunteer for the Work programme from the date of their work capability assessment.
Jobseeker's Allowance: Bridgend
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claim jobseeker's allowance (JSA) in Bridgend constituency; how many people he estimates would receive JSA if the work capability assessment (WCA) were applied to all existing recipients of employment and support allowance (ESA) and incapacity benefit (IB) in Bridgend constituency; how many people he estimates would be in the work-related group of ESA if the WCA were applied to all existing recipients of ESA and IB in Bridgend constituency; how many job vacancies originating in Bridgend constituency were advertised by Jobcentre Plus in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [86928]
Chris Grayling: In November 2011, 1,809 people were claiming jobseeker's allowance (JSA) in the Bridgend constituency.
In May 2011, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 1,230 claimants of employment and support allowance (ESA) in Bridgend constituency, of which, 440 were in the work-related activity group. There were also 3,400 working-age claimants of old-style incapacity benefits (incapacity benefit, income support on the grounds of incapacity, and severe disablement allowance).
The Department regularly publishes national and regional information on the outcomes of the work capability assessment (WCA) for ESA claimants. Equivalent information is not available at parliamentary constituency level. However, for Bridgend unitary authority, for all initial WCAs completed between October 2008 and May 2011, 2,200 (60%) were assessed to be fit for work. Of those who have subsequently closed their claim, around 800 went on to make a claim for JSA shortly after being assessed as fit for work. There may also be some individuals who did not initially move on to JSA but made a claim at a later date. However, of those who have claimed JSA since closing an ESA claim, some will have since moved off benefits altogether.
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Many existing IB claimants in Bridgend will be undergoing reassessment over a three-year period from April 2011 and it is not possible to determine at this early stage how many people will be assessed as in the work-related activity group or how many will claim JSA as a result of being assessed as fit for work.
Jobcentre Plus has received the following vacancies over the past year:
| Vacancies notified to Jobcentre Plus, Bridgend | |
|
|
Number |
| Note: Figures are not seasonally adjusted but are standardised on to a 4 1/3 week basis. Source: www.nomisweb.co.uk | |
Office for Nuclear Regulation: Pay
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2011, Official Report, column 582W, on departmental pay, for what reason and on what date the decision was taken to pay two senior staff in the Office for Nuclear Regulation by means of payments to limited companies in lieu of a salary; and if he will make a statement. [87766]
Chris Grayling: These arrangements were entered into for the first interim in November 2008 and the second in February 2010. The decisions to do so were taken in the preceding weeks in each case to fill quickly temporary senior staff positions needed in the nuclear regulatory area of HSE. The cost of the posts is recovered from the nuclear industry, The individuals concerned were not available for employment except through payment to limited companies.
Part-time Employment: Pensions
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of part-time workers are members of a pension scheme. [86375]
Steve Webb: In 2010, 34% of part-time employees in Great Britain were members of an occupational pension scheme.
This comprises 39% part-time females (2.1 million) and 19% part-time males (0.3 million).
Pension Credit: Bridgend
Mrs Moon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the annual level of savings to the public purse which will accrue
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from reforming pension credit to require both partners to be eligible for pension credit in order to qualify for the couples rate; how many couples in Bridgend constituency comprise one person of working age and one person eligible for pension credit; and if he will make a statement. [86930]
Steve Webb: The Government have decided that for households where one member of a couple is over the qualifying age for pension credit and the other member is of working age, only universal credit will be available.
The Government believe that all people of working age who can work should be expected to do so and that it is not right to continue the current position where pension credit can go to households which contain a person of working age without that person having to meet any work-related requirements. The universal credit approach provides financial support to such couples, while giving the working age member of the couple access to support in finding work.
We have already acknowledged that it will be important not to undermine the stability and outcomes for existing pension credit customers, so the change will not apply to couples already in receipt who will continue to get pension credit while they retain entitlement.
It is estimated that this policy could save up to £100 million over this spending review. Because of the interaction with other changes to support pensioners, which are still being developed, we are not yet able to provide a firm estimate for a long-run figure for savings.
There are approximately *100 claimants on pension credit in the Bridgend constituency with a partner aged under 60.
Notes:
1. *This figure is based on very few sample cases and is subject to a high degree of sampling variation.
2. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
3. The estimate of the number of claimants assumes that pension credit is available when one partner reaches age 60. However, the qualifying age for pension credit is increasing in line with the increase in women’s state pension age. At February 2011, the qualifying age for pension credit was between 60 and four months and 60 and five months. Current data do not allow analysis that takes account of the increase in qualifying age.
Source:
Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5% sample.
Pensioners: Personal Income
Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of pensioner households whose combined income is higher than the average combined working household income. [87390]
Steve Webb: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member on 14 December 2011, Official Report, column 762W. Since some pensioner benefits—notably pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit—are paid to couples, rather than individuals, it is only possible with the data available to provide an answer at household level.
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Pensions
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what dates (a) he, (b) other Ministers in his Department and (c) senior officials in his Department have met representatives of (i) the British Bankers Association and (ii) the Association of British Insurers to discuss the charges or commission or fees paid by people with a private pension; and if he will make a statement. [86865]
Steve Webb: The Department publishes on a quarterly basis details of all meetings between DWP Ministers, the Permanent Secretary and external organisations. The following links will give access to information up to and including 30 June 2011.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/corporate-publications/ministers-meetings-overseas.shtml
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/corporate-publications/ps-meetings-external-orgs.shtml
Senior officials have met with representatives of the Association of British Insurers. One meeting, on 2 November, included a discussion of the issues concerned.
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to reduce the burden of administration for the pensions industry. [87666]
Steve Webb: The burden of administration for the pensions industry will be reviewed as part of the Department's response to the Red Tape Challenge.
The Red Tape Challenge (RTC) is a cross-government initiative, led by Cabinet Office, which seeks to review all Government legislation, with an emphasis on those statutory instruments which affect business. The aim of the RTC is to revoke or simplify as much legislation as possible to ease burdens on employers and business.
Pensions will be highlighted as a main theme on the RTC website in spring for three weeks. This Spotlight period will encourage members of the public to reflect on pensions regulations and provide a focus for the pensions part of the RTC generally.
The Department views this as a real opportunity to look objectively at pensions policy and go back to first principles to consider whether the legislation as it stands reflects the Department's priorities, is generally fit for purpose and does not place undue burdens on the pensions industry. We are in the early stages of this process.
We will be looking to work closely with stakeholders on the RTC throughout this process—beginning in the new year. There will be extensive scope for all interested parties to offer their views on how pension legislation can be simplified and what can be removed.
In addition, we are also reviewing the legislation which requires pension schemes to disclose information to their members (and others—beneficiaries, for example). Our aim is to consolidate, clarify and, where possible, harmonise the requirements for occupational and personal pension schemes. We are also deleting some requirements and enabling schemes to disclose more information electronically. We intend to consult on draft regulations
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and introduce the updated legislation during 2012; early discussions with stakeholders indicate that they support the proposals.
Social Security Benefits
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what changes he expects to projected spending on each benefit for which his Department is responsible as a result of the measures announced in the Autumn Statement. [85438]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is shown in the following tables:
| Housing benefit: Exemption from the shared room rate for former rough sleepers and ex-offenders | |||||
| Benefit expenditure change (£ million) | |||||
|
|
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-1 6 | 2016-17 |
| Jobseeker's allowance: Access to full-time training | |||||
| Benefit expenditure change (£ million) | |||||
|
|
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-1 6 | 2016-17 |
| Working tax credit: Freeze the couple and lone parent elements for one year in 2012-13; Child tax credit: Remove the £110 child element for 2012-13 | |||||
| Benefit expenditure change (£ million) | |||||
|
|
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 |
| Pension c redit uprating | |||||
| Benefit expenditure change (£ million) | |||||
|
|
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £ million. 2. Expenditure shown is for Great Britain. | |||||
Social Security Benefits: EU Nationals
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how long a citizen of an east European (A8) member of the EU has to be in the UK before they can claim (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) other benefits. [87782]
Chris Grayling: There is no set period in which an A8(1) national must reside in the UK before they can claim benefits. Since 1 May 2011, A8 nationals have had the same access to the UK labour market and benefit system as nationals of other, longer established EEA member states.
To claim any benefit, individuals must meet the normal entitlement conditions of that benefit, including any residence requirements. For example, A8 nationals who have worked in the UK and paid national insurance contributions may claim contributory benefits such as contribution-based jobseeker's allowance as soon as they satisfy the contributions and other conditions for the benefit.
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A8 workers, like any other EEA nationals who have not paid sufficient contributions may claim income-based jobseeker's allowance providing they satisfy the habitual residence test. This requires an individual to demonstrate that they have a right to reside and are habitually resident in the common travel area(2). Those who are not defined as workers or who are not actively seeking work are generally unable to claim any income-related benefits regardless of the length of time they have lived in the UK.
The UK non-contributory disability benefits (disability living allowance, attendance allowance and carer's allowance) have residence and presence conditions, which require claimants to be ordinarily resident and to be present in the UK for 26 out of the last 52 weeks. Migrants do not have to satisfy the residence and presence conditions so long as they remain in work in the UK. In other cases, where the claimant has not been present for 26 out of 52 weeks, the UK must consider whether the claimant has a sufficient link to the UK before allowing a claim.
(1) The Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
(2) The United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and the Republic of Ireland.
Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under what circumstances the pay and conditions of employees transferred out of public sector employment under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 may be reduced in their new employment; and if he will make a statement. [86877]
Mr Davey: I have been asked to reply as Minister with responsibility for employment law. The pay and conditions (excluding certain occupational pension rights) of employees transferred out of the public sector under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 may not be reduced as part of a transfer, unless there is an economic, technical or organisational reason requiring changes to the workforce.
Occupational pension rights earned up to the time of the transfer are protected by social security legislation and pension trust arrangements. The new employer is not required to continue identical occupational pension arrangements for the transferred employees. However, where employees were entitled to participate in an occupational pension scheme prior to the transfer, the new employer must establish a minimum level of pension provision.
Unemployed People: Medical Conditions
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate he has made of the number of people unable to work due to endometriosis; [87208]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of people unable to work due to inflammatory bowel disease. [87222]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is given as follows.
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| Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance and employment support allowance claimants with a medical condition—May 2011 | ||
| Medical condition | Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance | Employment and support allowance |
| Notes: 1. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Incapacity benefit was replaced for new cases by employment support allowance (ESA) From 27 October 2008. 3. Causes of incapacity are based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, published by the World Health Organisation. 4. To qualify for incapacity benefit (IB), claimants have to undertake an assessment of incapacity for work called a personal capability assessment. Under the employment support allowance regime, new claimants have to undergo the work capability assessment. From April 2011 Incapacity benefit recipients will begin also to undertake this assessment. The medical condition recorded on the claim form does not itself confer entitlement to incapacity benefit or employment and support allowance. So, for example, a decision on entitlement for customer claiming Incapacity Benefit on the basis of alcoholism would be based on their ability to carry out the range of activities assessed by the personal/work capability assessment; or on the effects of any associated mental health problems. 5. Medical condition is based on evidence provided at the start of the claim, this in itself does not confer entitlement to incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance or employment and support allowance and may not represent a claimant's most recent medical condition. Please also note that where someone has more than one diagnosis or disabling condition, only the predominant one is currently recorded. 6. The category 'Inflammatory Bowel Disease' includes those with the 'Crohns Disease' and ‘Ulcerative Colitis’ diagnoses. Sources: 1. DWP Information, Governance and Security. 2. Directorate: 100% Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. | ||
Vocational Training
Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish his skills strategy. [84121]
Mr Hayes: I have been asked to reply.
The Government published their skills strategy “Skills for Sustainable Growth” alongside “Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth” in November 2010. The documents together describe the principles, objectives and direction of our reforms of the skills system. Since then we have greatly expanded apprenticeships places, introduced major local freedoms and flexibilities in skills provision placing learners, employers and communities in the driving seat, and introduced the Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF). The GIF will help businesses to act collectively to develop effective solutions to skills barriers that are hampering their growth potential.
Apprenticeships are at the heart of the system we are building, and we are well on course to deliver at least 250,000 more apprenticeships over the next four years compared with the previous Administration’s plans. Our ambition is that the UK should have a world class skills base that is socially inclusive, supports growth and provides a consistent source of competitive advantage. “Skills for Sustainable Growth” and “Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth” can be accessed at
www.bis.gov.uk/skillsforgrowth
On 1 December, this Department published “New Challenges, New Chances” describing the Government’s strategy for further education and skills for the rest of this Parliament. I wrote to all MPs on 5 December setting out our reform plan and how it will build on the successes already achieved, based on the principles underpinning “Skills for Sustainable Growth”. It will
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also take into account the responses to our “New Challenges, New Chances” consultation which can be accessed at
www.bis.gov.uk/consultations
As a model of public sector reform, we are simultaneously reducing legislative burdens and removing centrally dictated restraints to empower learners to shape the skills system, from basic skills provision through to the higher level skills most critical to growth. Copies of all the documents referred to are available in the Libraries of the House.
Work Capability Assessment
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the report on the work capability assessment by Professor Harrington, what additional support measures he has put in place for those undergoing the work capability assessment. [87295]
Chris Grayling: We are committed to continuously improving the work capability assessment (WCA) to ensure that it is as fair and accurate as possible. Good progress has been made in improving the process, as reflected by Professor Harrington in his second independent review of the WCA. In this review he stated that,
“The WCA has, in my view, noticeably changed for the better”.
To further improving the WCA process, Professor Harrington has made some additional recommendations in his second independent review. We welcome these recommendations and have accepted the majority of them. We are also carrying out further work to consider how we may take forward the remaining recommendations.
We will continue to review and refine the WCA to ensure that it is more effective; fairer for all claimants and as a result fairer for the taxpayer.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions an individual who has undergone a work capability assessment since 6 June 2011 has not received a personalised summary statement of the work capability assessment in plain English. [87300]
Chris Grayling: The personalised summary statement was included in the Atos assessment report and made available to DWP decision makers from 6 June 2011. However the statements have not been routinely shared with all claimants. A trial was completed between 11 July and 9 September 2011 to issue the personalised summary statement to disallowed ESA claimants. A total of 452 statements were issued as part of this trial. Following this, a separate trial commenced in Oldham benefit centre on 12 September 2011 to routinely share with disallowed claimants the decision maker's reasons for the decision instead of the Atos statement. Based on the Oldham trial, issuing the decision maker's reasons for the decision is being introduced nationally from January 2012 for IB reassessment and ESA claimants found to have no limited capability for work. The Atos assessment report, which includes the personalised summary statement, is available to all claimants on request.
Tom Greatrex:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish the outcome of the trials of personalised summary
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statements in
(a)
Wrexham and
(b)
Oldham benefit centre; and if he will make a statement. [87301]
Chris Grayling: There are no plans to publish the outcomes from the trials in Wrexham and Oldham benefit centres. Professor Harrington recommended as part of his first review issuing the Atos personalised summary statement to all claimants. The outcome of the trial in Wrexham benefit centre issuing the Atos personalised summary statement to disallowed claimants was discussed with Professor Harrington and a change to his original recommendation agreed: to issue the decision maker's reasons for the decision instead of the Atos statement. This better aligns with his other recommendations to support claimants through the claim process and to put decision makers at the heart of that process. Issuing the decision maker's reasons for the decision has been trialled in Oldham and on the basis of this trial is to be introduced nationally in the new year. Professor Harrington endorses this in his second review, noting it as a considerable improvement on his original recommendation. It will continue to be monitored as part of ongoing evaluation.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish the outcome of the audio recording pilot in the Newcastle assessment centre. [87303]
Chris Grayling: We have received the evaluation report of the pilot. We are currently considering the evaluation evidence carefully to understand the costs and implications of audio recording as well as whether it will improve the assessment further for individuals.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last reviewed the quality checks to improve decision making standards in relation to the work capability assessment; when he plans to publish the outcomes of his most recent review of the quality checks to improve decision making standards in relation to work capability assessment; and when he next plans to review the quality checks to improve decision making standards in relation to the work capability assessment. [87306]
Chris Grayling: Quality checks in relation to the work capability assessment were introduced in August. The check is an internal one and is used to give individual feedback to decision makers. There are no plans to publish this information.
These new checks are being monitored and evaluated on an ongoing basis. There was a national calibration exercise at the end of November to check standards across the country and a further event is planned for April.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the decision by the General Medical Council (GMC) of 4 October 2010 that an Atos Healthcare professional carrying out an assessment of a claimant’s suitability for disability living allowance is not subject to paragraph 2(a) of the good medical practice guidance; and what discussions he has had with the GMC on this issue. [87534]
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Chris Grayling: The Department has not made any assessment of the decision, nor have there been any discussions with the GMC on this issue.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what auditing process is undertaken by his Department in relation to the number of successful appeals by those found fit for work by Atos Healthcare and his Department's decision makers following a work capability assessment. [87677]
Chris Grayling: All allowed appeals are referred back to DWP decision makers so that any learning points can be identified. Local arrangements are in place to cascade relevant information as appropriate. DWP is also working with HMCTS to identify any trends in decisions which it could usefully address.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been found fit for work under the work capability assessment who had submitted an appeal against that decision and subsequently died prior to the appeal being heard. [87678]
Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions does not record the information requested. However, HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) management information indicates that between October 2008 and October 2011, the most recent reported period, 31 appeals against decisions relating to work capability assessments have been withdrawn following the notification of death of the appellant. HMCTS cannot identify which of these appeals were against decisions where the appellant was assessed as fit for work.
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what follow-up procedures are in place to determine the reason for a claimant's failure to attend a work capability assessment. [87689]
Chris Grayling: When a claimant fails to attend a work capability assessment, medical services will write to the claimant asking why they have not attended. The letter asks the claimant to reply to the benefit centre dealing with their claim within seven days.
At the same time, medical services separately notifies the benefit centre that the claimant has failed to attend.
Where the claimant is considered vulnerable because of their particular health condition a decision maker will attempt to make contact by telephone.
If we are unable to contact a vulnerable person, the Department will attempt to visit the claimant to establish their reason for not attending.
Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received on implementing the (a) proposals to revise the work capability assessment for people with fluctuating conditions and (b) other recommendations of the year two review of the work capability assessment by Professor Harrington. [87714]
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1099W
Chris Grayling: Professor Harrington submitted the recommendations of the group looking at fluctuating conditions to the Department in late November 2011. The Department is now considering these recommendations carefully before coming forward with a response.
The Department welcomes the recommendations of Professor Harrington's second independent review and has set out its response to each recommendation in the Government response to the review published on 24 November 2011.
To date we have receive no representations on these specific issues.
Work Capability Assessment: Appeals
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether Atos Healthcare undertakes any assessment of the outcome of appeals on work capability assessment. [87532]
Chris Grayling: Atos Healthcare assess feedback from the Appeals Tribunal Service, where its medical assessment is identified as substandard. The Appeals Tribunal Service handle appeals of the Department for Work and Pensions' decision about a claimant's entitlement to a benefit following a work capability assessment.
Work Experience: Young People
Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how businesses will be recruited to take part in his Department's work experience scheme for 18 to 24 year-olds. [87730]
Chris Grayling: Jobcentre Plus is responsible for working with host businesses to source suitable work experience placements. This partnership working has already generated thousands of opportunities across the country.
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Jobcentre Plus supports employers to plan placements which are hands-on, provide opportunities for skills development, and expose participants to the routines of the working environment.
Employers of all sizes in any sector can offer work experience so long as they can meet the terms and conditions set out in their agreement with Jobcentre Plus.
New host business can find help and guidance on how they may be able to participate through both the Department for Work and Pensions and Business Link websites.
Work Programme
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people aged over 50 years who will find sustainable employment through the Work programme in (a) the east midlands region and (b) Leicester city in each of the next three years. [87656]
Chris Grayling: The Department has not set Work programme performance expectations specifically for people aged over 50 years.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agriculture
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the proportion of land in the UK that is not farmed under Pillar 2 agri-environment schemes. [86946]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA only holds data for England. The following table shows the proportion of land areas in England not covered by agri-environment schemes.
Animal Welfare: Circuses
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether animal circuses have been inspected by DEFRA-appointed inspectors or vets in the last decade; and if she will place in the Library a copy of any inspection reports. [70909]
Mr Paice: A number of inspections of animals in travelling circuses have been conducted by DEFRA-appointed inspectors or vets in the past decade. However, no central record is kept of such inspections, nor of any reports which might have been written as a result of an inspection. The three inspections carried out for DEFRA in 2008 as part of a feasibility study to evaluate the potential of an inspection system for such circuses were conducted on a confidential basis, and as a consequence we will not release these reports.
The proposed new circus animal licensing scheme will put inspections on a formal, statutory, footing. The new scheme will ensure that we have a record of all the licensing inspections carried out in circuses. We will also want to consider what information about, and from, the inspections should be made available publicly to ensure that the scheme is as transparent as possible.
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Bovine Tuberculosis
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration she has given to the use of alternatives to the culling of badgers for the purposes of controlling bovine TB. [86590]
Mr Paice: Cattle measures will continue to be the foundation of DEFRA’s control programme across England. However, we know that to tackle this disease we need to look at each and every transmission route, and that includes transmission from badgers to cattle. Good biosecurity practices are important but on-farm biosecurity controls are likely only to reduce, not eliminate, TB transmission risks from infectious badgers. Ultimately, we want to be able to vaccinate cattle and badgers, but there are practical difficulties with the injectable badger vaccine, which is currently the only available option. We are working hard to develop a cattle vaccine and an oral badger vaccine, but usable and approved vaccines are still years away and we cannot say with any certainty when they will be ready.
In addition, veterinary and scientific advice is that culling in high TB incidence areas, carried out in line with the licence criteria, will reduce the number of infected badgers, and thus the weight of TB infection in badger populations in the treatment area, more quickly than vaccination. It will therefore have a greater and more immediate beneficial impact on the spread of TB to cattle and the incidence of infection in cattle.
The policy statement published on 14 December provides further details. This is available at
http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13691-bovinetb-policy-statement.pdf
Canal and River Trust
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contingency measures are being put in place by her Department to protect the new Canal and River Trust from the risk of unpredictable major infrastructure failures. [86398]
Richard Benyon: The Government are committed to ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for the waterways. Negotiations are currently under way between the Government and the Transition Trustees of the Canal and River Trust (CRT) to secure a long-term funding agreement for the waterways.
Subject to parliamentary approval, the CRT will take over the statutory functions undertaken by British Waterways to maintain the waterways in England and Wales. It will inherit from British Waterways a risk management strategy to deal with any infrastructure failures, including setting aside a contingency fund on an annual basis, and like British Waterways will be able to divert funds from planned spending should any unplanned incidents occur.
Once the funding agreement has been reached, the Government will expect the CRT, as is currently the case with British Waterways, to operate and maintain the canal network in a way which enables it to deal with infrastructure failures without additional support from the Government, as is currently the case with British
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1102W
Waterways. The CRT will have access to new income streams such as donations, charitable grants and legacies, an ability to borrow against its property assets, wider commercial opportunities and fundraising.
Dangerous Dogs
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the reasons are for the time taken in bringing forward proposals to address dangerous dogs. [80992]
Mr Paice: My noble Friend, Lord Taylor of Holbeach, who leads on the subject of dangerous dogs in DEFRA, has been working alongside Lord Henley to see how the proposed antisocial measures currently being developed in the Home Office can be best applied to such behaviour relating to dogs. DEFRA has also been developing proposals on reducing dog attacks and promoting more responsible dog ownership. This is now at an advanced stage and, subject to ministerial clearance, we will be able to make an announcement early in the new year.
Food Labelling
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether food and catering services in (a) her Department and (b) public bodies for which she is responsible plan to implement calorie labelling on menus and display boards. [85846]
Richard Benyon: Government buying standards (GBS) for food and catering, which were introduced for the first time in June this year, are designed to help people make healthier choices as well as promote more sustainable sourcing and operations in catering services. GBS are mandatory for central Government and are being promoted across the public sector. The best practice criteria include calorie and allergen labelling on menus.
DEFRA’s catering contract with Eurest covers core DEFRA, the Rural Payments Agency, the Marine Management Organisation, the Food and Environment Research Agency, the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Natural England, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. DEFRA’s caterer has agreed to include calorie labelling on menu boards and this is rolling out across the DEFRA estate.
The Environment Agency has a separate catering contract to DEFRA. Menus and display boards at the Environment Agency currently have healthy eating, vegetarian and organic labelling. The Environment Agency will be re-tendering food and catering services in early 2012 and will include calorie labelling at this point.
Consultants
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on consultancy by her Department since May 2010. [80270]
Richard Benyon: The core Department has spent £10,198,919 on consultancy in the period May 2010 to October 2011.
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Design Services
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has spent on design in respect of (a) logos, (b) buildings, (c) advertising, (d) stationery and (e) campaigns in the last year for which figures are available. [80207]
Richard Benyon: For the 2010-11 financial year the information is:
(a) £5,857 so that the DEFRA logo and brand could be used more easily on websites, including reducing the amount of ink needed for printing.
(b) £0
(c) and (e) £15,617 on design costs on campaigns, which includes advertising spend when it has formed part of a campaign. This includes public information material, for example, on plant and animal health.
(d) £0
Departmental Pay
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether any senior staff in (a) her Department and (b) its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies are paid by means of payments to a limited company in lieu of a salary; and if she will publish her policy on such payments. [85079]
Richard Benyon: All senior staff (SCS equivalent and above) employed directly by the Department, employed directly in our executive agencies (Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Rural Payments Agency, Food and Environment Research Agency and Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science) and employed directly in our main executive non-departmental public bodies (Environment Agency, Natural England, Gangmasters Licensing Authority, Consumer Council for Water, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Marine Management Organisation and Joint Nature Conservation Committee) are covered by the Treasury's pay remit process, are paid through payroll.
Departmental Recycling
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she is taking steps to increase the proportion of waste recycled by her Department. [85382]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA and its agencies have reduced the quantity of waste they generate by 30% compared with 2004-05 levels, and in 2010-11, a 42% recycling rate was achieved. Our waste is managed according to the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle hierarchy; this arrangement ensures that all waste is disposed of in the most environmentally responsible manner.
We have introduced food waste collections for composting from our London, Alnwick and York sites. Our "bin the bin" programme removed desk-side bins and encouraged staff to recycle their waste. This resulted in recycling rates increasing from an average of 35% to 82% at the sites involved.
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DEFRA's procurement team is working with suppliers for new contracts to minimise packaging waste and to consider sustainability more widely in their service provision.
A significant quantity of the Department's waste (approximately 67%) is generated by the laboratory estate and is the result of scientific research into plant and animal disease. For environmental protection reasons, this waste cannot be recycled and currently, the Department has no option other than to send it to landfill or destroy it by incineration (much of which includes energy recovery). Over 75% of non-laboratory waste is already recycled. We are currently investigating opportunities for minimising laboratory waste sent to landfill.
Departmental Responsibilities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications to run services for which her Department is directly responsible she has received from employees in her Department since May 2010; and if she will make a statement. [77607]
Richard Benyon: We have not received any applications from employees to run services for which the Department is directly responsible.
Departmental Travel Expenditure
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on travel by officials of her Department since May 2010. [80267]
Richard Benyon: The total amount spent on travel by officials within the Department since May 2010 through to November 2011 is £2,992,374. This does not include Ministers and costs relating to their office.
Parliamentary Written Questions
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what proportion of questions for ordinary written answer received a substantive response within (a) 10, (b) 20, (c) 30 and (d) more than 30 sitting days in the 2010-12 session to date. [85924]
Richard Benyon: The volume of substantive answers to written questions, and the proportion they represent, can be found in the following table.
| Number of written PQs due between May 2010 and October 2011 (1) | |
|
|
Number/percentage |
| (1) Not including transfers. | |
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Farmers: Compensation
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers have received reduced compensation as a result of falling behind in the timetable for testing for tuberculosis in their cattle since July 2011. [87685]
Mr Paice: As set out in the Bovine TB Eradication Programme for England published in July, we plan to reduce compensation payments where TB tests are significantly overdue. We are currently consulting on proposals to make this and other changes to the Cattle Compensation (England) Order 2006, the secondary legislation covering the TB (and other diseases) cattle compensation system, from April 2012.
Forestry
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what area of (a) lowland heathland and (b) other priority open habitat has been recreated by (i) Forestry Commission England, (ii) other Government Departments and (iii) non-governmental organisations since the publication of the Forestry Commission document entitled “When to convert woods and forests to open habitats in England: Government Policy.” [86703]
Richard Benyon: This information is not yet available. Restoration of open habitat from forests and woodland in all ownerships is one of Forestry Commission England's impact indicators for 2011-15 and it is planning to publish this information annually commencing in May or June 2012.
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the England Biodiversity Strategy's aspiration to create 200,000 hectares of new wildlife habitat by 2020 she estimates will be created under the provisions outlined in the Forestry Commission document, entitled “When to convert woods and forests to open habitats in England: Government Policy.” [86704]
Richard Benyon: We are currently developing the delivery plan for “Biodiversity 2020”, including working with partners to agree a more detailed plan for on-the-ground delivery action. This will provide more detail on how the biodiversity strategy's outcomes will be taken forward and is expected to be completed in spring 2012.
Procurement
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has received assurances from her ministerial colleagues that all Government Departments will be fully compliant with her Department's new mandatory buying standards by 1 January 2012. [86961]
Richard Benyon:
This Government introduced the Government Buying Standards for food and catering in June this year and they came into effect in September. Now, for the first time, all central Government Departments have committed to procuring healthy, sustainable food and responsible catering operations. All new food and
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catering contracts, including DEFRA's own, will be fully compliant with these standards. Central Government are committed to looking at pre-existing contracts for cost-effective opportunities to meet the standards. Departments will be reporting their performance in line with their normal performance reporting schedules.
Local Nature Partnerships
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the participation of local authorities in Local Nature Partnerships. [87152]
Richard Benyon: In the Natural Environment White Paper, Government committed to supporting local nature partnerships (LNPs), where local areas wish to establish them, to work at a strategic scale to improve the range of benefits and services we get from a healthy natural environment. We want each LNP to develop and work in the most appropriate way for its local area. Local authorities have clear interests in the work of LNPs and would be appropriate members if they feel that it is in the interests of their communities to be so.
Marine Conservation Zones
Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who will be responsible for gathering evidence to support marine conservation zone designation. [82469]
Richard Benyon: The four marine conservation zone (MCZ) regional projects were responsible for collecting the evidence that underpinned their advice on recommended marine conservation zones (rMCZs). The Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies (SNCBs), Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee will also collect and use other relevant evidence as part of the process for preparing their advice to DEFRA.
At the same time, DEFRA is commissioning an in-depth review of evidence available for the rMCZs to ensure that all relevant evidence has been gathered and used appropriately. This review will report jointly to DEFRA and the SNCBs and is expected to inform the formal SNCB advice. DEFRA will also be commissioning some seabed and habitat monitoring.
Natural Gas: Exploration
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2011, Official Report, columns 690-1W, on natural gas: exploration, what hazard data and classifications are relevant to each of the substances used for hydraulic fracturing in the UK; and whether the use of each of the substances in hydraulic fracturing has been correctly notified in accordance with the registration requirements set out in EU Regulation 1907/2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Registration of Chemicals. [82080]
Richard Benyon: The following chemicals have been used for hydraulic fracturing in the United Kingdom:
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At present, the requirement to register under REACH applies to substances which are manufactured in the EU or imported in quantities above 1,000 tonnes per year per manufacturer or importer. Lower tonnage thresholds apply for substances carrying certain hazard classifications.
The chemical substances used in hydraulic fracturing do not carry the relevant hazard classifications and are not used in sufficient volumes to trigger registration obligations. Therefore their use in hydraulic fracturing will not have triggered any registration obligations.
Polyacrylamide, the main ingredient of FR-40, is a polymer and as such is exempt from registration under REACH.
Looking at other similar uses, hydrochloric acid has been registered for use in mining.
Sheep: Disease Control
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which body records individual sheep movements (a) in North Yorkshire and (b) across England in respect of the monitoring and notification of notifiable disease. [85616]
Mr Paice: There is no requirement for movements of individual sheep to be recorded centrally. Individual movement records are maintained at farm level and, depending on when moved sheep were born, movement documents record either the individual sheep or the batch of sheep moved. Local authorities have responsibility for recording batch movement information of all sheep movements on DEFRA's animal movement licensing system. It is the responsibility of livestock keepers to monitor the health of their stock and it remains a legal requirement for anyone who suspects a notifiable disease may be present to report this to their local Animal Health Office. This is a key component of disease surveillance in England.
Solar Power
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of (a) farmers and (b) landowners who have installed solar panels in their fields; and what assessment she has made of the potential effect of such a practice on income to domestic households from the feed-in tariff for solar photovoltaics. [87655]
Gregory Barker: I have been asked to reply.
DECC does not hold data on the number of farmers and landowners who have installed solar panels in their fields. However, at the end of November 2011, there
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were 301 solar photovoltaic installations on feed-in tariffs for stand-alone systems (schemes that are not attached to a building).
The existence of installations in fields does not directly affect the potential income from FITs for domestic households. However, in setting future tariffs the Government need to take account of the total impact of the scheme on consumers' bills.
The impact assessment accompanying the Government's consultation on feed-in tariffs (FITs) for solar photovoltaics (PV), available at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/fits-comp-review-p1/3416-fits-IA-solar-pv-draft.pdf
This sets out the impact of our proposals on FITs support, generation and jobs.