Employment: Finance
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total cost of employment of staff in his Department was in 2009-10; and what estimate has been made of such costs in each year from 2010-11 to 2014-15. [30798]
Norman Baker: The 2009-10 wages and salaries figure for the Department for Transport, which was published in the departmental resource accounts, was £546,266,100.
Following the spending review settlement for the Department for Transport, detailed work force plans and pay bill allocations, on which such estimates for costs in each year from 2010-11 to 2014-15 would be based, are being developed and finalised. We are therefore currently unable to provide estimates of these costs.
First Great Western: Standards
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the most recent performance data for First Great Western. [29270]
Mrs Villiers: Department of Transport officials meet First Great Western every four weeks to discuss franchise performance. The latest figures published by Network Rail show that, in the four weeks to 16 October 2010, First Great Western's punctuality was 91.7% and for the 12 months to that date was 91.6%.
M42: Road Traffic Control
Mr Leech:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of the operation of active traffic management between junctions 3a and 7 of the M42 on (a) the number
15 Dec 2010 : Column 831W
of crashes and injuries,
(b)
levels of vehicle emissions,
(c)
average speeds of vehicles and
(d)
vehicle capacity in the latest period for which figures are available. [29204]
Mike Penning: An assessment of the benefits of active traffic management (ATM) between junctions 3A and 7 of the M42 was made following twelve months of operation of hard shoulder running (HSR). This assessment showed that:
(a) The average number of personal injury accidents (PIAs) reduced from 5.08 per month before the implementation of ATM to 1.83 per month following the introduction of HSR. The average number of casualties reduced from 8.48 per month before the implementation of ATM to 4.00 per month following the introduction of HSR.
(b) The effect of ATM on emissions from all vehicles was:
Carbon monoxide (CO) -4%
Particulate Matter (PM) -10%
Hydrocarbons (HC) +3%
Carbon-dioxide (CO2) -4%
Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) -5%
Fuel consumption -4%
(c) When HSR was operated at 50mph the average traffic speed was 49mph. When HSR was subsequently operated at 60mph the average traffic speed increased by 5 mph compared with HSR at 50mph.
(d) The operation of HSR on the M42 ATM section increased the observed capacity of the motorway by an average of 7% compared to conditions before the implementation of ATM.
Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage uptake of low-emission vehicles. [27938]
Norman Baker: The spending review announced provision of over £400 million for measures promoting the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicle technologies. These measures include:
Support for consumer incentives for electric and other ultra-low emission cars throughout the life of this Parliament. The Secretary of State for Transport has already announced details of the Plug-In Car Grant, which will reduce the upfront cost of eligible cars by 25%, capped at £5,000. Available across the UK, the scheme will be open to both private consumers and business buyers. We will continue to monitor the most effective way to deliver support for consumer incentives, with the first review of the Plug-In Car Grant taking place in 2012.
Continued investment in electric vehicle recharging infrastructure through the ‘Plugged-in Places’ scheme. The Government are committed to mandating a national recharging network for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Data derived from the Plugged-in Places programme will inform the design of a national network.
Further investment in research and development activities supporting this next generation of vehicle technologies.
We regard promotion of low-emission vehicles as important to achieve our carbon-reduction targets.
Motorways: Road Traffic Control
Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes in the specification for Active Traffic Management (ATM) have been proposed for future use of ATM on the motorway network; and if he will publish the report on the basis of which such changes were made. [29205]
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Mike Penning: The Highways Agency is considering the design of Active Traffic Management (ATM) in view of the experience gained from operating the pilot section on the M42. This includes what reduction can be made in the provision of gantries, signing, emergency refuge areas and signalling which will reduce costs but maintain the level of safety.
The M42 ATM pilot operation of a Managed Motorway has shown that opening the hard shoulder to peak time traffic, with speed limit controls in place, improves reliability and reduces the number of accidents. The Highways Agency has demonstrated that Managed Motorways can deliver a substantial proportion of the benefits of conventional road-widening solutions, while securing cost savings of 40%, and the agency is aiming to increase these savings still further by driving efficiencies in how it specifies and delivers projects, encouraging the introduction of standardised solutions.
The evidence base drawn together so far through the experience gained from operating the M42 pilot and sections on the Birmingham Box, has enabled more cost-effective designs to be introduced for future schemes. The agency has shown that it can operate hard shoulder running at 60 mph, and extend the distances between gantries and emergency refuge areas, without adversely affecting the operation of the road or the safety of the road user.
Network Rail: Pensions
Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what pension provision has been made for the former (a) chief executive, (b) chairman and (c) board members of Network Rail; what expenditure his Department incurred in respect of such pensions in 2009-10; what his Department's role was in establishing such pension provision; what pension provision has been made for the (i) interim chief executive and (ii) new chairman of Network Rail; and if he will make a statement. [29123]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 6 December 2010]: The Secretary of State for Transport has not been involved in making or establishing any provision, nor has he incurred any expenditure, in respect of pensions for former or future chief executives, the chairman and board members of Network Rail. The operation of Network Rail's pay and pension arrangements is a matter for the company and its members, overseen by the Office of Rail Regulation.
Railways: Concessions
Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many former employees of (a) British Rail, (b) the Strategic Rail Authority and (c) Railtrack receive (i) free and (ii) concessionary rail travel. [28583]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 3 December 2010]: Around 500,000 former employees of British Rail, the Strategic Rail Authority and Railtrack receive concessionary rail travel. Concessionary travel includes free and discounted concessionary rail travel.
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Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) current and (b) former employees of (i) British Rail, (ii) the Strategic Rail Authority and (iii) Railtrack receive (A) free rail travel and (B) travel concessions for members of their family who did not work for these organisations. [28584]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 3 December 2010]:Family members of some 500,000 current and former employees of British Rail, the Strategic Rail Authority and Railtrack have entitlement to free and concessionary travel. This facility is (and was) not dependant on where those family members worked. Concessionary travel includes free and discounted concessionary rail travel.
Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport from which budgets the costs associated with the provision of free and concessionary travel for current and former employees of (a) British Rail, (b) the Strategic Rail Authority and (c) Railtrack are met; and what such costs were in 2009-10. [29122]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 6 December 2010]: There is no central budget for the provision of free and concessionary travel. The costs are met by employers. As the expenditure is incurred by commercial companies, it would not be appropriate to disclose what they might spend.
The Department for Transport incurred costs of approximately £36,000 during 2009-10 in relation to concessionary travel costs for current employees who were former employees of British Rail. The Department also has a historic obligation to pay the travel costs of former pre-privatisation BR employees. The cost for this in 2009-2010 was approximately £2.77 million.
Railways: Construction
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had on the proposed High Speed 2 rail link; and if he will make a statement. [26830]
Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 30 November 2010]: The full listing of my meetings with external organisations is available at:
www.dft.gov.uk/press/ministers/transparency/
In addition, I meet regularly with HS2 Ltd and officials to discuss high speed rail.
Railways: Finance
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the oral statement of 25 November 2010, Official Report, columns 466-8, on rail investment, what improvement work he plans to be undertaken in respect of (a) the Midland Main Line, (b) Yorkshire, (c) Trans-Pennine routes, (d) Manchester and (e) South Wales. [29304]
Mrs Villiers:
The improvement work for the Midland Main Line, Yorkshire, Trans-Pennine routes, Manchester and South Wales is set out in the Network Rail enhancement plan for control period 4, which covers 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2014. Funding for all these programmes of enhancements to deliver additional capacity, reliability
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and faster journeys has been confirmed. The details of scope and timing may change as the plans for improved train services are developed by train operators.
Railways: Industrial Disputes
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on rail franchise agreements permitting payments to be made to train operating companies in the event of a dispute with a trade union; and what the criteria are for determining such payments. [29127]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 7 December 2010]: At the discretion of the Secretary of State for Transport, the Department can reimburse train operating companies for net losses incurred as a result of industrial action, provided the train operating company involved can demonstrate that it has taken all reasonable steps to avoid industrial action and mitigate its effects.
Railways: Standards
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the level of train punctuality in the latest period for which figures are available. [28604]
Mrs Villiers: Transport Ministers meet senior rail industry officials on a regular basis to discuss train performance. Period 7 (19 September to 16 October 2010) is the latest period for which confirmed figures are available when the Public Performance Measure (PPM) for England and Wales was 92.7% and the Public Performance Measure Moving Annual Average (PPM MAA) was 91.6%. The PPM MAA is 0.2 PPM points better than at period 7 the previous year.
Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation
Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department's consultation on the renewable transport fuel obligation will seek to assess the merits of including hydrogen under that scheme. [27795]
Norman Baker: The Renewable Energy Directive requires all European member states to source 10% of the energy used in transport from renewable sources by 2020. While the directive does allow for the use of renewable hydrogen to meet this target, there is not currently a methodology in place for calculating the contribution of hydrogen from renewable sources. However, the directive does require the European Commission to come forward with a proposal for such a method by 31 December 2011.
The renewable transport fuel obligation requires fossil fuel suppliers to supply a certain percentage of the total volume of fuel they supply as biofuel. We are currently working to amend the RTFO to fulfil the requirements of the Renewable Energy Directive and will consult on proposals shortly.
Roads: Snow and Ice
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last updated the guidance provided by his Department to local authorities on winter resilience. [28527]
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Norman Baker [holding answer 3 December 2010]: In response to David Quarmby’s final report on Winter Resilience, published in October 2010, the Department for Transport worked with the UK Roads Liaison Group to develop guidance to help local highway authorities to improve their winter service. The guidance, published on 3 November 2010, focuses on the planning, preparation and effective use of salt stocks and other resources, and is available to download at:
http://www.ukroadsliaisongroup.org/pdfs/Winter%20Service %20for%20Local%20Authority%20Practitioners%20v7.pdf
The Secretaries of State for Transport and Communities and Local Government jointly wrote to the leaders of all English local authorities on 12 November drawing their attention to this guidance and the other recommendations from David Quarmby’s independent review.
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) which local highway authorities have fewer than 48 runs of salt capacity; [29044]
(2) whether he plans to convene the Salt Cell in response to the weather in November and December 2010; [29047]
(3) if he will assess the ability of (a) local highway authorities and (b) the Highways Authority to keep key roads open in the event of a prolonged period of severe winter weather. [29048]
Norman Baker [holding answer 6 December 2010]: The independent review on winter resilience led by David Quarmby CBE published its report in October 2010. The report made a number of recommendations both for the Government, local highway authorities and others.
One of the recommendations was for a benchmark of 12 days (48 runs) pre-season salt stockholding to be adopted for local highway authorities. It was recognised by the Review that some authorities would not be able to implement this recommendation in the short term, but in these cases they should carefully review their salt usage history and consider further action if necessary, such as increasing capacity or mutual aid arrangements with neighbouring authorities.
To bolster national resilience, for the first time the Highways Agency is putting in place a 250,000 tonne national strategic reserve of last resort, available to support local authority operators as necessary, along with a further 60,000 tonnes as its own reserve. So overall, we are better prepared than last year should the recent bad weather re-occur.
However, we are not complacent. The Department has arrangements in place for regular monitoring of salt stocks, so that we can identify risks early on and take any further action, including initiating Salt Cell should the need arise.
Given that much of the country has been hit unusually early this winter by severe weather, the Secretary of State has asked David Quarmby to take the opportunity to conduct an urgent audit of highway authorities’ and transport operators’ recent performance in England, their progress in implementing his recommendations and any further steps that need to be taken.
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Women and Equalities
Government Equalities Office: Finance
Pat Glass: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what the change in the budget of the Government Equalities Office will be in (a) nominal and (b) real terms between 2010-11 and each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; and what proportion of the Office's budget will be allocated to the Equality and Human Rights Commission in each year from 2010-11 to 2014-15. [30313]
Lynne Featherstone: The recent spending review settlement, covering the next four years, allocated a nominal budget to the Government Equalities Office as follows:
| £ million nominal | |||||
| Baseline 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | |
| (1) RDEL: resource departmental expenditure limit Note: Please note that numbers may not sum exactly due to rounding. | |||||
The allocation in real terms has not yet been published.
The budget allocation for the Equality and Human Rights Commission is currently in negotiation.
Work and Pensions
Annuities
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he is considering the open market option as part of his Department's review of removing the requirement to annuitise by the age of 75 years. [29291]
Mr Hoban: I have been asked to reply.
The Government believe that it is important that people understand that they have the right to shop around and that those who stand to benefit exercise this option. The recent HM Treasury consultation ‘Removing the requirement to annuities by age 75’ included a question on how to improve advice to individuals regarding their choices on pension savings.
HM Treasury recently published its response to the age 75 consultation alongside draft Finance Bill legislation on 9 December. It is concerned with the tax and regulatory reforms associated with the new decumulation regimes and does not include changes to the Open Market
15 Dec 2010 : Column 837W
Option (OMO). However, the Government continues to take an active interest the OMO and relevant representations are being examined.
Cold Weather Payments: North West
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people resident in each weather station area in the North West qualified for cold weather payments in each of the last five years. [28753]
Steve Webb: The available information is given in the table.
| Estimated number of benefit units that received at least one cold weather payment for weather stations linked to postcode districts in the north-west | |||||
| Weather station | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
| n/a = not applicable: the weather station was not used in the cold weather payment scheme in that year. Notes: 1. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National Statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, figures given are estimates. Actuals are not available. 2. A cold weather payment is made to an eligible customer when the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0°C or below over seven consecutive days at the weather station linked to the customer's postcode. (When the temperature criterion is met, the weather station is said to trigger.) 3. Some weather stations listed are linked both to an area within the north-west and also to an area outside the north-west. Estimated numbers given are for the weather station as a whole, not for the part of the north-west linked to the weather station. 4. Some postcode to weather station linkages have changed from one year to the next, so estimated numbers are not always comparable from year to year. 5. Estimated numbers are for cold weather payments triggered in the relevant financial year. 6. Cold weather payments are made to benefit units. A benefit unit can be a single person or a couple and can include children. 7. Some benefit units received more than one payment in some years. 8. Estimated numbers have been rounded to the nearest 100. Sources: Postcode districts in the North West Government Office Region: analysis of National Statistics Postcode Directory. Postcode district to weather station links: Department for Work and Pensions records. Estimated numbers: scans of benefit computer systems taken at the end of October each year giving the number of potential qualifiers for cold weather payments by weather station; Department for Work and Pensions records of triggers; Department for Work and Pensions records of the total number of payments actually made by benefit computer system and clerically. | |||||
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Council Tax
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has undertaken an equality impact assessment of the proposed changes to council tax benefit; and if he will make a statement. [20879]
Steve Webb: We will publish an equality impact assessment for the proposed changes to council tax benefit announced in the spending review, in the normal way, accompanying the relevant legislation when introduced in Parliament.
Departmental Written Questions
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of questions tabled to the Secretary of State for written answer on a named day were answered substantively before or on the day named for answer (a) in Session 2009-10 and (b) since May 2010; how many such questions tabled between May 2010 and 12 November 2010 had not received a substantive answer by 18 November 2010; and what estimate he has made of the average cost to his Department of answering a question for written answer on a named day on the day named for answer in the latest period for which figures are available. [25965]
Steve Webb: The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with sessional statistics in a standard format on the time taken to respond to written parliamentary questions for the 2009-10 Session. This information will be submitted to the Procedure Committee shortly.
Some 334 named day questions were tabled to the Department between May 2010 and 12 November 2010, of which 321 (96.1%) were answered substantively on or before the day named for answer. All had received substantive answers by 18 November 2010.
No estimate has been made of the average cost to the Department for Work and Pensions of answering named day questions on the day named for answer. The Treasury conducts an annual indexation exercise of the cost of written and oral parliamentary questions so as to ensure that these average costs are increased in line with increases in underlying costs. The estimated costs that have applied from 20 January 2010 are:
Written question: £154
Oral question: £425.
The Treasury, in making its assessment of the cost of answering questions, does not differentiate between the types of written questions.
Sir Paul Beresford:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of questions tabled to the Secretary of State for ordinary written answer (a) in Session 2009-10 and (b) since May 2010 were answered within (i) seven days and (ii) 14 days of tabling; how many such questions tabled between May 2010 and 12 November 2010 remained unanswered by 18 November 2010; and what estimate he has made of the average cost to his Department
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of answering a question for ordinary written answer within seven days of tabling in the latest period for which figures are available. [25966]
Chris Grayling: The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with sessional statistics in a standard format on the time taken to respond to written parliamentary questions for the 2009-10 Session. This information will be submitted to the Procedure Committee shortly.
Some 1,465 ordinary written questions were tabled to the Department between May 2010 and 12 November 2010, of which 641 (43.7%) were answered within five working days and 1,215 (82.9%) were answered within 10 working days. Some 98 Questions (6.7%) remained unanswered by 18 November 2010.
No estimate has been made of the average cost to the Department for Work and Pensions of answering named day questions on the day named for answer. The Treasury conducts an annual indexation exercise of the cost of written and oral parliamentary questions so as to ensure that these average costs are increased in line with increases in underlying costs. The estimated costs that have applied from 20 January 2010 are:
Written question: £154
Oral question: £425.
The Treasury, in making its assessment of the cost of answering questions, does not differentiate between the types of written questions.
Disability Living Allowance
Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what equality impact assessment he has undertaken of the potential effects on disabled people living in residential care of the removal of the mobility component of disability living allowance. [28222]
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what equality impact assessment he has undertaken of the potential effects on disabled people living in residential care of the removal of the mobility component of disability living allowance. [28625]
Maria Miller: Consideration was given to the equality impacts of the measure when the proposal was being developed.
The equality impact assessment for removing the mobility component of disability living allowance from state funded care home residents after 28 days will be published with the proposed legislation.
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has plans to review the limit on hours worked placed on recipients of disability living allowance and associated in-work tax credits. [28627]
Maria Miller:
Disability living allowance is available to severely disabled people regardless of whether or not they are in work. We have launched a consultation on the reform of disability living allowance with a new benefit—personal independence payment to be introduced from 2013. Like disability living allowance this benefit will be available to severely disabled people regardless
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of their work status. A copy of the consultation document, “Disability Living Allowance reform” (Cm 7984), has been placed in the Library.
We have no plans to review the current limits on the number of hours people must be working in order to become entitled to the disability element of working tax credit. However, our White Paper, “Universal Credit: a new approach to welfare” (Cm 7957), published on 11 November announced a new universal credit. One of the key features of universal credit is that it will be paid in and out of work and that the hours rules will disappear to smooth the transition into work and ensure work pays. The aim is to introduce universal credit from 2013.
Disability Living Allowance: Scotland
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in receipt of disability living allowance and aged between 25 and 35 years are resident in Edinburgh East constituency; and how many of these are also in receipt of (a) housing benefit and (b) local housing allowance. [29539]
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people between the ages of 25 and 35 years in receipt of disability living allowance there are resident in North Ayrshire and Arran constituency; and how many of these are also in receipt of (a) housing benefit and (b) local housing allowance. [30120]
Maria Miller: In May 2010 our records show that:
in Edinburgh East parliamentary constituency there were 490 recipients of disability living allowance aged between 25 and 35 years old;
in North Ayrshire and Arran parliamentary constituency there were 480 recipients of disability living allowance aged between 25 and 35 years old.
No information is available on housing benefit at the constituency level. At present geographic breakdowns are only available for local authorities and regions. However, an exercise is being undertaken to add other geographical areas to the data: this will include parliamentary constituencies.
Notes:
1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10 recipients;
2. Figures do not include people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital;
3. Constituencies used are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010.
Source:
DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study
Disability Living Allowance: South Lanarkshire
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in receipt of disability living allowance and aged between 25 and 35 are resident in (a) South Lanarkshire and (b) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency; and how many of these are also in receipt of (i) housing benefit and (ii) local housing allowance. [29371]
Maria Miller:
The numbers of people in receipt of disability living allowance aged between 25 and 35 in
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(a)
South Lanarkshire and
(b)
Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency are provided in the following table.
| DLA c laimants aged 25-35(inclusive) in South Lanarkshire unitary authority and Rutherglen and Hamilton West parliamentary constituency—May 2010 | |
|
|
Aged 25-35 (inclusive) |
| Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest ten; 2. Figures do not include people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 3. Constituencies used are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. 4. On 1 April 2009, the reorganisation of the local authorities of England created nine new unitary authorities (UA's) including South Lanarkshire. 5. Information is available on the number of housing benefit claimants in receipt of a passported benefit, such as income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, income-based employment support allowance and pension credit (guaranteed credit). Disability living allowance is not a housing benefit passported benefit, therefore the number of DLA claimants also receiving housing benefit is not available. Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study | |
The numbers of people in receipt of disability living allowance aged between 25 and 35 in (a) South Lanarkshire and (b) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency who are also in receipt of housing benefit and local housing allowance are not available.
Disabled People: Employment
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assistance his Department provides to young people with a disability who wish to move from education into work. [27317]
Maria Miller: The Department is committed to increasing the employment opportunities available to disabled people including young people and others who experience complex barriers to employment and in the process reducing the levels of unemployment and under-employment which they experience.
As of 25 October 2010 we launched Work Choice, a new pan-disability supported employment programme for disabled people, which provides tailored support and targets those customers who face the most complex barriers in reaching or retaining employment, including self-employment. Under a new funding model in which prime providers work closely with their subcontractors, individuals get consistent, quality support that helps them progress at work and, where it is appropriate for the individual, helps them move into unsupported employment.
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disability employment programmes are supported by his Department. [30349]
Maria Miller: The Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for two major employment programmes delivered nationally across Great Britain, which are specifically aimed at helping disabled people find and stay in work.
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Work Choice—launched on 25 October, which provides tailored support to help disabled people who face the most complex barriers to employment find and stay in work and ultimately help them progress into unsupported employment, where it is appropriate for the individual.
Access to Work—which provides practical advice and financial support to employed disabled people above and beyond what the employer could reasonably provide, to help them overcome obstacles resulting from disability and thus stay in work.
In addition, Remploy is an Executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions. It delivers a range of employment and development opportunities for disabled people, including under the Work Choice programme.
The Department for Work and Pensions also funds residential training for unemployed disabled adults whose needs cannot be met through any other government funded programmes.
From next year, the Work Programme will provide more personalised back-to-work support for unemployed people, including disabled people. We are working to ensure through Work Choice and the Work Programme, the widest possible range of help to return to work is available to disabled people and those who support and advise them.
On 2 December 2010, Official Report, columns 89-90WS, I announced in a written ministerial statement an independent review of the support the Government provides to disabled people who want to work. This review will be conducted by Liz Sayce, chief executive of the disability organisation RADAR.
Housing Benefit
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much (a) homelessness prevention and (b) discretionary housing payments funding will be allocated to each local authority in each of the next three years. [28739]
Steve Webb: We are providing an additional £130 million to local authority discretionary housing payment budgets over the spending review period and we are discussing its allocation with the local authority associations. We are allocating a further £50 million over the spending review period to support the implementation of the 2011 housing benefit measures. We are still considering exactly how the money will be allocated.
The Department for Communities and Local Government has protected homelessness grant funding, with £400 million over the spending review period. Allocations to local authorities will be announced shortly, alongside the provisional local government finance settlement.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what assessment his Department has made of the effects of his Department's proposed changes in the payment of housing benefit on levels of rent arrears in (a) Glasgow North East constituency, (b) Glasgow, (c) Scotland, (d) England, (e) Wales, (f) Northern Ireland and (g) the UK from 2012 onwards; [29595]
(2) what assessment his Department has made of the effects of his Department's proposed (a) restriction of payments of local housing allowance to the 30th
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percentile,
(b)
removal of housing benefit from recipients of jobseeker's allowance of 12 months' duration and
(c)
cap on the amount of housing benefit paid annually on levels of rent arrears; [29692]
(3) what assessment his Department has made of the effects on support services for the disabled of his Department's proposed changes to housing benefit; [29731]
(4) what assessment his Department has made of the effects on educational attainment by pupils in schools of his Department's proposed changes to housing benefit; [29732]
(5) what assessment his Department has made of the change in the levels of household overcrowding of his Department's proposed changes to housing benefit. [29734]
Steve Webb: We published an impact assessment on 30 November 2010 when we laid regulations which will give effect to the 2011 changes to local housing allowance rates. The assessment is available on the Department for Work and Pensions website:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/lha-impact-nov10.pdf
Impact assessments for the other measures announced in the June Budget and the comprehensive spending review will be published in the normal way alongside the relevant legislation.
Housing Benefit: Disability
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will consider bringing forward proposals to enable family members of disabled persons in receipt of housing benefit to claim the benefit on their behalf, in addition to spouses or partners. [30170]
Steve Webb: The housing benefit regulations already permit persons other than a spouse or partner to claim benefit on behalf of a customer if he is unable to act for himself. In these circumstances, family members or other persons can apply to the local authority to claim benefit on the customer’s behalf. A local authority will then decide whether it is appropriate to appoint the applicant to act for the customer, having considered all the relevant circumstances of the case.
Housing Benefit: Glasgow
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of (a) housing benefit and (b) local housing allowance in Glasgow North constituency share their tenancy with a non-dependent in respect of whom a deduction is made from their entitlement. [30523]
Steve Webb: Information is not available on housing benefit recipients who share their tenancy with a non-dependant for which a deduction is made from their entitlement.
The Department does collect information on non- dependant deductions from the housing benefit/council
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tax benefit data source (SHBE) but to assess the completeness of recording and quality assure the figures to answer this PQ would incur disproportionate cost.
Pension Credit
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people receive pension credit. [30836]
Steve Webb: The information requested is in the following table.
| As at May 2010 | Number |
| Notes: 1. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves or on behalf of themselves and a partner. 3. Individual beneficiaries are the number of claimants in addition to the number of partners for whom they are claiming. Source: DWP Information Direction Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data. | |
Private Rented Housing
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of vacant private rented homes with (a) one bedroom and (b) two bedrooms in North Ayrshire and Arran constituency where the rental is in the bottom 30% of local market values; [30506]
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of vacant private rented homes with (a) one bedroom and (b) two bedrooms in Glasgow North constituency where the rental is in the bottom 30% of local market values. [30516]
Steve Webb: This information is not available.
Rented Housing
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of tenants in each type of tenure under-occupying properties in North Ayrshire and Arran constituency; and how many such tenants are in receipt of (a) housing benefit and (b) local housing allowance; [30507]
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate he has made of the number of multi-occupancy lets by tenure in Glasgow North constituency; [30518]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of tenants in each type of social housing tenure who are under-occupying properties in Glasgow North constituency; and how many such tenants are in receipt of (a) housing benefit and (b) local housing allowance. [30520]
Steve Webb: This information is not available.
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Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of vacant (a) housing association and (b) local authority tenanted homes in North Ayrshire and Arran constituency with (i) one bedroom and (ii) two bedrooms; [30508]
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of vacant (a) housing association and (b) local authority tenanted homes in Glasgow North constituency with (i) one bedroom and (ii) two bedrooms. [30519]
Steve Webb: This information is not available.
Social Fund
Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much money was paid out through the Social Fund in the form of (a) community care grants, (b) budgeting loans, (c) crisis loans, (d) Sure Start maternity grants, (e) funeral payments, (f) cold weather payments, (g) winter fuel payments and (h) grants or loans in each other Social Fund category in each of the last five years; and how many people received grants or loans of each such category in each year. [27586]
Steve Webb: The available information is in the following table.
Expenditure information is due to be re-stated and published on 21 December 2010 on the DWP website (the link to the website is):
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/index.php?page=expenditure
As such we cannot publish information on expenditure in response to this question.
| Estimate of the number of people who received grants or loans over the last five years in Great Britain | |||||
|
|
Community care grants | Budgeting loans | Crisis loans | Cold weather payments | Winter fuel payments |
| Notes: 1. The information provided is management information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have management information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National Statistics and there are some issues with the data. 2. For technical reasons figures are estimated volumes rather than actual volumes, except for winter fuel payments which are actual volumes. 3. For winter fuel payments, the number of recipients is the number of individuals to whom payment was made. Where an eligible person is receiving pension credit, income-based jobseeker's allowance or income related employment and support allowance on behalf of a couple, that person receives one winter fuel payment on behalf of the couple. 4. Figures for winter fuel payments include payments made to recipients within Great Britain and also recipients from within the European economic area who qualified for payments while resident in Great Britain. 5. Figures for winter fuel payments for 2005-06 have been revised and therefore do not match exactly those currently in the House of Commons Library. Information in the Library will be updated as soon as possible. 6. The numbers of people in receipt of a grant or loan have been rounded to the nearest thousand. 7. The numbers of recipients for sure start maternity grants and funeral payments are unavailable. Source: Analysis of scans of the Social Fund Computer System taken at the end of September after the relevant financial year, DWP records for cold weather payments and published DWP caseload tables for winter fuel payments | |||||
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Social Security Benefits: Addiction
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many benefit recipients are recorded as having a drug addiction; and what proportion of these have a dual diagnosis; [29511]
(2) how many benefit recipients are recorded as being alcoholic; [29512]
(3) how many heroin addicts were in receipt of benefits in each of the last three years. [29650]
Maria Miller: The information available is presented in the following tables. Data on the number of benefit claimants with a drug addiction recorded as having a dual diagnosis (i.e. the standard accepted definition of both a drug addiction and a serious mental health problem) are not routinely collected.
As outlined in the Government's recently published drug strategy, substance dependency is one of the most damaging root causes of poverty, and helping people who are trapped on benefits through drug and alcohol addiction to recover and find employment is a top priority for this Government.
| Table 1: Incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance and employment and support allowance claimants in Great Britain with drug or alcohol abuse recorded as the main disabling condition—May 2010 | |
|
|
Number of claimants |
| Notes: 1. Data are rounded to the nearest 10 claimants. 2. These figures refer to claimants whose problems relate to any drugs (including prescription ones). Claimants who do not report drug or alcohol dependency as their main disabling condition are not captured, nor are people on JSA or IS for whom this information is not recorded, meaning that these figures represent a subset of all claimants with a drug or alcohol problem. 3. Incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance was replaced by employment and support allowance (ESA) for new claimants in October 2008. 4. Drug or alcohol dependency does not of itself confer entitlement to disability benefits, this is determined by a person’s capability or capacity for employment. Where individuals with a substance dependency are in receipt of such benefits it will be because they have other diagnoses, for example mental illness, which limit their capability for work. Source: DWP Information Directorate 100% Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). | |
| Table 2: Estimated number of working-age claimants who are problem drug users (heroin or crack cocaine) by benefit type in England in 2006 | |
|
|
Number of claimants |
| Notes: 1. The figures are derived from estimates of the number of problem drug users on each of jobseekers allowance, incapacity benefit, income support and disability living allowance. They do not record if problem drug use is the reason for the benefit claim. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand. | |
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| 3. The copy of the working paper by Hay and Bauld can be found in the House of Commons Library, and can also be accessed at: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/WP46.pdf Source: Population estimates of problematic drug users in England who access Department for Work and Pensions benefits: A feasibility study, Working Paper No. 46, Hay, G. and Bauld, L. 2008 |
Social Security Benefits: Livingston
Graeme Morrice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of applications for employment and support allowance made by residents in Livingston constituency in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010
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were rejected on the basis of the work capability assessment; and in respect of what proportion of such applications that decision was (i) reversed and (ii) upheld on appeal. [27613]
Maria Miller: Data are available at local authority level so figures for West Lothian have been provided. It should be noted that, because the number of appeals heard for claims which began after August 2009 are too low for inclusion at the time of response, we can only provide figures for claims started between October 2008 and August 2009.
| Employment and support allowance claims to August 2009 assessed, found fit for work and appealed—West Lothian | |||||||||
| Month ESA claim started | Completed assessments | Fit for work | Percentage fit for work | Appeals heard (to date) | Percentage fit for work with an appeal heard (to date) | Decision in favour of appellant | DWP decision upheld | Percentage decision in favour of appellant | Percentage DWP decision upheld |
The table presents data on employment and support allowance claims up to the end of August 2009 where the person claiming has completed assessment, been found Fit for Work, subsequently appealed the Department’s decision and had the appeal heard by the Tribunals Service by the end of July 2010. July 2010 is the latest data we have from the Tribunals Service.
Due to the time it takes for appeals to be submitted and heard by the Tribunals Service, it is likely that there are more appeals that have not yet been heard, particularly for the most recent cohorts of ESA claims. The percentage of people found Fit for Work who appeal (column 6) therefore appears to decrease as the date of claim becomes more recent, but this may not in fact reflect a decline in appeals against a Fit for Work decision as a number of appeals may have been submitted but not yet heard. These figures should therefore be treated as emerging findings and not as final at this stage.
The table is consistent with table 5 of the latest work capability assessment publication with the inclusion of completed assessments and the percentage found Fit For Work. The publication can be found here:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/esa_wca/index.php?page=esa_wca_arc
Social Security Benefits: Mental Health
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit recipients have received treatment for mental health problems in the last 12 months. [29513]
Maria Miller: We do not collect information on whether benefit recipients are receiving treatment for mental health conditions. Information about the numbers of people claiming benefits due to health reasons is available on the Department of Work and Pensions website's tabulation tool.
State Retirement Pensions
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the effect on the level of income of (a) men and (b) women born between 6 April 1953 and 5 April 1960 of the acceleration in the timescale for increasing the state pension age. [29292]
Steve Webb:
Revised life expectancy projections mean that by 2026 men aged 66 are expected to live an extra 1.5 years and women an extra 1.6 years, on average, on
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top of the 2004 projections used to set the current state pension age increases. No responsible Government can ignore these increases in life expectancy and the pressure they place on the state pension system. Our new timetable will reduce pressures on public finances by around £30 billion between 2016-17 and 2025-26.
The effect on the level of income is complex and will vary significantly between individuals. We estimate that those people affected by the changes to state pension age will lose state pensions of, on average, (a) men approximately £7,600 and (b) women nearly £7,250 (in 2010-11 prices).
About 40% of those affected are expected to remain in employment when they reach age 65; earning and saving longer for retirement.
However the Government will support those who will not be able to continue working by providing working age benefits.
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress his Department has made on the introduction of a flat-rate basic state pension. [30353]
Steve Webb: The Government are currently examining all aspects of the state pension system to identify options that could lead to a more simple and straightforward system but final decisions have not yet been made.
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what account he has taken of the rights of individuals to defer receipt of a state pension beyond the state retirement age in formulating his proposals for a flat-rate state pension. [30615]
Steve Webb:
The Government are currently examining all aspects of the state pension system to identify options
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that could lead to a more simple and straightforward system but final decisions have not yet been made.
Tenants: Lanarkshire
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the number of tenants in each type of tenancy tenure who are under-occupying their property in (a) South Lanarkshire and (b) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency; and how many of these are in receipt of (i) housing benefit and (ii) local housing allowance. [29528]
Steve Webb: The information is not available at a parliamentary constituency level. Data on the actual size of property occupied by social sector tenants are not yet collected as part of DWP administration and the data collected for private sector tenants are not of sufficient quality to undertake detailed analysis of the accommodation they occupy. This is because this information is not required for the housing benefit calculation. Existing survey data do not permit large enough sample sizes for detailed analysis.
Universal Credit
Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what role local authorities will play in administering the proposed universal credit; and if he will make a statement. [29653]
Chris Grayling: The administration of universal credit will be organised by the Department for Work and Pensions. We are working closely with local authorities on the implications for them of the introduction of universal credit.